For employers that use a biweekly payroll schedule, 2026 will be an unusual year. Due to the way the calendar falls and the placement of the New Year’s Day federal holiday, many organizations that typically run 26 biweekly payrolls will instead issue 27 paychecks during...
In 2026, the employee benefits market is being shaped by a variety of trends, including regulatory volatility, shifting compliance priorities, accelerated cost pressures and ever-evolving workplace demands. Here are compliance trends to watch for: On July 4, 2025, a sweeping tax and spending bill, commonly...
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) created reporting requirements under Internal Revenue Code (Code) Sections 6055 and 6056. Under these rules, certain employers must provide information to the IRS about the health plan coverage they offer (or do not offer) to their employees. Under the original rules,...
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) created a federally financed subsidy, called the premium tax credit (PTC), to help eligible individuals and families with low or moderate incomes afford health insurance purchased through an Exchange. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress temporarily enhanced the PTC by eliminating...
By: Steve Kolker, Insurance Consultant, Employee Benefits, Hilb Group/Barrow Group One of the most essential, but difficult to afford coverages is long-term care (LTC) insurance. LTC insurance covers services like nursing home, assisted living, or in-home assistance that Medicare generally does not provide. The cost for...
This HR compliance calendar is a valuable tool to help your business stay on track with key employment-related deadlines throughout the year. HR compliance can be complex and involves many moving parts. Keeping track of deadlines during 2026 can help your business stay organized and...
When Marvel Studios announced it was moving major film productions out of Georgia, the headlines focused on cost savings, tax incentives, and global expansion. But will they regret their decision? On paper, it makes perfect sense: lower labor costs abroad, attractive U.K. tax breaks, and fewer...
Health care costs, and consequently employee benefit costs, have been growing at an alarming rate in recent years, and they’re not slowing down. Mercer projects that the total health benefit cost per employee is expected to rise 6.5% on average in 2026, which is the...
We are pleased to introduce our in-house Employee Benefits Consultant, Steve Kolker. Steve will be working with our business clients to provide “peace of mind” benefits solutions for both employers and employees. With more than 25 years in the insurance industry and 11 years specializing in...
The insurance landscape for carriers offering MEC (Minimum Essential Coverage) and MVP (Minimum Value Plan) has shifted significantly in recent months. With the closure of a key provider, Essential Staff Care, and the increasingly strict requirements from others, many in the temporary staffing industry seek...