Adam V. Russo | September 7, 2010

By Joanne Wojcik of Business Insurance Magazine, www.businessinsurance.com

SEATTLE—A group of striking Washington Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. workers have filed a lawsuit claiming their employer terminated their health benefits in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

The suit, filed Aug. 27 in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington in Seattle, asserts that health benefits were “wrongfully withheld from striking employees” after they went on strike Aug. 23. (more…)

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Adam V. Russo | August 27, 2010

By Jerry Geisel of Business Insurance Magazine, www.businessinsurance.com

WASHINGTON—The once politically popular program that provides COBRA premium subsidies for involuntarily terminated employees is winding down as broad congressional support has nearly vanished, experts say.

Embedded in a 2009 economic stimulus measure and renewed several times since then, the program in which the federal government pays 65% of the COBRA premium has enabled millions of employees who lost their jobs and their dependents to keep group coverage by making it more affordable. (more…)

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Adam V. Russo | March 22, 2010

(1) House Approves Health Care Reform Legislation

Late yesterday evening, the House approved both the health reconciliation bill and the Senate health reform bill, after defeating a Republican motion to recommit the reconciliation bill back to the House Budget Committee.

The Senate health reform bill is now ready to be signed into law by President Obama. The health reconciliation bill will be considered in the Senate this week. (more…)

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Adam V. Russo | March 17, 2010

Jerry Geisel

WASHINGTON—Employers will be dealing with COBRA premium subsidy issues for a lot longer if a newly-passed Senate bill receives final congressional approval.

The House this week is expected to take up H.R. 4213, which the Senate passed last week, to extend the 65%, 15-month COBRA premium subsidy for involuntarily laid-off workers through year-end. The broader bill also would extend numerous expiring provisions of the U.S. Tax Code and provide pension funding relief. (more…)

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