Oct
03
2011
Employee Benefits
EEOC discussion letter rehashes GINA rules on wellness incentives
Read More…
Vigilant Blog
News, trends and analysis in employment law, HR, safety & workers' comp
Sep
26
2011
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:
Read More…
Aug
29
2011
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…
Read More…
Aug
19
2011
Employee Benefits
Debate over health care reform’s individual mandate rages on
A second appeals court has weighed in on the legality of the “individual mandate” contained in the federal health care reform law known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA), this time ruling that the mandate is unconstitutional. The ACA’s individual mandate is the requirement that by 2014 nearly all U.S. citizens must maintain health…
Read More…
Aug
15
2011
Employee Benefits
Affordable Care Act requires contraceptive coverage with no cost-sharing
Check out HealthCare.gov, for a list of all the preventive services required to be covered with no cost sharing.
Read More…
Jun
03
2011
Employee Benefits
Deadline approaching for OTC drug amendment
Although the restriction on FSA or HRA reimbursement of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and medications went into effect on January 1, 2011, you have until June 30, 2011 to amend your plan document to reflect this change, so if you haven’t yet done so, now is the time. The federal health care…
Read More…
Jun
03
2011
Employee Benefits
U.S. Supreme Court: Participants can enforce inaccurate SPD
When is the last time you reviewed and updated the summary plan description (SPD) for your company’s health plan or retirement plan? A recent decision by the Supreme Court makes it more important than ever that your plan’s SPD is up-to-date and accurate. Cigna Corporation converted its defined benefit pension plan into a “cash…
Read More…
May
20
2011
Employee Benefits
Medicare Part D: updated notices issued by CMS
model notices issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The new model notices, for use after April 1, 2011, satisfy the requirement that a group health plan notify Medicare-eligible individuals whether the plan constitutes “creditable coverage” under Medicare Part D. Although there is no requirement to issue the notices in…
Read More…
May
20
2011
Employee Benefits
CALIFORNIA: Adult child health benefits no longer taxable
AB 36 brings California tax law in line with federal law, which has permitted tax-free benefits for adult children (through the end of the year in which the child turns 26) since March 30, 2010. Previously, dependent benefits were only tax-free if the child was under 24, a fulltime student,…
Read More…
May
20
2011
Employee Benefits
OREGON: Adult child health coverage tax-free
If you have employees who cover their non-dependent adult children on your health insurance program, that coverage is now tax-free at the state level, thanks to legislation signed into law on March 9, 2011 (
Read More…