Last week, the President signed into law House Resolution 4851, which extends several government programs through May 31, 2010, including the ARRA COBRA subsidy.
Continue Reading Congress Extends COBRA Subsidy for A Third Time–Until May 31, 2010
employee benefits/ERISA
The Supreme Court Rejects Actuarial Heresy in Conkright v. Frommert
By Porter Wright on
Rejecting actuarial heresy, the United States Supreme Court has refreshingly acknowledged that “People make mistakes. Even administrators of ERISA plans.” Specifically, the Court held that a single honest mistake in plan interpretation does not justify stripping the administrator of deference for subsequent related interpretations.
Continue Reading The Supreme Court Rejects Actuarial Heresy in Conkright v. Frommert
The Health Reform Bill: What Do Employers Need to Know?
By Porter Wright on
Following a year-long contentious debate, Congress finally passed the President’s top domestic agenda item: Health Reform.
Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed the Senate version of the Health Reform Bill by a slim margin (three votes more than required) and no Republican support. The Bill contains broad reforms that make numerous significant changes to the ways in which healthcare is accessed, delivered and financed.
Some of the noteworthy changes (and effective dates) for employers to consider are discussed in this blog post.
Continue Reading The Health Reform Bill: What Do Employers Need to Know?
Department of Labor issues new model COBRA subsidy notices
By Porter Wright on
As an update to my earlier posting regarding the Temporary Extension Act of 2010 extending the COBRA subsidy, the Department of Labor has issued new model notices reflecting the changes from this act, available at: http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/COBRAmodelnotice.html
Congress passes temporary COBRA subsidy extension through March 31, 2010
By Porter Wright on
Congress recently passed the Temporary Extension Act of 2010, which, in addition to extending unemployment benefits, extends and expands the COBRA premium subsidy originally provided by ARRA (the stimulus bill). The new law extends the end of the eligibility period for the COBRA subsidy from February 28, 2010 to March 31, 2010. This means that individuals involuntarily…
Ohio extends State Mini-COBRA Health Insurance Continuation Coverage From 12 to 15 Months
By Porter Wright on
Governor Strickland just signed into law a bill (House Bill 300) that would extend Ohio’s state “mini COBRA” coverage for any policies delivered, issued, or renewed on or after February 25, 2010.
Continue Reading Ohio extends State Mini-COBRA Health Insurance Continuation Coverage From 12 to 15 Months
Department of Labor Announces that Sample Notices for Extended COBRA Subsidy Will Be Forthcoming
By Porter Wright on
As you will recall from my earlier post, Congress and the President extended the COBRA subsidy, originally a part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) (the stimulus bill), to individuals involuntary terminated through February 28, 2010 (from December 31, 2009) and the length of the subsidy to 15 months (from 9…
Facebook Photos Prompt Termination of Long Term Disability Benefits
By Brian Hall on
CBC News in Canada is reporting that a Canadian long-term disability insurance carrier recently terminated the long-term disability benefits a Quebec woman was receiving for "major depression" after photos she posted on her Facebook page showed her "having a good time at a Chippendales bar show, at her birthday party and on a sun holiday."…
GINA Interim Final Regulations: Highlights and the Potential Impact on Group Health Plans
By Brian Hall on
On October 7, 2009, the DOL, IRS, and HHS issued interim final regulations implementing Sections 101 to 103 of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA). For group health plans, these regulations become effective on the first day of the plan year beginning on or after December 7, 2009. For the individual market, the…
Breach Notification Under the HITECH Act: Action Points for Employers Who Sponsor Self-Insured Group Health Plans
By Brian Hall on
As we previously have noted, the Department of Health and Human Services recently issued an interim final rule under the HITECH Act requiring HIPAA-covered entities to notify each individual whose unsecured PHI has been, or is reasonably believed by the covered entity to have been, accessed, acquired, used, or disclosed as a result of…