Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act Summary Available for Download
MedBen has prepared a summary of The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act – or CARES Act – which became law on March 28, 2020. While the majority of the CARE Act’s 335 pages deals with economic relief for American businesses, financial assistance for...
Department of Labor Releases Model Notice Related to the Families First Coronavirus Response Act
As MedBen has reported to you elsewhere on this blog, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”) requires private employers with fewer than 500 employees and public employers with at least one (1) employee (a “Covered Employer”) to provide their employees...
Department of Labor Issues FAQ on Families First Coronavirus Response Act
In order to provide clarification on the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), the Department of Labor (DOL) has issued Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) along with two informational documents directed specifically at the emergency Family and...
COVID-19 and Telehealth Services
As many of you now know, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act requires that group health plans cover telehealth office visits related to the ordering of a COVID-19 test for a covered employee or dependent. Given the current “stay-at-home” and “social...
Health Savings Account (HSA) Contributions Deadline Extended
As a result of COVID-19, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has clarified that the deadline for making health savings account (HSA) and individual retirement account (IRA) contributions for the 2019 tax year has been extended to July 15, 2020. This matches the new...
COVID-19 Circumstances May Allow Midyear Changes to Dependent Care Assistance Plan (DCAP) Elections
As we work our way through the COVID-19 situation, plan members have asked MedBen if they can make a midyear change to their dependent care assistance plan (DCAP) elections. With schools closed, a parent may need to increase their DCAP contribution for additional...
Ohio and Kentucky Public Employer Mandate Summaries Available for Download
Earlier this month, the Governors of Ohio and Kentucky declared state emergencies that mandated self-funded public employers to make temporary changes to their health plans in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. MedBen's summaries of these public employer requirements in...
We’re Here for You.
Just a note that MedBen is open and available for all of our clients. We welcome your calls and emails and we are here to answer your questions. We look forward to meeting again in person. Stay safe everyone. We're available during our regular hours of 8:00 a.m. -...
Families First Coronavirus Response Act Summary
MedBen has prepared a downloadable summary of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”) and how it affects self-funded health plans. The Act, which passed the Senate on March 18 and was signed into law by President Trump, defines employer responsibilities...
Telehealth a Useful Service in Current Health Climate
The benefits of MedBen’s telehealth provider service goes beyond patient convenience. With heightened concerns about the novel coronavirus COVID-19, telehealth can, as The New York Times says, "keep the worried well calm and away from clinical care while steering the...
Direct-to-Employer Contracting and Reference-Based Pricing Produced Substantial Savings in 2019
In 2019, MedBen clients who integrated direct-to -employer contracting and reference-based pricing (RBP) strategies into their plan saved 24.7% on claim costs compared to their previous PPO discounts. RBPs effectively reduce plan costs because they can be customized...
Preventive Care Reduces Costs
Practicing timely preventive care saved MedBen WellLiving clients 7.8% on average per-employee claim costs in 2019 compared to non-WellLiving clients. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the top one percent of health care spenders...