Entries by Q4i Dev

One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA)

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Prefer to listen instead of read? No problem! Listen to the blog post by clicking here.    The massive budget reconciliation bill known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) was signed into law by President Trump on July 4, 2025. As with many such budget bills, there were various employee benefits provisions tucked into its depths, including changes for health savings accounts (HSAs), dependent care assistance programs (DCAPs), student loan payments under educational assistance programs, and qualified transportation plans. The benefit-related changes are summarized below. 

AI, Job Security, and Mental Health: How to Evolve Ethically

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Prefer to listen instead of read? No problem! Listen to the blog post by clicking here.    It’s no longer a question of if your organization will adopt AI, but how. The landscape is shifting quickly; for many employees, the speed of change is more destabilizing than the technology itself.  AI promises greater efficiency, reduced busy work, and data-driven insights. Yet, for many workers, it also triggers concerns: job insecurity, increased stress, and a sense of being left behind. If businesses hope to embrace innovation without undermining their teams, they need to make a conscious effort to evolve ethically and with strategy, support, and clear communication.  Let’s look at what’s happening, what it means for your people, and how to take a thoughtful approach. 

Messed Up? Here’s How to Make it Right with Clients

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Prefer to listen instead of read? No problem! Listen to the blog post by clicking here.    Mistakes happen.   Deliveries get missed, deadlines slip, and systems break. Everyone wants things to go smoothly, but even clients understand that no company is perfect. What matters is how a business responds when things go wrong.  Take a mismanaged appliance delivery, for example. The appliance was supposed to be delivered on a specific day and time, but it didn’t show up, and the delivery company never reached out, leaving the customer to reach out to them. Instead of offering an apology, the delivery company scheduled the delivery for several days later.   This kind of silence and delay leads to a poor client experience and damaged trust.    Has your team defined the experience you want your clients to have, even when things go wrong? Knowing how to respond when things go wrong puts your team in the driver’s seat and helps defuse a difficult situation. Done right, it can even convert an unhappy client into a raving fan. 

What Kind of Leader Are You?

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Prefer to listen instead of read? No problem! Listen to the blog post by clicking here.    A leader, simply, is someone who leads. But there’s more than one way to do it: Some leaders make decisions in a silo, while others delegate and gather input before deciding.  Understanding your leadership style and how you lead is important for maximizing your and your employees’ potential. Leaders drive 70% of employee engagement, proving your team relies on you to steer the ship. 

PCORI Fee Reminder – Updated Form 720

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Prefer to listen instead of read? No problem! Listen to the blog post at any time by clicking here.   The IRS released the updated Form 720 for the second quarter of 2025, with updated dates and fees on Line 133 for reporting the PCORI fee. The form, with a revision date of June 2025, can be found here. Employers that sponsored self-funded medical plans that ended sometime during 2024 are required to report and pay the ACA Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) fee no later than July 31, 2025. Form 720 should be filed for the 2nd quarter ending June 30th, 2025. 

The Power and Peril of Mirroring: How to Stay True to Yourself at Work 

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Prefer to listen instead of read? No problem! Listen to the blog post by clicking here.    You’re at a dinner party with people you’ve just met. As the conversation picks up, someone across the table mentions their passion for comic books. You don’t read them now, but you remember a graphic novel phase in college and bring it up. You lean in, match their energy, and reference a series you barely recall just to connect with them. The conversation flows, the vibe is good, and everyone leaves the table smiling.  This is mirroring. In psychological terms, mirroring refers to the behavior in which one person subconsciously imitates the gesture, speech pattern, or attitude of another. Most of us do it without thinking. To find common ground, we reflect someone else’s interests or tone and use that as a bridge to build a connection. In certain environments like interviews, negotiations, or high-stakes meetings, it can be the difference between resistance and rapport.

2024 Final MHPAEA Rule Non-Enforcement Period Announced; All Other MHPAEA Requirements Unaffected

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Prefer to listen instead of read? No problem! Listen to the blog post at any time by clicking here.   On May 12, a federal court granted a request from the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Treasury (“the Departments”) to pause litigation regarding the 2024 Mental Health Parity & Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) final rule while the Departments reconsider whether to modify or rescind the rule through new proposed rulemaking. Then, on May 15, the Departments announced a temporary non-enforcement period for the 2024 MHPAEA final rule, effective immediately, that will remain in place through the eighteenth month after a final court decision is made, giving employers time to comply accordingly. The non-enforcement statement can be found here.  While enforcement efforts for the 2024 MHPAEA final rule are paused, employers do not have to comply with the new fiduciary certification requirement, certain new definitions, the requirement to provide meaningful benefits, and the requirement to collect and analyze relevant data as part of the written comparative analysis.  However, the Departments have made it clear that the framework for MHPAEA that existed prior to the 2024 MHPAEA final rule is unaffected, including:   The 2013 final rule (e.g., classifications for benefits, substantially all and predominant level tests for financial requirements and quantitative treatment limitations (QTLs), and the concept of parity for non-quantitative treatment limitations (NQTLs);  Guidance and FAQs issued since the 2013 final rule; and,   The written comparative analysis requirement for NQTLs added by Congress in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.   Therefore, employers should continue to design and administer their group health plans in accordance with MHPAEA, test their QTLs for parity, and maintain a current NQTL written comparative analysis in case of agency audit or participant request. It is only those additional requirements introduced in the fall of 2024 that are subject to the Departments’ non-enforcement provision, and we expect that federal employer audits for compliance with the preexisting MHPAEA rules will continue. We will carefully monitor this situation and provide updates as they become available.  Please follow this link or reach out to us at engage@mzqconsulting.com for more information about our MHPAEA compliance services.   

2026 Limits Announced for HSAs, HDHPs, and Excepted Benefit HRAs 

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    The Internal Revenue Service has released the maximum annual 2026 contribution limits for health savings accounts (HSAs) under high-deductible health plans (HDHPs). These inflation-adjusted limits, which have increased slightly since 2025, apply to both individual and family coverage. Of note, the annual limit for the additional catch-up HSA contribution eligible individuals aged 55 and over are permitted to make remains unchanged.   The updates also include deductible minimums and out-of-pocket (OOP) expense limits for HDHPs and an increase to the maximum amount that may be made newly available for excepted benefit health reimbursement arrangements (EBHRAs). The HSA, HDHP, and out-of-pocket thresholds apply for the 2026 calendar year, while the EBHRA maximum applies to the 2026 plan year.  The 2026 limits are summarized below in comparison to the 2025 limits:    Annual HSA Contribution Limits    2026  2025  Self-only coverage  $4,400  $4,300  Family coverage  $8,750  $8,550  Additional catch-up contribution for eligible individuals  $1,000  $1,000  Annual Minimum Deductibles for HDHPs    2026  2025  Self-only coverage  $1,700  $1,650  Family coverage  $3,400  $3,300  Annual Maximum Out-of-Pocket Expense Limits for HDHPs    2026  2025  Self-only coverage OOP expenses may not exceed  $8,500  $8,300  Family coverage OOP expenses may not exceed   $17,000  $16,600  Plan Year Excepted Benefit HRA Maximum    2026  2025  Maximum amount for a plan year may not exceed  $2,200  $2,150   

Compliance Corner Session:  Fiduciary Duty and ERISA Plan Documents

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    Join Marissa Rufo, JD, MBA, MZQ Consulting, for the latest Compliance Corner!  When: Tuesday, May 20, 2025, 11:00 AM Pacific / 2:00 PM Eastern Where: Zoom | Register here     Fiduciary duty and ERISA plan documents  Staying compliant with ERISA requirements is a vital part of maintaining your benefit plans and avoiding legal risks. In this session, we’ll dive into the essentials of ERISA compliance, starting with a brief overview of fiduciary duties under ERISA, followed by a high-level overview of ERISA plan documents and disclosures compliance. Get your notebooks and pens ready to take notes for this ERISA overview jam-packed with practical advice, strategy tips, and more! Who is MZQ Consulting?  MZQ Consulting 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 %}

Why Your Benefits Plan Needs to Start Talking About Money

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Prefer to listen instead of read? No problem! Listen to the blog post by clicking here.   We’re in an era where being “middle class” doesn’t mean what it used to. The numbers paint a sobering picture:  60% of American credit card holders live paycheck to paycheck, including 4 in 10 who earn over $100,000 a year.   Only 31% of non-retired adults feel confident that their retirement savings are on track.   Homeownership, the traditional path to building wealth, has become increasingly out of reach. First-home buyers now account for only 26% of home sales, the lowest share in over 40 years.  Add to that the rising cost of childcare, student loans, and inflation-driven essentials like groceries, and it’s no wonder that planning for a family, retirement, or long-term financial growth may feel overwhelming for many.