Q&AEmployee Benefits

Employers should steer clear of Medicare incentives

Q: Can we pay our Medicare-eligible employees extra cash if they agree not to enroll in our health plan?

Employee Benefits

HIPAA violations can mean prison time

Think the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy rules are just an exercise in compliance on paper? Think again. 

Employee Benefits

Don’t delay COBRA election notices

A recent court case shows why it’s so important to promptly send a COBRA notice to a qualified beneficiary after he or she experiences a COBRA qualifying event.

Employee Benefits

Supreme Court hears challenge to federal health care reform law

The U.S. Supreme Court has concluded hearing arguments about the constitutionality of various parts of the federal health care reform law known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).

Employee Benefits

Health care reform: new guidance issued

The Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Treasury (IRS) and Labor (DOL) have jointly issued new guidance on a variety of topics under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) .

Employee Benefits

IRS issues more guidance on Form W-2 reporting of health coverage

Do you have lingering questions about how to report the value of employees employer-provided health coverage on their 2012 Forms W-2?

Employee Benefits

Beware coordinating benefits with Medicare

Can an employer reduce or eliminate benefits for a current employee when the employee becomes eligible for Medicare?

Employee Benefits

EEOC discussion letter rehashes GINA rules on wellness incentives

Employee Benefits

No COBRA penalties awarded against good faith employer

Gomez v. St. Vincent Health, Inc., 7th Cir, Aug. 2011).<!—?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” /?—> Tips: 

Employee BenefitsLeave Laws

COBRA mistakes cost employers big bucks

Three recent court decisions involving the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) serve as a good reminder to employers that the dangers of noncompliance with COBRA are very real. Under COBRA, employees who lose health insurance coverage due to a qualifying event must be given the opportunity to continue their…