group health benefits

More Insurers Scale Back on Prior Authorizations

More Insurers Scale Back on Prior Authorizations

Some of the nation's largest insurers have announced plans to roll back their prior authorization requirements for medical services, and some are doing this in their Medicare Advantage plans as well. The moves come as states and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid...

EEOC Posts New Guidance on Visual Disabilities under the ADA

EEOC Posts New Guidance on Visual Disabilities under the ADA

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has issued new guidance for employers to provide reasonable accommodations for visually impaired workers who request it. About 18.4% of all American adults have at least some difficulty with their vision, even when wearing...

The Risk Report – September 2023

The Risk Report – September 2023

Download Volume 5, Issue 9 of The Risk Report In this Edition: Health Plan Affordability Level Cut Significantly for 2024 Group Health Plan Cost Inflation to Pick Up Steam More Insurers Scale Back on Prior Authorizations 50% Increase in Overtime Pay Threshold on Tap...

Group Health Plan Affordability Level Cut Significantly for 2024

Group Health Plan Affordability Level Cut Significantly for 2024

The IRS has significantly reduced the group plan affordability threshold — which is used to determine if an employer's lowest-premium health plan meets the Affordable Care Act rules — for 2024. The threshold for next year has been set at 8.39% of an employee's...

Report: Group Health Plan Cost Inflation to Pick Up Steam

Report: Group Health Plan Cost Inflation to Pick Up Steam

A new report by Aon warns employers to expect average group health insurance costs to increase 8.5% in 2024, as inflation starts hitting the cost of delivering care as well as pharmaceuticals. The report predicts that employers will pay an average of $15,088 in 2024,...

The Beacon – August 28, 2023

The Beacon – August 28, 2023

MZQ Beacon Alert -August 28, 2023 In this Edition: "Just when we thought affordability percentages couldn’t possibly go lower than the 2023 rate of 9.12%, theInternal Revenue Service released Revenue Procedure 2023-29 declaring the Affordable Care Act (ACA)benchmark...

Budgeting and Prepping for Open Enrollment

Budgeting and Prepping for Open Enrollment

If you are running a business, you need to get an early start on preparations for your small group health plan open enrollment, particularly now as so much confusion abounds about the state of health insurance in the country. With recent new regulations, options have...

The Beacon – August 10, 2023

The Beacon – August 10, 2023

MZQ Beacon Alert -August 10, 2023 In this Edition: "With the ongoing issue of Medicaid redetermination taking place across the nation, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Treasury, and the Department of Labor (collectively, the Agencies) are...

Handling Health Insurance for Remote Workers

Handling Health Insurance for Remote Workers

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, more employers are allowing their staff to work remotely on a permanent basis, often allowing them to never have to set foot in the office again. This newfound freedom for American workers has allowed many of them to leave the cities they...