Amanda Wilke, CEBS, Author at Word on Benefits

Decumulation Challenges and Solutions for Plan Members: Three Takeaways

Amanda Wilke

29 Jun 202329 Jun 2023

Decumulation, the concept of income for life, can be considered “the nastiest, hardest problem in finance,” according to William Sharpe, a Nobel prize winner in Economics. The concept is challenging because the uncertainty of someone’s lifespan makes it difficult to know what […]

Employee Benefits Health Care Insurance Prescription Drugs

PBM Reform Momentum Heats Up

Amanda Wilke

08 Jun 202308 Jun 2023

The fight to lower prescription drug costs is underway. Congress has introduced a handful of bipartisan bills aiming to tackle drug prices by increasing transparency on pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and their practices that increase drug prices for group health plans. Congressional […]

Employee Benefits

Forfeiture Guidance for Retirement Plan Sponsors

Amanda Wilke

23 May 202323 May 2023

On February 27, 2023, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued a proposed rule to clarify the use of forfeitures in qualified defined contribution (DC) and defined benefit (DB) retirement plans. The rule would take effect for plan years beginning on or after […]

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Employee Benefits HIPAA Insurance Legislative Regulatory

The End of the COVID-19 Emergencies Arrives Early

Amanda Wilke

12 Apr 202318 Apr 2023

This blog has been updated with new information from the previous version published on April 12, 2023. President Biden signed H.R. Res. 7 on Monday, April 10, 2023, to end the national emergency (NE) for COVID-19, effective immediately. Although the NE ended […]

Compliance Coronavirus (COVID-19) Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Employee Benefits Health Care HIPAA Insurance Regulatory U.S.

It’s Coming—The End of the COVID-19 Emergencies

Amanda Wilke

21 Mar 202321 Mar 2023

After nearly three years, the time has finally come. The Biden administration announced that both the COVID-19 national emergency (NE) and the public health emergency (PHE) will end on May 11, 2023. Now it’s time for employers to prepare to unwind the […]

Employee Benefits Financial Education Financial Education (U.S.) Financial Wellness Legislative Retirement SECURE 2.0 U.S.

What Plan Sponsors Need to Know After the Passage of SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022

Amanda Wilke

28 Dec 202217 Feb 2023

The SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 (SECURE 2.0 Act), which aims to increase retirement savings and expand coverage to employer-sponsored retirement plans, was included in the 4,155-page omnibus spending bill (HR 2617) to fund the government for 2023. The omnibus bill was […]

Compliance Coronavirus (COVID-19) Employee Benefits Legislative SECURE 2.0 U.S.

What Plan Sponsors Need to Know About SECURE 2.0 in the Senate

Amanda Wilke

30 Nov 202210 Feb 2023

The end-of-year push to pass the bill package known as SECURE 2.0 is underway. SECURE 2.0 is comprised of three separate bills, one in the House of Representatives (House) and two in the Senate, aimed at increasing retirement savings and expanding coverage […]

Communication Coronavirus (COVID-19) Employee Benefits Health Care HIPAA Insurance U.S.

HIPAA Guidance on Postpandemic Audio-Only Telehealth

Amanda Wilke

19 Jul 202219 Jul 2022

On June 13, 2022, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued guidance on Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requirements as they relate to audio-only telehealth. Telehealth technology is typically thought of as […]

Communication Employee Benefits Human Resources (HR) Paid Leave Paid Time Off (PTO) Parental Leave U.S.

Miscarriage and Other Pregnancy Loss Leave

Amanda Wilke

01 Jun 202201 Jun 2022

According to the Mayo Clinic, roughly 10 to 20% of known pregnancies end in miscarriage. The physical and emotional needs of someone who experiences pregnancy loss vary from one individual to another. Indonesia, India, Taiwan, and New Zealand are a few countries […]

Communication Compliance Defined Benefit (DB) Plans Defined Contribution (DC) Plans DOL Employee Benefits Legislative Public Plans Regulatory Retirement U.S.

Everything Plan Sponsors Need to Know About SECURE Act 2.0

Amanda Wilke

26 May 202226 May 2022

On March 29, 2022, the House of Representatives passed the Securing a Strong Retirement Act of 2022 (HR 2954), otherwise known as SECURE Act 2.0, by a vote of 414-5. Secure Act 2.0 builds on the 2019 Setting Every Community Up for […]