This Compliance Overview includes a chart that summarizes the benefit notices employers should provide at open enrollment time.
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Employers with employee benefit plans that operate on a calendar year basis must file their Forms 5500 with the DOL by July 31. An employer may extend this deadline by two and one-half months (until Oct. 15) by filing IRS Form 5558. This Compliance Bulletin summarizes the Form 5500 filing requirement and highlights the deadlines for calendar year plans.
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This Compliance Overview includes a set of frequently asked questions (FAQs) to help employers understand how ERISA’s requirements for welfare benefit plans are enforced.
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The DOL recently released an opinion letter that clarifies an employer's obligation to timely designate FMLA leave. According to the DOL, employers cannot delay designating an employee’s absence for an FMLA-qualifying reason as FMLA leave, even when the employee is using paid leave and does not request FMLA leave. The absence must also count against the employee’s annual FMLA leave entitlement.
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On Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General released a proposed rule that effectively eliminates certain drug rebates. This move is the latest of the Trump administration’s efforts to reduce prescription drug costs and increase transparency. For 60 days following the proposed rule’s publication, the public can submit their comments on the rule. For instructions on how you can submit your comment, click here.
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This blog discusses the 2019 State of the Union Address and explains how some issues that were discussed in the speech may affect the employee benefits market.
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The current partial government shutdown—which has been in effect since Dec. 22, 2018—is the longest shutdown in U.S. history. Unlike past shutdowns, the government is not completely closed. However, due to the prolonged nature of the shutdown, employers are starting to feel its effects. This article provides an overview of how the shutdown is affecting private employers in the United States.
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