Week of July 11 2025 - SSG Insights

Group Health Plan Changes in the "One Big Beautiful Bill"

President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act (the “OBBB” or the “Act”) was passed by Congress on July 3, 2025. The OBBB is not generally considered a benefits bill, but it does contain a few helpful provisions for employers and other plan sponsors. Earlier versions of the OBBB contained more expansive provisions related to Individual Coverage HRAs (ICHRAs). However, employers and plan sponsors will want to pay attention to the changes that made it into the final Act, addressing health savings accounts (HSAs), dependent care flexible spending accounts (FSAs), student loan repayment assistance, and newly created “Trump Accounts.”

Health Care Cost Spotlight: Chronic Conditions

Chronic conditions account for a shockingly large part of U.S. health care costs. This Health Care Cost Spotlight article focuses on chronic conditions and how they’re impacting health care costs this year and beyond.

Consumer Price Index: Medical Care

Understanding medical inflation is essential for staying up to date with changing market conditions while managing health care costs and planning employee benefits. This SSG Insight explains the consumer price index and its medical care index and outlines reasons why it’s crucial for employers to understand this economic measure.

U.S. Supreme Court Upholds ACA's Mandate for Free Preventive Care

On June 27, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a key component of the ACA’s preventive care mandate. The Court’s decision requires health plans and health insurance issuers to continue covering, without cost sharing, the full range of recommended preventive care services. This Legal Update summarizes the Court’s ruling and its impact.