--- title: Recent Developments that Impact Employer-Sponsored Group Health Plans  description: "Stay informed on key employee benefits compliance updates: telehealth relief expiration for HDHPs and changes to hospital indemnity insurance notices." image: https://novaurains.com/hubfs/210080060_m.jpeg --- [![Novaura](https://novaurains.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Novaura%20Logos/01819-Novaura-Logo-NoTag-CC.png?width=250&height=39&name=01819-Novaura-Logo-NoTag-CC.png "Novaura")](https://novaurains.com) - [Home](https://novaurains.com) - Services - [Benefits & HR](https://novaurains.com/services) - [Case Study: Increased participation by 30%](https://novaurains.com/case-study-rebuilding-trust-in-ancillary-benefits-novaura) - [Case Study: Avoiding 120% Rate Increase](https://novaurains.com/case-study-employer-saves-over-221000-in-benefits-spend-novaura) - About - [About us](https://novaurains.com/about-us) - [Our journey to Novaura](https://novaurains.com/our-journey-to-novaura) - Resources - [Blog](https://novaurains.com/blog) - [Guide: Self-funding 101](https://novaurains.com/self-funding-101-a-beginners-guide) - [Contact](https://novaurains.com/contact) [![](https://novaurains.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Novaura%20Logos/01819-Novaura-Logo-NoTag-CC.png?width=200&height=31&name=01819-Novaura-Logo-NoTag-CC.png)](https://novaurains.com) [![01819-Novaura-Logo-NoTag-CC](https://novaurains.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Novaura%20Logos/01819-Novaura-Logo-NoTag-CC.png?width=300&height=47&name=01819-Novaura-Logo-NoTag-CC.png "01819-Novaura-Logo-NoTag-CC")](https://novaurains.com) - [Home](https://novaurains.com) - Services - [Benefits & HR](https://novaurains.com/services) - [Case Study: Increased participation by 30%](https://novaurains.com/case-study-rebuilding-trust-in-ancillary-benefits-novaura) - [Case Study: Avoiding 120% Rate Increase](https://novaurains.com/case-study-employer-saves-over-221000-in-benefits-spend-novaura) - About - [About us](https://novaurains.com/about-us) - [Our journey to Novaura](https://novaurains.com/our-journey-to-novaura) - Resources - [Blog](https://novaurains.com/blog) - [Guide: Self-funding 101](https://novaurains.com/self-funding-101-a-beginners-guide) - [Contact](https://novaurains.com/contact) [![](https://novaurains.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Novaura%20Logos/01819-Novaura-Logo-NoTag-CC.png?width=200&height=31&name=01819-Novaura-Logo-NoTag-CC.png)](https://novaurains.com) - [Home](https://novaurains.com) - Services - [Benefits & HR](https://novaurains.com/services) - [Case Study: Increased participation by 30%](https://novaurains.com/case-study-rebuilding-trust-in-ancillary-benefits-novaura) - [Case Study: Avoiding 120% Rate Increase](https://novaurains.com/case-study-employer-saves-over-221000-in-benefits-spend-novaura) - About - [About us](https://novaurains.com/about-us) - [Our journey to Novaura](https://novaurains.com/our-journey-to-novaura) - Resources - [Blog](https://novaurains.com/blog) - [Guide: Self-funding 101](https://novaurains.com/self-funding-101-a-beginners-guide) - [Contact](https://novaurains.com/contact) # Recent Developments that Impact Employer-Sponsored Group Health Plans  2 Minutes Read [![MZQ Logo](https://1652561.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/1652561/hubfs/MZQ_logo_2019_FINAL-01%20copy%202.jpg?width=254&height=130&name=MZQ_logo_2019_FINAL-01%20copy%202.jpg)](https://www.mzqconsulting.com/) *Prefer to listen instead of read? No problem! [Listen to the blog post at any time by clicking here](https://1652561.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/1652561/a6udnviMKaV5oeCKTNiVfXUvx7yrqcjVsQpDadSM.mp3). * ---   Several notable developments have already occurred within the employee benefits compliance domain. Below are two updates that we want to ensure don’t slip past employers.   ### Expiration of telehealth relief for High Deductible Health Plans  When the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) was signed into law in 2020, one of its provisions was to allow qualified high deductible health plans (HDHPs) to provide telehealth services with little or no cost-sharing without requiring participants to satisfy their deductible, and without jeopardizing participant eligibility to contribute to a health savings account (HSA). The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 extended this relief through December 31, 2024.  Many anticipated that The American Relief Act, 2025 would further extend this relief for employer-sponsored group health plans, but it was ultimately absent from the final version of the law. This means that once a group’s plan renews in 2025, providing cost-sharing for telehealth services at less than fair market value before a participant’s deductible is satisfied will disqualify the participant from HSA eligibility unless the telehealth service is for preventive care. Employers with non-calendar year plan years can continue to take advantage of the telehealth relief for a bit longer until their plan’s 2025 renewal, while employers with calendar-year no longer qualify for the relief.  For employers that want to maintain HSA eligibility for participants of their 2025 HDHP offering, we encourage those impacted by the expiration of this relief to (1) charge fair market value for telehealth (at least until the minimum HDHP deductible is met), (2) amend their plan documents to reflect any changes in cost-sharing, and (3) determine how they want to communicate those changes to employees (e.g., by distributing summaries of material modification).   ### Hospital indemnity notices no longer required  In the spring of 2024, the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury issued final rules governing employer-sponsored indemnity insurance. One requirement within these rules was a mandate that, for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2025, any employer offering indemnity insurance include a prescribed notice spelling out the differences between fixed indemnity coverage and comprehensive coverage within any marketing, application, and enrollment materials that they provide to participants.  Several insurance companies challenged this requirement as not being authorized by law, and a district court judge agreed with those companies and struck down the new notice requirement at the end of 2024. Though an appeals process is possible, for now, employers that offer indemnity insurance do not need to provide these notices.  *© 2025 MZQ Consulting, LLC. All rights reserved.* *Content provided to [Q4intelligence](https://www.q4intel.com) members by MZQ Consulting, LLC* Photo by [gorodenkoff](https://www.123rf.com/profile_gorodenkoff)  [Next post](https://novaurains.com/blog/guidance-released-for-form-1095-c-alternative-distribution-option) [All posts](https://novaurains.com/blog) [Previous post](https://novaurains.com/blog/building-a-health-insurance-plan-for-your-employees) ## Recommended For You [![](https://1652561.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/1652561/144805927_m.jpg)](https://novaurains.com/blog/proposed-changes-to-the-hipaa-security-rule) 3 Min Read #### [Proposed Changes to the HIPAA Security Rule](https://novaurains.com/blog/proposed-changes-to-the-hipaa-security-rule) [![](https://1652561.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/1652561/185708248_m_normal_none.jpg)](https://novaurains.com/blog/final-rules-issued-on-employer-sponsored-indemnity-insurance) 2 Min Read #### [Final Rules Issued on Employer-Sponsored Indemnity Insurance](https://novaurains.com/blog/final-rules-issued-on-employer-sponsored-indemnity-insurance) [![](https://1652561.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/1652561/146740172_m_normal_none.jpeg)](https://novaurains.com/blog/aca-affordability-percentage-remains-below-9-5-for-2025) 2 Min Read #### [ACA Affordability Percentage Remains Below 9.5% for 2025](https://novaurains.com/blog/aca-affordability-percentage-remains-below-9-5-for-2025) ![](https://novaurains.com/hubfs/Novaura%20Logos/01819-Novaura-Logo-NoTag-WH.png) Novaura builds stronger businesses by giving you solutions that go above and beyond the usual numbers and quotes. With our solutions-based benefits approach, you'll be able to invest in your employees and meet everyone’s needs—and then some. [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/NovauraIns/) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/novaura) - RESOURCES: - [Read the Blog](https://novaurains.com/blog) - [Effective Onboarding Checklist](https://novaurains.com/effective-onboarding-checklist) - [Guide: Self-Funding 101](https://novaurains.com/self-funding-101-a-beginners-guide) - [Case Study: Increased participation by 30%](https://novaurains.com/case-study-rebuilding-trust-in-ancillary-benefits-novaura) - [Case Study: Avoiding 120% rate increase](https://novaurains.com/case-study-employer-saves-over-221000-in-benefits-spend-novaura) **GET IN TOUCH:** ###### Novaura 718 S. 17th St. Temple, TX 76504 Phone: (254) 791-8221 Copyright © 2025 Novaura [Privacy Policy](https://novaurains.com/privacy-policy)  | Designed by [Q4intelligence ](http://q4intel.com) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://novaurains.com/blog/recent-developments-that-impact-employer-sponsored-group-health-plans/#article", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Novaura" }, "dateModified" : "2025-09-05T16:45:27Z", "datePublished" : "2025-03-06T11:53:10Z", "description" : "Stay informed on key employee benefits compliance updates: telehealth relief expiration for HDHPs and changes to hospital indemnity insurance notices.", "headline" : "Recent Developments that Impact Employer-Sponsored Group Health Plans ", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : "1487", "url" : "https://8348683.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/8348683/210080060_m.jpeg", "width" : "2248" }, "inLanguage" : "en", "isPartOf" : { "@id" : "https://novaurains.com/blog/#blog", "@type" : "Blog", "name" : "Blog", "publisher" : { "@id" : "https://novaurains.com/#organization" } }, "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://novaurains.com/blog/recent-developments-that-impact-employer-sponsored-group-health-plans/#webpage" }, "publisher" : { "@id" : "https://novaurains.com/#organization" }, "url" : "https://novaurains.com/blog/recent-developments-that-impact-employer-sponsored-group-health-plans" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://novaurains.com/blog/recent-developments-that-impact-employer-sponsored-group-health-plans/#breadcrumb", "@type" : "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement" : [ { "@type" : "ListItem", "item" : "https://novaurains.com", "name" : "Home", "position" : 1 } ] } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://novaurains.com/#organization", "@type" : "InsuranceAgency", "address" : { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "US", "addressLocality" : "Temple", "addressRegion" : "TX", "postalCode" : "76504", "streetAddress" : "718 S. 17th St." }, "alternateName" : "Texas Benefit Alliance", "areaServed" : [ { "@type" : "State", "name" : "Texas" }, { "@type" : "City", "name" : "Dallas" }, { "@type" : "City", "name" : "Austin" } ], "contactPoint" : { "@type" : "ContactPoint", "areaServed" : "US", "availableLanguage" : "English", "contactType" : "customer service", "telephone" : "+1-254-791-8221" }, "description" : "Novaura is an employee benefits and insurance agency based in Temple, Texas, serving businesses throughout the Dallas and Austin area. Formerly Texas Benefit Alliance, the agency helps companies design and manage group health insurance, self-funded health plans, and ancillary benefits while controlling healthcare spend and simplifying HR administration and compliance. Through a consultative, five-step process—analyze, identify, establish, implement, and review—Novaura builds people-first benefits programs that drive employee engagement, retention, and work/life balance.", "employee" : [ { "@id" : "https://novaurains.com/#person-tim-davis", "@type" : "Person", "jobTitle" : "President, Agency Principal", "name" : "Tim Davis", "sameAs" : "https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-davis-9879012b/", "worksFor" : { "@id" : "https://novaurains.com/#organization" } }, { "@id" : "https://novaurains.com/#person-luke-davis", "@type" : "Person", "jobTitle" : "Benefits Strategist", "name" : "Luke Davis", "sameAs" : "https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-davis513/", "worksFor" : { "@id" : "https://novaurains.com/#organization" } } ], "image" : { "@id" : "https://novaurains.com/#logo" }, "knowsAbout" : [ "Employee benefits", "Group health insurance", "Self-funded health plans", "Benefits strategy and consulting", "HR administration", "Employee benefits compliance", "Employee retention and engagement", "Ancillary benefits" ], "logo" : { "@id" : "https://novaurains.com/#logo" }, "name" : "Novaura", "sameAs" : [ "https://www.facebook.com/NovauraIns/", "https://www.linkedin.com/company/novaura/" ], "telephone" : "+1-254-791-8221", "url" : "https://novaurains.com" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://novaurains.com/#website", "@type" : "WebSite", "inLanguage" : "en-US", "name" : "Novaura", "publisher" : { "@id" : "https://novaurains.com/#organization" }, "url" : "https://novaurains.com" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://novaurains.com/#logo", "@type" : "ImageObject", "caption" : "Novaura", "contentUrl" : "https://novaurains.com/hubfs/Novaura%20Logos/01819-Novaura-Logo-NoTag-CC.png", "url" : "https://novaurains.com/hubfs/Novaura%20Logos/01819-Novaura-Logo-NoTag-CC.png" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "Article", "author" : { "@type" : "Organization", "name" : "Q4intelligence, LLC" }, "datePublished" : "2025-03-06T11:00:01+00:00", "headline" : "Recent Developments that Impact Employer-Sponsored Group Health Plans ", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://insights.q4intel.com/employers/recent-developments-that-impact-employer-sponsored-group-health-plans", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "name" : "Q4intelligence, LLC", "url" : "https://www.q4intel.com" } } ```