Anne Newhouse, CEBS, Author at Word on Benefits

American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and COBRA Subsidies

Anne Newhouse

25 Mar 202119 Apr 2021

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) passed by Congress and signed by President Biden on March 11, 2021 contains various employee benefits provisions, including premium assistance for participants of group health plans through the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of […]

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Coronavirus (COVID-19) Dependent Care Employee Benefits Human Resources (HR) Legislative U.S.

How the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 Impacts Dependent Care Assistance Programs

Anne Newhouse

24 Mar 202119 Apr 2021

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 includes an optional (but not required) temporary change for the calendar year of 2021 to increase the maximum pretax contribution limit from $5,000 to $10,500 for dependent care assistance programs (DCAPs). For individuals who are […]

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

Finally—Additional Relief for Dependent Care Assistance Programs Due to COVID-19

Anne Newhouse

21 Jan 202123 Mar 2021

[Update: IRS Notice 2021-15, which was released on March 2, 2021, clarifies the application of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, on dependent care assistance programs under Section 125 cafeteria plans.] At last, there is legislation to help plan sponsors and participants with […]

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Employee Benefits Human Resources (HR) U.S.

Changes to Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts Due to COVID-19

Anne Newhouse

27 Oct 202021 Jan 2021

[An update on temporary guidance for DCAPs can be found here: Finally—Additional Relief for Dependent Care Assistance Programs Due to COVID-19, 1/21/21] In March and April, as states first began releasing their “shelter-in-place” orders, plan sponsors had to deal with questions about […]

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Employee Benefits Health Care Human Resources (HR) Paid Leave U.S.

The Status of the FFCRA Specific to Paid Leave

Anne Newhouse

15 Oct 202015 Oct 2020

When the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) was initially released on March 18, 2020 and required employers with fewer than 500 employees to provide paid sick leave and expanded the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), most of us probably thought—and […]

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

Impact of the COBRA Extension Interim Final Rule

Anne Newhouse

14 Sep 202010 Sep 2020

On January 31, 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) initially declared a federal public health emergency due to the coronavirus. The declaration has now been extended twice, including the latest extension on July 23, 2020. Unless the declaration is terminated […]

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

Medicare and COBRA Coordination During COVID-19

Anne Newhouse

04 Aug 202004 Aug 2020

Maintaining access to health insurance is a huge priority for both employers and employees right now. With some employers having to make hard decisions about layoffs, furloughs and terminations, one of the situations plan sponsors should be mindful of is the integration […]

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Employee Benefits Health Care

Coronavirus and On-Site Clinics: What Plan Sponsors Need to Know

Anne Newhouse

27 Apr 202027 Apr 2020

Many plan sponsors use on-site clinics to address the health and wellness of their participants and sometimes, the participant’s family members. These clinics provide easy access for all health-related services, coordinate care from multiple providers and provide support and education for patients. […]

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Employee Benefits Flexible Work Options Human Resources (HR)

Tips for Working From Home During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Anne Newhouse

23 Mar 202022 Sep 2020

While some people have been working from home for months or even years, many of us are new to the experience, including myself. COVID-19 has created an imminent need for telecommuting so that businesses can remain open and productive. If working from home […]

Affordable Care Act (ACA) Employee Benefits Health Care Insurance

Status of the State Individual Health Insurance Coverage Mandates

Anne Newhouse

13 Feb 202020 Mar 2020

As the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) requirement for individuals to have health insurance coverage, known as the individual mandate, has faced challenges over the last few years, a growing number of states have stepped in to enact their own health care coverage […]