Benefits in brief.com

Employee Benefits Group Spencer Fane’s Employee Benefits Group has earned a national reputation developing innovative benefits solutions to meet client needs. This site features a variety of articles from our team on hot topics in employee benefits. Browse or use the search function to find articles of interest to you.


Upcoming Events!

Health Care Reform: Now the Regulators Speak

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

We'll focus on these short-term changes, exploring both the grandfather rules and the guidance issued to date, and changes to be aware of in the years leading up to the full implementation of health care reform in 2014
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Client Alert: Regulations Issued on Lifetime and Annual Limits


Monday, July 12, 2010 By: Julia M. Vander Weele



Close on the heels of their regulations concerning grandfathered plans, the Departments of Labor,...


Client Alert: Agencies Clarify "Grandfathering" Under Health Care Reform


Thursday, June 17, 2010 By: Kenneth A. Mason



As explained in our May 2010 article , the Affordable Care Act imposed a...


Client Alert: Deadline Approaches for HEART Act Amendments


Friday, May 28, 2010 By: Lawrence Jenab



As we reported in our September 2008 article, most tax-favored retirement plans must be amended by...


Client Alert: 401(k) Compliance Questionnaire May Trap Unwary Plan Sponsors


Wednesday, May 26, 2010 By: Kenneth A. Mason



As part of a recent IRS compliance initiative, 1,200 sponsors of 401(k) plans will soon be asked to...


New Reporting and Disclosure Requirements


Wednesday, May 12, 2010 By: Gregory L. Ash



In addition to transforming the rules governing the benefits that health plans must offer, the...


Health Care Reform: The Near Term


Wednesday, May 12, 2010 By: Kenneth A. Mason



Congressional passage of comprehensive health care reform legislation means that employers and other...


Short-Term Incentives for Expansion of Health Coverage


Wednesday, May 12, 2010 By: Kenneth A. Mason



Recognizing that the key provisions of the Affordable Care Act do not take effect until 2014,...


Grandfathered Plans


Wednesday, May 12, 2010 By: Julia M. Vander Weele



In the weeks and months leading up to the enactment of the Affordable Care Act, one of the...


Cafeteria Plan Changes


Wednesday, May 12, 2010 By: Lawrence Jenab



While the focus of the Affordable Care Act is clearly on the nation’s health insurance system the...


Dependent Coverage Requirements (and Options)


Wednesday, May 12, 2010 By: Robert (Rob) A. Browning



Under the Affordable Care Act, group health plans providing coverage to dependent children will soon...


Insured Health Plans Now Subject to Nondiscrimination Rules


Wednesday, May 12, 2010 By: Robert (Rob) A. Browning



Prior to enactment of the Affordable Care Act, employee health benefits provided through an...


Client Alert: COBRA Premium Subsidy Extended Again


Monday, April 19, 2010 By: Julia M. Vander Weele



As had been widely anticipated, Congress has extended the 65% COBRA premium subsidy yet again. Under...


Client Alert: Latest Extension of COBRA Premium Subsidy Comes with a Twist


Friday, March 05, 2010 By: Kenneth A. Mason



As widely reported in the news media, the recent extension of unemployment insurance benefits...


Late COBRA Notice Voids Stop-Loss Coverage


Monday, March 01, 2010 By: Kenneth A. Mason



A recent decision by an Illinois federal court (Majestic Star Casino, LLC v. Trustmark Insurance...


IRS Mandates Self-Reporting Of Welfare Plan Excise Tax


Monday, March 01, 2010 By: Kenneth A. Mason



Years — and in some cases decades — after the enactment of excise taxes on violations of Tax Code...


IRS Opens Determination Letter Program To Remaining Plans


Monday, March 01, 2010 By: Kenneth A. Mason



Rounding out the final year of its first five-year cycle, the IRS has now opened its determination...


DOL Releases Model CHIP Notice


Monday, March 01, 2010 By: Kenneth A. Mason



As we reported in our February 2009 article, the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization...


DOL Adopts Safe-Harbor Rule For Depositing Participant Contributions In Small Plans


Monday, March 01, 2010 By: Julia M. Vander Weele



For years, the Department of Labor (“DOL”) has focused much of its enforcement resources on...


HEART Act Guidance Includes Some Surprises


Monday, March 01, 2010 By: Lawrence Jenab



In June of 2008, the Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax (“HEART”) Act became law. The Act...


EFAST2 Electronic Filing System


Monday, March 01, 2010 By: Lawrence Jenab



Effective for plan years beginning on and after January 1, 2009, all sponsors of pension and welfare...


IRS Issues Guidance On Correcting Defects In Nonqualified Plan Documents


Monday, March 01, 2010 By: Robert (Rob) A. Browning



The American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 changed the landscape of compensation arrangements by adding...


Client Alert: Agencies Issue Regulations Under Mental Health Parity And Equity Addiction Act


Tuesday, February 09, 2010 By: Julia M. Vander Weele



Over a year after the Mental Health Parity And Equity Addiction Act (“MHPAEA”) was enacted (and...


DOL Updates Model COBRA Notices


Thursday, January 14, 2010 By: Kenneth A. Mason



As we reported in our December 2009 article , Congress and the President...


Client Alert: COBRA Premium Subsidy Extended to 15 Months


Wednesday, December 23, 2009 By: Kenneth A. Mason



The Senate has now joined the House of Representatives in passing legislation to extend the federal...


Client Alert: Final Warning: Adopt Those PPA Amendments by Year-End


Tuesday, December 01, 2009 By: Kenneth A. Mason



As reported in our August 2009 article, tax-qualified retirement plans must be...