May 30, 2019 | Commentary
Vendor Reviews & Recommendations was the topic for a recent series of benefit roundtables our firm hosted for leading employers in several cities. It was a great opportunity to share and compare insights on a variety of benefit vendors.
One of the most intriguing conversation threads in each location involved medical plan administrators. As the clear majority of groups contracted directly with an insurance carrier (UHC, Anthem, MMO, Aetna, Cigna, etc.), we expected some standard vendor comparisons with associated pros and cons. However, what emerged was an across-the-board curiosity regarding alternatives to standard carrier relationships, which is what leads us here. (more…)
May 30, 2019 | Commentary
Guiding plan members with substance abuse issues to the appropriate network treatment resources has long been a challenge. As if taking the important step of seeking treatment isn’t difficult enough, rapidly identifying the right local resource with available capacity tends to complicate the issue.
A lack of available information, coupled with a sense of urgency, often results in members selecting costly out-of-network treatment options. But thanks to a few new online resources, that problem could be a thing of the past. (more…)
May 28, 2019 | Legislative Updates
The IRS released Revenue Procedure 2019-25 to announce the inflation-adjusted limits for health savings accounts (HSAs) and high deductible health plans (HDHPs) for 2020. These limits include:
- The maximum HSA contribution limit;
- The minimum deductible amount for HDHPs; and
- The maximum out-of-pocket expense limit for HDHPs.
These limits vary based on whether an individual has self-only or family coverage under an HDHP.
The IRS limits for HSA contributions increase for 2020. Eligible individuals with self-only HDHP coverage will be able to contribute up to $3,550 for 2020, while eligible individuals with family HDHP coverage will be able to contribute up to $7,100 for 2020. The HDHP cost-sharing limits also increase for 2020. (more…)
