Small employers have long struggled to offer comprehensive major medical coverage to their workers and families, mainly due to underwriting hurdles. Groups with fewer than 50 employees are often confined to state small group market plans, which can be costly. Even slightly larger groups, underwritten based on their own claims history, still face a significant lack of transparency. As a result, many of these employers are exploring alternative solutions, such as association-style plans, group medical stop-loss arrangements, level-funded products, and individual coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements.
This Special Report delves into the challenges small employers face and the various options they can consider to provide group health coverage.
On January 16, 2025, the US Department of Labor’s (DOL) Employee Benefits Security Administration released two proposed regulations related to employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs). One regulation aims to clarify the valuation process for non-publicly traded employer stock, while the other would provide a safe harbor for transactions involving newly established ESOPs.
However, on January 20, 2025, the Trump administration froze all pending proposals, including the DOL’s ESOP regulations. If finalized, these regulations would dramatically change the landscape for fiduciaries responsible for valuing stock in privately held corporations during transactions with ESOPs.
At the close of 2024, the US Congress passed a short-term extension of Medicare telehealth flexibilities as part of the American Relief Act, 2025. The Medicare telehealth waivers, originally enacted as part of the COVID-19 public health emergency and subsequently extended through legislation, were set to end on December 31, 2024. These flexibilities, along with the Acute Hospital Care at Home waiver program, are now set to expire March 31, 2025.
Partners in our Employment and Government Contracts Groups recently presented a webinar on President Donald Trump’s executive order (EO) eliminating all affirmative action obligations under EO 11246. Following the webinar, we prepared FAQs to further assist employers and federal contractors in navigating the current landscape.
On January 20 and 22, 2025, President Donald Trump issued executive orders (EOs) rolling back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and accessibility initiatives and advancing his immigration agenda.
In this webinar, members of McDermott’s Employment and Government Contracts Groups provided an explanation of these Trump administration EOs. They unpacked the implications of these orders on the future of DEI initiatives and immigration law compliance to help your organization navigate these changes effectively.
