Guide to HSA deductions and fees

Your health savings account (HSA) is a tax-free safe space, where you can secure funds without fear of heavy tax hits when it's time to use the money for qualified medical expenses.
(After all, there's a good chance you're going to need $250,000 or higher at retirement, just for medical costs. Yikes.)

FSA Reimbursement: Filing claims, rules and deadlines

Paperwork. It's not something most people look forward to. Can't miss that it has the word "work" right in the name. But it can be a lot more interesting (and literally rewarding) if that paperwork leads to getting some of your hard-earned money back from taxes and in your pocket where it belongs.

What if you don't like your employer's HSA options?

Employer-sponsored investment and insurance options are usually a blessing. They're low-cost, easy to enroll in, and often come with a contribution-matching option. As someone who left a traditional job with a full benefits package to become a freelance writer, I'll admit that open enrollment often makes me question that decision.

EEOC Expected to Publish New Wellness Rules in 2020

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has indicated that it plans to issue new proposed rules on permissible wellness incentives under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 2020.

Upcoming Group Health Plan Compliance Dates

Employers must comply with numerous reporting and disclosure requirements throughout the year in connection with their group health plans.

Listed below are upcoming important compliance deadlines for employer-sponsored group health plans, organized chronologically. For these requirements, the information provided herein shows the deadlines that apply to calendar year plans. For non-calendar year plans, these deadlines will need to be adjusted to reflect each plan’s specific plan year.

2020 Benefit Plan Limits Announced

Many employee benefits are subject to annual dollar limits that are periodically increased for inflation. The IRS recently announced cost-of-living adjustments to the annual dollar limits for various welfare and retirement plan limits for 2020.

2020 Minimum Wage Rates

The current federal minimum wage rate is $7.25 per hour. However, many states have adopted minimum wage rates higher than the federal rate. When the state rate and the federal rate are different, employers must pay their employees the higher rate. The following states have announced new minimum wage rates for 2020:

Selecting Tires for Winter Driving

There are few feelings as frightening as losing control of your vehicle. In winter driving conditions, the chances of this happening increase. To stay safe on the road, it is important to select the right set of tires for your winter driving needs

Hospital Groups Sue Trump Administration Over Pricing Transparency Rule

On Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019, four major hospital groups filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration to challenge the Nov. 15, 2019, final rule that would require hospitals to disclose their pricing information, including negotiated rates.

Patient Privacy and HIPAA

The trust that patients place in their health care provider is critical to receiving high-quality care. Patients trust their doctor with information they may not share with anyone else. However, with the emergence of electronic databases, patients are increasingly concerned that their information could potentially be accessed by those other than their physicians.

Maintaining Workplace Safety Through Good Housekeeping

Workplace housekeeping—the act of maintaining clean and organized workspaces—may seem like a chore, but it can go a long way in preventing on-the-job injuries. In fact, good workplace housekeeping practices can reduce the following:

Proposed Rule on Health Care Transparency to Affect Some Employer Plans

On Nov. 15, 2019, the Departments of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Treasury (Departments) issued a proposed rule regarding transparency in coverage that would impose new transparency requirements on group health plans and health insurers in the individual and group markets. Specifically, the proposed rule would require plans and issuers to disclose: