Regulation

The Supreme Court heard arguments in Montanile v. Board of Trustees of the National Elevator Industry Health Benefit Plan and will determine if, under ERISA, a reimbursement to an employee benefit plan can be recovered if the beneficiary has already spent the funds he or she recovered from a third party.

The ongoing escalation of complex regulations for health insurance plans has made it extremely difficult for just about every employer to comply. More than five years after passage of the Affordable Care Act, the compliance requirements not only continue to add up, but also to shift around.

Can an employer simply ignore a request by a disabled employee for an accommodation made in a meeting that could lead to the employee’s termination? A recent federal case from Wisconsin says no.

The Equal Opportunity Employment Commission is issuing a proposed rule today, aiming to clarify how wellness incentives apply to the health information of a spouse participating in an employer-sponsored wellness program.

While the presidential election is still a year away, employers must be mindful of smaller elections that take place across the state and municipal levels. Elections, however small, may trigger an employer’s obligations to give employees leave to vote.

The ACA’s 2018 Cadillac tax looms large in the minds of employers and benefit experts have already begun to see trends in the plan design options and benefit offering changes employers have made to avoid the hefty excise tax.

Massachusetts implemented a sick leave law earlier this year. Employers in other states may want to take note.

Commentary: Employers must train supervisors and managers on the proper way to respond to an employee's announcement that she is pregnant and will need maternity leave. Failure to do so could result in litigation.

Challenges are on the horizon for the non-profits, created by the Affordable Care Act — presenting issues as well for the brokers who work with them.

Commentary: The instructions clarify a couple of key areas that will simplify how employers file under IRS 6055 and 6056.