Infinity Partners Group

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 permanently increased the Dependent Care FSA (DCAP) annual limit from $5,000 to $7,500 for tax years beginning after December 31, 2025 – a 50% increase that employers have long advocated for.

This is the first major enhancement to Dependent Care FSAs since their creation in 1986. It reflects a long-overdue recognition of the evolving realities of childcare costs and the growing need for more robust support for working families.

Quick Update about the OR PFML

July 30, 2024: The Oregon Employment Department (the Department) filed Permanent Administrative Orders to amend the Oregon Paid Family and Medical Leave (OR PFML) Regulations (Batch 11) about benefits, equivalent plans, assistance grants, and appeals effective on August 1, 2024. The OR PFML regulations include the following updates:

Benefits:
The rules have been updated to clarify the method for calculating workdays relative to work weeks, the disqualification of employees eligible for worker’s compensation time loss benefits from receiving benefits, and the documentation requirements for verifying each leave type. Additionally, the rules specify the process for recognizing representatives for incapacitated claimants who don’t have a designated representative, individuals who have a power of attorney granted by a claimant or are the court-appointed legal guardian or conservator for a claimant, the priority order of offsets, withholdings from or reductions to OR PFML benefits, and penalties for employer and claimant misrepresentations.


Equivalent plans:
The rules have been updated to clarify the anniversary date of equivalent plans with an original effective date of September 3, 2023, and the poster notice must be provided to all employees, regardless of their eligibility for benefits.

Assistance grants:
The term “temporary worker” will be use instead of “replacement
worker” to clarify the requirements for an individual to qualify as a
temporary worker for purposes of an assistance grant. The rules
have also been amended to outline the application requirements
for small employers seeking assistance grants.


Appeals:
The rules have been updated to clarify the final date to appeal a
department decision and the Department’s use of the contested
claim process outlined in Paid Leave Oregon’s program rules rather
than the model rules for contested cases.

The permanent administrative order adopting these rules can be found here. https://www.oregon.gov/employ/Agency/Documents/2024/2024-07-30-Batch_11_SOS_Final_Filing_Receipt_20240730.pdf

Courtesy of Lincoln Financial

www.oregon.gov

2025 HSA Contribution Limit Increase

The IRS recently announced contribution limit increases for Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) for 2025. The 2025 HSA contribution limits will increase to $4,300 for self-only HSAs and to $8,550 for family HSAs. In addition, the 2025 high-deductible health plan (HDHP) minimum deductible amount was increased from $1,600 to $1,650 for self only coverage and from $3,200 to $3,300 for family coverage. For 2025, the HDHP maximum out of pocket amount increased from $8,050 to $8,300 for self only coverage and from $16,100 to $16,600 for family coverage.

We’re happy to share that Regence BlueCross BlueShield and Legacy Health have worked successfully to avoid Legacy leaving our network. This means members may continue to receive in-network care from Legacy.

We understand how concerning news about potential provider network disruptions can be. We thank you for your patience as we worked with Legacy to continue providing access to high-quality, cost-effective care for our members.

We will mail letters notifying affected members about this update right away.

How many of you knew that Regence is a taxpaying nonprofit…

Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon paid $2.5 billion for member care in 2023

By Regence
March 01, 2024

PORTLAND, Ore. – Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon paid $2.5 billion in medical care for its fully insured members in 2023, or $5,162 per member, according to unaudited figures filed today with the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation. Regence maintained its strong membership and ended 2023 serving more than 994,000 people, including self-funded and BlueCard® members.

On total revenue of $2.83 billion, Regence had net income of 4.8%, which is higher than the average annual net income over the past 10 years of 3.6% but represents less than 5 cents of every premium dollar received from members. 2023 performance was driven by strong member retention and a tax benefit related to prior years.

The company places net income in its capital reserves to ensure stable health care coverage so Regence can continue to pay member claims. As a taxpaying nonprofit, this critical safety net is Regence’s only source of funds for investments, cyber defense and paying higher than expected medical costs.

“Helping to deliver high-quality care and maintaining affordability for our members is our top priority,” said Michael Cole, president of Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon. “As one of the state’s largest health insurers, our financial stability is critical to ensuring we can continue supporting the nearly 1 million Oregonians we serve.”

Regence paid approximately $69.1 million in federal and state income taxes and fees in 2023.

Community impact

Founded in 1941, Regence and its affiliated companies employ more than 3,500 people across Oregon, and the company is committed to investing in the communities it serves. Together with its corporate foundation and employees, Regence contributed $2.2 million to benefit Oregon nonprofit organizations, and employees donated more than 3,700 volunteer hours in 2023.

About Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon
Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon, headquartered in Portland, has been serving Oregonians since 1941 and now provides more than 994,000 people with comprehensive health insurance solutions. As a taxpaying nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, Regence is part of a family of companies dedicated to transforming health care by delivering innovative products and services that change the way consumers nationwide experience health care. For more information, please visit regence.com, facebook.com/regencebluecrossblueshield, or twitter.com/regenceoregon.

https://news.regence.com/releases/regence-paid-2-5-billion-for-member-care-in-oregon-in-2023?ecid=r_prod_zz_dpm_e_am_nlt_zz_zz_0324

Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon paid $2.5 billion for member care in 2023 PORTLAND, Ore. – Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon paid $2.5 billion in medical care for its fully insured members in 2023, or $5,162 per member, according to unaudited figures filed today with the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation.