EMPLOYEE BENEFITS BLOG

What Venus Williams’ health insurance comments reveal about COBRA

by Sarah Raaii | Aug 14, 2025 | Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans

When tennis superstar Venus Williams recently spoke about returning to the sport to maintain her health insurance, it highlighted a broader issue many employees face: navigating complex benefits after leaving their jobs. This challenge is particularly acute when it comes to Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) coverage, which allows former employees to temporarily keep their employer-sponsored health insurance. As Sarah Raaii points out, the high cost of COBRA and limited alternatives create significant financial strain. To address this, employers could provide clearer information about COBRA, its costs, and available alternatives, enabling employees to make more informed decisions about their health coverage during career transitions.

Mississippi enacts new law regulating telemedicine coverage

by Stacey Callaghan, Amanda Enyeart and Abby Higgins | Aug 12, 2025 | Digital Health, Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans

Mississippi has enacted SB 2415, ensuring that health insurance and employee benefit plans cover telemedicine services to the same extent as in-person medical consultations. The legislation specifies that all telemedicine must be real-time audio-visual unless using store-and-forward technology or remote patient monitoring.

Key updates on the US health benefits and reimbursement landscape

by Sarah Raaii and Rachel Stauffer | Aug 7, 2025 | Digital Health, Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans

The health benefits landscape is undergoing significant changes. Recent developments in policy and legislation are poised to reshape the economic environment, affecting employer plan sponsors, insurance providers, third-party administrators, and those enrolled in employer-sponsored health plans.

Learn more about the changes to the benefits industry here.

US healthcare offshoring: Navigating patient data privacy laws and regulations

by Spencer Green and Stephen L. Page | Aug 5, 2025 | Digital Health, Privacy and Data Security

US healthcare companies face challenges when offshoring due to stringent patient data privacy laws, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and state-specific regulations that restrict data storage and access outside the United States. To mitigate risks, healthcare organizations should adopt best practices such as robust Business Associate Agreements and regular audits to ensure compliance with complex and evolving regulations.

Learn more about best practices for offshoring patient data here.

The Employee Retention Credit: A court challenge to IRS guidance

by Shawn O’Brien, Samuel Hamer and Michael Scarduzio | Jul 31, 2025 | Employee Benefits, Fiduciary and Investment Issues

On June 20, 2025, the US District Court for the District of Arizona ruled that Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Notice 2021-20, challenged by a tax advisory firm, was an “interpretive rule” and did not violate the Administrative Procedure Act. Despite the IRS issuing $269 billion in Employee Retention Credits, more than 200,000 claims have been disallowed, and 592,000 remain pending. The court noted that the notice’s provisions are not binding, and taxpayers can still argue their eligibility based on specific circumstances, leaving room for future challenges.

Learn more about opportunities for employers and their tax advisers here.