Editor’s Note

The debate over Medicaid expansion is not new. COVID-19 has raised an interesting issue as to whether states who have rejected Medicaid expansion for years should now reconsider its stance on expansion given the growing number of uninsured people during an unprecedented public health emergency. 
 

We will have to wait and see whether some or any of the 14 “holdout” states will indeed choose to expand Medicaid and whether those changes would be temporary or end up outlasting the pandemic. Matthew Goldman, Jordan Grushkin and Melissa Gertler’s article, COVID-19 Crisis: Will It Prompt “Holdout States” To Reconsider Medicaid Expansion? talks about how the Medicaid program has proven to be an important tool for an effective state and federal response to COVID-19 since it supports public health and provides a health care safety net for vulnerable populations.

Do you have at least 50 full-time employees? If so, you’re an Applicable Large Employer under the Affordable Care Act  — meaning you must offer “affordable” health insurance to your full-time employees, or risk penalties. But what exactly is “affordable” coverage? Each year, the IRS

makes that determination, and the numbers are in for 2020. Grace Ferguson’s article, ACA Affordability Percentage And Calculations For 2020, sheds more light on this topic. 

Have you thought about what open enrollment is going to look like this year? Have you thought about how you’re going to effectively inform your employees about your benefits? Booby Leesman’s article, How To Approach Open Enrollment During COVID-19, helps you understand how virtual enrollment can help you resolve any challenges you might face during the times of social distancing.

COVID-19 is not the first pandemic to hit the US. However, never before have businesses had to balance so many regulatory requirements while navigating the other challenges that a pandemic poses. To address the fundamental benefits questions that employers are asking, Eric Athey in his article, Employer-Provided Health Coverage During The Reign Of COVID-19, has compiled a list of key questions and answers.

This month’s Employee Benefits & Wellness Excellence, with a special focus on the ‘Affordable Care Act (ACA),’ brings you an array of articles that focus on various tips to effectively manage the current and upcoming challenges in the benefits and wellness space. We hope you enjoy reading all the articles and please do not forget to send us your valuable feedback. 

Stay Safe. Stay Healthy!
 

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