24.06.2024 04.17 CDT
DOL narrows rules for employers to join together in offering benefit plans.
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued new guidance narrowing when a group of unrelated employers can join together and form an association health plan (“AHP”)—a plan that is treated as a single employer plan under ERISA. The new guidance narrows the circumstances under which an AHP can be considered an employer-sponsored plan under ERISA. This ruling may also foretell changes to the rules governing multiple employer retirement plans (MEPs).
12.03.2018 05.31 CDT
The past year has seen a number of new state and local laws covering a range of benefits-related areas. However, this legislative and regulatory patchwork has a down side for employers, who may find it increasingly difficult to deal with complying with the requirements of multiple jurisdictions.
The New Federalism: Employee Benefits in the Laboratory
In the federal system, states can serve as “laboratories” for different policies. It appears that the benefits and HR community have become the guinea pigs of choice as the state “laboratories” have attempted to push back at the policies (or lack thereof) emanating from Washington, D.C.
The past few years has seen a number of new state and local laws covering a range of benefits-related areas. In part, this activity can be attributed to pushback at the policies (or lack thereof) emanating from Washington, D.C. And, we can anticipate an increase in such activity in the coming years. However, state and local activism can have some unintended (and undesirable) consequences.
08.10.2017 11.11 CDT
Employers are caught in the middle of the ongoing stalemate over the future of the ACA. Unfortunately, being caught in the middle could prove to be costly in a variety of ways.
Healthcare Wars: Employers Caught in the Middle
As the political battles over the possible repeal, replacement or repair of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) drag on, employers are likely to get caught in the middle.
As the political battles over the possible repeal, replacement or repair of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) drag on, employers must come to grips with an unpleasant reality: they are likely to get the worst of all worlds for the foreseeable future.
22.09.2017 10.04 CDT
: It is for plan administration to diverge from plan documents. It is also risky.
Two recent cases (Acosta v. Macy’s, Inc. and Erwood v. Life Ins. Company of North America) serve as reminders of how easy it is for plan administrative practices to diverge from plan documents. The cases also illustrate the risks of allowing this to happen.
19.04.2017 10.53 CDT
Gaps in health literacy hinder Americans’ ability to participate in important health care decisions or to follow medical advice.
Health Literacy: What Is It and Why It Matters
Health Literacy provides us a chance to prevent being herded into bad decisions.
Many Americans have difficulty making important decisions about their health care and understanding important medical information.