What does the IRS do while it awaits the outcome of tax reform? It works on identifying employers that are not complying with the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA’s) employer shared responsibility mandate. In April, a Treasury Inspector General for Tax… more »

Nearly half of U.S. adults are now considered hypertensive, based on revised blood pressure guidelines developed by the American Heart Association and other medical groups. A reading of 130/80 will indicate stage 1 hypertension, a reduction from the… more »

Earlier this year, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued another FAQ in its series addressing implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). In addition to guidance on the 21st Century Cure’s Act and other items, the DOL’s FAQ Part 35 focuses on new… more »

As the usual end-of-year festivities ramp up, the staff of MedBen would like to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a fun and stress-free holiday season. While MedBen pauses to observe Thanksgiving Day, our offices will be closed on Thursday,… more »

Working on your 2018 health plan budget? If so, you’ll want to keep the following limitations and penalties in mind. The following apply as of the first day of your plan’s 2018 plan year: Out-of-Pocket Maximums $7,350 for self-only (employee-only)… more »

We see change happening around us every day... but as we approach the final months of the year, what changes have you seen in yourself over the last year? More importantly, what changes haven’t you noticed? Your family physician can tell you what you… more »

British researchers have determined that a regimen of medications can be just as effective in treating heart patients as a coronary stent insertion to open blocked arteries. The results raise questions about the value of using stents for the treatment… more »

Medical plan trend has kept stable over the last few years. Even so, MedBen has consistently remained under national trend by emphasizing the highest driver of plan costs – claims. According to the 2018 Segal Health Plan Cost Trend Survey, medical… more »

Three recent news items that caught our eye... The percentage of undiagnosed cases of diabetes has dropped significantly in recent years. Better testing techniques now capture about 90% of all diabetes cases. Data from the National Health and… more »