Archives: 2025

JPMorgan Lawsuit Could Reshape Fiduciary Standards for Health Plans

Since the Consolidated Appropriation Act of 2021 was passed, increased scrutiny of medical and pharmacy carrier practices has led to lawsuits by health plans suing carriers and TPAs for suppression of data, improper out-of-network charges and hidden fees. More recently, health plan members and reti…Continued

Social Security Fairness Act of 2025: A Game-Changer for WEP & GPO

What HappenedOn January 5, 2025, the Social Security Fairness Act became law. The Act abolishes two long-standing provisions of the Social Security benefits structure:WEP – Windfall Elimination ProvisionGPO – Government Pension OffsetThe new rules apply to all payments payable for January 2024 and …Continued

Top Health Plan Compliance Issues for 2025

Employers should be aware of the top compliance issues that may impact their health plan coverage for 2025. Some of these compliance issues are established requirements for employers, such as the new simplified reporting under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Other compliance issues are anticipated d…Continued

2025 Employee Benefits Market Outlook

In 2024, employers of all sizes and industries faced several trends affecting the employee benefits market. Rising health care costs, a competitive labor market and regulatory concerns all shaped how employers navigated operational challenges. A number of these concerns, such as health care costs a…Continued

Power Shifts Back to Bosses...For Now

By Zack Fritz, Sage Policy GroupSupply constraints were a—and perhaps the—defining dynamic of the post-pandemic economy. Shutdown orders frustrated supply chains and reduced shipping capacity, while a barrage of early retirements devastated the labor supply. The latter was exacerbated by the increa…Continued