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You may be scrambling to schedule a COVID-19 vaccination for yourself or a loved one. But, will you be responsible for costs associated with vaccination? Earlier What You Need to Know Now posts here and here explained that all COVID-19 testing and associated costs must be covered without cost-sharing under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and…
Category Archives: Employee Benefits
NYS Sick Leave Law Now in Effect
On September 30, 2020, the New York State Sick Leave Law went into effect, requiring qualifying employees to accrue sick leave that can be used starting January 1, 2021. The sick leave will be available to use for absences related to an employee’s illness or medical needs or a covered family member’s illness or medical…
It’s Just a Loan: The Trump Administration’s Payroll Tax Cut
On September 1, 2020, the Trump administration’s executive order providing the option to defer payroll taxes went into effect. This order gave employers the option to defer payroll taxes for employees who earn less than $4,000 per every two weeks or less than $104,000 per year, for the remainder of the year. Under this program,…
Update: Health Plans Must Continue to Cover the Full Cost of COVID-19 Testing
Our March 24, 2020, What You Need to Know Now examined the federal law requiring all group health plans to cover the full cost of COVID-19 testing free of charge and without any employee cost-sharing, including deductibles, copayments or coinsurance. In addition, the health plan cannot require prior authorization or impose other medical management requirements. This…
Employees Have More Time to Take Action Regarding Health Coverage
The IRS and Department of Labor have issued new regulations, effective May 4, 2020, giving employees more time to make choices concerning their health coverage. The goal is to minimize the chance that workers lose coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic, by failing to meet existing deadlines under health plans. The regulations provide that certain time…
Congress Prohibits Surprise Billing by Some Healthcare Providers for COVID-19 Care
Maybe it’s happened to you. Before you make an appointment or visit the emergency room, you check to make sure that the doctor or hospital is in-network under your health plan. Weeks later, an out-of-network doctor involved in your care bills you for the difference between the in-network rate your plan paid and the provider’s usual charge. …
NYC Immigrant Workers Left Out of Federal Stimulus to Receive Checks from City Relief Program
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that New York City would be partnering with the Open Society Foundation to create the New York City COVID-19 Immigrant Emergency Relief program. The Emergency Relief program will provide $20 million of relief directly to immigrant families in the form of a one-time, emergency relief payment similar to the stimulus…