On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) into law. It provides a 100% subsidy of applicable COBRA premiums for eligible beneficiaries and their dependents, for the time period beginning April 1, 2021 and ending no later than September 30, 2021. COBRA …
On March 23, 2021, President Joe Biden and his administration reported that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it is extending the Special Enrollment Period (SEP) — which was originally available through May 15, 2021 —for an additional three months, allowing eligible individuals to enroll in …
On March 29, 2021, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued Notice 2021-21, which extends tax deadlines to May 17, 2021 for individuals filing Form 1040 series returns and making 2020 IRA and HSA contributions. This decision follows a previous announcement from the IRS declaring that the federal income tax filing …
A recent announcement from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) clarifies that amounts paid for personal protective equipment (PPE) by taxpayers, such as face masks, hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes used for the primary purpose of preventing the spread of COVID-19, are to be treated as deductible medical expenses. Therefore, amounts …
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), signed into law March 11, 2021, provides a 100% subsidy of applicable COBRA premiums for eligible beneficiaries and their dependents, for the time period beginning April 1, 2021 and ending no later than September 30, 2021. Who is Eligible? An Assistance Eligible Individual (AEI) …
The $1.9 trillion relief bill, known as the American Rescue Plan, was signed by President Biden on Thursday, March 11, 2021. Additional information surrounding Emergency Paid Leave and Health Insurance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic is included in the bill and outlined below. Emergency Paid LeaveSigned into law on …
The constant influx of information and everchanging compliance updates surrounding the coronavirus pandemic can be overwhelming, making it strenuous to comprehend how up-to-date guidance and coverage affects one’s organization and employees. In response, the Departments of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Treasury have issued Frequently Asked …
On April 28, 2020, the Departments of Labor (DOL) and the Treasury issued deadline relief to help employee benefit plans, plan participants and plan service providers impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. Thereafter, on February 26, 2021, DOL Disaster Relief Notice 2021-01 clarified the duration of this relief. The deadlines were …
Previously issued in January 2021, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has withdrawn two proposed rules regarding wellness programs under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA). Upon President Joe Biden’s inauguration, held on January 20, 2021, the president issued a regulatory freeze memorandum …
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released a notice intended to clarify the application of temporary special rules for health flexible spending accounts (FSAs) and dependent care assistant program (DCAP) accounts under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA). Health FSAs and DCAPs are accounts individuals can make pre-tax contributions to, …
On February 26, 2021, the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) issued Disaster Relief Notice 2021-01, which provides continuing relief for certain employee benefit plan deadlines and disregards the COVID-19 Outbreak Period. The relief will primarily be of benefit to employee benefit plans, plan participants and beneficiaries, …
No new guidance has been released to extend the relief issued last year to postpone various employee benefit plan deadlines during the defined “Outbreak Period.” The Outbreak Period began on March 1, 2020, and lasts until 60 days after the announced end of the National Emergency. By law, however, it …
For plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2020, employers may offer HRAs integrated with individual health insurance coverage or Medicare, subject to certain conditions. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently provided two additional codes from Code Series 1 that can be used on Form 1095-C, line 14, for …
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently updated its frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding legislation that extended and amended tax relief to certain small and mid-sized employers under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The paid sick and family leave tax credits, which previously were available only until the end …
In response to the executive actions recently signed by President Biden, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a new Special Enrollment Period (SEP) through Exchanges using the federal www.HealthCare.gov platform. The CMS determined that the COVID-19 emergency has and continues to present exceptional challenges and circumstances for …
