Is short-term health insurance back on the menu? Feds may allow more options

Hard-pressed employers might have something different to offer workers, or departing workers, in 2026: a suggestion that they buy short-term health insurance. The U.S. Labor Department joined with the U.S. Treasury Department and the U.S Department of Health and Human Services to put out a statement Thursday that blesses use of “short-term, limited-duration insurance” policies that […]

Average American to see $3,752 tax cut in 2026 under new Trump tax law

The average American will see a tax cut of $3,752 in 2026 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, according to the nonpartisan Tax Foundation. The legislation, which President Trump signed into law last month, represents the most significant changes to federal tax policy since the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, according to the […]

New HSA legislation makes education the next frontier for benefits leaders

Congressional passage of the recent tax legislation marks the most consequential expansion of health savings accounts since their inception over two decades ago. Provisions in the bill — such as one increasing HSA availability for people with bronze or catastrophic health plans and one that expands pre-deductible coverage — signal powerful support for a solution […]

How Trump’s OBBBA will impact open enrollment

Open enrollment is only a few months away, and benefit leaders may face new and unprecedented challenges — and it’s all to do with President Trump’s new act. In July, the Trump administration signed into law the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which focuses primarily on tax cuts and spending reform and affected funding to many public […]

How the One Big Beautiful Bill will impact telehealth coverage for HDHPs

With the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Congress has made permanent the safe harbor allowing high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) to cover telehealth and other remote services before the deductible is met. It may seem like a small technical change in a bill with other large implications for healthcare in the country, but it creates […]

Bridging the trust gap: How HR can infuse confidence in the workplace

Friction has always existed between employers and employees, but trust and contention are more pronounced now than ever. With return-to-office mandates being implemented while employees are asking for continued work-life balance and flexibility, HR often finds themselves caught in the middle. Needing to balance business priorities while advocating for employees, HR’s unique position can help address this contention. […]

How Trump’s new law overhauls student loans and 529s for benefit managers

Whether someone is a recent college graduate or funding their or a relative’s future learning, there are education-based employer offerings that can improve their financial and professional wellness. Upcoming changes to employer student-loan assistance and 529 education savings accounts under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) could give benefit leaders the opportunity to make their current plans […]

Trump’s new law cuts both ways for Social Security beneficiaries

The Trump administration has claimed that the recently passed tax and spending bill “delivers on President Trump’s promise of no tax on Social Security.” Experts say it’s not that simple. The provision, part of the nearly 900-page One Big Beautiful Bill Act that was signed into law on July 4, creates a new tax deduction for seniors age 65 […]