New Legislation Updates ACA Reporting Rules | Virginia Benefits Firm

At the close of 2024, Congress passed two new pieces of legislation: the Paperwork Burden Reduction Act and the Employer Reporting Improvement Act. These laws simplify the Affordable Care Act (ACA) reporting requirements for employers and introduce new limits on the IRS’s authority to enforce “pay-or-play” penalties, among other changes. Under the ACA, applicable large … Continued

Beyond Open Enrollment: Engaging Employees with Benefits | Virginia Employee Benefits Consultants

Most organizations treat employee benefits like a seasonal event. Open enrollment brings a flurry of activity – emails, seminars, and even benefits fairs. However, communication often dwindles after this initial push, leaving employees confused and underutilizing their valuable benefits. This is a missed opportunity. Research shows that employees crave more benefits education, spending hours researching … Continued

Benefits Breakdown February 2024 | VA Employee Benefits Partners

Key Takeaways From the CAA-mandated Prescription Drug Cost Report The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA) mandates that group health plans and health insurance issuers submit annual data on premiums, enrollment, medical spending and prescription drug rebates to various departments to address this. This initiative, known as the Prescription Drug Data Collection (RxDC), aims to enhance … Continued

8 Keys to Building Trust at Work | VA Employee Benefits Firm

Trust has always been important to organizational success.  Trust can’t be demanded. It must be earned over time and through consistent behavior and actions. Rebuilding trust is even more difficult, but it’s even more critical to your organization’s success because when trust is broken, productivity usually suffers. One of the things we are learning about … Continued

Benefits Buzz January 2025 | Virginia Benefits Consultants

PCORI Fee Amount Adjusted for 2025 The IRS recently issued Notice 2024-83 to increase the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) fee amount for plan years ending on or after Oct. 1, 2024, and before Oct. 1, 2025. The updated PCORI fee amount is $3.47 multiplied by the average number of lives covered under the plan. For plan years that … Continued

Top Employee Benefit Trends for 2025 | VA Employee Benefits Team

Employee benefits are the indirect and non-cash compensation paid to an employee. These benefits are given to employees over their salaries and wages.  As we look ahead to 2025, companies are increasingly exploring innovative solutions to address the evolving needs of their workforce. Driven by shifts in work environments, economic challenges, and technological progress, the … Continued

Reducing Rising Healthcare Costs in 2025 | Virginia Benefits Team

Healthcare costs are projected to rise significantly in 2025. To mitigate these increases, consider these tips: Know Your Plan: Take time to review what your health plan covers—and what it doesn’t—to avoid unexpected costs. Understand your health plan’s coverage, including deductibles, co-pays, and out-of-pocket maximums. Utilize In-Network Providers: Receiving care from out-of-network providers can dramatically … Continued