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Fringe Benefit Analysts® is a full-service insurance, consulting and employee benefits firm. We serve a wide range of businesses with best-in-class expertise, services and support for their benefit programs. Our clients are assured of accurate, consistent solutions, attention to detail, responsiveness and a high return-on-value for their benefits dollars. Fringe Benefits Analysts helps ‘calm the waters’ of the complex and sometimes overwhelming world of insurance benefits. Please enjoy our blog!

Emphasis on Consumerism in Health Care Expected Post 2016 Elections

January 4 | 2017
By: Michael Weiskirch
Principal & Founder, Health Cost Manager, A UBA Certified Solution
Emphasis on Consumerism in Health Care Expected Post 2016 Elections

I really need to stop spending so much time reading the news. I subscribe to several news aggregators, plus a number of content sources: blogs, industry experts and other publications. I pore through news about politics, world affairs, and information related to HR, benefits, and technology – the field I work in. I sometimes do […]

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Interim Final Regulation on Maximum Civil Monetary Penalties

December 29 | 2016
By: Danielle Capilla
Chief Compliance Officer at United Benefit Advisors
Interim Final Regulation on Maximum Civil Monetary Penalties

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently issued interim final regulations that adjust for inflation the maximum civil monetary penalties (CMP) that fall under HHS’s jurisdiction. The regulations reflect changes required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (the Act). Adjustments under the Act were effective on August […]

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FAQs on Tobacco Cessation Coverage and Mental Health/Substance Use Disorder Parity

December 20 | 2016
By: Danielle Capilla
Chief Compliance Officer at United Benefit Advisors
FAQs on Tobacco Cessation Coverage and Mental Health/Substance Use Disorder Parity

Recently, the Department of the Treasury, Department of Labor (DOL), and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) (collectively, the Departments) issued FAQs About Affordable Care Act Implementation Part 34 and Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Parity Implementation. The Departments’ FAQs cover two primary topics: tobacco cessation coverage and mental health / substance use […]

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The Impact of Wearable Devices in the Healthcare Industry

December 14 | 2016
By: Kaycee Eaton
Assistant Population Health Strategist for Vital Incite, LHD Benefit Advisors, a UBA Partner Firm
The Impact of Wearable Devices in the Healthcare Industry

Wearable fitness devices have been a hot topic in health and wellness for a few years now, but what kind of impact have wearables really had on improving health outcomes? Wearable fitness devices can be used to track physical activity, sleep, heart rate, and even provide on-screen workouts. They are most often paired with a […]

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Can Trump Dump Obamacare His First Day in Office?

December 9 | 2016
President of Fringe Benefit Analysts, LLC.
Can Trump Dump Obamacare His First Day in Office?

January 20, 2017 we will have the inauguration of our 45th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump. During his campaign he stated that he would repeal Obamacare (the Affordable Care Act or ACA) his first day in office. So what is the political reality of having the ACA repealed on January 21st? The […]

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VOI vs. ROI: A Business Case for Wellness

December 6 | 2016
By: Heather Mills CWWPM
Wellness Program Manager at VolkBell, a UBA Partner Firm
VOI vs. ROI: A Business Case for Wellness

VolkBell began the exploration into health and wellness about eight years ago. It was something our partners would say, “Just made sense.” At the time, health care costs were skyrocketing across the nation, particularly in our home state of Colorado, and the nation’s obesity rates were at an all-time high. In our research, we observed […]

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Employer Liability Under Health Care Sharing Ministries Plans

December 3 | 2016
President of Fringe Benefit Analysts, LLC.
Employer Liability Under Health Care Sharing Ministries Plans

Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), members belonging to a certain number of organizations known as Health Care Sharing Ministries – sometimes called Christian Health Plans or Christian Ministries Plan – were granted an exemption from the personal tax penalty (up to 2.5% of one’s household income in 2016 and beyond) for not having a […]

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Long-Term Care Insurance: Employee Education Makes the Difference

December 1 | 2016
By: Megan Ellis
Vice President of Sales, LTC Solutions, Inc., a UBA Certified Solution
Long-Term Care Insurance: Employee Education Makes the Difference

Most Partners of United Benefit Advisors (UBA) and their clients have benefits enrollment down pat. They know what to communicate to employees, and when. Employees, too, are usually familiar with the process. For example, they know what to expect when they start comparing their medical plan options to their 401(k) contributions. But not all benefits […]

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The Shift Away from Health Risk Assessments

November 30 | 2016
By: Sierra Sullivan
Assistant Population Health Strategist for Vital Incite, LHD Benefit Advisors, A UBA Partner Firm
The Shift Away from Health Risk Assessments

Historically, employers have utilized health risk assessments (HRAs) as one measurement tool in wellness programs design. The main goals of an HRA are to assess individual health status and risk and provide feedback to participants on how to manage risk. Employers have traditionally relied on this type of assessment to evaluate the overall health risk […]

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Health Care Sharing Ministries Plans – Pitfalls Individuals Should Consider

November 27 | 2016
President of Fringe Benefit Analysts, LLC.
Health Care Sharing Ministries Plans – Pitfalls Individuals Should Consider

Christian Health Sharing Ministries Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), members belonging to a certain number of organizations known as Health Care Sharing Ministries – sometimes called Christian Health Plans or Christian Ministries Plan – were granted an exemption from the personal tax penalty (up to 2.5% of one’s household income in 2016 and beyond) […]

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