Erisa Is A Friend Of Mine

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, or CARES, Act was passed to give businesses big and small, along with their employees, a package of lifelines to get through our current unprecedented times. In this shelter-in-place episode, Ed and Scott analyze the potpourri of relief the CARES Act offers employers and their group health plan enrollees, including coverage mandates, tax credits and loans – each with its own terms and conditions. What healthcare plan mandates are included in the CARES Act? What plans do they apply to? When do the mandates expire? Can plans offset the cost of the mandates by increasing cost sharing on or eliminating other benefits? (Hint: The feds are not a fan of this thinking.) If an employer amends the plan based on the mandates, do they need to provide advance notice? How do all these tax credits and loans work? And how do they benefit the employer AND the employee? Which employers are eligible for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)? How much can a business get? Is th