For nearly 40 years, 1706 Advisors, formerly Lang Financial Group, has helped employers, business owners, and individuals stay prepared and protected through insurance products. Using a consultative, data-driven approach, 1706 Advisors develops tailored solutions for employers to attract and retain top talent, business owners to build business resilience and continuity, and individuals who want to protect themselves, their families, and their way of life. In addition, the firm specializes in employee benefits, human resource management, individual financial security, business enterprise planning, and HR programs and support. As an independent insurance firm backed by a national organization, 1706 Advisors has the buying power of a large broker yet stays product neutral to ensure clients get the right package for their needs. To learn more, visit 1706Advisors.com.
Q1: To what plans does the PCORI fee apply?
A1: All plans that provide medical coverage to employees owe this fee. Medical coverage includes preferred provider (PPO) plans, health maintenance organization (HMO) plans, point-of-service (POS) plans, high deductible health (HDHP) plans, and health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs).
The fee does not apply to:
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Trust doesn’t usually break in dramatic ways.
It erodes quietly.
An unanswered question about coverage.
A confusing open enrollment experience.
A renewal change that feels abrupt instead of explained.
Most employees don’t analyze their benefits package line by line. But they pay close attention to how it feels to use it. And increasingly, that experience shapes how much they trust…
April 2026
Employee Benefits
Employee benefits are entering a new phase, defined less by incremental enhancements and more by fundamental redesign. For many employers, 2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year where rising healthcare…
April is Autism Acceptance Month.
You’ll see the awareness posts. The themed graphics. The well-meaning statements.
But acceptance at work isn’t about what you post.
It’s about whether your benefits actually work for the people who need them.
Because inclusion isn’t a campaign.
It’s operational.
Neurodiversity Is Not a “Special Case”
The CDC estimates that 1 in 36 children in…
Three critical deadlines are converging this spring: HSA contribution corrections, PBM fee disclosure comments, and prescription drug data reporting, all due by mid-year. Each requires coordination across payroll, vendors, and HR teams. Missing a step can mean gaps in employee accounts or unresolved administrative exposure. Your action checklist is waiting.
The post Employee Benefits Compliance…
Summary
April is Stress Awareness Month, and a good time to name a stress point we don’t talk about enough: HR team strain during benefits renewals.
Three-quarters of HR professionals described their work as emotionally exhausting at the 2024 SHRM annual conference, and nearly half said they felt burnt out. The simplest fix is early planning: a six-month cadence with…
April 2026
Constant connection has become the norm and is quietly reshaping how employees experience their workdays.
From back-to-back meetings to nonstop notifications, the modern work environment often leaves little room for mental recovery. While technology has improved efficiency and flexibility, it has also introduced a new kind of strain: digital fatigue.
Studies suggest the average employee checks email or messaging…
What happens when your workforce spans 40 years of life experience, but your benefits don’t
Your 24-year-old marketing coordinator just asked if the company offers student loan assistance. Your 52-year-old operations manager wants to know if there’s better support for managing her aging parents’ care. Your 38-year-old engineer is stressed about childcare costs and college savings.
They all work for…
Why your team doesn’t trust benefits announcements, and what to do about it
Picture this: Your CEO walks into the company’s all-hands meeting and announces, “We’re making some changes to benefits for next year. HR will send details soon. Any questions?”
Silence. Not because people don’t have questions, but because they don’t even know what questions to ask yet. Three…
Several federal deadlines and benefit thresholds are changing this year, and HR teams have a short window to act. ACA out-of-pocket maximums are rising significantly in 2027, and new options are available to simplify employee communications. Now is the right time to review plan design, update documentation, and align your team before renewals begin
The…
