09 Apr

Posted at 18:45h in Human Resources White Papers by . .
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Legal Update Header On April 2, 2021, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published Notice 2021-23 to provide guidance for employers claiming the employee retention credit (ERC) for the first two quarters of 2021.

The ERC was originally created by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), and has since been modified and extended by other laws—most recently, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) on March 11, 2021.

26 Mar

Posted at 18:16h in Property & Casualty White Papers by . .
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News Brief header Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler recently issued a temporary emergency order that bans insurers from using credit scores to determine premiums, rates or eligibility for personal property insurance.

The emergency order—which applies to auto, renters and homeowners insurance—takes effect immediately and impacts all new policies as well as existing policies processed for renewal on or after June 20, 2021. The order will remain in effect for three years after the day the COVID-19 national emergency is declared over, or the day Washington’s COVID-19 state of emergency expires, whichever is later.

12 Mar

Posted at 18:41h in Human Resources White Papers by . .

Legal Update Header On March 1, 2021, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued Notice 2021-20 to provide guidance for employers claiming the 2020 employer retention tax credit.

This tax credit was created by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) to encourage employers to keep employees on their payroll, despite experiencing economic hardships related to COVID-19.

Employer Eligibility

Employers can claim the tax credit if they:

25 Jun

Posted at 17:14h in COVID-19, Employee Benefits by . .

The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and the Treasury (Departments) have provided answers to a second set of frequently asked questions (FAQs Part 43) about health coverage issues related to COVID- 19, including implementation of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).

The FAQs provide guidance on a variety of topics related to health plan coverage. For example, the FAQs:
  • Provide that COVID-19 testing for surveillance or employment purposes is not subject to the coverage mandate under the FFCRA and CARES Act;
  • Confirm that the FFCRA and the CARES Act generally prohibit balance billing for COVID-19 diagnostic testing;
  • Allow health plans to revoke the temporary COVID-19-related coverage changes without satisfying certain notice deadlines, provided participants are notified within a reasonable time frame in advance of the reversal of the changes; and
  • Allow large employers to offer coverage for telehealth and other remote care servicesto employees who are not eligible for any other group health plan offered by the employer during the public health emergency.

23 Apr

Posted at 17:43h in COVID-19, Employee Benefits by . .

Know Your Benefits HeaderOn March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) was signed into law. In addition to providing direct financial assistance to Americans, the CARES Act repeals the Medicine Cabinet Tax provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), expanding the list of qualifying expenses that can be purchased with health savings accounts (HSAs).

CARES Act and Qualifying Medical Expenses