"Educational assistance programs under Code Section 127 currently can be used to help employees repay certain student loans, but this benefit is only available for a limited time and certain restrictions apply. "  MORE >>

"[An] ERISA plan can violate the Parity Act ... by applying ... a more stringent internal process to MH/SUD claims than to medical/surgical claims. A plaintiff ... may be able to allege a plausible claim without having to allege a categorical practice or differential treatment for his or her medical/surgical claims. It is enough for such a plaintiff to allege the existence of a procedure used in assessing MH/SUD benefit claims that is more restrictive than those used in assessing medical/surgical claims under the same classification[.]" [Ryan S. v. UnitedHealth Group, Inc., No. 22-55761 (9th Cir. Apr. 11, 2024)]  MORE >>

"The Fifth Circuit observed that while the employer knew about the father’s condition, the employee did not express an intent or desire to take leave, let alone FMLA leave. Accordingly, it determined that that was insufficient to put the employer on notice that the employee intended to take leave or that that leave qualified for FMLA protection." [Cerda v. Blue Cube Operations, No. 23-40404 (5th Cir. Mar. 19, 2024)]  MORE >>

"The ruling offers a lesson to claimants on how to prove a disability claim involving long COVID, but also teaches insurers what not to do.... Although the court ... acknowledged that Unum may have had some basis for questioning Abrams' claim due to the absence of definitive objective test results, the court was convinced by the consistency of the medical findings presented." [Whitehouse v. Unum Life Ins. Co. of America, No. 22-1736 (D. Minn. Mar. 21, 2024)]  MORE >>

"Inpatient admissions and days were higher in HSA plans than in PPOs.... HSA plan enrollees used emergency departments less than PPO enrollees.... HSA plan enrollees filled fewer prescriptions as compared with PPO enrollees.... Among individuals with no health conditions, HSA plans resulted in fewer emergency department visits relative to PPO enrollees, fewer specialist visits, and fewer prescription drug fills, while visits to primary care providers increased."  MORE >>

"Retirement and health experts encourage the use of health savings account, but also warn that not all HSA providers are the same when it comes to fee structures and investment options.... [A]llowing participants to select their own HSA provider could enable participants to seek different investment options, but it would dramatically reduce the operational efficiency for the employer."  MORE >>