Quick Facts: Congress passed the $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), which President Biden is expected to sign tomorrow. The bill includes significant employee benefits related provisions including a federal subsidy that will cover 100% of the cost of COBRA continuation coverage effective April 1, 2021 through September 30, 2021
Quick Facts:Last week, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued new guidance regarding notice and disclosure timeframe relief for employee benefit plans and plan participants due to COVID-19. EBSA Disaster Relief Notice 2021-01 (The Joint Notice) clarifies that the deadline for extended timeframes, such as a COBRA election, will be based upon the date each
Quick Facts: The Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), 2021 was passed by Congress on December 21, 2020 and signed into law on December 27. 2020. This COVID-19 relief bill includes provision for employers to make temporary changes for health and dependent care
Quick Facts: In Notice 2020-76, the IRS extended the 2021 deadline for employers and insurers to furnish individual statements on 2020 health coverage and full-time employee status (Forms 1095-B and 1095-C) from February 1 (generally due January 31, but this year it is a Sunday) to March 2, 2021. The notice also extends the good-faith penalty relief to 2020 for incorrect or incomplete reports due in 2021. For more information, including a link to Notice 2020-76, click below:
Quick Facts: In Notice 2020-76, the IRS extended the 2021 deadline for employers and insurers to furnish individual statements on 2020 health coverage and full-time employee status (Forms 1095-B and 1095-C) from February 1 (generally due January 31, but this year it is a Sunday) to March 2, 2021. The notice also extends the good-faith penalty
Quick Facts: The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires health insurance issuers and employers that sponsor self‐insured health plans to pay Patient‐Centered Outcomes Research Institute fees (PCORI fees). Though the PCORI fee was scheduled to expire for plan years ending on or after October 1, 2019, it was extended to plan years ending on or before September
Quick Facts: On May 12, 2020, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) released Notices 2020-29 and 2020-33, collectively providing guidance related to cafeteria plan elections, health flexible spending accounts (“Health FSAs”), and dependent care assistance programs (“DCAPs”).
Quick Facts: The Department of Labor (DOL) and the Department of Treasury (IRS) jointly issued a final rule extending several specific notice time frames applicable under HIPAA, COBRA, and ERISA. The rule also extends the time frames for COBRA elections,
What you need to know: Various health insurance carriers–currently including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network, Priority Health, and HAP–are allowing employers to extend coverage
Quick Facts: The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the “Act”) was passed by Congress and has been signed by the President. It includes significant provisions that apply to private employers with fewer than 500 employees… Read More