What Is Employer Paid Term Life Insurance? | Virginia Benefit Advisors

Employer-paid life insurance can be an important part of protecting your family in the event that you die prematurely. Companies offer the program on top of other benefits, such as health insurance. The coverage is generally term insurance, meaning there is no investment or cash-value component. If you pass on unexpectedly, depriving your family not … Continued

It’s Open Enrollment Time! | Virginia Benefit Advisors

Fall.  With it comes cooler temperatures’, falling leaves, warm seasonal scents like turkey and pumpkin pie, and Open Enrollment.  It goes without saying; employees who understand the effectiveness of their benefits are much more pleased with those packages, happier with their employers, and more engaged in their work. So, as your company gears up for … Continued

Rules for FSA & and HSA Accounts | Virginia Benefit Advisors

According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), no permission or authorization to set up either an FSA or HSA account is required. Both accounts are intended to help provide you with financial assistance regarding medical care costs. An FSA (flexible spending account) is set up by your employer. An HSA (health savings account) is held … Continued

DOL Guidance for Benefit Plans Impacted by Hurricane Harvey | Virginia Benefit Advisors

The U.S. Department of Labor has issued compliance guidance for benefit plans, employers and employees, and service providers who are impacted by Hurricane Harvey. The guidance generally provides relief from various ERISA requirements and time limits for entities in the disaster area. This follows the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announcement extending certain filing dates, including … Continued

Court Orders the EEOC to Reconsider Its Wellness Program Rules | Virginia Benefit Advisors

On August 22, 2017, in AARP v EEOC, a federal court found that regulations allowing employers to offer large incentives under workplace wellness programs were arbitrary. The court did not vacate (nullify) the rules due to concerns about disrupting employers’ existing programs. Instead the court has ordered the responsible agency, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission … Continued

Federal Employment Law Update – August 2017 | Virginia Benefit Advisors

OSHA Injury Tracking Application Electronic Portal As of August 1, 2017, the Occupational and Safety Health Administration’s (OSHA) new electronic portal, the Injury Tracking Application (ITA), is available for employers to file web-based reports of workplace injuries or illnesses. Under OSHA’s electronic recordkeeping rule, covered employers with at least 250 employees must submit the following … Continued

Senate Releases Health Care Proposal | Virginia Benefit Advisors

This morning, Senate Republicans released their proposal to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Called the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017 (BCRA), the Senate proposal adopts H.R. 1628, the bill narrowly passed last month by the House of Representatives, but replaces all the text. The Senate proposal was released without going through … Continued

Critical Illness Insurance—What You Need to Know | Virginia Benefit Advisors

When we hear the word insurance, most of us tend to think of things like car or health insurance. Critical illness insurance most likely isn’t one of the types of insurance that comes to mind. It makes sense—we often don’t want to think about the scarier health-related risks in life—especially not critical illness. Unfortunately this inclination to … Continued