As we have been covering, the Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade in their Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, leaving it to states to regulate access to abortion in their territory. The Biden Administration’s response to the overturning of Roe v. Wade in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization is taking
Employers May Have to Pay More in 2022 Under New ACA Limits
Seyfarth Synopsis: The IRS has announced adjustments decreasing the affordability threshold and increasing employer shared responsibility payments for plan years beginning in 2022.
On May 9, 2022, the IRS updated the Questions and Answers on Employer Shared Responsibility Provisions Under the Affordable Care Act page on the IRS website to include 2022 indexing adjustments for
Leaked Opinion Becomes Reality — Roe v. Wade is Overturned
Culminating a flurry of late June opinions released by SCOTUS this week, the court today in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization has taken the extraordinary step of ending decades of precedent surrounding the protections for abortion-related services under the U.S. Constitution. The opinion has been widely anticipated since a draft opinion was leaked, and
Coffee Talk With Benefits Episode 4: Summary Plan Descriptions (SPDs): Do’s and Don’ts
Summary Plan Descriptions (SPDs) are an essential mechanism for employers to use when informing employees and participants of benefits offered under their plans. What kind of information is required to be included in an SPD? Should you consider including information that’s not required? Who drafts them? How are SPDs distributed, and how often? Grab your
Coffee Talk With Benefits Episode 3: Employee Benefit Impact of Restrictions on Abortion, Contraceptive and Prenatal Services
Should the recently leaked SCOTUS draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade become law this summer, trigger laws across the Country will go into effect, illegalizing abortion in a significant number of states. Other states are exploring implementing new restrictions on abortion, contraceptive and prenatal services. Many clients have already asked us about what options they
IRS Releases Increased HSA Limits
Seyfarth Synopsis: The IRS has announced increases to key limits for certain health and welfare benefit programs, including HSA contributions for 2023.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently released 2023 cost-of-living adjustments applicable to dollar limitations for employer-sponsored health and welfare plans.
The changes in the 2023 cost-of-living adjustments for employer-sponsored health and welfare plans
It’s Official: Governor Inslee Signs Bills to Delay and Modify Washington’s Long Term Care Act
Seyfarth Synopsis: After announcing a moratorium on the State’s collection of the Washington Cares Fund long term care (“LTC”) payroll tax from employers on December 17, 2021, Governor Inslee signed into law House Bills 1732 and 1733 on Thursday. The bills formally delay the program until July 1, 2023, and implement several changes that are
Guidance Arrives on Long-Awaited Compensation Disclosures for Group Health Plans
Seyfarth Synopsis: Almost a decade after the 408(b)(2) fee disclosure requirements took effect for retirement plan service providers, Congress finally passed legislation addressing compensation disclosure rules for service providers to group health plans. At the end of 2020, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, which requires individuals to disclose direct and indirect compensation of
An Early Holiday Present for Washington State Employers; Long Term Care Act Payroll Tax Moratorium Announced
Seyfarth Synopsis: On Friday, Washington State Governor, Jay Inslee, announced a moratorium on the State’s collection of the Washington Cares Fund long term care (“LTC”) payroll tax. The Washington Cares Fund was originally set to begin collecting taxes in January 2022 to help pay for the LTC expenses of the State’s residents. For more information
Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Washington State’s Long Term Care Act
A class action lawsuit has been filed against Washington State’s Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Act (the “Act”) that requires each worker in Washington to contribute $0.58 per $100 (0.58%) of wages to a trust set aside to pay long-term care benefits for its residents. The lawsuit challenges the Act and requests a declaratory judgment