Legislative Archives - Word on Benefits

Six Biggest Benefits Trends of 2024 (and Predictions for 2025)

Anne Patterson

23 Dec 202423 Dec 2024

The end of 2024 also means an exciting, new end-of-year podcast from the Talking Benefits team! We recapped the top six benefits biggies from the past year and gave our predictions for what’s ahead, especially considering the new administration under President-elect Trump. […]

Affordable Care Act (ACA) Employee Benefits Legislative U.S.

Congress Passes Two Laws Allowing ACA Employer Reporting Relief

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

20 Dec 202420 Dec 2024

On December 10 and 11, Congress passed two bills, the Paperwork Reduction Act (HR 3797) and the Employer Reporting Improvement Act (HR 3801), intended to simplify employer’s Affordable Care Act (ACA) reporting requirements. The bills are awaiting the president’s signature to become […]

DOL Employee Benefits Legislative Regulatory U.S.

How New Regulations Are Created

Anne Newhouse, CEBS

03 Dec 202403 Dec 2024

Recently, we wrote about how laws are created in the blog “U.S. Legislative Process: How a Bill Becomes a Law.” After legislation is passed by both the House and the Senate and signed by the president, it becomes law. The next step […]

401(k) Plans Compliance Defined Contribution (DC) Plans DOL Employee Benefits Legislative Regulatory Retirement SECURE 2.0 U.S.

SECURE 2.0 Act: What’s Coming in 2025?

Amanda Wilke, CEBS

19 Nov 202419 Nov 2024

The SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 (SECURE 2.0) encompasses several changes affecting retirement plans that go into effect over the next few years. SECURE 2.0 aims to make it easier for employers to offer retirement plans and help employees plan for the […]

Compliance DOL Employee Benefits ERISA Health Care Legislative Mental Health U.S.

MHPAEA Final Rules Amending NQTL Standard

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

01 Oct 202401 Oct 2024

On September 9, 2024, the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor (DOL), and the Treasury released new final rules implementing the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). The final rules set forth content requirements and timeframes for […]

Legislative U.S.

U.S. Legislative Process: How a Bill Becomes a Law

Anne Newhouse, CEBS

12 Sep 202412 Sep 2024

In March 1976, Saturday morning television featured a new video segment called “I’m Just a Bill” that used a fun cartoon aimed at children to visualize the complex path of the U.S. legislative process and describe how a bill becomes a law. […]

Employee Benefits ERISA ERISA50 Legislative Talking Benefits Podcast U.S.

Celebrating 50 Years of ERISA: An Interview With Phyllis Borzi

Anne Patterson

29 Aug 202429 Aug 2024

The traditional 50th anniversary gift is gold, and the latest Talking Benefits podcast episode shined just like the glittery metal, paying homage to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). ERISA was signed into law by Gerald Ford almost 50 […]

ERISA ERISA50 Legislative Retirement U.S.

Looking Back on ERISA’s Journey

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

26 Aug 202426 Aug 2024

Nearly 50 years ago—on September 2, 1974—President Gerald Ford signed the Employee Income Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) into law. The International Foundation has been providing education on this landmark legislation ever since. That education includes ERISA Insights: Voices From the Early […]

DOL ERISA Legislative U.S.

The Supreme Court and the Chevron Doctrine: Key Takeaways for Employee Benefit Plans

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

14 Aug 202414 Aug 2024

Employee benefit plan sponsors and administrators may feel the effects of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the so-called Chevron doctrine for many years to come, predicts Katherine Hesse, CEBS, an Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) attorney. Hesse, who is […]

Employee Benefits Employee Benefits Survey Health Care Legislative LGBTQ+ U.S.

Inclusive Family-Forming Benefits: Definition of Infertility

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

07 Aug 202407 Aug 2024

According to Employee Benefits Survey: 2024 Results, to be released the end of August 2024, 42% of U.S. organizations currently offer fertility benefits (an increase from 40% in 2022). While fertility benefit offerings are more prevalent, there are varied reasons plan participants […]