March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. According to the World Health Organization, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide, accounting for approximately 10% of all cancer cases, and it is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. For many years, concerns about… [Read more]
Gum Disease and Chronic Illness Go Hand in Hand – What can you do?
Most people think that visiting their dentist every 6 months just helps keep your gums and teeth healthy; however, seeing your dentist is much more important than that. Chronic disease, like diabetes, can affect your oral health and conversely, dental issues can be indicative of… [Read more]
Coordinating Medicare with Group Health Plans
If you have Medicare and other group health insurance through your employer. each type of coverage is called a “payer.” When there’s more than one payer, Medicare’s coordination of benefit rules decide who pays first. The “primary payer” pays what it owes on your bills… [Read more]
Reduced Employer Shared Responsibility Penalties for 2025
Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), if you are an “applicable large employer” (ALE), there are two key things you need to know this time of year: First, if you do not offer at least 95% of your full-time employees health coverage that qualifies as… [Read more]
New Health and Welfare Benefit Limits for 2024
The IRS has released the 2024 limits for certain employee benefit plans and the dollar amounts used for certain nondiscrimination testing. Health Flexible Spending Accounts. The 2024 limit for employee contributions to health flexible spending accounts will increase to $3,200. If a cafeteria plan permits the carryover… [Read more]
IRS Announces 401(k) Limits for 2024
The IRS announced that starting in 2024, employees can contribute up to $23,000 into their 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans or the Thrift Savings Plan for federal employees. That’s an increase of $500 from the 2023 limits. The catch-up contribution limit for employees ages 50… [Read more]
California to Increase Paid Sick Leave starting January 1, 2024
Beginning January 1, 2024, California employers will need to provide 40 hours or five days per year of paid sick leave, a 16 hour or 2 day increase per year over the current practice. Employers have two (2) methods available when granting paid sick leave… [Read more]
IRS Delays Change for 401(k) Catch Up Contributions for 2 Years
Under section 603(c) of the SECURE 2.0 Act, catch-up contributions from participants in 401(k), 403(b), or governmental 457(b) plans earning $145,000 or more must be made as Roth contributions. Initially, the provisions of section 603 applied to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2023. The… [Read more]
2024 ACA Employer Shared Responsibility – Affordabilty Criteria
The Internal Revenue Service has issued Revenue Procedure 2023-29 to implement the 2024 index adjustments for certain Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) contribution percentages used to determine affordability under the law’s employer shared responsibility mandate. Background. Under the ACA, contribution percentages are used to determine: (i)… [Read more]
Is It Heat Exhaustion or Heat Stroke? How Can You Tell the Difference?
As we move into the warmer summer months, we need to keep in mind that staying hydrated is key to avoiding heat related illnesses. During those hot days when you are basking in the sun, know the symptoms and differences between heat exhaustion and heat… [Read more]