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Family-building benefits are very much “in the news.” Many employers are implementing new benefit programs to support employees in their journey to have children. In the excitement of rolling out these new benefits, it’s possible for employers to overlook obligations under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) that may attach to family-building benefit components. […]
We’ve all heard about the “Great Resignation” triggered by the post-COVID environment. Workers are deciding to voluntarily exit the workplace in search of other options. Separately, we have seen the news about a possible economic recession in the near future that could prompt employers to consider “reductions in force” (RIFs). Given the economic turbulence and […]
by Gwen Cofield Although an employer or plan administrator is not required to ensure actual receipt of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) notice, a good-faith effort to provide the COBRA notice must be made. Where an administrative error prevents the receipt of the COBRA notice, an employer or plan administrator can demonstrate good-faith […]
When an employee is terminated from employment and loses group health plan coverage (subject to The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)), plan administrators should ensure that all qualified beneficiaries are sent COBRA election notices in a timely fashion.
An employer/plan administrator erred by thinking that because it automatically kept employees covered under its health plan when their hours were reduced, there was no need to provide a COBRA election notice, a federal district court in Maryland ruled. The fact that the reduction in hours resulted in an increase in their premiums constituted a […]
by Bret Busacker and Bret Clark Now that fall is in the air and school has started, we thought it would be a good idea to summarize some of the key health and welfare benefit deadlines that are approaching. November 5 Health plan identifier. All self-insured large group health plans (i.e., plans with annual costs […]