Author: Cleveland Benefits Partners
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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…
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Wellness Works: Summer 2026
Summer is the season of opportunity—a chance to reset your habits, soak up the sun safely, and prioritize the mental downtime we often skip during the winter hustle. Use these strategies to maximize your well-being while making the most of the warmer months. Build a High-Energy Routine With changing schedules and school breaks, it’s easy…
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The Digital Diagnosis: Navigating the Risks and Rewards of Health AI
In the modern age of instant information, the way we seek medical advice is shifting. According to a recent poll by KFF, one in three U.S. adults now uses artificial intelligence to look up health information. While these tools offer unparalleled convenience, they are fundamentally not designed to provide medical diagnoses—a distinction that can mean…
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ACA “Pay or Play” Penalties Increase for 2027
On May 4, 2026, the IRS announced updated penalty amounts for 2027 under the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) employer shared responsibility, or “pay-or-play,” rules. For the 2027 calendar year, the $2,000 penalty has been adjusted to $3,780, and the $3,000 penalty has increased to $5,670. This marks a rise from 2026 levels of $3,340 and…
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The Health Insurance Translator: Making Sense of Your Coverage
Navigating the healthcare system can often feel like trying to read a map in a language you don’t speak. Between the “alphabet soup” of acronyms—HMO, PPO, HSA—and the shifting rules of 2026 coverage, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed before you even step foot in a doctor’s office. However, health insurance literacy isn’t just about understanding…
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Employee Benefits Compliance Brief May 2026
A New Era of Health and Welfare Fiduciary Litigation Health and welfare plan fiduciaries are entering a period of increased legal scrutiny. For many years, fiduciary litigation under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) focused primarily on retirement plans, and particularly on allegations of excessive fees involving 401(k) plans. More recently, however,…
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How Employers Can Avoid Common HSA Mistakes
High Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs) paired with Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) remain a cornerstone of modern benefits strategy. When executed correctly, they offer a powerful “triple tax advantage” for employees and lower premiums for employers. However, the federal rules governing these accounts are strict. As we move into the 2026 plan year—and navigate new permanent…
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Fertility Benefits: A Growing Investment in Employee Well-Being and Retention
Work and family are two of the most important parts of an employee’s life. But starting or growing a family doesn’t always happen easily. According to the World Health Organization, about one in six people experience fertility challenges, making the path to parenthood stressful, complex and often expensive. Not surprisingly, these challenges can spill over…
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From Reactive to Proactive: Empowering Employees Through Preventive Care
In the world of employee benefits, we often spend our time talking about what happens when things go wrong—surgeries, emergency room visits, and specialist consultations. Today, the most successful organizations are shifting the conversation toward what happens when things go right. Teaching your employees about preventive care is more than just a wellness initiative; it…
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Wellness Works: Spring 2026
Spring into Motion: Strengthening Your Heart A new study published in BMJ Heart, a leading journal for cardiovascular advances, has found a powerful connection between your walking speed and your heart rhythm. According to the research, people who maintain an average or brisk walking pace have a 35% to 43% lower risk of developing heart…
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April Compliance Briefing
DOL Extends Comment Period on Proposed PBM Fee Disclosure Rule The Department of Labor (DOL) has announced a short extension to the comment period for its proposed rule on pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) compensation transparency. The rule is intended to strengthen disclosure requirements for PBMs and related service providers working with self-insured group health plans subject to…
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The Power of Health Literacy: How Smarter Choices Can Lead to Bigger Savings
Navigating the healthcare system is rarely a straight line. Between deciphering insurance jargon and choosing the right doctor, the decisions you make have a direct impact on your physical health and your bank account. As healthcare costs continue to rise—ranking as a top economic concern for two-thirds of Americans—personal health literacy has become an essential…
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When the Calendar Shifts: Preparing for an Extra Payroll Cycle in 2026
Most employers follow standard payroll schedules—monthly, weekly, semi-monthly, or biweekly—with biweekly cycles being the most common. Nearly half of organizations pay employees every other week. In 2026, however, employers using a biweekly schedule may encounter an unusual twist. Because New Year’s Day in 2027 falls on a federal holiday, companies that typically issue Friday paychecks…
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Strengthening Culture Through Timely Appreciation
Recognition is one of the most cost-effective tools for shaping workplace culture, yet it is often overlooked. When it’s missing or delayed, employees don’t just feel unappreciated; they also feel disrespected. They disengage, lose motivation, and eventually walk out the door. Recent research highlights the urgency of this issue. Only 19% of employees report receiving…
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Filing Form 5500
If your company provides an employee benefit plan governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), you are likely obligated to file Form 5500. This annual report discloses key details about your organization’s benefit offerings, such as welfare benefit plans (including medical, dental, life, and disability coverage), retirement plans, fully insured plans, and self-funded…
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ACA Update: IRS Announces 2027 Cost-Sharing Limits
On January 29, 2026, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) officially released the maximum cost-sharing limits for the 2027 plan year. These figures represent a significant 13.2% increase over the 2026 limits, marking a substantial shift in potential out-of-pocket expenses for plan participants. 2027 Maximum Out-of-Pocket Limits For 2027, the maximum…
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Navigating Health Plan Options: A Quick Guide
Choosing a health insurance plan can feel a lot like solving a puzzle—there are many moving pieces, and the best fit depends on how they come together for your unique situation. With so many options and acronyms—HMO, PPO, POS, EPO, HDHP—it’s easy to feel unsure about where to start. This guide breaks down the most…
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2026 ACA Reporting Guide: Key Deadlines and Compliance Requirements
Employers must prepare for Affordable Care Act (ACA) reporting covering the 2025 calendar year. Staying ahead of these deadlines is critical for Applicable Large Employers (ALEs) and providers of self-insured health plans. Who is Required to Report? Reporting obligations under Internal Revenue Code Sections 6055 and 6056 fall into two main categories: Note for Self-Insured…
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Guiding Better Benefits Decisions
Guiding Better Benefit Decisions Employees don’t experience their benefits all at once. They encounter them in moments — when a bill arrives, when a provider is chosen, or when an unexpected health issue surfaces. Yet, benefits communication is still heavily focused on enrollment, leaving employees without guidance when decisions are made. That gap can…
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Pulse Check: 4 Simple Ways to Boost Your Heart Health
February is often filled with symbols of love, but it’s also the perfect time to focus on the most important heart of all—your own. American Heart Month serves as a vital reminder that cardiovascular health is the foundation of a long, vibrant life. Heart disease remains a leading health challenge globally, but the good news…
