least common denominator

In March of 2020, when the CARES Act was passed, most people were focused on pay protections, primarily since they included sole proprietorships, a category that covers most so-called “gig workers.” A lot of its provisions also went into effect relatively quickly. But there was another provision in that act and the associated FFCRA that might have been missed, because it wasn’t about pay and it wasn’t effective until just this past Saturday.

Under that provision — which, at the time, I suspect many people, Congress included, may have hoped would not need to become an issue — health insurers are now required to cover over-the-counter COVID-19 tests without any sort of cost share. However, it’s not as easy as going down to the local pharmacy, showing your insurance card, and getting a test for free. There are some requirements that are involved.

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Welcome to Radius!

I’ve worked in the field of employee benefits since 1999: first in human resources offices in both government and private industry; and then on the broker side focusing on small businesses. During that time, I’ve seen a clear need for better consumer education. That’s what this blog is all about: providing a resource for benefits information, using clear language that anyone — regardless of their level of expertise or experience — can read and understand.

Topics on the blog will include all aspects of employee benefits; while the focus will be primarily on health & welfare benefits, other topics such as total compensation and retirement benefits will occasionally be covered. ( Keep Reading... )