Latest Industry News
We keep you up-to-date with the latest ERISA news articles related to welfare, benefits and health. Our news section offers extensive industry-related news with great in-depth analysis.
Covid-19 Emergency Declarations Update
Getting Ready for the Conclusion of COVID-19 Emergency Declarations President Biden made an announcement on January 30 that he plans to terminate the COVID-19 National Emergency (“NE”) and Public Health Emergency (“PHE”) on May 11, 2023. These emergency declarations have provided different types of assistance to employees covered by [...]
Legislative changes 2023
Legislative Changes 2023 Thank you for partnering with us to create your Wrap Plan Document and Summary Plan Description (SPD). As we embark into 2023, it is important to keep your document up to date to remain compliant with changes in the law and any substantive changes made [...]
Managing Premium Payments for Benefit Plans
Employers Act as Fiduciaries When Managing Premium Payments for Benefit Plans The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, in Chelf v. Prudential Insurance Company of America, reversed a district court’s dismissal of a claim for breach of fiduciary duty based on ERISA’s “ministerial function” exception. This holding concludes that the [...]
Employer Health Plan Requirements under CAA
Employer Health Plan Requirements Under The Consolidated Appropriations Act The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (CAA) was signed into law in December 2020, providing further stimulus and support to organizations and individuals affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Among its many provisions are the most comprehensive changes to active employee health [...]
The DOL’s New Cybersecurity Guidance
The Effect of DOL’s New Cybersecurity Guidance on Retirement and Health/Welfare Plans The Department of Labor (or DOL) released new guidance regarding cybersecurity in April 2021. This covered three important factors: hiring service providers, providing online security tips, and new cybersecurity best practices. These were separated into three documents. They [...]
Can You Offer COVID-19 Vaccine Incentives to Your Employees?
With the current widescale rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine, you may be finding that some of your employees don’t want to get vaccinated. This is posing a big problem for many organizations, as it may increase the risk of infection in your workforce and lead to lengthy periods of [...]
The US Ninth Circuit Holds the Outcome for Employee Benefits in Its Hands
Concerning the employee benefits, on 22nd July 2021, ERIC (the ERISA Industry Committee) put in a request to the US Court of Appeals to ask the Ninth Circuit to permit it to make a response to the opposition to its petition to the City of Seattle to rehear the appeal [...]
Phone Call Recordings may be Requested by Claimants if They’re Deemed Relevant to a Benefits Claim
On June 14, 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued an information letter stating that ERISA claims procedures require participants to be given any telephone conversation audio recordings which are deemed relevant to their claim for benefits. This statement followed the denial of a request from a participant to [...]
Blue Cross Blue Shield Class Action Settlement Raises Fiduciary Duty Questions
In October of 2020, Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) Association and member plans reached an agreement to settle a class action lawsuit brought by subscribers alleging antitrust violations. While the companies denied the allegations, they agreed to the settlement to avoid further litigation costs and risks. The Court's settlement terms [...]
DOL Issues COBRA Subsidy Model Notices and Guidance
As we informed you in our post last month, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) which was passed by Congress in early March included a 100% COBRA subsidy for individuals who experience(d) a loss of coverage due to an involuntary termination or reduction in hours between October 1, [...]