According to the Greek philosopher Heraclitus, “The only thing that is constant is change.” This certainly rings true for the year ahead in the world of employee benefits and human capital management. While not an exhaustive summary of the changes to come, the following touches on some of the key trends and area of focus for employee benefits in the near future.

From our employee-owners to you and your family, we wish you a safe and joyous holiday!

What Is Form 5500? 

Also known as the Annual Return/Report of Employee Benefit Plan, Form 5500 is a filing required annually by the Department of Labor (DOL) & Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Form 5500 reports and discloses information on benefit plans to ensure:

• The operation and management of these plans comply with certain Titles outlined in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).
• Sufficient information is provided to regulators to effectively safeguard the rights and benefits of participants and beneficiaries.

The U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) announced their final regulations modifying the Association Health Plan (AHP) rules to expand availability to more employers and to make them more affordable by eliminating certain coverage requirements applicable to qualified health plans under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

It’s no secret that most people enjoy getting away for a week or two in the summer to enjoy the sunshine and quality family time. Studies have shown that taking occasional vacations has many work and health benefits, including lowering stresslevels, avoiding burnout, and increased work quality and creativity. However, before you get over-excited and hit the open road, here are some quick tips to make sure you are prepared for the unexpected.

On April 26, 2018, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced yet another modification to the annual limitation on deductions for contributions to Health Savings Accounts (HSA).

In this thriving economy, savvy leaders are preparing themselves to capitalize on Merger and Acquisition (M&A) opportunities to supplement organic growth. According to a recent study from Deloitte, “Corporations and private equity firms foresee an acceleration of M&A activity in 2018—both in the number of deals and the size of those transactions.”

According to Willis Towers Watson, nearly half of the employees enrolled in a qualified high deductible health plan (HDHP) in 2017, did not contribute their own money to a Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). It is important to educate employees and help them understand what an HSA is and the benefits of setting aside pretax money for qualified medical expenses.

Gibson’s Wes Mantooth, Principal and Consultant in the Employee Benefits Practice, shares his insight on what 2018 may bring for the world of health care.

Navigating the health care system can be a tricky and windy road. Not knowing and understanding basic health information can cost people money and affect their wellbeing.