FSA Funds and OTC Drug Purchase Reminders
If your plan has a January effective date and you offer a flexible spending account (FSA), it's a good time to remind members that December 31, 2020 is the final day they can use any remaining 2020 funds. Additionally, for most plans, March 31, 2021 is the last day to...
Flu Shot Reduces Risk of COVID-19 Hospitalization
Our current focus on COVID-19 doesn't mean you should neglect getting a flu shot this year. A new study suggests the vaccine actually lowers your risk for being hospitalized if you get COVID-19. "COVID patients who had not received a flu vaccine within the last year...
MedBen Closed November 26 & 27 for Thanksgiving Holiday
MedBen will be closed on Thursday, November 26 and Friday, November 27 to celebrate Thanksgiving. We will reopen at 8:00 a.m. EST on Monday, November 30. Should you need claims and benefits information about your plan, our MedBen Access online service is available...
New COVID-19 Group Health Plan Regulations Released
In preparation for the widespread and rapid introduction of COVID-19 immunizations and other coronavirus preventive services, the Tri-Agencies (Internal Revenue Service, Department of Labor, and Health and Human Services) have issued interim Final Regulations updating...
MedBen “ACA by the Numbers” Summary Available for Download
To help clients keep track of the various limitations associated with health care reform, the MedBen Compliance team has compiled "ACA by the Numbers," a downloadable summary of the key financial components under the Affordable Care Act. The limitations listed in the...
Pandemic Spurs Rise in Mental Health Visits
A recent poll found that 78 percent of adults say the pandemic is adding more stress to their lives, and 19% percent feel their mental health is worse than it was a year ago. Based on the MedBen Analytics COVID-19 Impact Dashboard, our block of business saw mental...
Employers Are Looking for Plan Alternatives, and MedBen Delivers
Three-quarters of employers plan to adopt alternatives to traditional health plans over the next three years, a new study finds. For our clients, this change is already well underway with MedBen delivering cost-saving solutions. Alternative reimbursement strategies...
IRS Announces Cost-of-Living Adjustments for Health FSAs, Small Employer HRAs
The IRS has announced 2021 cost-of-living adjustments for certain tax provisions related to consumer-driven plans: The limit on voluntary employee salary reduction contributions to a health flexible spending account (FSA) remains unchanged from 2020 at $2,750. The...
MedBen ISO 9001:2015 Standards Help Maintain Seamless Service During Pandemic
At MedBen's most recent ISO 9001:2015 audit, we showed our commitment to maintaining high quality standards... and as the following excerpt notes, these standards played a crucial role when the pandemic hit: "Transition to work at home went very well from review of...
IRS Extends Employer 1095 Due Date
The Internal Revenue Services (IRS) has extended the deadline for distributing IRS Form 1095 to employees from January 31, 2021 to March 2, 2021. Now is the time for self-funded employers to start thinking about and complying with a critical health care reform...
Pandemic Drives Office Visits Down, But Preventive Care Rebounds
Using data from the MedBen Analytics COVID-19 Impact Dashboard, a review of office visit activity in 2020 shows that: The pandemic led to a steep decline in office visits, with a 47% decrease from January to May. Routine care dropped 49%, while preventive care fell...
MedBen Saving Solutions Counter Affordability Concerns
A National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions survey asked employers what they thought were the greatest threats to coverage affordability. Their responses... and how MedBen counters these concerns with proven saving solutions: Drug prices are a threat to...