News & Events

Gag Clause Attestation Deadline | VA Employee Benefits Partners

As the year comes to an end, a crucial compliance deadline looms for employers with health plans. Under the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), health plans and insurance issuers must submit a Gag Clause Compliance Attestation by December 31, 2024. Since its enactment in 2020, this regulation prohibits health plans from including gag clauses—provisions that limit … Continued

FSA Contribution Limits for 2025 | Virginia Benefits Group

On October 22, 2024, the IRS announced that the limit on employees’ salary reduction contributions to a health Flexible Spending Account (FSA) will increase to $3,3000 for plan years beginning in 2025.  This is an increase from the 2024 limit of $3,200.  By understanding the latest contribution limits, individuals can better plan for 2025 and … Continued

Benefits Breakdown November 2024 | Virginia Benefits Advisors

Mercer Report Projects 5.8% Health Benefits Cost Increase in 2025 U.S. employers estimate health benefit costs will increase by 5.8% in 2025, according to Mercer’s 2024 National Survey of Employer-sponsored Health Plans. This would mark the third consecutive year that the total cost per employee rose more than 5%. The report attributed the higher costs to … Continued

ER vs Urgent Care: How to Choose the Right Care for Your Medical Needs | Virginia Benefits Firm

All too often, illness or injury appears out of the blue: You wake up in the middle of the night with intense abdominal pain.  Or your baby spikes a high fever on the weekend. These situations are stressful and it’s hard to think when you’re under stress. But you need to decide where to go … Continued

The Pay or Play Percentage Increase for 2025 | VA Employee Benefits Team

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires large employers to offer affordable health insurance coverage to their full-time employees or face a penalty known as the “Pay or Play” tax. This tax is based on the employer’s average monthly wage (AMW) and the number of full-time employees.  The affordability rate for employer-sponsored health coverage will increase from 8.39% to … Continued

Benefits Breakdown October 2024 | Virginia Benefits Team

Employers Project 8% Increase in Health Care Costs in 2025 A recent survey of employers by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP) revealed that U.S. employers estimate a median 8% increase in health care costs for 2025. Catastrophic health claims and rising specialty prescription drug prices are driving the projected increase. According to … Continued

Bridging the Generational Divide: Leveraging Technology for Effective Communication | VA Employee Benefits Group

In today’s diverse workplaces, effective communication across generations is essential for fostering collaboration, productivity, and a positive work environment. Understanding the unique communication preferences of each generation can help bridge the gap and create a more inclusive and harmonious workplace. Technology can play a crucial role in bridging the generational gap and facilitating seamless communication. … Continued

Benefits 101: What Is a FSA? | VA Employee Benefits Advisors

When it comes to health insurance, there is a lot of jargon and plenty of acronyms. Many people have heard of FSAs, but may not actually know — what is a flexible spending account, exactly? If you have an employer-sponsored health plan, a flexible spending account (FSA) is often available as part of the benefits … Continued

Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) Rebates: A Timely Reminder | Virginia Benefits Group

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) introduced the Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) to ensure that health insurance companies spend a significant portion of premiums on medical care and quality improvement activities rather than administrative costs and profits. When insurers fail to meet the MLR threshold, they are required to issue rebates to plan sponsors. Understanding MLR … Continued

Benefits Breakdown September 2025 | Virginia Benefits Advisors

Early Preparation Is Crucial for 2025 Open Enrollment With the 2025 open enrollment season around the corner, employers have an opportunity to develop attractive benefits offerings and proactively communicate with employees to win them over. Early preparation can help show employees they are valued, convince top performers seeking job changes to stay in their current … Continued