On Sunday, December 27, 2020, the White House signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, a massive bill to fund the government that includes several provisions related to Cafeteria Plans, specifically flexible spending accounts (FSAs).
To cater to every learner, Optum Financial works to create content that serves a range of needs. To start the new year, we reviewed some of the most common learning styles and the benefits education resources we’ve created for each. Use these to brush up on your own knowledge or share with clients and members to give them a better understanding of the benefits available to them.
We're delighted to introduce the ConnectYourCare podcast, Exclamation! of Benefits. On our podcast, host Carla Wardin talks to people making things happen in the health care benefits industry. The guests are experts in their fields, and they make complicated topics like easy to understand by walking you through common questions and giving their educated, fresh insight into industry trends and issues coming up next. Check out our first episodes!
ConnectYourCare ranked #44 on Baltimore Business Journal’s Fast 50 list of the fastest-growing private companies in Greater Baltimore in 2020 and was recognized as #43 among the Journal’s Top 100 Private Companies.
ConnectYourCare had four award-winning entries selected in the 22nd annual Digital Health Awards® program. This competition—held twice a year by The Health Information Resource Center℠—recognizes the world’s best digital health resources.
The COVID-19 pandemic prompted many legislative changes that affected consumer-directed benefits and tax filings, keeping HR administrators and brokers on their toes. Whether employer, broker, or account holder, we’ve recapped nine key benefits legislation updates in 2020 that you should know, plus a checklist to keep handy as we near the end of the year—just in case you lost track or need a refresher.
What do benefits from health savings accounts (HSAs) and flexible spending accounts (FSAs) have to do with celebrating Thanksgiving? We look at an example of some of our favorite holiday traditions to see why you might give thanks for the tax-free benefits these accounts offer when you need them!
With the many changes that happened in 2020, employers’ need for broker assistance with selecting and administering benefit plans has increased–as has the need for technology. We talked with our experts to learn what brokers can do to prepare for 2021 with this broker tech check! Take a look to get ready for next year and check out our latest podcast for more on the topic.
These days, more people are opting for high-deductible health plans (HDHPs), which means more people are also opening health savings accounts (HSAs) to offset out-of-pocket spending. Whether you spend or save HSA dollars, you will still reap the rewards of these tax-advantaged accounts. It's a matter of saving now or saving later! Read about the types of HSA owners to see what category you fall into—spender, saver, or rainy day-er!
A health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) is a way for employers to reimburse their employees for health expenses. Businesses use HRAs instead of group health insurance or in addition to it, depending on their situation. But with all the acronyms, benefits options, and health care choices available today, what does it all really mean? In this article, learn how HRAs began, how they work, which people they benefit, and what types of HRAs are available. Plus, you can check out the HRA guide we created to help you figure our which HRA is right for you!