Alera Group Insights

Perspectives from our thought leaders and experts across the country.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Employee Benefits

Your Guide to a Competitive, Cost-Efficient Employee Benefits Program

Alera Group’s recently released "2025 Employee Benefits Market Outlook" is a report designed to help you make informed decisions on designing a state-of-the-industry program that attracts and retains talented workers while guarding against the inefficiencies that drive up benefits spend — especially on healthcare and prescription drugs.

January 21, 2025

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Employee Benefits

The Market for Employee Benefits in 2025

Join Alera Group on January 16 from 1-2 p.m. CT as we highlight the key findings in our "2025 Employee Benefits Market Outlook" and discuss how trends in employee benefits may affect your business' offerings. The insights we’ll share and the questions we’ll answer will help you determine your benefits strategy for the months ahead.

January 6, 2025

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Employee Benefits

New ACA-Related Laws Provide More Flexibility to Employers

On Monday, December 23, 2024, President Biden signed into law two bills, H.R. 3797 (the Paperwork Reduction Act) and H.R. 3801 (the Employer Reporting Improvement Act), which will positively impact applicable large employers (ALEs) and other entities required to furnish Forms 1095-B or 1095-C to individuals.

January 2, 2025

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Employee Benefits

State of the Market for Employee Benefits in 2025

What are the needs and priorities of those in the workforce and the employment market? What are rival businesses offering to attract and retain the best the market has to offer? And what shifts are taking place in the market that employers should anticipate and prepare for? Alera Group’s 2025 Employee Benefits Market Outlook, scheduled for release on January 16, provides answers to those essential questions.

December 19, 2024

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Employee Benefits

IRS Releases PCORI Fee For Plan Years Ending Before October 1, 2025

The IRS has released Notice 2024-83, which sets the applicable PCORI fee for plan years ending between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025, at $3.47 per covered life.

December 12, 2024

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Employee Benefits

Don’t Forget About Your Gag Clause Attestations

When the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA) was enacted on December 27, 2020, it included a provision that prohibits group health plans and health insurance carriers from entering into certain agreements that, either directly or indirectly, restrict the release of certain information related to provider networks and de-identified encounter data, among other things. Such restrictions are commonly referred to as “gag clauses.” The CAA also requires plans and carriers to attest annually that their agreements do not include such impermissible gag clauses.

November 20, 2024

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Employee Benefits

Avoiding an Employee Lawsuit Over a Tobacco Surcharge Claim

Tobacco surcharges on health insurance premiums for employees who use tobacco products are attractive options for employers looking to keep their workforce healthy while lowering their organization’s healthcare costs. But surcharges can go too far, and many employers may be unaware of the limitations. Alera Group's new whitepaper on tobacco surcharges is designed to assist employers in complying with federal regulations.

November 19, 2024

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Employee Benefits

Q4 Considerations: New HIPAA Privacy Considerations

Earlier this year, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a Final Rule titled HIPAA Privacy Rule to Support Reproductive Health Care Privacy.

November 15, 2024

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Employee Benefits

Spotlight on 2025 Benefit Limits

The IRS has released the 2025 benefit plan limits. The following chart shows some of the key limits for the 2023, 2024 and 2025 tax years.

November 15, 2024

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