Sarah Raaii
Subscribe to Sarah Raaii's PostsSarah G. Raaii focuses her practice on employee benefits and matters related to health care reform, data privacy and HIPAA compliance, executive compensation, and health and welfare, cafeteria, 401(k), 403(b) and pension plans. Read Sarah Raaii's full bio.
US Supreme Court Ruling Complicates Abortion Insurance Coverage
By Sarah Raaii on Jul 1, 2022
Posted In Benefit Controversies, Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans
The patchwork of US federal and state rules governing abortion insurance coverage will become more complicated following the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. In this MarketWatch article, McDermott’s Sarah Raaii said the situation has employers on edge. “We’ve had a huge influx of employers reaching out and asking, ‘What should I...
Continue Reading
What Employers Should Do Now That Roe Has Fallen
By Sarah Raaii on Jun 27, 2022
Posted In Benefit Controversies, Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans, Privacy and Data Security
The monumental decision by the Supreme Court of the United States in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization to overturn Roe v. Wade presents significant challenges for employers and health plans. According to this Law360 article, employers should begin reviewing state laws, evaluating internal company policies, gauging employee reactions and preparing for legal challenges. McDermott’s Sarah...
Continue Reading
Preparing for the Demise of Roe v. Wade and the Criminalization of Abortion in Some US States: Practical Considerations for a Post-Roe World
By David Quinn Gacioch, Stacey Callaghan, Dana McSherry, Caroline Reignley, Paul Thompson and Sarah Raaii on Jun 15, 2022
Posted In Benefit Controversies, Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans
Sometime in the next several weeks, the Supreme Court of the United States will issue its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (Dobbs). Based on the draft majority opinion authored by Justice Samuel Alito that was leaked to Politico in early May, there is a significant chance that the Court will overrule Roe v. Wade (Roe) and Planned Parenthood...
Continue Reading
Employers Explore Abortion Coverage Continuation
By Sarah Raaii and McDermott Will & Emery on Jun 1, 2022
Posted In Benefit Controversies, Employee Benefits, Employment, Executive Compensation, Health and Welfare Plans
While the United States awaits the Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson, which may overturn Roe v. Wade and eliminate the federal standard for abortion access, some states are considering setting their own standards that would ban or protect the medical procedure. This state-by-state rulemaking will cause some difficulty for employer plans, and employers are increasingly exploring...
Continue Reading
‘Unprecedented Interest’ in Employer-Covered Abortion Travel
By Sarah Raaii on May 5, 2022
Posted In Employee Benefits, Employment, Health and Welfare Plans, Labor
If the US Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade (as suggested by a leaked draft on May 2), employers who want to provide abortion coverage to employees and their families could encounter serious challenges. In this Bloomberg Law article, McDermott’s Sarah G. Raaii noted that employers that provide travel expenses for abortions might encounter resistance...
Continue Reading
Agencies Clarify How Employers Can Charge COVID-19 Vaccine Premium Incentives
By Sarah Raaii and McDermott Will & Emery on Feb 24, 2022
Posted In Employee Benefits, Employment, Health and Welfare Plans, Labor
US employers have grown increasingly interested in identifying incentives that increase COVID-19 vaccination among employees. The US Departments of Labor, Treasury and Human and Human Services recently issued guidance regarding the application of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) wellness rules to vaccine-related premium surcharges and discounts, clarifying that employers may charge vaccine...
Continue Reading
Agencies Clarify How Employers Can Charge COVID-19 Vaccine Premium Incentives
By Sarah Raaii and McDermott Will & Emery on Nov 2, 2021
Posted In Employee Benefits, Employment, Health and Welfare Plans
On October 4, 2021, the US Departments of Labor, Treasury, and Health and Human Services issued guidance regarding the application of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) wellness rules to vaccine-related premium surcharges and discounts, clarifying that employers may charge vaccine premium incentives if they adhere to the requirements of activity-only health-contingent programs....
Continue Reading
IRS Provides Further Guidance on COBRA Election and Payment Deadlines
By Sarah Raaii and McDermott Will & Emery on Oct 27, 2021
Posted In Employee Benefits, Employment, Health and Welfare Plans
In Notice 2021-58, the Internal Revenue Service clarified that the one-year tolling relief periods for Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) elections and initial premium payments run concurrently, not consecutively. This means that a qualified beneficiary generally will have only one year of total disregarded time for the election and initial payment periods. Read more...
Continue Reading
How to Apply the IRS’s COBRA Premium Subsidy Guidance
By Jacob Mattinson, Sarah Raaii, Teal Trujillo and McDermott Will & Emery on Jun 9, 2021
Posted In Employee Benefits, Employment, Health and Welfare Plans
On May 18, 2021, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued much-anticipated Notice 2021-31 (the Notice) regarding the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) premium subsidy provisions of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA). Under ARPA, a 100% COBRA premium subsidy and additional COBRA enrollment rights are available to certain assistance eligible individuals (AEIs)...
Continue Reading
IRS Provides Additional COVID-19 Relief for Cafeteria Plans
By Jacob Mattinson and Sarah Raaii on Apr 13, 2021
Posted In Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans
On February 18, 2021, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued clarifying guidance on the temporary special rules for health flexible spending arrangements (FSAs) and dependent care assistance programs (DCAPs). This provides welcome guidance regarding the application of cafeteria plan relief provided by the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA). Access the article.
Continue Reading
