Between the Lines Blog

Feds Require Insurers and Group Health Plans to Cover Cost of At-Home COVID-19 Tests Starting January 15
Category: Coronavirus (COVID-19), Employee Benefits, Employment, Insurance Regulatory
In an effort to expand the availability of free COVID-19 testing, the Biden-Harris Administration has announced that beginning January 15, 2022, insurance companies and group health plans will be required to cover the cost of over-the-counter (“OTC”) COVID-19 tests. This requirement is being…
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"No Surprises Act" Compliance Tips For Group Health Plans and Health Insurance Issuers
Category: Employee Benefits, Employment, Insurance Regulatory
On July 13th, group health plans and health insurance issuers subject to the Federal No Surprises Act (the “Act”) received the first phase of interim final rules promulgated under the Act (the “Rules”) and issued by the Office of Personnel Management, Department of Labor (DOL), Department of…
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Tips for Complying with DOL's Retirement Plan Cybersecurity Guidance
Category: Employee Benefits, Employment, Information Privacy, Security and Data Rights
”Not if, but when" is a phrase commonly used to describe data breach risk. Holding just under $11 trillion in assets, employer-sponsored retirement plans are a particularly enticing target for cybercriminals. Through audits and best practice guidance, the Department of Labor (DOL) is encouraging…
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COBRA Subsidy Update: IRS provides penalty relief and instructions for applying Employment Tax credits
Category: Employee Benefits, Employment, Health Care, Insurance Regulatory
On Tuesday, the IRS published Notice 2021-24, which provides penalty relief for an employer’s failure to timely deposit Employment Taxes[1] related to the American Rescue Plan Act’s (ARPA) COBRA subsidy credits. The Notice includes instructions to employers on how to apply COBRA Credits in…
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DOL Publishes Model COBRA Notices and Premium Assistance Guidance
Category: Employee Benefits, Employment, Health Care, Insurance Regulatory
On April 7, 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) posted model COBRA notices and issued FAQ guidance addressing the recently-enacted COBRA coverage subsidy. The FAQ guidance specifies that individuals may be eligible for premium subsidies from April 1, 2021 to September 30, 2021, if they are…
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