Benefits Blast

On March 13, 2020, President Trump issued a proclamation declaring that the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States constitutes a national emergency beginning March 1, 2020. Recently, the Departments of Labor and Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service issued a final ruling that extends certain timeframes affecting participant and beneficiary rights under group health plans, disability plans, welfare plans, and other employee benefit plans covered by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and the Internal Revenue Code during the National Emergency.

The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Treasury recently issued FAQ guidance (the FAQs) regarding implementation of the health coverage provisions under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act . These FAQs shed light on a number of outstanding issues for employers, health insurance issuers, and other stakeholders.

During this episode of Winston & Strawn’s Benefits Blast Podcast, Employee Benefits Attorneys Susan Nash and Jessica Diedrich talk about adoption and surrogacy benefits and how these innovative programs are being offered by employers.