Ask the Experts: Employee on modified assignment due to a workers’ comp claim | Fort Worth Benefit Advisors

Question: We have an employee who is on modified assignment due to a workers’ comp claim. Do we have to pay for the time spent away from work for doctor appointments or does the employee have to use PTO time? Answer: You may not necessarily have to pay for the time an employee spends at … Continued

How to Make the Most Out of Your FSA at Year-End | Fort Worth Benefit Advisors

As 2017 comes to a close, it’s time to act on the money sitting in your Flexible Spending/Savings Account (FSA). Unlike a Health Savings Account or HSA, pre-taxed funds contributed to an FSA are lost at the end of the year if an employee doesn’t use them, and an employer doesn’t adopt a carryover policy. … Continued

Ask the Experts: Can a well qualified older candidate fit on a much younger team? | Fort Worth Benefit Advisors

Question: We recently interviewed an older candidate for a position. She’s well qualified, but the team she would be working with is made up of people who are much younger, and we are worried about how she will fit in. Can the criteria to hire for cultural fit outweigh potential age discrimination concerns? Answer: Your … Continued

Benefits of Secondary Health Insurance | Fort Worth Benefit Advisors

Secondary health insurance is a type of policy that is used to cover medical expenses that have not been covered by your primary insurance plan. Typically, a person will have secondary medical insurance by being covered as a dependent under another family member’s plan. Secondary health insurance is usually optional and can provide several benefits … Continued

Are You Ready to Electronically Report Injuries and Illnesses to OSHA? | Fort Worth Benefit Advisors

December 1, 2017 is the deadline for certain employers to use the Occupational Safety and Health Agency’s (OSHA) Injury Tracking Application (ITA) portal to report information from their 2016 Form 300A regarding employee illnesses and injuries. We previously reported (Breach Forces OSHA to Shut Down Reporting Portal) that OSHA suspended employer reporting through the ITA … Continued

Preston Rutledge to be Nominated as Next EBSA Head | Fort Worth Benefit Advisors

President Trump has announced his intent to nominate Preston Rutledge as Assistant Secretary of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA). The position as head of the EBSA has been vacant since Phyllis Borzi stepped down in January 2017. The White House announcement includes highlights of Mr. Rutledge’s career which clearly demonstrate his knowledge and experience … Continued

President Directs Federal Agencies to Consider ACA Changes | Fort Worth Benefit Advisors

On October 12, 2017, President Trump issued an Executive Order directing the Departments of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS), and Treasury to develop new rules to allow some exemptions from the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Order indicates the Administration’s priorities although it has no immediate effect since any rule changes must first … Continued

How to Add a Step Child to a Health Insurance Plan | Fort Worth Benefit Advisors

The addition of a stepchild to your family brings a variety of rewards and challenges. The task of adding your stepchild to your health insurance should be a relatively easy process. The addition of the stepchild might have occurred after a marriage or with a change in custody. According to Insurance Lawyers, most health insurance … Continued

PCORI Fee Increase for Health Plans | Fort Worth Benefit Advisors

On October 6, 2017, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released Notice 2017-61 to announce that the health plan Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) fee for plan years ending between October 1, 2017 and September 30, 2018 will be $2.39 per plan participant. This is an increase from the prior year’s fee of $2.26 due to … Continued

IRS Releases Final 2017 ACA Reporting Forms and Instructions | Fort Worth Benefit Advisors

The IRS has finalized the forms and instructions that employers will use for 2017 reporting under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Applicable large employers (ALEs) will use the following: 2017 Form 1094-C (transmittal to IRS). 2017 Form 1095-C (statement to individual). 2017 Instructions for Forms 1094-C and 1095-C (instructions). Employers that self-fund a minimum essential … Continued