Andrea Powers

Sep 12, 2024 | jdsupra.com | Andrea Powers |William Robinson

As employers look toward open enrollment for their group health plans, now is a good time to review action items needed for those plans by year-end, as well as upcoming deadlines in the near future. While fully-insured health plans generally have their compliance obligations satisfied by the insurer, self-insured health plans usually rely on the employer or the plan's third-party administrator (TPA) to meet the compliance requirements.

Dec 15, 2023 | jdsupra.com | Andrea Powers

As part of the No Surprises progeny of legislation seeking transparency in health care, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 prohibits the use of "gag clauses" in group health plan agreements. All group health plans are required to submit an attestation by 12/31/2023, and each 12/31 thereafter, that the plan is not, and has not, been subject to any "gag clause" since 12/27/2020.

Nov 29, 2023 | asml.com | Andrea Powers

3-minute read - By Andrea Powers, November 29, 2023Did you know that approximately 95% of ASML lithography systems sold in the past 30 years are still active in the field? As of the end of 2022, more than 5,000 of our machines are hard at work in chipmaking fabs globally – a feat made possible by the fact that our systems can be repaired, refurbished and repurposed throughout their life cycles.

Sep 12, 2023 | jdsupra.com | Carl Hartley |Andrea Powers

As employers are preparing for 2024 open enrollment, they should be aware that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) affordability safe harbors are going DOWN for 2024. The IRS has just released Revenue Procedure 2023-29, which provides that the ACA affordability threshold is decreased to 8.39 percent for 2024 from 9.12 percent for 2023. This change will most likely lower the amount of premiums an employee can be required to pay so employers avoid the possibility of a penalty.

Sep 12, 2023 | jdsupra.com | Carl Hartley |Andrea Powers

September 12, 2023 To embed, copy and paste the code into your website or blog: SECURE Act 2.0 made sweeping changes to retirement plans, including changes to the additional "catch-up" contributions. These catch-up contributions for participants age 50+ have long provided the opportunity for needed additional retirement savings.