The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge and Health Plans Medicare’s glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) short-term pilot program launched July 1, 2026, giving eligible Part D beneficiaries access to certain GLP-1 medications for $50 a month through Dec. 31, 2027. While the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge (Bridge) is federally run and requires nothing from employers, there are still implications. [...]
The Cost of Delayed Healthcare When life gets busy or money is tight, it’s easy to put off a doctor’s visit and hope the issue resolves on its own. However, delaying care can do more harm to both your health and your finances. That’s why your health benefits are designed to help you receive [...]
For many fully insured employers, carrier invoices arrive monthly with little scrutiny and a lot of trust. That trust can be costly. Industry data shows that roughly 5% of monthly premium spend is due to billing errors. Left unchecked, these errors compound month after month and become difficult to recover. This article walks through a [...]
Q3 Compliance-Key Disclosure Deadlines for Group Health Plans With the second half of the year underway, employers that sponsor group health plans should take steps to stay ahead of key compliance obligations due in the coming months. Federal reporting and disclosure requirements under laws such as the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and [...]
PCORI Fees Due July 31, 2026 The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires health insurance issuers and self-insured plan sponsors to pay Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute fees (PCORI fees). The fees are reported and paid annually using IRS Form 720, the Quarterly Federal Excise Tax Return. Form 720 and full payment of the PCORI fees [...]
Pay Transparency Laws and Growing EPL Exposures Pay transparency laws refer to regulations that require applicable employers to disclose certain information regarding employee compensation—namely, salary ranges and benefits packages—in job postings for open positions, amid promotions and transfers, and upon request from existing staff. The United States has seen a rapid expansion of these [...]
For years, a physical insurance card has been part of nearly every doctor’s visit or pharmacy pickup. That is changing. Major health insurance carriers are moving away from mailing plastic ID cards and toward digital versions stored in a mobile app or phone wallet. For instance, Cigna has set a goal of moving nearly all [...]
How to Open Your Child’s Trump Account A Trump Account is a tax-favored savings account for children under the age of 18. It works similarly to a retirement account but has special rules during what’s called the “growth period,” which lasts until the child reaches adulthood. During this time, contributions grow tax-deferred, and withdrawals [...]
Chronic conditions are no longer just a clinical concern; they are one of the most powerful forces shaping the U.S. healthcare system and its rising costs. Chronic conditions such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and mental health conditions impact millions of Americans, requiring continuous care, treatment and support over time. The financial impact [...]
EBSA Releases Agenda Outlining Upcoming Regulatory Actions On July 3, 2026, the Trump administration released its 2026 Regulatory Plan and Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions (Agenda), identifying its significant regulatory priorities and planned activities for the year ahead. Federal agencies with new regulations under development or review are included in the Agenda, [...]
