ERISA Complex LitigationBlog Posts
The Pandemic Continues, but ACA Reporting Relief Does NotAs employers with 50 or more full-time (or full-time equivalent) employees are well aware, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (”ACA”) requires annual submission of Forms 1094-C and 1095-C with the Internal Revenue Service, and distribution of Forms 1095-C. These submissions and distributions are generally due: Furnishing of Forms 1095-C to employees: January 31...November 4, 2021 |
‘Segal Blend’ Withdrawal Liability Calculation Violates ERISA, Court Holds in Milestone DecisionThe use of the “Segal Blend” to calculate a company’s withdrawal liability when it withdrew from a multiemployer pension plan violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), as amended by the Multiemployer Pension Plan Amendments Act (MPPAA), because it was not the actuary’s best estimate, the federal appeals court in Cincinnati has held in...October 8, 2021 |
Employer Vaccine Surcharges—Yes, You Can!As employers consider implementing a vaccine mandate to encourage employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19, we have recently discussed the merits of imposing a “vaccine surcharge” on monthly health insurance premiums for those employees who remain unvaccinated. There were unanswered questions about specific legal issues, but now the Department of Labor (DOL), Health and Human...October 5, 2021 |
2021 Plan Amendment Deadlines and Other Looming Fourth Quarter ConsiderationsAs the year draws to a close, it is helpful for employers to pause to evaluate employee benefit plan amendment deadlines and other crucial fourth-quarter considerations, including: More…October 1, 2021 |
Money Money Money: How Much can the Health Plan Surcharge on Unvaccinated Employees Be?In light of the lingering COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on employee productivity and health care expenses, employers are considering imposing a premium surcharge on employees participating in the company’s health plan who are not vaccinated against COVID-19. As we have discussed here, several federal laws must be taken into consideration when designing such a...September 20, 2021 |
At Home COVID-19 Testing and the Path out of the PandemicTesting for COVID-19 certainly has evolved over the past 18 months or so. As supply and allocation continue to face challenges, guidance on serological/antibody versus viral testing, testing in the workplace, informed consent, among other things have emerged to help guide coronavirus testing in the workplace. President Biden’s Path out of the Pandemic (the “Path”)...September 13, 2021 |
It’s Time to Dust Off Your ERISA Fiduciary Liability Insurance PolicyWith the end-of-the-year hustle already around the corner, now is a great time to dust off your company’s ERISA fiduciary liability policy to ensure your plan fiduciaries have robust, comprehensive coverage. Fiduciary liability policies provide coverage for claims related to the administration and operation of retirement and health and welfare plans. Unlike D&O coverage, fiduciary...September 6, 2021 |
San Francisco Will Tax Employers Based on CEO Pay RatioSan Francisco’s Measure L, which passed with the overwhelming support of the voters, will be effective in 2022 for businesses operating in the City of San Francisco. Measure L, titled the “Overpaid Executive Gross Receipts Tax,” imposes an additional tax on gross receipts or payroll expenses of any business in which the CEO (or highest-paid...… Continue ReadingAugust 12, 2021 |
Health Plan Premium Surcharges For Those Not Vaccinated for COVID-19?According to Forbes.com, more employers are considering imposing a premium surcharge on employees participating in the company’s health plan who are not vaccinated for COVID-19. Whether positioned as rewards or penalties, wellness program incentives have become vehicles of choice for encouraging behaviors believed to be healthy and reducing health plan costs. For years, tobacco users...… Continue ReadingAugust 10, 2021 |
The End of a (Short) Era: ARPA COBRA Subsidies and the Remaining Action Item for Plan SponsorsThe American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARPA”) kept many practitioners busy this spring/summer, as may be evident by our discussions here, here, here, and here. Under one of ARPA’s most impactful provisions, employees who were involuntarily terminated or had their hours reduced (and who met certain other criteria) became eligible for fully subsidized COBRA...… Continue ReadingAugust 9, 2021 |