The Department of Labor (DOL) has issued an “Administrator’s Interpretation” to assist employers in determining if a worker is an employee or an independent contractor. The DOL has determined that many employers are incorrectly classifying employees as independent contractors, which can harm the worker and open the employer up to various liabilities. Unfortunately, there is […]
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Compliance Recap // June 2015
June was a busy month, with multiple updates from regulatory agencies as well as two important Supreme Court opinions that impacted the world of employer benefits. As the Supreme Court wrapped up the October 2014 term, it has granted petitions for the October 2015 term, which will ultimately impact ERISA plans. The IRS updated its […]
Read moreCompliance Recap // May 2015
After a few quiet months, regulatory agencies have picked up steam, leaving employers with a significant amount of new information to digest and work through. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) was busy updating FAQs relating to reporting under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and setting the 2016 high deductible health plan (HDHP) […]
Read moreDon’t Roll the Dice on Department of Labor Audits!
Surviving a DOL Audit: Not a Matter of “If” but “When”As the likelihood of an audit from the U.S. Department of Labor increases, our new white paper can help you prepare. With it you’ll: · Learn how to audit-proof your company · Avoid the worst mistakes you can make · Take the first three critical […]
Read moreCompliance Recap // April 2015
Regulatory agencies were quiet during the month of April. The most significant guidance came from a variety of federal agencies that issued various documents regarding wellness programs. In addition to a Proposed Rule (discussed below) issued by the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC) to align wellness program requirements with Title I of the Americans with […]
Read moreCompliance Recap // March 2015
Coming off a busy February, regulatory agencies were noticeably quiet during the month of March. This allowed the Supreme Court to take the spotlight with oral arguments in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) related case, King v. Burwell. A clarifying FAQ was issued regarding cost-sharing limits for individuals, which was originally announced […]
Read moreCompliance Recap // February 2015
Regulatory agencies were busy during the month of February, providing information on a variety of topics including: (1) reporting, (2) premium payment arrangements, (3) single benefit products and excepted benefits, (4) and benefit parameters. More information was also released on the “Cadillac tax” and on the definition of “spouse” as it relates to the Family […]
Read moreUpdate: What Employers Need to Know Right Now About Health Care Reform: Premium reimbursement, Single Benefit and Excepted Benefits, and Cadillac Tax update
The regulatory agencies have recently issued guidance that may affect employers that have been reimbursing premiums for individual health coverage or Medicare Part B, Part D or Medigap premiums for active employees. In addition, new rules were issued for single benefit supplemental plans, which may affect minimum essential coverage programs that include “wrap” benefits for […]
Read moreCompliance Recap // December 2014
During the month of December Congress passed a temporary increase to the transit pass and vanpooling benefit and the regulatory agencies released several cost-of-living increases, proposed relatively minor revisions to the Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) requirement, and updated the list of counties in which foreign language versions of the SBC and other benefits […]
Read moreGuest Blog – Can Employers Assist Employees with Premiums for Individual Plans? by Carol Taylor, Employee Benefit Advisor, D&S Agency, a UBA Partner Firm
On November 6, 2014, the collective Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor (DOL) and the Treasury released three Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) directed at employer payment plans for the purchase of individual insurance. While the departments had previously released several other pieces of guidance about these arrangements, this latest round exclaimed an emphatic […]
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