Washington, DC – The following statement should be attributed to Annette Guarisco Fildes, President and CEO of The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC):
“The ERISA Industry Committee applauds the Departments of Treasury, Health and Human Services, and Labor for issuing the guidance ERIC requested clarifying that during the COVID-19 pandemic employers can extend a telehealth-only plan to employees or their dependents who are not eligible to participate in the employer’s health plans.
We also appreciate the IRS guidance that provides a safe harbor for calculating the one-year loan suspension period and expanding the definition of a qualified individual to include more COVID-related factors, like a reduction in hours or having a job offer rescinded or start date for a job delayed.
Today’s guidance will go a long way to help employers expand benefit offerings to their workforces while protecting those employees who have been directly impacted by the pandemic.”