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 […]
Avoid these first job benefits mistakes (and do this instead)
There can be a lot going on at your first job. When you start, it is a whirlwind of learning, new faces, foreign terms, and of course, a bunch of benefits. When it comes to benefits, avoid these three common mistakes: Mistake 1: Not cracking the benefits book until the night before you have to […]
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 Blogs of the Decade
As we close out the decade, we look back at the most educational, news breaking blogs for a 2019 review. From tax reform to how-to articles, here are the top 10 blogs from Benefit Resource: Check Your Balance To quote Jerry McGuire, “Show me the money!” If you want to see your balance fast and […]
What is a normal distribution from an HSA?
Who knew that using your HSA was going to be difficult? Actually, using an HSA is the easy part. It is the tax reporting tied to an HSA which sometimes presents challenges. You start reading tax forms and need to answer, “Did you have a normal distribution for your HSA?” “Hmmm… what is a normal […]
Why is my hospital bill not eligible?
While tax advantaged health accounts have many benefits, they can present challenges. One of the largest pain points for many users of these accounts is determining what the account can pay for. The items or services that can be purchased through the account are known as “eligible expenses” (sometimes called “qualified expenses”). One would think […]
3 Ways to Survive Your Company’s Benefits Enrollment
I just got my first email from our company about our upcoming Open Enrollment sessions, and I have to tell you, I wasn’t as excited as I thought I’d be. It was a little disappointing. But it made me think: What are the things I want to hear before Open Enrollment? In a perfect world, probably […]
Credit Card Security: 5 Quick Tips
These five tips will help to keep your credit card information safe. Keep your account number private Avoid sharing your credit card account number details with untrusted parties Do not give your account number to unverified representatives over the phone Don’t share your account number on insecure websites (look for https – the “s” stands […]
Which solution(s) should I choose? Comparing FSAs, HSAs and HRAs
Remember the old saying “There’s an app for that?” In the case of pre-tax benefits, we like to say “There’s a plan for that”. Regardless of your benefits problem, by comparing Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts and Health Reimbursement Accounts, you can find the right plan to fit your needs. Congress has developed a variety […]
The Perfect Recipe for Your Pre-tax Benefit Account Program
There is a saying that goes, “If there’s a recipe for success in life, it starts with picking the right ingredients”. Building the perfect recipe for your pre-tax benefit account program is just that — picking the right ingredients. There are many people that believe you must choose—FSA vs. HSA. We would like to challenge […]
Selecting the right funding options
It’s time to talk funding. Given that “fun” is built into the topic, what could be more exhilarating than a good analysis of funding options? We will try to keep our excitement to a reasonable level as we explore all the “fun” options employers have when funding their pre-tax benefit accounts. DECISION 1: How are the […]
Are you keeping up with HSA enrollment trends?
When it comes to HSA enrollment, converting eligible employees to enrolled participants is not news. The most common advice is to gradually transition from offering traditional plans to consumer-direct health plans (CDHPs). That is still a very effective strategy and holds true. But there is more to HSA enrollment than offering a CDHP. Beyond offering […]
The HR playlist to power through benefits enrollment
As you’re diving headlong into benefits enrollment season, power through with some classic tunes from our Benefits Enrollment Playlist. As you’re getting started Under Pressure, Queen We know you can feel like the people in the first 30 seconds of the video. Especially those black and white clips. It’s okay. But if you start to […]
Three steps for smooth benefits implementation
September through January is benefits implementation season for many human resources personnel. It can be a lot of moving pieces all at once. However, the administrator you’re working with should help you decide which options will work best for your company and employees based on the needs you’ve expressed. A “one-size fits all” approach doesn’t work […]
My Life in Benefits: Age 60 – Investing with an HSA
It’s Jon again. I have been chronicling my adventures (and savings) with pre-tax benefits for 40 years. I have to say, I have learned a thing or two along the way. Fundamentally, we have been focused on using pre-tax accounts to pay for our medical, child care and commuting expenses for every day. But, with […]
My Life in Benefits: Age 55, HSA catch-up contribution
Last May, the Health Savings Account (HSA) contribution limits for this year were announced. The article included the new HSA contribution limits for those with varying coverage levels and the minimum deductible limits for HSA compatible health plans. And one other piece of information… The catch-up contribution. In the year they will turn 55, individuals […]
IRS Guidance Expands Definition of Preventive Care
For most people, the definition of preventive care is broad and rather abstract in nature. However, under HSA rules, the definition becomes more important. Under an HSA-compatible health plan, medical expenses cannot be paid before meeting the deductible. The one exception is preventive care services. This week, the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service […]
Game of Life – Age 50, Paying for College
Historically, I’ve talked about how I’ve used pre-tax benefits to pay for health or commuting expenses for myself or my wife. While I find value in all of those posts (which you can see here), I’m going to shift focus and talk about how pre-tax benefits are helping with our kids going off to college. […]
It’s National Sunglasses Day
In honor of National Sunglasses Day, we wanted to highlight eligible vision expenses you can pay for with your pre-tax accounts. As an overview, a pre-tax account is a type of benefit your employer may offer to help you cover out-of-pocket expenses. There are a variety of different plans and accounts available. Almost all of […]
My Life in Benefits Age 45: Mammogram Screening
I know my last few posts have focused quite a bit on either me or the kids. But this time, I’m actually going to turn my attention to my wife, Samantha (Sam). Now that we’re both in our mid 40s, there are certain health precautions that are becoming more relevant. For her, that’s a mammogram. […]
How can we make IVF and insulin more affordable?
Anyone who has encountered IVF treatments or insulin payments is familiar with the overwhelming costs associated with each. In some instances, insurance may be available to ease the sky high payments. But in other cases, insurance is not available or is simply not enough. This article will explore why insurance doesn’t cover IVF and ways […]
