Winter skincare items to splurge on
Save twice when you shop for these eligible winter skin care items leading up to Black Friday. While IRS guidelines aren’t designed to support beauty, they are designed to support health, which includes taking care of your skin! Winter skincare & your FSA Purely cosmetic products (e.g. mascara, teeth whitinening kits, foundation) are not considered […]
Understanding HRA eligible expenses
You’ve just enrolled in an HRA and are ready to start saving on eligible medical expenses. Great! Now…where to start? What are HRA eligible expenses? It’s not an easy answer. Eligible expenses for pre-tax health accounts (e.g., FSAs, HSAs, and HRAs) are defined by IRS Code Section 213(d). This code says: Expenses that primarily prevent, […]
Making masks and PPE items eligible expenses
EDIT: In March 2021, the IRS released Announcement 2021-7, establishing that “personal protective equipment, such as masks, hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes, for the primary purpose of preventing the spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19 PPE) are treated as amounts paid for medical care under § 213(d) of the Internal Revenue Code (Code).” What […]
4 Strategies to Strengthen Your Benefits Programs
The job market can be a blessing or a curse for human resource professionals. With low unemployment rates comes a highly competitive job market where every bell and whistle can be the determining factor to be the employer of choice. Inc.com gives us 7 Ways to Improve Employee Satisfaction, which can certainly improve the employee […]
6 Reasons HRAs with BRI are GREAT
As out-of-pocket expenses rise for employees, an HRA provides a great opportunity for employers to cushion the increase. That’s why we encourage employers to set up their HRAs with BRI. It’s the perfect blend of cost containment and employees benefits. What can you expect from an HRA? An HRA, or Health Reimbursement Account, is a […]
HSA vs HRA: Know the differences for open enrollment
If you find making decisions about your healthcare during open enrollment scary and confusing, you’re not alone. Close to half of Americans who get healthcare through their employer feel the same way. So today, we’ll cover the differences between two pre-tax health account options you may be faced with: an HSA vs HRA. First…what are […]
If pre-tax health accounts were types of ice cream
Given that the final days of summer are coming to a close, we thought it fitting to treat our readers to a more flavorful post. Below, we explore some surprising (yet tasteful) similarities between types of ice cream and pre-tax accounts. Your company: The ice cream parlor For starters, the ice cream parlor you’re ordering […]
Five great Health Reimbursement Account perks
Want the scoop on Health Reimbursement Account perks? Click here to download our infographic and see why it’s the perfect plan to take advantage of. For the best viewing experience: Use your keyboard controls or mouse to zoom in on the image. Other Resources Blogs: Read some of our Health Reimbursement blogs like: I have an HRA. […]
A new way to save on feminine care products
Thanks to a recent wave of legislation that passed back in March, all products for “that time of the month” can now be purchased at a 25 to 40 percent discount. This change takes place exactly 100 years after the historical 19th Amendment was ratified, allowing women the right to vote. All you need to […]
Your BRI notifications cheat sheet
It’s important to keep track of what’s happening with your accounts– that’s why we created BRI notifications. You Pick and Choose We’ve been perfecting our notification system since 2013, so you can trust its reliability. It even made it onto our list of the Top 25 Ways to Save with Pre-tax Benefits. How it works: […]
Two easy ways to reduce your premiums
When it comes to dealing with healthcare, many of us may feel like the character Larry from the show “Curb Your Enthusiasm“. In the show, Larry goes through daily life and inadvertently runs into dozens of little inconveniences. He tries to stay calm, but it’s not always easy. A lot of us can feel like […]
What you need to know about the CARES Act
The new CARES Act, formally named ‘‘Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act’’, brings a variety of actions aimed to aid in the fight of COVID-19, along with spurring economic stability and growth. You can view the full list of inclusions in this Forbes article. Here, we will focus on the three possible changes affecting […]
New tax filing deadline announced by the IRS
Tax time is no longer just April 15th. Recent guidance from the IRS delays the Federal tax filing deadline and Federal tax payment deadline. However, state deadlines and the impact on contributions to a Health Savings Account remain less clear. What are the details? The deadline was extended from April 15, 2020 to July 15, […]
Managing your kids & health during social distancing
Life since COVID-19 has introduced shifts in how Americans approach home, work and health. While some of those areas have slowed down, others are even more active than usual. Here are three ways to manage kids, health and finances in the middle of social distancing. Managing kids at home With schools all over the country […]
Four Ways Employers Can Assist Employees Amid COVID-19
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, we find each day brings new information and challenges. But sometimes, all we want (and need) are answers. Read how you can assist your employees during this uncertain time. Question 1: Can employees change their FSA elections? Under current rules, employees are permitted to make FSA election changes when they have […]
How out of pocket maximums affect enrollment
You want employees to understand their benefits so they use them, but there are a lot of unfamiliar terms that come up in benefits. One such term is out of pocket maximum. Here’s what your employees need to know about this term and why it matters for improving enrollment rates. Out of pocket maximum The […]
Skip the wait– use your BRI account online
Your BRI online account can be used for more than checking your balance. (Although it’s great for that, too). You can also sign up for ways to get your reimbursements faster, skip calling in about your card, and get answers to FAQs. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Here are the top five ways […]
5 reasons you should follow BRI on LinkedIn
We know you work hard every day to bring the best benefits to your employees. Here are five things that can help you do that and more when you follow BRI on LinkedIn. 1. Learn about new tools for your employees Lack of employee understanding is one of the greatest barriers to increasing adoption. When […]
Simple Tips to Help Prepare for Tax Season This Year
As we welcome the first quarter of the year, we also prepare ourselves for tax season. Some of us may find ourselves dreading this task, knowing that we typically feel a little lost or overwhelmed when it comes to the specifics of filing our taxes. Rather than dealing with the same old confusion, use these […]
Protect Your Family: Get a Flu Shot with Your Tax-Free FSA Funds
The peak of flu season, which tends to fall sometime in February or March, is upon us. If you and/or your family have held off on getting the shot for any reason, it’s time to consider getting this immunization. Fortunately, since this shot is considered a medically necessary procedure, you can have the costs of […]
I have an HRA. So, what is an HRA?
If you are the proud user of a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) congrats! If you’re having a little trouble determining what exactly that means, you’re not alone. Among employees with an HRA, there is some confusion around who owns the account and who puts money in the account. We’ll break down answers to all of […]
5 benefits trends to watch in 2020
There are many benefits trends that we expect to take hold in 2020. Review what they are to ensure that your company is ready for 2020 and beyond. Increased use of AI while keeping the “human” in Human Resources. This goes beyond improving agility and responsiveness on websites. That’s so last decade. This is about […]
The Beniversal Card Guide for Newbies
New year, new participant, new card. Now what? If you’re a Beniversal Card newbie, you’re in the right spot. Let’s go over the basics of what to expect, shall we? Activate your card. First things first: If you’re a new participant and just got your card, activate it now. All of your plans are conveniently […]
Top 5 Questions of a Newly Enrolled Benefits Participant
It is a new year and for many, that means new benefits. Therefore, here are the top 5 questions of a newly enrolled participant. 5. How do I submit reimbursements? Reimbursements can be submitted through the BRiMobile app, through BRiWeb Secure Participant Login or by mailing a claim form. 4. How do I activate my […]
