As the current pandemic continues to raise health concerns, many health insurance carriers have taken the initiative to ensure members have continued coverage for and access to COVID-19 related testing and treatment. For instance, Cigna announced they have extended their previously announced support for customers, by implementing the following COVID-19 …
The proactive response made to help flatten the COVID-19 curve and preserve personal protective equipment (PPE) has impacted the healthcare economy in profound ways, especially to the dental industry. On March 16, 2020, the American Dental Association (ADA) issued guidance stating that dental practices need to postpone elective procedures and …
In times when there is fear, anxiety, and unpredictability, providing comfort and support to individuals is imperative. That is why Philly-headquartered insurance carrier, Independence Blue Cross (IBC), has launched a new initiative — “Calls of Kindness.” Through this initiative, IBC employee volunteers call Medicare members to proactively check-in on their …
On May 20, 2020 the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released Revenue Procedure 2020-32, which provides the inflation adjusted amounts for Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and High Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs) for the 2021 plan year. As cost of living expenses continue to rise, the IRS annually adjust the following amounts …
We’re excited to highlight the community efforts of one of our clients, Dieffenbach’s Potato Chips Inc. — a Womelsdorf-based company, known for its UGLIES® Kettle Cooked Potato Chip brand, which takes minorly imperfect potatoes previously disposed of by farmers to ultimately reduce the national percentage of food waste. In an …
The global COVID-19 pandemic has altered life as we know it. Uncertainty of what lies ahead does not mean managing your health should be put on the back burner. Maintaining healthy exercise, nutrition, and sleep habits may feel especially challenging during this time, but these habits are critical for managing …
To assist with the issues presented by the Novel Coronavirus outbreak, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released Notice 2020-29, which provides flexibility for mid-year election changes under a Section 125 cafeteria plan during 2020. This flexibility has been designed to encourage employers, who sponsor health flexible spending accounts (FSAs) and …
Over the last several months, the rise of COVID-19 has presented an excessive amount of challenges to individuals, businesses, institutions and across national and global healthcare systems. In efforts to restore imbalances in the healthcare industry, UnitedHealth Group, along with many other insurance carriers, have rose to the occasion. UnitedHealth …
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, employees may be more likely to have unused funds in their health flexible spending accounts (FSAs) or dependent care assistance program (DCAP) accounts. Health FSAs and DCAPs are accounts individuals can make pre-tax contributions to, that are then used to pay for certain out-of-pocket …
Plans to reopen around the country are beginning to go into effect, which means workers who have been working from home or who were furloughed in response to COVID-19, may be returning to the workplace. As employees’ health and wellness remains a top priority, employers need to recognize the added …
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, schools and day care facilities have been forced to close. With the lack of availability and, in some cases, need for childcare, employees are being encouraged to re-evaluate their Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP) contributions and consider alternate uses for these funds. Under ‘normal’ circumstances, …
As news and information flood our daily lives amidst the current crisis, we wanted to take the opportunity to focus on the positive. Earlier this week, the Mayor of Philadelphia, Jim Kenney, announced the launch of a new public awareness campaign taking place this May, which builds on national Mental …
Across the nation, we continue to witness the high demand and stress the COVID-19 pandemic is placing on our healthcare system. While challenges and uncertainty continue to present themselves, costs increase. The healthcare marketplace’s combined costs for testing, treating, and caring for patients is estimated to rise from $56 billion …
In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, employees have the opportunity to take advantage of the loosened requirements regarding how they can spend their health savings account (HSA) dollars. Employees can now utilize their HSA dollars to pay for telehealth services, over-the-counter (OTC) medications, feminine hygiene products and more. Many …
Due to the increased need for access to social service resources, Highmark Inc., Allegheny Health Network (AHN) and Gateway Health have partnered with Aunt Bertha to provide a free resource tool for individuals facing food, housing or other crises during these difficult times. The Aunt Bertha directory contains geographic-specific information …
