Live Well, Work Well – Don’t Forget; It’s National Blood Donor Month (January)
Winter is one of the most challenging times of the year to collect enough blood products and donations to meet patient needs. That’s why National Blood Donor Month is celebrated every January.
This year’s national health observance comes as the nation’s blood supply has dropped to concerning levels and could delay essential blood and platelet transfusions. Blood donors of all blood types—particularly type O blood—are needed to give blood or platelets to help meet daily hospital demands.
View and download the latest Live Well, Work Well newsletter
Live Well, Work Well – Prioritizing Your Emotional Well-being During the Holidays
While the holiday season and end-of-year parties can be full of festive fun, they can also be stressful and take a toll on your emotional well-being. Putting your emotional wellness on the backburner may cause mood changes and feelings of irritability, hopelessness and isolation.
The holidays can be a stressful time due to the intensified focus on family, work and money.
View and download the latest Live Well, Work Well newsletter
Benefits Buzz – Prescription Drug Reporting Due by Dec. 27, 2022
A new transparency provision requires employer-sponsored health plans and health insurance issuers to annually report information about prescription drugs and health care spending to the federal government. This reporting process is referred to as the “prescription drug data collection” (or “RxDC report”).
The first RxDC report is due by Dec. 27, 2022, and covers data for 2020 and 2021. Going forward, the annual deadline for the RxDC report is June 1. This means that the second RxDC report is due by June 1, 2023, covering data for 2022
HR Brief – EEOC Updates Workplace Poster
Recently, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued a new poster titled “Know Your Rights, Workplace Discrimination is Illegal,” which updates and replaces the previous “EEO is the Law” poster. Under the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (Title VII), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other laws enforced by the EEOC, employers with 15 or more employees must prominently display the new poster at their work sites. Laws enforced by the EEOC generally prohibit employment discrimination based on certain protected traits, including race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability and age. These laws also require employers to display a workplace poster that describes their prohibitions and requirements.”:
Employer Takeaways
The new “Know Your Rights” poster includes the following differences from the previous version:
HR Brief – 5 Tips for Effective 2023 Open Enrollment Communication
Now more than ever, employees are looking to their employers for guidance on navigating their available benefits. Employees are likely paying more attention this year as they navigate record-high inflation and work to maximize every hard-earned dollar.
During the 2023 open enrollment season, employers should be poised to provide their employees with resources and tools they can use to better understand and act with more confidence when making benefits decisions.
Consider these five tips to enhance communication about benefits:
Consider these five tips to enhance communication about benefits:
- Start early.
Get the word out early about benefits offerings so employees have ample time to understand their benefits, consult with family members and determine their needs for the following year.
November – American Diabetes Month
Diabetes comes in two forms: Type 1 and Type 2. While Type 2 diabetes is far more common, both can be deadly, as they affect the body’s insulin production. Over 34 million U.S. adults have some form of diabetes, and 1 in 5 don’t even know it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). November is American Diabetes Month, so take the time now to learn more about this serious disease.
View and download the Diabetes Awareness of the Month Information
Live Well, Work Well – How to Recession-proof Your Life
Many Americans and economists think rising inflation issues, interest rates and housing costs may be warning signs of a looming recession. According to a Bankrate poll, nearly 7 in 10 Americans are worried about the possibility of a recession before the end of next year. Unfortunately, many Americans don’t feel prepared for an economic downturn.
More than 40% of Americans don’t think they’d be prepared for a recession if it were to happen by 2023.
View and download the latest Live Well, Work Well newsletter
Benefits Buzz – IRS Changes Family Coverage Affordability Rules
On Oct. 11, 2022, the IRS released a final rule that changed the premium tax credit (PTC) eligibility rules for family members. This change is effective for taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2022.
The PTC is available to eligible individuals who purchase health insurance coverage through an Exchange. Individuals are not eligible for the PTC if they have access to employer-sponsored health coverage that is affordable and provides minimum value.
Effective for 2023, the final rule changes the PTC rules for determining whether employer-sponsored coverage is affordable for family members. Currently, this determination is based on the lowest-cost self-only coverage available to the employee. Under the final rule, an employer-sponsored plan is affordable for family members if the portion of the annual premium the employee must pay for family coverage (the employee’s required contribution) does not exceed 9.5% (as adjusted annually) of household income.
Benefits Buzz – Medicare Part D Notices Due Before Oct. 15, 2022
Each year, Medicare Part D requires group health plan sponsors to disclose whether the health plan’s prescription drug coverage is creditable to individuals eligible for Medicare Part D and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
Plan sponsors must provide the annual disclosure notice to Medicare-eligible individuals before Oct. 15, 2022—the start date of the annual enrollment period for Medicare Part D. CMS has provided model disclosure notices for employers to use.
Medicare beneficiaries who do not have creditable prescription drug coverage and do not enroll in Medicare Part D when first eligible will likely pay higher premiums if they enroll at a later date. Although no specific penalties are associated with the notice requirement, failing to provide the notice may be detrimental to employees.
Client and Employee Resources
The more your employees understand your benefit plans the more they become educated, empowered consumers. The programs you provide will also gain an enhanced value.
As your strategic partners in employee benefits, we can provide multiple avenues of ongoing support, including:
- Employee Meetings (English and Spanish)
- Webcasts
- Payroll Stuffers
- Poster Campaigns
- Newsletters
Carrier Directories
E-Verify is a web-based system that allows enrolled employers to confirm the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States. Click the image below to begin.
