Insights

Sixty percent of Gen Z and 65% of millennials admittedly eschew jobs that showcase quirks and perks in lieu of up-to-date, personalized and meaningful benefits. So, what can employers offer to entice candidates to see, sign and stay? Spoiler alert: it's more complicated than cash. Employees want well-being benefits to be front and center during recruitment This means the post-pandemic job seeker cares less about the gym membership than they do about financial literacy coaching and telehealth co

You're intentional about why you offer your unique mental health benefits and how access to those benefits can improve your people's day-to-day. You're hoping to see your engagement increase, your retention rates rise, and your morale improve '” all signs that your people know you are contributing to mental health support in more than just financial ways. Here are three recent stats with practical actions that will demonstrate to your people that you care. Stat 1: 60% of employees expect employ

It is not recommended that a group health plan exclude coverage for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy related to the treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The recommendation applies to both fully insured and self-insured plans. Please see considerations below. In its recent 2022 MHPAEA Report to Congress, the DOL stated that ASD is a developmental disorder and ABA is a primary treatment for the disorder. As such, the DOL stated their concern over an ABA coverage exclusion. The rep

On April 19, 2022, Insurance Commissioner White released Administrative Letter 2022-2 related to coverage of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). After discussions with CMS and research, the Virginia Bureau of Insurance has revised its position on ASD and related insurance coverage. Policies issued on or after January 1, 2023, must classify ASD as a mental health disorder. Coverage under any group medical policy must provide for the treatment of ASD, including medically necessary behavioral health t

On April 25, 2022, Judge Zilly of the US District Court for the Western District of Washington dismissed a class action lawsuit filed on behalf of employers and employees challenging the WA Cares premium assessed at the rate of .58 percent of wages violated ERISA and other federal laws. The federal court dismissed the lawsuit on the basis that the WA Cares Act is not established or maintained by an employer and/or employee organization and therefore, is not governed or preempted by ERISA. The

On April 28, 2022, CMS released the Final Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2023, along with an accompanying fact sheet. The regulations are primarily intended for health insurers and the marketplace but include important information that also affects large employers and self-insured group health plans. The effective date is July 1, 2022. These annual parameters specify the uniform standards for health plans subject to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The guidance also describes related regulato

The Commissioner of Insurance Donelon recently issued Bulletin 2022-01, which provides guidance on SB 94, which was enacted during the 2021 session. SB 94 requires all health insurers to 'include any cost-sharing amounts paid by the enrollee or on behalf of the enrollee by another person' when calculating a participant's deductible and out-of-pocket (OOP) maximum. In the recent bulletin, Commissioner Donelon provided guidance on the type of payments that must be included. For example, a group m