26 pages. "This document is revised from the 2023 AV Calculator Methodology to incorporate updates to the 2024 AV Calculator. The first part of this document provides ... an overview of the regulation that allows HHS to make updates to the AV Calculator as well as the updates that are incorporated into the final 2024 AV Calculator. The second part of the document provides a detailed description of the development of the standard population and the AV Calculator methodology.... The final 2024 AV Calculator is available for download [ XLSM ]."   MORE >>

"The final policies build on the [ACA's] promise to expand access to quality, affordable health coverage and care by increasing access to health care services, simplifying choice and improving the plan selection process ... Network adequacy and essential community providers.... Standardized plan options.... Non-standardized plan option limits.... Stand-alone dental plans (SADPs).... Re-enrollment hierarchy ... Special enrollment periods ... FFM and SBM-FP user fees.... HHS-operated risk adjustment program."   MORE >>

"This is an excellent opportunity to review whether COBRA election notices have been sent during the last year and, if not, make sure they are mailed by the end of the Outbreak Period. Employers should notify participants of any coverage changes related to COVID-19 and of the end of the extended deadlines for exercising special enrollment rights, making COBRA elections and COBRA premium payments, and taking certain actions under the plan's claim procedures."   MORE >>

"The FAQs break little new ground but do provide some flexibility for health savings accounts (HSAs). While the guidance in the FAQs is still helpful, the timing of the end of the National Emergency (but not the Public Health Emergency) will be different than what is shown in the FAQs."   MORE >>

"Both federal and state laws mandate parity in health insurance policies between physical and behavioral health conditions. However, mental health parity is not required in disability insurance policies by any state other than Vermont. Consequently, most disability insurance policies provide inferior coverage for psychiatric impairments, although a recent federal court ruling from Michigan ... rejected Unum's attempt to limit the duration of disability benefits[.]" [ Berg v. Unum Life Ins. Co. of America , No. 21-11737 (E.D. Mich., March 23)]   MORE >>

"This issue brief provides an overview of employer-sponsored coverage, including the reasons employers offer coverage, the characteristics of that coverage, and how group coverage differs from coverage purchased in the individual market."   MORE >>

"[M]any employees don’t know that the pharmacy they frequent may not always offer the lowest price for their medications. There are many options for finding low-cost prescription drugs, but employees don’t always know they actually can price-shop prescriptions."   MORE >>

"Victims of severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes in Indiana from March 31 to April 1, 2023, now have until July 31, 2023, to file various individual and business tax returns and make tax payments ... [I]ndividuals and households ... that reside or have a business in Allen, Benton, Clinton, Grant, Howard, Johnson, Lake, Monroe, Morgan, Owen, Sullivan, and White counties qualify for tax relief."   MORE >>