News & Analysis as of

Benefit Plan Sponsors

Akerman LLP - Health Law Rx

MHPAEA Final Rule: Clarity on Mental Health Parity?

The three federal agencies tasked with enforcement of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) — the Departments of Labor, Health & Human Services (through CMS), and Treasury (the Departments) — issued their...more

Woodruff Sawyer

Dependent Eligibility Audit Best Practices

Woodruff Sawyer on

As health care costs continue to rise, many employers are looking for ways they can help contain or eliminate unnecessary health plan costs without impacting the benefits coverage itself. Toward that end, some employers may...more

Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

Colgate-Palmolive 401(k) Theft Case Settles on Undisclosed Terms, Leaving Open Questions

Many who work with defined contribution plan administrators and consult plan sponsors on their ERISA fiduciary duties have been carefully monitoring Disberry v. Employee Relations Committee of the Colgate-Palmolive Company...more

Ary Rosenbaum - The Rosenbaum Law Firm P.C.

If you’re consistently losing clients, you should look in the mirror

There is always that line that you’re hired to be fired. No matter how great you are as a plan provider, you will certainly get fired by a client if you haven’t already....more

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

What the Final Mental Health Parity Rules Mean for Employers

The wait is over, and now the work begins for health plan sponsors. Much-anticipated final rules implementing the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA) were...more

McDermott Will & Emery

Landmark Mental Health Parity Final Rule: What Plan Sponsors and Insurers Need to Know

McDermott Will & Emery on

The US Departments of the Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services (the Departments) recently issued much-anticipated final regulations under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). The newly issued...more

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

Supreme Court to Determine Whether Retirees Can Claim Disability Discrimination in Benefits

The Supreme Court of the United States has agreed to hear a case that will decide whether retirees can sue for disability discrimination because of changes to retiree benefit plans....more

Bricker Graydon LLP

You May be Able to Increase Health Plan Premiums and Stay Affordable in 2025

Bricker Graydon LLP on

For the first time in four years, the IRS adjusted the affordability percentage used for the shared responsibility penalties. The IRS recently announced that the affordability percentage for 2025 will be 9.02%....more

Verrill

A Brief Guide to Qualified Disclaimers for Retirement Plan Administrators

Verrill on

A “qualified disclaimer” is a tax-effective way to refuse a transfer of property that would otherwise occur on someone’s death. From time to time, retirement plan administrators may be contacted by a beneficiary who wants a...more

Ary Rosenbaum - The Rosenbaum Law Firm P.C.

Predictions In The 401(k) Space

Whether it’s a presentation or an article, predictions over the fu- ture don’t usually add up. Sure, then the 1964 World’s Fair predicted video phone calls, we all still don’t have our jet- packs, and an article on the Mets...more

Verrill

Student Loans and Code Section 127 Educational Assistance Programs: A Reminder from the IRS, FAQs, and a Sample Plan Document

Verrill on

On August 28, the IRS issued IR-2024-227, reminding employers of the following key aspects of educational assistance programs under Internal Revenue Code Section 127: -They can be used to help reimburse the costs of or...more

Baker Donelson

Health Plan Compliance Concerns for Year-End 2024

Baker Donelson on

As employers look toward open enrollment for their group health plans, now is a good time to review action items needed for those plans by year-end, as well as upcoming deadlines in the near future. While fully-insured health...more

Proskauer - Employee Benefits & Executive...

DOL Updates Guidance on Pension and Health & Welfare Plan Cybersecurity Best Practices

In 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued 3 documents outlining guidance on cybersecurity practices for benefits plans, which we discussed in a blog post at the time. The DOL recently issued revised versions of the...more

Ary Rosenbaum - The Rosenbaum Law Firm P.C.

The Essential Plan Providers Needed For A 401(k) Plan

When people are sick, especially with debilitating illnesses or diseases, it’s natural for them to travel far and wide to get the best medi- cal coverage possible. People who are ill will try to find the best medical coverage...more

Ary Rosenbaum - The Rosenbaum Law Firm P.C.

Don’t use forfeitures to reduce

There are plenty of cases out there, arguing that plan sponsors that use forfeitures to reduce employer contributions rather than paying administrative expenses are creating a fiduciary breach and a prohibited transaction....more

Williams Mullen

PODCAST: Williams Mullen's Benefits Companion - New IRS Guidance on SECURE 2.0 Act Student Loan Employer Contributions

Williams Mullen on

On this episode of Williams Mullen's Benefits Companion, host Brydon DeWitt discusses the recent IRS guidance regarding provisions under the SECURE 2.0 Act which allows employers to make matching contributions on account of...more

Venable LLP

2025 Changes to Medicare Part D Will Impact Group Health Plans' Creditable Coverage Determination

Venable LLP on

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 made significant design changes to Medicare Part D effective January 1, 2025. The changes will cause an increase in the actuarial value of Medicare Part D coverage, which will impact...more

Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP

Interim Guidance on Matching Qualified Student Loan Payments

Until recently, employer matching contributions under qualified plans were required to be conditioned solely upon employee contributions made to the plan. However, one of the many changes enacted by the Consolidated...more

Lathrop GPM

Fifty Years of ERISA

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On Labor Day fifty years ago, September 2, 1974, President Ford signed the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) into law. It is a combination of tax and labor law incorporating trust law like fiduciary...more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Major SECURE 2.0 Guidance Issued: Extra Credit for Repaying Qualified Student Loans

Seyfarth Shaw LLP on

Seyfarth Synopsis: On August 19, 2024, the IRS issued Notice 2024-63 (the “Notice”) providing guidance for plan sponsors that wish to provide matching contributions based on eligible student loan repayments made by...more

Ary Rosenbaum - The Rosenbaum Law Firm P.C.

Plan sponsors are happy with their advisors

Financial advisors working on 401(k) advisors have happy clients, according to a new Fidelity survey....more

Ary Rosenbaum - The Rosenbaum Law Firm P.C.

Yes, I support TPAs

When I was at law school, I was the editor-in-chief of the law school’s newsmagazine. My rise to the top probably had a lot to do with the free time I had by not making law review or any other of the law journals. I failed to...more

Ary Rosenbaum - The Rosenbaum Law Firm P.C.

Attitudes To Avoid As A 401(k) Plan Provider

People will say my humor and hon- esty can drive people away. Bring- ing up some old wounds at some law firm I worked at for about 2 years, 14 years ago, might make people uncomfortable. They may be right, but being...more

Verrill

Prepare for Cooler Weather, Annual Enrollment, and 2025

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Summer is ending and fall is rapidly approaching. For employee benefit professionals with calendar-year health and welfare benefit plans that means preparing for annual enrollment and year-end compliance requirements. This...more

Ary Rosenbaum - The Rosenbaum Law Firm P.C.

Some Answers to Questions

As an ERISA attorney, I always have an open phone policy with plan sponsors, financial advisors, accountants, TPAs, and other attorneys from around the country on questions they may have about their plan or a client’s...more

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