As of February 14th, 37.5 million Americans and 630,000 Coloradans have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Now that vaccination is available, we’ve been getting more questions about when a plan member can get it and how they go about doing so. What’s the best way to determine when and where they’ll be able to receive the vaccine? 

Over the past few years, surprise billing has been a very hot topic and a huge source of frustration for members affected by it. One large unexpected bill from a health care provider or facility can be financially and emotionally devastating for patients that have already endured a surgery or emergency medical event. Legislation passed shortly before Christmas is a big step toward easing the concerns of Americans in the health care system.

It’s likely not a surprise that last year saw a decline in healthcare spending due to closed medical offices and many other factors related to COVID-19. Because of this, provisions were included in December’s Consolidated Appropriations Act for both health Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and Dependent Care flexible spending accounts (DCAs).

The New Year brings several HR changes that impact employers of all sizes. We’re providing you with a 2021 HR Compliance Checklist, brought to you by our partner and HR Consultant extraordinaire, Solvere HR Consulting. This helpful guide includes several federal and state employment law changes you need to be aware of. 

As the first doses of the COVID vaccine are arriving in Colorado and across the country, questions are being raised by employers about their health plans and office safety procedures. Our partners at Alera Group have issued guidance on what employers should be doing now to prepare themselves and their employees for the vaccine rollout. Read the recommendations here regarding medical policy cost restrictions and vaccine requirements.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) reporting for employers can be confusing, burdensome, and time-consuming. Most of the reporting requirements have not changed, but every year we see employers rushing to complete the requirements before the deadline. One of our partners, Benefit Advisors Network, has put together a resourceful guide with instructions and forms for the 2020 employer reporting requirements. 

COVID-19 has certainly had far-reaching effects for employees, including the reduced ability of parents to use pre-tax money set aside in their Dependent Care FSA fund due to the unexpected shutdowns of daycares, nurseries, and schools. Because employees likely decided how much to contribute to their Dependent Care FSA before COVID-19 became widespread, the “use it or lose it” rule may seem particularly harsh for 2020. The good news is that employers can alleviate some of the concern about losing that money after December by simply amending their Section 125 Plan Document to include a grace period for the use of those funds. This gives employees a longer window of time (until March 15th, 2021 for calendar year plans), to use their Dependent Care funds for 2020. Please click here for more information, and if you have questions about amending your Dependent Care FSA Plan Document, please reach out to your Fall River Account Manager.

This year has been filled with many questions and not so many clear answers. One of the trickiest ACA issues that Applicable Large Employers (ALEs) have to navigate through is how measurement periods apply during furloughs and leaves of absences due to COVID-19. It’s important for ALEs that offer affordable and minimum essential health insurance coverage to be able to identify their full-time employees and offer group health benefits at the appropriate times; otherwise the employer may be subject to costly penalties.

While there were many uncertainties on election night this November, we did learn that Colorado voters passed Proposition 118 for Paid Family and Medical Leave. The new law will require employers state-wide to provide 12 weeks of paid time off for certain family situations beginning in 2024. 

With the COVID-19 threat growing in Colorado every day and flu season quickly approaching, there are many questions to consider. What is the difference between the two? Can you have the flu and COVID-19 at the same time? Should you still get a flu shot?