Legal Alert: OSHA ETS for COVID-19 Vaccine and Testing Stayed By 5th Circuit Court of Appeals

November 16, 2021
On September 9, 2021, President Biden announced that he ordered OSHA to develop an emergency temporary standard (ETS) that would require private employers with 100 or more employees to mandate that employees either receive one of the three available COVID-19 vaccines or submit to weekly COVID-19... Find out more »

Legal Alert: An Employer’s Guide to Preparing for the 2021 OSHA ETS Vaccine Mandate

November 15, 2021
On September 9, 2021, President Biden announced that he ordered OSHA to develop an emergency temporary standard (ETS) requiring private employers with 100 or more employees to mandate that employees either receive one of the three available COVID-19 vaccines or submit to weekly COVID-19 testing. On... Find out more »

Legal Alert: IRS Adjusts Health Flexible Spending Account and Other Benefit Limits For 2022

November 11, 2021
On November 10, 2021, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released Revenue Procedure 2021-45, which increases the health flexible spending account (FSA) salary reduction contribution limit from 2021 to $2,850 for plan years beginning in 2022, an increase of $100 from 2021.  Thus, for health... Find out more »

Legal Alert: Biden Administration Announces Details of Two Major Vaccine Policies

November 4, 2021
Summary Guidance On November 4, 2021, the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released long-awaited regulations regarding President Biden’s September 9, 2021, directive for mandatory... Find out more »

Alera Group Bolsters HR Consulting and Communications Services with Acquisition of Blue Communications

October 25, 2021
Alera Group, a top independent, national insurance and wealth management firm, today announced it has acquired Blue Communications, one of the nation’s premier HR consulting and communications agencies specializing in internal communications, well-being program development, diversity, equity... Find out more »

Bagwell & Bagwell Insurance Joins Alera Group

October 22, 2021
Alera Group, a top independent, national insurance and wealth management firm, today announced it has acquired Bagwell & Bagwell Insurance, a leading property and casualty agency providing risk management and personal and commercial insurance to clients from the coast to the mountains of North... Find out more »

Alera Group Names Kathy Seabold as Senior Vice President of Marketing

October 18, 2021
Deerfield, IL., October 11, 2021 — Alera Group, a leading independent, national insurance and wealth management firm, today announced the appointment of Kathy Seabold as Senior Vice President of Marketing. In this new role reporting to Alera Group President, Jim Blue, Seabold will be... Find out more »

Legal Alert: Employee Benefit Nondiscrimination Basics

September 28, 2021
There are four main regulations that employers should consider when they are ensuring their employee benefit plans are not discriminatory in design, participation, or in operation. Regulation: HIPAA General Rule: Prohibits group health plans and health insurers from discriminating... Find out more »

Legal Alert: Drug Discount Programs in Conflict with Federal Regulations

Updated November 11, 2021. First issued September 27, 2021. Many prescription drug manufacturers offer financial assistance (e.g., coupons, discounts or vouchers) to patients to reduce their out-of-pocket costs, particularly for very expensive drugs. Many times, these “accumulator... Find out more »

Legal Alert: How Do Your Benefits Compare? An Employer’s Essential Responsibility to IL Employees– Providing Employees a Comparison of Essential Health Benefits

Updated January 26, 2022. On August 27, 2021, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed the Consumer Coverage Disclosure Act (SB 1905). Who? This law applies to all employers, including the State, State departments, agencies, municipalities, and school districts, as well as private employers,... Find out more »