The Department of Labor (DOL) released model notices and a COBRA subsidy information website related to the COBRA subsidy that was passed as part of the American Rescue Plan Act or 2021 (ARPA). The website will be a central location that the DOL uses to inform individuals of their potential…

It’s more important than ever to purchase cyber liability insurance and consider increasing your limits. The cyber insurance market is changing rapidly in response to an alarming increase in high-profile ransomware and vendor incidents. According to the Coveware Quarterly Ransomware Report, more than 70 percent of victims were companies with…

In 2003, Windows XP was the predominant operating system on most computers. Imagine for a moment how frustrating it would be today if Microsoft was prohibited by law from upgrading and improving their technology beyond that point. When health savings accounts (HSAs) were created by Congress that same year, the…

Oswald Labs is a cooperative effort of Oswald Companies and Spark360 designed to bring purposeful, positive disruption to the insurance sector through innovation, collaboration and experimentation. Hear from Christy Conrath, Client Experience Leader, Oswald Companies and Kelsey Finucan, Global Accounts Team Leader, Julie Frischkorn, Director of Behavioral Health & Mindfulness,… Related content: [Video] Oswald Labs Health Innovation Series Oswald Labs Announces Exclusive Partnership With Regenexx to Reduce Orthopedic Surgical Spend for Employers About Oswald Companies Founded in 1893, Cleveland-based and employee-owned, Oswald is one of the nation’s largest independent insurance brokerage firms. As a proud Partner of Assurex Global, the…

It’s a new year, and the world is certainly ready for some positive changes. While the future is hopeful, many of the economic challenges that started in 2020 are continuing to impact organizations in 2021. This includes a hard insurance market. As always, proactive business leaders find ways to overcome…

Spring is in full swing, which often prompts us to make a to-do list. Tasks often include power cleaning, purging closets and basements, and performing light home remodeling projects. Some might also invest time in reviewing their financial situation. What other changes or updates might your personal situation require? Among…

The current climate has created an ideal “phishing season” for cybercriminals. They don’t need a license or a tackle box to try to take advantage of many people’s natural trusting nature. Exploiting this trust is easier than hacking your software, so trickery attempts have become commonplace. Bad actors prey on…

The recent U.S. weather patterns, which have caused record breaking and unprecedented snow, ice and subzero temperatures across the country, may have you facing potential home claims in the days to come. Simply stated, the real damage occurs as the thawing begins, and a few precautionary steps may help to…

During these unprecedented times, the challenge of managing the ever-increasing cost of health insurance has become more difficult as additional factors contribute to the number and frequency of claim occurrence due to an: Aging workforce population Increase in events that trigger COBRA eligibility Employers may not be able to eliminate…

Changes from the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. Introduction The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA) included provisions affecting the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). The new provisions require group health plans to perform comparative analyses demonstrating compliance with the MHPAEA. Plans will now be required to provide these…