Jacob Mattinson
Subscribe to Jacob Mattinson's PostsJacob M. Mattinson focuses his practice on employee benefits and matters related to 401(k), 403(b), pension, executive compensation, health care reform, and cafeteria and welfare plans. Jacob assists clients in drafting employee benefit plan documents and amendments. He represents clients in matters before the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), US Department of Labor (DOL) and Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation with respect to plain qualification issues. Read Jacob Mattinson's full bio.
Use a Checklist to Avoid LGBTQ Discrimination in Your Benefits Programs
By Jacob Mattinson on Jul 21, 2020
Posted In Benefit Controversies, Employee Benefits, Employment, Health and Welfare Plans
The US Supreme Court ruled June 15 in Bostock v. Clayton County, Ga. that the prohibition against sex discrimination in the workplace under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act covers sexual orientation and gender identity. Title VII applies to employers with 15 or more employees, including part-time and temporary workers. Following the decision, benefits experts...
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HHS Finalizes Anti-Discrimination Revisions to ACA Section 1557
By Jacob Mattinson, Gregory Fosheim, Winnie Uluocha and Todd Solomon on Jul 14, 2020
Posted In Benefit Controversies, Health and Welfare Plans
On June 12, 2020, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) finalized a rule under Section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (the 2020 Final Rule) that rescinds certain protections afforded to LGBTQ individuals and persons with limited English proficiency. At the same...
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Agencies Issue Helpful FAQs on COVID-19 Testing Coverage
By Jacob Mattinson on Jul 7, 2020
Posted In Employee Benefits, Employment, Health and Welfare Plans
The US Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Treasury issued a second set of answers to frequently asked questions. The tri-agency FAQs (Part 43) clarify important health and welfare provisions under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), which became law on March 18, 2020, and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES)...
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LGBTQ Title VII Ruling May Impact Your Employee Benefit Plan
By Jacob Mattinson on Jun 23, 2020
Posted In Benefit Controversies, Employee Benefits, Employment, Health and Welfare Plans
On Monday, June 15, 2020, the US Supreme Court held in Bostock v. Clayton County that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects transgender, gay and lesbian employees (and prospective employees) from workplace discrimination based on sex. This means that the protective authority of Title VII for LGBTQ individuals generally extends to employer-sponsored healthcare...
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DOL Issues Final Electronic Disclosure Rule for Retirement Plans
By Jacob Mattinson, Alan D. Nesburg, PC and Erin Steele on Jun 16, 2020
Posted In Employee Benefits, Retirement Plans
Under the recently published final rule issued by the US Department of Labor, retirement plan administrators can choose to deliver required disclosures electronically by complying with the conditions of a new safe harbor. The final rule represents an opportunity for retirement plans to save costs and enhance participant access to disclosure documents. Access the full...
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IRS Issues Relaxed Cafeteria Plan Rules
By Jacob Mattinson and McDermott Will & Emery on May 26, 2020
Posted In Health and Welfare Plans
To help cafeteria plan participants address challenges arising from the COVID-19 crisis, the Internal Revenue Service recently issued guidance allowing employers to make a number of participant-friendly changes under their cafeteria plans. While employer adoption of these more flexible rules is voluntary, plan sponsors should work with third-party administrators, insurance providers and legal advisors to...
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IRS Announces 2021 Limits for Health Savings Accounts and High-Deductible Health Plans
By Jacob Mattinson on May 21, 2020
Posted In Health and Welfare Plans
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently announced cost-of-living adjustments to the applicable dollar limits for health savings accounts (HSAs) and high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) for 2021. Some of the dollar limits currently in effect for 2020 will change for 2021. Access a table comparing the applicable dollar limits.
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DOL Relaxes Deadlines for ERISA-Governed Group Health Plans
By Jacob Mattinson and Megan Mardy on May 13, 2020
Posted In Benefit Controversies, Employee Benefits, Employment, Health and Welfare Plans
The US Department of Labor, in conjunction with the Internal Revenue Service and US Department of the Treasury, issued guidance and deadline extensions applicable to ERISA-governed group health and welfare plans. The guidance provides relief for plan sponsors, plan administrators and plan participants that may be struggling to comply with applicable deadlines and requirements in...
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Department of Labor Updates COBRA FAQs and Model Notices
By Jacob Mattinson and Megan Mardy on May 7, 2020
Posted In Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans
On May 1, 2020, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued updated Frequently Asked Questions and revised model notices under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). COBRA is a federal law that permits individuals to continue group health plan coverage for a limited period of time following certain events, such as a termination of employment,...
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CARES Act Impacts All Benefit Plans
By Lindsay Ditlow, Lisa Loesel, Ralph E. DeJong, Samuel Everett Dewey, Sarah L. Engle, Andrew Liazos, Erin Steele, Evan A. Belosa and Jacob Mattinson on Mar 31, 2020
Posted In Employee Benefits, Employment, Executive Compensation, Health and Welfare Plans, Retirement Plans
In the ongoing effort to help individuals impacted by COVID-19, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Securities Act (CARES Act) on March 27, 2020. The President signed the CARES Act into law the same day. The historic stimulus package provides wide-ranging relief for both employers and employees. This includes rules that impact health...
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