Seyfarth Synopsis: As employers consider the rising costs of coverage of semaglutide drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy in their health plans, a recent class action complaint alleging obesity-related discrimination could be a sign of things to come for more legal challenges. As the use of such drugs explodes in popularity across the country, insurers and health
Beneficially Yours
Latest from Beneficially Yours
Guidance Issued on Contraception and Other Medical Services Under Health Plans
Seyfarth Synopsis: The IRS recently published two notices which describe the tax treatment of amounts paid for condoms and expand the list of preventive care benefits permitted to be provided by a high deductible health plan (HDHP) without payment of a deductible.
Notice 2024-71 – This notice provides that amounts paid for condoms will be treated…
Agencies Release 2026 Out-of-Pocket Limits and 2025 Limits for Health FSAs
Seyfarth Synopsis: Recently HHS issued a memorandum announcing the maximum annual limitation on cost sharing (a/k/a out-of-pocket maximum) for 2026 and the IRS issued Rev. Proc. 2024-40 announcing the cost-of-living adjustments to certain welfare and fringe benefit plan limits for 2025.
2026 Out-of-Pocket Maximum
On October 8, 2024, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)…
Reproductive Health Care: A Future in Flux with the Next Administration
Seyfarth Synopsis: Access to reproductive health care has been a part of the national debate for years, and even more so since 2022 when the US Supreme Court issued its ruling in Dobbs overturning decades of precedent established under Roe v. Wade. As a result, the topic has become a focal point in the Presidential…
Noncompete Agreements – Employer Options and Strategies to Reduce Risks
By Marc Fosse
Seyfarth Synopsis: The federal district court for the Northern District of Texas has issued an order in the Ryan case staying the effective date on a nationwide basis the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Rules banning noncompete agreements (the “Rule”), as well as enforcement of the Rule. However, legislatures and agencies at the federal and state level…
Final Rules Related to the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act May Drive You Wild
Seyfarth Synopsis: On September 9, 2024, the Departments of the Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services (the “Departments”) released highly anticipated Final Rules under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). Instead of providing the guidance hoped for by stakeholders, the new rules may leave employers wondering if they should continue to…
Major SECURE 2.0 Guidance Issued: Extra Credit for Repaying Qualified Student Loans
Seyfarth Synopsis: On August 19, 2024, the IRS issued Notice 2024-63 (the “Notice”) providing guidance for plan sponsors that wish to provide matching contributions based on eligible student loan repayments made by participants, rather than based only on elective deferrals, pursuant to the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022. This post summarizes guidance under the Notice. …
Federal Texas Court Sets Aside with “Nationwide Effect” the FTC Rule Banning Non-Competes
This post was originally published to Seyfarth’s Trading Secrets blog.
Once again surprising the country by acting ten days before her own self-appointed deadline, a federal judge in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas issued a ruling on August 20 in the Ryan v. FTC case setting aside the FTC Rule…
Two Texas District Courts Issue Orders Delaying the Effective Date of DOL Fiduciary Rule and Related Amendments to Seven Prohibited Transaction Exemptions
By Alan Wilmit
Seyfarth Synopsis: Orders issued by the Eastern District of Texas on Thursday July 25 and the Northern District of Texas on Friday July 26 indefinitely delayed the September 23, 2024 effective date of the Department of Labor’s revised regulation defining when a party becomes an “investment advice” fiduciary (the “New Fiduciary Rule”) and amendments to…
Coffee Talk With Benefits Episode 19: 401(k) Forfeitures Under Fire: Unpacking Recent Legal Battles
In this episode, Richard and Sarah are joined by Ian Morrison, a Partner in Seyfarth’s ERISA Litigation group to delve into a new line of cases alleging that forfeitures are plan assets, and must be used to benefit plan participants. The plaintiffs in these cases are claiming that using forfeitures to offset employer contributions…