The Cost of Silence: Why Long-Term Care Belongs in Workplace Conversations 

Summary 

Employees are quietly managing caregiving and costs every day. Starting the conversation helps them prepare and helps employers build a healthier, more resilient culture. 


 

Topics like health insurance, mental health, financial wellness, and work-life balance are common workplace conversation starters. But when it comes to caregiving or long-term care (LTC), the conversation usually stops. In fact , 92% of people know that talking to their loved ones about long-term care is important, but only 32% have actually done it.  

Any silence on this issue creates emotional strain, financial pressure, and ripple effects across the entire organization. Read more

2025-2026 PCORI Fee Released

Lumelight-Logo-Primary-RGB


 

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) fee established by the Affordable Care Act helps fund research to evaluate and compare health outcomes, clinical effectiveness, risks, and benefits of medical treatment and services.

The fee, which is adjusted annually, is currently in place through 2029. In Internal Revenue Bulletin 2025-45, the IRS announced that the PCORI fee for plan years ending between October 1, 2025, and September 30, 2026, is $3.84. As has been the case in previous years, this new fee is an increase from the $3.47 payment for policy or plan years that ended between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025.  

Employers and plan sponsors with self-funded plans are typically responsible for submitting IRS Form 720 and paying the PCORI fee by July 31 of the calendar year immediately following the last day of the plan year, meaning that payments for plan years that end in 2025 will be due in July of 2026. PCORI fees for self-funded plans are assessed on all covered lives, not just on employees. Plan sponsors can use one of three methods to calculate the average number of covered lives for the fee: the actual count method, the snapshot method, and the Form 5500 method.  

Many fully insured employers do not need to take any action, as the insurer will submit the payment on their behalf. However, remember that fully insured employers with self-funded HRAs must pay the fee for each employee covered under the account. 

 

2025 PCORI Filing Fee Calendar 

Plan or Policy Year 

PCORI Filing Fee 

February 2024 – January 2025 

$3.47 

March 2024 – February 2025 

$3.47 

April 2024 – March 2025 

$3.47 

May 2024 – April 2025 

$3.47 

June 2024 – May 2025 

$3.47 

July 2024 – June 2025 

$3.47 

August 2024 – July 2025 

$3.47 

September 2024 – August 2025 

$3.47 

October 2024 – September 2025 

$3.47 

November 2024 – October 2025 

$3.84 

December 2024 – November 2025 

$3.84 

January 2025 – December 2025 

$3.84 

  Read more

Compliance Corner Session:  Top Tips for 2026

 

Lumelight-Logo-Primary-RGB


 

Geometric Image + Icon (5)Join Marissa Rufo, JD, MBA, Lumelight, for the latest Compliance Corner! 

When: Tuesday, November 18, 2025, 11:00 AM Pacific / 2:00 PM Eastern

Where: Zoom | Register here

 


 

Top Tips for 2026

As the year draws to a close, it is time to plan for next year’s compliance. This session offers a comprehensive overview of what to expect in 2026. This presentation will offer compliance updates, legislative trends, and actionable strategies to keep your benefit plans competitive and out of trouble. Whether you are unsure how to navigate regulatory changes or seek some functional guidance, this webinar will provide the insights you need. Be ready to take notes on this compliance wrap-up for 2025!

Who is Lumelight? 

Lumelight is a boutique ACA and benefits compliance consultancy helping people navigate the complex world of employee benefits compliance through deep expertise and superb client service.

Want to attend?

Save your seat by clicking here

{% module_block module “widget_1cab5fe7-992d-479b-b8d1-f854882928af” %}{% module_attribute “btn” is_json=”true” %}{% raw %}{“link”:{“no_follow”:false,”open_in_new_tab”:true,”rel”:”noopener”,”sponsored”:false,”url”:{“content_id”:null,”href”:”https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAlfu2tqTotEt1u6mruOOyUF0X8PKz5CHJu#/registration”,”href_with_scheme”:”https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAlfu2tqTotEt1u6mruOOyUF0X8PKz5CHJu#/registration”,”type”:”EXTERNAL”},”user_generated_content”:false},”title”:”I want to attend”}{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute “btn_type” is_json=”true” %}{% raw %}”cta”{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute “child_css” is_json=”true” %}{% raw %}{}{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute “css” is_json=”true” %}{% raw %}{}{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute “cta” is_json=”true” %}{% raw %}”160409781517″{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute “definition_id” is_json=”true” %}{% raw %}null{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute “field_types” is_json=”true” %}{% raw %}{“animation”:”group”,”layout”:”group”,”custom_class”:”text”,”is_in_viewport”:”boolean”,”cta”:”cta”,”style”:”group”,”anchor_link_id”:”text”,”btn”:”group”,”btn_type”:”choice”}{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute “label” is_json=”true” %}{% raw %}null{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute “layout” is_json=”true” %}{% raw %}{“alignment”:”center”,”margin_top”:0}{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute “module_id” is_json=”true” %}{% raw %}100522671426{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute “path” is_json=”true” %}{% raw %}”2023 Power Theme child/modules/mini-cta”{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute “schema_version” is_json=”true” %}{% raw %}2{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute “smart_objects” is_json=”true” %}{% raw %}[]{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute “smart_type” is_json=”true” %}{% raw %}”NOT_SMART”{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute “style” is_json=”true” %}{% raw %}{“cta_size”:”pwr-cta–full-width”,”cta_style”:”pwr-cta–primary-solid”}{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute “tag” is_json=”true” %}{% raw %}”module”{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute “type” is_json=”true” %}{% raw %}”module”{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute “wrap_field_tag” is_json=”true” %}{% raw %}”div”{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% end_module_block %}

Read more