Sarah Raaii
Subscribe to Sarah Raaii's PostsSarah G. Raaii focuses her practice on employee benefits and matters related to health care reform, data privacy and HIPAA compliance, executive compensation, and health and welfare, cafeteria, 401(k), 403(b) and pension plans. Read Sarah Raaii's full bio.
Fired for Having an Abortion? Unlikely, but It’s Complicated
By Sarah Raaii on Jul 28, 2022
Posted In Benefit Controversies, Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans
Could a worker be fired for having an abortion? According to this Insider article, workplace laws would likely protect pregnant people from discrimination. McDermott’s Sarah Raaii said employers should make sure abortion health plan coverage does not conflict with federal laws. “Incorporating abortion benefits into an employer’s existing health plan might help mitigate worker privacy...
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Complex Patchwork of Laws Await Companies Offering Out-of-State Abortion Travel
By Sarah Raaii on Jul 19, 2022
Posted In Benefit Controversies, Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans
Employers seeking to provide their employees with abortion services are facing a dizzying patchwork of laws that differ from state to state, according to this Corporate Counsel article. McDermott’s Sarah Raaii said companies with employees in multiple states “would really need to do a state-by-state analysis of what the abortion laws are, whether and under...
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Employers, Employees Search for Answers After Dobbs Decision
By Sarah Raaii on Jul 7, 2022
Posted In Benefit Controversies, Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans
The US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has left employers—and employees—with more questions than answers. While many employers have promised to pay for their employees to travel across state lines for an abortion, it’s unclear if employers might be sued for doing so. In this USA TODAY article, McDermott’s Sarah Raaii said...
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US Supreme Court Ruling Complicates Abortion Insurance Coverage
By Sarah Raaii on Jul 1, 2022
Posted In Benefit Controversies, Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans
The patchwork of US federal and state rules governing abortion insurance coverage will become more complicated following the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. In this MarketWatch article, McDermott’s Sarah Raaii said the situation has employers on edge. “We’ve had a huge influx of employers reaching out and asking, ‘What should I...
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What Employers Should Do Now That Roe Has Fallen
By Sarah Raaii on Jun 27, 2022
Posted In Benefit Controversies, Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans, Privacy and Data Security
The monumental decision by the Supreme Court of the United States in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization to overturn Roe v. Wade presents significant challenges for employers and health plans. According to this Law360 article, employers should begin reviewing state laws, evaluating internal company policies, gauging employee reactions and preparing for legal challenges. McDermott’s Sarah...
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Preparing for the Demise of Roe v. Wade and the Criminalization of Abortion in Some US States: Practical Considerations for a Post-Roe World
By David Quinn Gacioch, Stacey Callaghan, Dana McSherry, Caroline Reignley, Paul Thompson and Sarah Raaii on Jun 15, 2022
Posted In Benefit Controversies, Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans
Sometime in the next several weeks, the Supreme Court of the United States will issue its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (Dobbs). Based on the draft majority opinion authored by Justice Samuel Alito that was leaked to Politico in early May, there is a significant chance that the Court will overrule Roe v. Wade (Roe) and Planned Parenthood...
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Employers Explore Abortion Coverage Continuation
By Sarah Raaii and McDermott Will & Emery on Jun 1, 2022
Posted In Benefit Controversies, Employee Benefits, Employment, Executive Compensation, Health and Welfare Plans
While the United States awaits the Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson, which may overturn Roe v. Wade and eliminate the federal standard for abortion access, some states are considering setting their own standards that would ban or protect the medical procedure. This state-by-state rulemaking will cause some difficulty for employer plans, and employers are increasingly exploring...
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‘Unprecedented Interest’ in Employer-Covered Abortion Travel
By Sarah Raaii on May 5, 2022
Posted In Employee Benefits, Employment, Health and Welfare Plans, Labor
If the US Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade (as suggested by a leaked draft on May 2), employers who want to provide abortion coverage to employees and their families could encounter serious challenges. In this Bloomberg Law article, McDermott’s Sarah G. Raaii noted that employers that provide travel expenses for abortions might encounter resistance...
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Agencies Clarify How Employers Can Charge COVID-19 Vaccine Premium Incentives
By Sarah Raaii and McDermott Will & Emery on Feb 24, 2022
Posted In Employee Benefits, Employment, Health and Welfare Plans, Labor
US employers have grown increasingly interested in identifying incentives that increase COVID-19 vaccination among employees. The US Departments of Labor, Treasury and Human and Human Services recently issued guidance regarding the application of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) wellness rules to vaccine-related premium surcharges and discounts, clarifying that employers may charge vaccine...
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Agencies Clarify How Employers Can Charge COVID-19 Vaccine Premium Incentives
By Sarah Raaii and McDermott Will & Emery on Nov 2, 2021
Posted In Employee Benefits, Employment, Health and Welfare Plans
On October 4, 2021, the US Departments of Labor, Treasury, and Health and Human Services issued guidance regarding the application of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) wellness rules to vaccine-related premium surcharges and discounts, clarifying that employers may charge vaccine premium incentives if they adhere to the requirements of activity-only health-contingent programs....
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