Author: Cleveland Benefits Partners
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ACA Compliance for 2027: An Employer’s Guide
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) continues to impact employer-sponsored health plans through annual updates to cost-sharing limits, reporting requirements, affordability thresholds and preventive care guidelines. Use this checklist to review key ACA requirements for the 2027 plan year and update plan documents, employee communications and compliance procedures as needed. Plan Design ☐ Review Out-of-Pocket Limits…
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Gratitude: Finding the Positive in Everyday Life
Do you ever feel like you simply can’t catch a break? Maybe someone cuts you off in traffic or your boss gives you negative feedback. Do you sometimes find yourself feeling negative or cynical? Of course, we all experience these feelings from time to time. However, ongoing negativity can contribute to depression, which has been…
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Decoding Your Health Insurance ID Card
Your health insurance member identification (ID) card is more than just a piece of plastic (or a digital image on your phone)—it’s your passport to healthcare. It serves as proof of coverage and contains the vital information providers need to bill accurately and verify your benefits. Because these cards are packed with abbreviations and strings…
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Employee Benefits Compliance Brief September 2026
Proposed Regulations Address Employer Contributions to Trump Accounts and Dependent Care Nondiscrimination Testing The Department of the Treasury and the IRS have issued proposed regulations providing guidance on employer contributions to Trump Accounts and clarifying nondiscrimination testing for dependent care assistance plans (DCAPs). The proposed regulations address Internal Revenue Code Section 128, which governs tax-favored employer contributions…
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Tech Support Scams: How to Spot Them and Protect Yourself and Your Devices
All of us online have probably experienced this same panic: your screen displays a pop-up warning saying your device is infected with viruses. Some of us have probably received a phone call from someone claiming to be from “technical support” who says they need immediate access to your computer. Both are common types of a…
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Making Every Benefits Dollar Count: How to Maximize Your ROI
Employee benefits are one of the largest investments organizations make in their people. Yet, simply offering a strong benefits package doesn’t guarantee a strong return on that investment. The organizations that get the best return on their benefits spend understand that benefits are more than a line item on the budget. They are a tool…
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Wellness Works: Fall 2026
Navigating Seasonal Allergies: A Guide to Managing Seasonal Pollen Through the Year Millions of Americans experience seasonal allergies annually, facing disruptions from symptoms like sneezing, congestion, itchy eyes, coughing, and fatigue triggered by plant pollens. These airborne particles are categorized on a five-tier intensity scale spanning from low and moderate to high and peak. Although…
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Employee Benefit Compliance Briefing August 2026
DOL Proposes New, Additional Electronic Delivery Safe Harbor for Group Health Plans The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has proposed a new optional electronic disclosure safe harbor that would expand the way ERISA-covered group health plans provide required notices and disclosures to participants and beneficiaries. If finalized, the proposal would give employers and plan administrators greater flexibility…
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5 Wellness Tips to Transition from Summer to Fall
As summer turns to fall, a few simple habits can help protect your energy, mood, and routine through the shorter, colder days ahead. The transition from summer to fall can feel refreshing but often disrupts routines. Shorter days and colder weather reduce exposure to sunlight, which may affect circadian rhythms, energy, and mood. This can…
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The Reality of Cancer Care: Redefining Cancer Support for Your Workforce
Cancer has evolved into a persistent and complex challenge that demands a proactive approach rather than a reactive one. With more employees being diagnosed at younger ages and the cost of advanced treatments accelerating, cancer has solidified its position as a primary driver of healthcare spending for organizations. According to the Business Group on Health’s…
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Benefits 101: What Is an FSA?
An FSA is an employer-sponsored, tax-advantaged savings account. It allows you to set aside “pre-tax” money—meaning the money is taken out of your paycheck before taxes are calculated—to pay for out-of-pocket healthcare and dependent-care expenses. The Bottom Line: Because you aren’t paying taxes on this money, you effectively lower your taxable income and increase your…
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5 Principles for Modernizing Women’s Health Benefits
As the modern workforce evolves, employer-sponsored benefits must adapt to meet changing demographic demands. Women comprise nearly half of the U.S. workforce and are its primary consumers of healthcare services. Today, standard health coverage is shifting away from a pregnancy-only lens to an inclusive, whole-life framework. The Evolution to Whole-Life Care Historically, corporate maternal care…
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August Compliance Briefing
DOL Proposes New, Additional Electronic Delivery Safe Harbor for Group Health Plans The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has proposed a new optional electronic disclosure safe harbor that would expand the way ERISA-covered group health plans provide required notices and disclosures to participants and beneficiaries. If finalized, the proposal would give employers and plan administrators…
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The Hidden Cost of Waiting: Why Your Health Benefits Matter
Many people put off seeking medical care, even when they recognize that something doesn’t feel right. Busy schedules, financial concerns, fear of receiving bad news, and the hope that symptoms will simply go away often lead to delays that can allow health problems to worsen. While postponing care may seem like the easier choice in…
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Workplace Strategies for Supporting the Sandwich Generation
In today’s workforce, a significant number of experienced employees are working a second job that never appears on a timesheet: caregiving. This places them in the “sandwich generation,” a group of middle-aged adults tasked with simultaneously caring for their aging parents and their own children. This isn’t a specific age cohort like the Baby Boomers,…
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Making Your Benefits Work for You: A Guide to Open Enrollment
Open enrollment is more than just a checkbox on your to-do list. It’s your annual opportunity to design a financial and health safety net that fits your life. Because your needs today might be different than they were a year ago, we want to make sure you have the tools to choose wisely.
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HSA and HDHP Limits for 2027
On May 29, 2026, the IRS issued Revenue Procedure 2026-24, which sets the inflation-adjusted limits for health savings accounts (HSAs) and high deductible health plans (HDHPs) for 2027. The updated limits address: Each of these limits differs depending on whether the coverage is for an individual or a family under an HDHP.
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July Compliance Briefing
Understanding the Medical Loss Ratio When employers purchase fully insured health coverage, they expect premium dollars to be used primarily for employee health care, not excessive administrative costs or insurer profits. One of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) lesser-known consumer protection provisions helps ensure that happens through the Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) requirements. The ACA…
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Mastering Your Meds: A Guide to Reading Prescription Labels
Taking prescription medication is a common part of modern life. In fact, more than 131 million American adults take at least one prescription regularly. As we age, managing these medications becomes a vital part of staying healthy. While healthy habits and doctor visits are key, taking your medication correctly is just as important. Your pharmacist…
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From Planning to Post-Game: Your Complete Open Enrollment Checklist
A successful open enrollment starts long before the first form is signed. By reviewing and tailoring your benefits now, you can create a rewarding experience that truly enhances your employees’ overall health and financial security. Here are several key steps to help you prepare for your best enrollment period yet. Plan and Prepare Early (8–12…
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Employee Benefits Compliance Brief June 2026
IRS Releases 2027 HSA, HDHP, and Excepted-Benefit HRA Limits The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released the inflation-adjusted health savings account (HSA), high-deductible health plan (HDHP), and excepted-benefit health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) limits for 2027. These annual adjustments provide employers with an early opportunity to evaluate benefit strategies, update employee communications, and prepare plan documents…
