Wilson Albers & Company Blog – Page 2 – Wilson Albers and Company

HHS Proposes Revisions to ACA Section 1557 Regulations

HHS Proposes Revisions to ACA Section 1557 Regulations At the end of May, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a proposed rule to revise regulations previously released under Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The HHS goal with the proposed rule is to remove what the department views as redundancies …

IRS Releases 2020 HSA Contribution Limits and HDHP Deductible and Out-of-Pocket Limits

This alert is of interest to all employers that sponsor group health plans. Note that employers with “grandfathered” or “grandmothered” plans are not subject to the ACA out-of-pocket limits, although the HSA/HDHP rules still apply if the plan is an HSA-qualified HDHP. In Rev. Proc. 2019-25, the IRS released the inflation adjusted amounts for 2020 …

REMINDER: PCORI Fees Due By July 31, 2019

This alert is of interest to all employers that sponsor self-insured group health plans, including Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs). Note that the PCORI fee does not apply to most health FSAs. Employers that sponsor self-insured group health plans, including health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) should keep in mind the upcoming July 31, 2019 deadline for paying …

Alera Group Acquires HighRidge Insurance Services

Alera Group, a leading national insurance firm, today announced its acquisition of HighRidge Insurance Services (HighRidge), effective May 1, 2019. HighRidge, located in Westlake Village, California, provides employee benefits services to clients throughout the state. With an emphasis in strategy consulting, the firm designs benefit and retirement plans tailored to meet each of their unique …

Alera Group Acquires ARMS Insurance Group

DEERFIELD, IL — Alera Group, a leading national insurance firm, today announced its acquisition of ARMS Insurance Group (ARMS), effective May 1, 2019. ARMS, a General Agency headquartered in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, has served insurance brokers throughout western Pennsylvania and the surrounding states for over 25 years. ARMS provides insurance brokers with sales support, distribution and …

Alera Group Acquires Shepler & Fear General Agency, Inc.

DEERFIELD, IL — Alera Group, a leading national insurance firm, today announced its acquisition of Shepler & Fear General Agency (SFGA), effective May 1, 2019. Founded in 2009, SFGA is a premier general agency located in Roseville, California. The firm specializes in large group, small group, and self-funding plans, serving brokers throughout California since 2009. Characterized …

Alera Group Acquires Shomer Insurance Agency

Alera Group, a leading national insurance firm, today announced its acquisition of Shomer Insurance Agency, Inc (Shomer), effective May 1, 2019. Terms of the transaction were not announced. Located in Los Angeles, California, Shomer offers insurance and risk management programs to clients throughout California, with specific expertise in tailoring programs for the unique insurance needs …

Legal Alert: CMS Extends Transition Relief for Non-Compliant Plans through 2020

Alert Summary from Danielle Capilla Continuing its trend for the sixth year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has extended transitional relief to “grandmothered” health plans. Grandmothered plans are non-grandfathered plans in the small group and individual market, that CMS has allowed to continue renewing despite their non-compliance with certain ACA requirements, including …

Legal Alert: New Court Ruling on Association Health Plans

Association Health Plans allowed small businesses to band together for more affordable healthcare, and they have been a hot topic of late. After the Department of Labor under the Trump administration issued its final ruling on Association Health Plans (AHPs) last summer, several states took up issue with it. Specifically, eleven states and the District …

Alera Group Acquires Phalanx Healthcare Solutions, LLC

DEERFIELD, IL — Alera Group, a leading national insurance firm, today announced its acquisition of Phalanx Healthcare Solutions, LLC (Phalanx), effective March 1, 2019. Located in New York City, Phalanx is a leading insurance and reinsurance broker of medical malpractice insurance for healthcare facilities, large physician groups, and individual physicians predominately in New York and New …