Search Blog
Subscribe Today
Enter your email address to
receive notifications of new
posts by email.-
About this Blog
Welcome to the Snell & Wilmer Benefits Blog. We will be posting about current employee benefits and executive compensation topics and issues. We invite you to contact the authors with your thoughts or questions.Blog Contributors
Topics
Useful Websites
Certain Information Statements for ISOs and ESPPs Due by January 31, 2023
As reported in Part 4 of our 2022 End of Year Plan Sponsor “To Do” List, Section 6039 of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) requires employers to provide a written information statement to each employee or former employee and … Continue reading
Posted in Employee Benefits, Executive Compensation
| Tagged Executive Compensation
Share this Article:
High Deductible Health Plan Telehealth Relief, Extended Again!
If you sponsor a high deductible health plan (“HDHP”) and have been tracking telehealth relief, your head may be spinning and rightfully so! There have been various laws and guidance impacting HDHPs and telehealth since 2020 and most recently, new … Continue reading
Posted in Employee Benefits, Health & Welfare Plans
Share this Article:
CalSavers Program Expanding for Small Employers
On August 26, 2022, the Governor of California signed Senate Bill No. 1126 (“S.B. 1126”) into law, amending California’s CalSavers Retirement Savings Program (“CalSavers”). In general terms, CalSavers automatically enrolls eligible California employees in ROTH Individual Retirement Accounts if their … Continue reading
Second Time Around: Seventh Circuit Given First Opportunity to Analyze the Duty of Prudence Post Hughes
On August 29, 2022, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a 401(k) plan participant’s claims that plan fiduciaries mismanaged the $1.1 billion 401(k) plan and charged participants excessive fees. This was the first … Continue reading
Posted in Employee Benefits
Share this Article:
What’s Old Is New Again: HHS Proposes to Reinstate and Expand Transgender Nondiscrimination Rules
Since it was enacted in 2010, Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (“Section 1557”) has prohibited discrimination in covered health programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. As we have previously … Continue reading
Posted in Employee Benefits, Health & Welfare Plans, Health Care Reform
| Tagged 1557, ACA, biden, health program, HHS, nondiscrimination, NPRM, Obama, transgender, Trump
Share this Article:
IRS Extends Amendment Deadline for Certain Qualified Plan Amendments
The IRS recently provided some welcome relief in the form of extended amendment deadlines for sponsors of qualified retirement plans (including collectively bargained plans). Notice 2022-33 extends the deadline for adopting amendments required by the Setting Every Community Up for … Continue reading
Posted in Employee Benefits, Qualified Retirement Plans
| Tagged amendment, CARES Act, extension, IRS, Miners Act, notice 2022-33, qualified plans, SECURE ACT
Share this Article:
Federal Agencies Issue Guidance After Dobbs Ruling
In response to the Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) Secretary Xavier Becerra directed HHS agencies to act within their power to protect the rights of patients … Continue reading
Posted in Employee Benefits, Health & Welfare Plans, Health Care Reform, HIPAA
| Tagged abortion, CMS, dobbs, HHS, OCR, roe, wade
Share this Article:
Rethinking Reproductive Healthcare Benefits After Roe: Three Initial Benefits Questions for Employers to Consider
The U.S. Supreme Court released their final opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization on June 24, 2022. Justice Alito’s opinion closely tracked the draft opinion that was leaked on May 2, 2022. The opinion holds: “The Constitution does … Continue reading
Posted in Employee Benefits, Health & Welfare Plans
Share this Article:
A Running Start: IRS Pilots New Pre-Examination Program
The Employee Plans Office of the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) announced a new pre-examination program for retirement plans to begin as of June 2022. The pilot program is designed to reduce the amount of time and resources the IRS … Continue reading
Posted in audit, Employee Benefits, Qualified Retirement Plans
| Tagged audit, closing letter, EPCRS, IRS, IRS letter, new program, pilot program, pre-examination, qualified plan, retirement plans
Share this Article:
Group Health Plans Must Provide Free Over-the-Counter COVID-19 Tests Effective January 15, 2022
On January 10, 2022, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Treasury (collectively the “Departments”) issued Affordable Care Act FAQs Part 51 which addresses, in relevant part, payment for over-the-counter (“OTC”) COVID-19 testing. Shortly after, on February 4, 2022, the … Continue reading