Archive for the ‘COVID-19’ Category

MetLife Report: How Small Businesses Can Adapt to Workforce Transformation

The ongoing impact of the pandemic has put small business owners to the test as they navigate unprecedented business restrictions, a prolonged economic downturn, uncertainty surrounding pandemic relief initiatives, and the changing work-life environment.

Even as we emerge from some of the restrictions, employees are feeling the pressures of uncertain or heavier workloads, long-term work from home or workplace safety issues, and health and financial concerns. As a result, employees are looking to their employers for support.

Small businesses who understand the shifts in employee needs and expectations, and take steps to enhance their well-being, will have a more productive and successful workforce.

MetLife’s report, How Small Businesses Can Adapt to the Trends Transforming the Workforce, provides insights from their 19th annual U.S. Employee Benefit Trends Study 2021 to help brokers tailor their strategies based on workplace trends, small business employer and employee concerns, and the far-reaching implications of the pandemic.

Inside the Report, You’ll Learn:

• What matters to small business employers and employees.
• The impact of improving employee well-being.
• The challenge of hiring and keeping employees.
• The strategic role benefits can play.
• Five forward-looking steps small business employers can take.

Key Findings:

• With worries about contracting the virus and employee productivity, most small businesses are also concerned about compliance, remaining in business, and protecting jobs.
  
• As small businesses assess employees’ needs and look ahead, 68% predict employee well-being will have a major impact on the workplace of the future.
• 55% of small business employees see their benefits as more important because of the pandemic.
• Nearly half (48%) of small business employees say the benefits offered by their employer were an important reason why they came to work for the organization.
• Employees who are satisfied with their benefit options are more likely to be productive, and more likely to feel motivated, valued, and appreciated.
  
• 55% of small business employees are interested in having their employer offer a wider array of non-medical benefits. And 64% say it would make them more loyal.
  

Download the MetLife Report for insights, guidance, and expertise to share with your clients and prospects. Contact us today to develop tailored benefits solutions that address your clients’ needs.

Download The MetLife Report

Questions?
Contact The Answer Team at 800.696.4543 or info@claremontcompanies.com.

2021 State of HR Report

According to the 2021 State of HR Survey, conducted by ThinkHR from October 12, 2020, to November 9, 2020, responses from 2,200 professionals revealed small-to-medium employers were still dedicated to the health and well-being of employees, even after a tumultuous year with countless human resource and compliance challenges.

ThinkHR’s 2021 State of HR Report dives into employers’ challenges with understanding and complying with laws and regulations that hindered their ability to focus on their employees, in addition to their need for help with complex issues and administrative burdens.

Key Insights

• Most employers added or expanded their benefits in 2020 (59%). The most popular added benefit was paying for remote set-up costs (44% added this benefit).
• Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), mental wellness support, and extra paid time off were also popular additions to employer’s benefits offerings.
• The top reason for offering benefits was to support employees, which will increase in 2021.
• 92% of employers used HR technology in 2020. Two main reasons that drove this investment in HR technology were to reduce the administrative burden (72%) and ensure compliance (69%).
  • HR technology usage breakdown: 77% payroll, 49% online compliance training, and 33% learning management system.
• Complying with laws was a significant struggle for employers in 2020. Most challenging were changes to federal (63%), state (59%), and local (34%) laws and regulations.  
  • This includes compliance with the federal Families First Coronavirus Relief Act, state paid leave laws, and local health and safety regulations.
• 56% of employers indicated that the portion of the employee handbook or policy management that was the most challenging for their HR department to manage was tracking new compliance requirements.
• For two years in a row, harassment and discrimination were the most popular training topics (75%). Second place was workplace health and safety (73%). Diversity, equity, and inclusion training increased from last year (35% to 50%).
• Despite the challenges of 2020, employers prioritized employees over cost and profits in response to COVID-19.
• Employee wellbeing was the highest priority for HR departments as a result of the pandemic.  

Gain more insights into what small-to-medium businesses are thinking this year by downloading the 2021 State of HR Report.

2021 State of HR Report

Contact us at 800.696.4543 or info@claremontcompanies.com for assistance when your groups are ready to partner with ThinkHR.

Questions?
Contact your Claremont team at 800.696.4543 or info@claremontcompanies.com.

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Blue Shield Dental Trends During COVID-19

Due to the pandemic, dentistry has changed and the effects on how dental procedures are performed and access to care may be permanent. Below are the evolving trends and how Blue Shield of California is addressing this changing environment.

Dental Care Trends

• Raised awareness and increased efforts to disinfect dental offices. Increased efforts to mitigate cross contamination from patient to doctor and vice versa, including disinfecting dental chairs, instruments, and increased use of single-use disposable barriers in dental operatories.
• Certain dental procedures that generate an aerosol have been temporarily or permanently eliminated to prevent the spread of the virus and replaced with alternative methods of treatment that may be here to stay.
• Root canal therapy is expected to decline as implants become mainstream and the cost of implants decline relative to salvaging a broken tooth.
• While the types of services available through virtual visits are and always will be limited, teledentistry may have found a niche market among orthodontists along with triaging dental emergencies and conducting follow-up appointments for observation.

Dental Provider Trends

• Close to 1% of dental offices will close, nearly the normal rate of retirement, merger, and other closures.
• Many recent dental graduates will probably not open a private office, electing instead to work for large dental service corporations for a steady paycheck and benefits.
• With SmileDirectClub prevailing before the California Dental Board to provide orthodontic services without dentist supervision, there may be a decline in the number of dentists entering orthodontics.
• Dentistry is rebounding and offices are running more efficiently with less pre-COVID-19 overhead, such as labor costs. Struggling practices before COVID-19 are struggling the most, but well managed offices prior to the pandemic are doing better due to more care per visit, more elective care during same visits, lower labor costs, and addressing the back-log of needed care.

How Blue Shield is Addressing These Trends

• To ensure the safety of members, Blue Shield temporarily reimbursed dentists for additional personal protective equipment (PPE) during the first few months of the pandemic.
• Several teledentistry codes are reimbursable under Blue Shield’s dental plans for those that are more comfortable accessing care virtually during this time.
• Effective October 2020, Blue Shield dental PPO members have access to SmileDirectClub for a convenient in-home alternative to traditional in-office orthodontic care.
  • How the program works:
    • Employees can get free impressions by visiting one of more than 235 SmileShops for a 3D scan (no cost) or order an at-home impression online (no cost with rebate).
    • A licensed dentist or orthodontist will work to create a personalized smile plan.
    • Once your new smile is complete, you will get your first retainer (no cost with a subscription).
  • With SmileDirectClub coverage employees get:
    • Average treatment plan of 6 months or less.
    • Clear aligners for up to 60% less than braces.
    • Free premier teeth whitening.
    • Free first set of retainers with a subscription.
    • No monthly office visits.

Learn more.

COVID-19 Resources

• COVID-19 Resources for brokers and employers.
• COVID-19 Resources Broker Connection
• COVID-19 FAQs
• COVID-19 Member Resource Page
• California Coronavirus Response Website
• California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) FAQs
• DMHC COVID-19 Response and Guidelines
• CDC COVID-19 Testing Overview

Blue Shield Resources

• Blue Shield News Center
• Product Cycle Updates
• Employer Connection Plus (EC+)
• Broker Communications
• Broker Connection
• Plan Comparison Tool
• Small Business Plan Documents
• Mandates
• Renewal Center
• Forms and Applications

Questions?
Contact your Claremont team at 800.696.4543 or info@claremontcompanies.com.

Help Clients Benefit from PPP-2 Loans

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was reopened on January 11, 2021 with updated eligibility requirements and the possibility of a second loan for the hardest-hit small businesses. The new guidelines make it easier for businesses to obtain a first-draw PPP loan and a second-draw PPP loan to be used for eligible payroll and non-payroll expenses, including technology. Software and cloud upgrades, for example, are recognized as critical expenses, potentially including payroll, HR, and HCM platforms to digitize operations and support touchless, mobile-friendly solutions.

The PPP loan application deadline is March 31, 2021.

PPP History

With the continued closures and operation restrictions, businesses have been forced to adapt and stretch resources to stay open. The good news, as of March 14, 2021, more than 7.8 million PPP loans had been approved, providing over $703 billion in relief. Unfortunately, lockdown and work-from-home measures brought about by COVID-19 have disproportionately affected small businesses – particularly in the leisure and hospitality sectors. And nearly a quarter of all small businesses (fewer than 500 employees), which employ roughly half of the country’s workforce, remain closed.

According to the Congressional Research Service, unemployment during the pandemic peaked in April 2020 at 14.8% and remained at a still-elevated 6.7% in December. With support from the Department of Treasury, the Small Business Association (SBA) originally began providing funds via the PPP program in March 2020 as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (CAA), signed into law in December 2020, provided an additional $284 billion in funding, referred to as PPP-2.

Technology and Digitization

With so much of the workforce working remotely and the need to limit in-person contact, organizations dramatically increased the speed of adoption of digital technologies and converted manual, paper-based procedures to digital – from timecards, submitting receipts for reimbursement, and manual paycheck delivery, to taking customer orders. What’s more, many of these changes will be long lasting. According to a new McKinsey Global Survey, companies have accelerated the digitization of their customer and supply-chain interactions and of their internal operations by three to four years. In fact, technology’s strategic importance has become a critical component of business, not just a source of cost efficiencies.

This digitization investment will keep companies agile so they can respond to crises as well as evolve customer and employee demands. Cloud solutions offer key benefits that are critical for small businesses — like scalability, flexibility, cost, innovation, maintenance, and security.

PPP Loans

PPP-2 funds can be used for both payroll and non-payroll expenses, including payroll costs, benefits, mortgage interest, rent, utilities, worker protection costs related to COVID-19, uninsured property damage costs caused by looting or vandalism in 2020, and certain supplier costs and expenses for operations, which includes payments for business software or cloud computing.

The following entities are eligible to apply for a First Draw PPP Loan through the latest wave of funding:

• Sole proprietors, independent contractors, and self-employed persons.
• Any small business that meets SBA’s size standards (either the industry size standard or the alternative size standard).
• Any business, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, 501(c)(19) veterans organization, or tribal business (sec. 31(b)(2)(C) of the Small Business Act) with the greater of:
  • 500 employees.
  • That meets the SBA industry size standard if more than 500.
• Any business with a NAICS code that begins with 72 (Accommodations and Food Services) that has more than one physical location and employs less than 500 per location.

Second Draw PPP Loan Eligibility Requirements for Borrowers

• Previously received a First Draw PPP Loan and will or has used the full amount only for authorized uses;
• Has no more than 300 employees; and
• Can demonstrate at least a 25% reduction in gross receipts between comparable quarters in 2019 and 2020.

Second Draw PPP Maximum Loan Amount

• For most borrowers, the maximum loan amount of a Second Draw PPP Loan is 2.5x average monthly 2019 or 2020 payroll costs up to $2 million.
• For borrowers in the Accommodation and Food Services sector, the maximum loan amount for a Second Draw PPP Loan is 3.5x average monthly 2019 or 2020 payroll costs up to $2 million.

Second Draw PPP Full Forgiveness Terms

Second Draw PPP Loans made to eligible borrowers qualify for full loan forgiveness if during the 8- to 24-week covered period following loan disbursement:

• Employee and compensation levels are maintained in the same manner as required for the First Draw PP loan;
• The loan proceeds are spent on payroll costs and other eligible expenses; and
• At least 60% of the proceeds are spent on payroll costs.

Next Steps

• Apply for a PPP-2 loan by March 31, 2021 through any existing SBA lender or through any federally insured deposit institution, federally insured credit union, eligible non-bank lender, or Farm Credit System institution that’s participating in the PPP. List of lenders.
• Stay up-to-date on changing state and federal legislation.
• Visit the SBA or Treasury websites for more information and details.
• Access Paylocity’s COVID-19 resources and product updates.

To learn more, check out the Paylocity website.

Contact Claremont at 800.696.4543 or info@claremontcompanies.com for assistance when you’re ready to enroll a group in a Paylocity plan.

Questions?
Contact your Claremont team at 800.696.4543 or info@claremontcompanies.com.

American Rescue Plan Act: Impact on Healthcare

President Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan Act on Thursday, March 11, 2021. The $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill includes several provisions that impact healthcare for both employers and individuals. At the end of this article is a list of helpful resources, including comprehensive summaries and analyses of the Act, an updated ACA subsidy calculator, and upcoming webinars for brokers and employers. Here is a summary of the key healthcare-related provisions.

COBRA Premium Subsidy and Employer Tax Credit

100% COBRA premium subsidy for any COBRA employee/dependent qualified as a result of involuntary termination or reduction of hours.

Employers will receive a credit for the COBRA premium subsidy through a refundable payroll tax credit against the employer’s quarterly taxes.

The subsidy is effective April 1 through September 30, 2021.

Expansion of Individual Healthcare Marketplace Subsidies

Expansion of subsidies to purchase health insurance through the ACA individual marketplaces:

For 2021 and 2022, premiums for individuals with income up to 150% of the FPL will be eliminated, while premiums for all other households will be capped at 8.5% of their income.

Individuals who underestimate their income for 2020 will not be required to repay any excess subsidies they received.

For individuals who lose their jobs or are eligible for unemployment insurance in 2021, subsidies will be provided to cover the entire cost of their ACA individual marketplace insurance premiums.

Increase to Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account Maximum Limit

For the tax year 2021, the amount that employees may deposit into a tax-favored Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for dependent care expenses will be increased from $5,000 to$10,500.

Other Provisions That Impact Employers

 $7 billion to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

$15 billion to the SBA to provide EIDL $10,000 grants to small businesses.

$25 billion for the SBA to administer a grant program to restaurants through a new Restaurant Revitalization Fund.

Extends through September 30, 2021, the tax credit for voluntary provision of paid sick and paid family leave, as established in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).

Helpful Resources

Upcoming Webinars

• NAHU: American Rescue Plan Act of 2021
  Thursday, March 18, 2021, 10:00 am – 11:00 am PDT
• BRi: COBRA Subsidies, Pandemic Periods, FSA Relief and More
  Thursday, April 8, 2021, 10:00 am – 10:45 am PDT

Overviews of The Act

• What The New Relief Package Means for Small Businesses (Small Business Majority)
• Small Business Update: American Rescue Plan Act (US Chamber of Commerce)
• How The New COVID-19 Relief Package Impacts Employers (SHRM)
• Final Coverage Provisions In The American Rescue Plan and What Comes Next (Health Affairs)
• Overview of ARPA provisions and how TASC is responding. (TASC)
• Congress temporarily changes limit for dependent care. (BRi)

COBRA

• Congress Approves 100% COBRA Subsidy Through September (SHRM)
• Eight Things to Know About the New COBRA Subsidy (BRi)

ACA Individual Marketplace Subsidies and Calculator

• Impact of Key Provisions of The House COVID-19 Relief Proposal on Marketplace Premiums and
  Updated Health Insurance Marketplace Calculator (Kaiser Family Foundation)

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

• The rules for flexible spending accounts are more generous (for now). Here’s what to know. (CNBC)

Law Firm Summaries

• What Employers Need to Know About Biden’s American Rescue Plan (Fisher Phillips)
• American Rescue Plan Act of 2021: Summary (Holland & Knight)
• Initial Key Takeaways From the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Morgan Lewis)

Questions?
Contact your Claremont team at 800.696.4543 or info@claremontcompanies.com.

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Your success is important to us, and we’re actively working on new solutions to support you throughout the year. To get the latest news via text messaging in the future, simply provide your cell phone number here.

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Blue Shield of California/Harris Poll: COVID-19 Impact on Californian’s Healthcare

From February 2 to February 15, 2021, Blue Shield of California/Harris Poll surveyed 1,000 adults in California to gauge access to health care, comfort levels with workplace and public safety, and opinions of healthcare policy.

The Findings Include:

• A vast majority of Californians (80%) say they have good or somewhat good quality health care.
• 82% who used telemedicine were satisfied with the service.
• Many say the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the health care they receive.
• 41% say it’s become harder to get care in the last year.
• The quality of care got worse for some groups since the pandemic.
• Californians were more likely to say they are willing to take a COVID-19 vaccine.

The poll represents Californians who are privately insured, uninsured, MediCal recipients, self-insured and more. It was conducted before Blue Shield of California was tapped by the State of California to oversee COVID-19 vaccine distribution as a third party administrator (TPA).

Access the article and infographic. 

Access the Article and Infographic

COVID-19 Resources

• COVID-19 Resources for brokers and employers.
• COVID-19 Resources Broker Connection
• COVID-19 FAQs
• COVID-19 Member Resource Page
• California Coronavirus Response Website
• California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) FAQs
• DMHC COVID-19 Response and Guidelines
• CDC COVID-19 Testing Overview

Blue Shield Resources

• Blue Shield News Center
• Product Cycle Updates
• Employer Connection Plus (EC+)
• Broker Communications
• Broker Connection
• Plan Comparison Tool
• Small Business Plan Documents
• Mandates
• Renewal Center
• Forms and Applications

Questions?
Contact your Claremont team at 800.696.4543 or info@claremontcompanies.com.

Emotional, Behavioral and Mental Health Resources for Employees and Families

Carriers recognize the strain that COVID-19 is placing on employees and their families. Many are expanding access to emotional, behavioral, and mental health services — and in some cases waiving costs.

Download our Carrier Resources Guide to stay up-to-date and advise your employer groups about the available carrier services and benefits available to their employees, either through their existing lines of coverage or through additional lines of coverage they may want to consider.

Carrier Services and Benefits Include:

• Emotional Support Hotlines
• Behavioral Health Services and Benefits
• Mental Health and Wellness Phone Apps
• EAP Programs
• And More

Carrier Resources

Get a high-level summary of the services and benefits provided by each carrier by downloading the chart below.

Download The Carrier Resources Guide

To learn more, visit our COVID-19 Broker Resources, and COVID-19 Carrier FAQs and COVID-19 Legislation & Regulations FAQs. If you can’t find an answer to your question, contact our experts at COVID@claremontcompanies.com.

Other Resources

Emotional, behavioral, and mental health resources are also available from government agencies, health systems, and others. Learn more.

Questions?
Contact our small group experts at 800.696.4543 or info@claremontcompanies.com.

COVID-19 Vaccines Update

Your employer clients and their employees are keen to learn when a COVID-19 vaccine will be available to them and their families. Help them by staying up-to-date with the latest developments below. This page will be updated as new information becomes available.

From The California State Government

California will distribute and administer vaccines as soon as they are available. California will be transparent, careful, and equitable in its vaccine distribution. Initially, the vaccine supply will be very limited. At first, vaccines will be provided to healthcare workers and long-term care residents in accordance with the CDPH Allocation Guidelines.

COVID-19 vaccines are currently available only for healthcare workers and residents of Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCFs) due to limited supplies.

Who’s getting the vaccine now? Who is next to get it, and when?

COVID-19 vaccines are currently available only for:

• Healthcare Workers
• Long-term Care Residents
• Individuals 65 and Older
• Those at Risk of Exposure at Work in The Following Sectors:
  – Education and Childcare
  – Emergency Services
  – Food and Agriculture

Next on the priority list for the vaccination are:

• Those at Risk of Exposure at Work in The Following Sectors:
  – Transportation and Logistics
  – Industrial, Commercial, Residential, and Sheltering Facilities and Services
  – Critical Manufacturing
• Congregate Settings with Outbreak Risk:
  – Incarcerated
  – Homeless

Every Californian can sign up to see if it’s their turn to get the COVID-19 vaccine. If you’re not currently eligible, you can sign up to be notified when it’s your turn.

When and where can the general public, who are not in Phase 1, start getting vaccinated?

Spring 2021 is the best estimate, but that may change. It depends on vaccine production and how quickly other vaccines become available.

Most Californians will be vaccinated at:

• Community Vaccination Sites
• Doctor’s Offices
• Clinics
• Pharmacies

Carrier Resources

Blue Shield of California
Members can receive COVID-19 vaccinations, considered a preventive service, at no member cost share and with no provider order. Coverage will be provided for both in-network and out-of-network providers through the duration of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.

Additional Blue Shield resources:

• Dec 29 COVID-19 Vaccines Member Update
• COVID-19 Resource Center for Employers, Plan Sponsors, Brokers and Consultants

UnitedHealthcare
Members will be able to get the vaccine at no charge. Members in employer and individual health plans will have $0 cost-share (copayments, deductibles, and co-insurance) for both in- and out-of-network providers through the national public health emergency period. See the COVID-19 Vaccines FAQ below for more details.

Additional UnitedHealthcare resources:

• COVID-19 Vaccines FAQs
• What to Know About COVID-19 Vaccines.

Other Resources

Federal Government Resources

• COVID-19 Vaccines (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

California State Government Resources

• COVID-19 Vaccines (California State Government COVID-19 Site)
• COVID-19 Vaccines FAQs (California State Government COVID-19 Site)
• COVID-19 Vaccines (California Department of Public Health)
• myturn.ca.gov (Register for Notification of Vaccine Eligibility)

Northern California Health System COVID-19 Vaccine Resources

• Dignity Health
• John Muir Health
• Kaiser Permanente
• Stanford Health Care
• Sutter Health
• UCSF

Questions?
Contact your Claremont team at 800.696.4543 or info@claremontcompanies.com.

Get The Latest News with Text Messaging!

Your success is important to us, and we’re actively working on new solutions to support you throughout the year. To get the latest news via text messaging in the future, simply provide your cell phone number here.

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UnitedHealthcare Webinar: COVID-19 Briefing on The Latest Vaccination Efforts

Stay up to date on the latest COVID-19 vaccination efforts by attending UnitedHealthcare’s webinar on January 27th at 12:00 pm PST.

Topics Include:

• Updates on vaccine availability, distribution, and vaccination efforts.
• Information about new COVID-19 variants and the implications for testing and patient care.
• A review of tools such as ProtectWell that help employers ensure workplace safety and compliance.
• Healthcare updates, including regulatory changes to improve transparency and potential new rules from the Biden Administration.

Register now.

Register for The Webinar

Questions?
Contact your Claremont team at 800.696.4543 or info@claremontcompanies.com.

Get The Latest News with Text Messaging!

Your success is important to us, and we’re actively working on new solutions to support you throughout the year. To get the latest news via text messaging in the future, simply provide your cell phone number here.

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BRI FSA COVID-19 Relief

COVID-19 relief for Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) was introduced in the recent federal government year-end spending bill signed by President Trump on December 27, 2020.

The year-end spending bill provides five opportunities for employers to ease concerns over losing FSA funds. In many ways, the guidance temporarily suspends the “use-or-lose” aspect of an FSA. The temporary rule:

• Allows plans to permit Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) to carryover unused benefits up to the full annual amount from 2020 to 2021 and 2021 to 2022.
• Allows plans to permit a 12-month grace period for unused benefits or contributions in Health and Dependent Care FSAs for plan years ending in 2020 or 2021.
• Extends the maximum age of eligible dependents from “under 13” to “under 14” for Dependent Care FSAs.
• Allows plans to permit a prospective change in election amounts for Health and Dependent Care FSAs for plan years ending in 2021.
• Allows Health FSAs to pay expenses for terminated employees that had unused benefits at the time of term.

To learn more, check out this BRI article and FSA Relief Considerations Q&A video.

Contact us at 800.696.4543 or info@claremontcompanies.com for assistance when you’re ready to enroll a group in a BRI plan.

Questions?
Contact your Claremont team at 800.696.4543 or info@claremontcompanies.com.

Get The Latest News with Text Messaging!

Your success is important to us, and we’re actively working on new solutions to support you throughout the year. To get the latest news via text messaging in the future, simply provide your cell phone number here.

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