Click here to read the latest Burning Benefits News regarding Health Plan Reporting, Mental Health Parity and COBRA Subsidy. 

Lawyers’ proactive advice to clients about legal developments is something of a “Goldilocks” process. We want to advise you of the truly important developments only. In that spirit, attached to this e-mail is our most recent Burning Benefits News.

COBRA SUBSIDY:  there’s a reminder of the COBRA premium subsidy notice that’s due February 17. Remember that COBRA applies to employers with 20 or more employees, and who sponsor a group health plan. 

Click here to view our latest issue of our Burning Benefits News. 

Stevenson Keppelman Associates has received top honors among Michigan employee-benefits law firms. Click here for more details. 

We thank our clients and friends for your support and collegiality. We owe all recognition to you.

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Bob Stevenson was again interviewed and heavily quoted (although not with complete accuracy!) in Michigan Lawyers Weekly. The story concerned the 6th Circuit’s recent upholding a Michigan insurance rule. The rule prohibited insurance contracts from including so-called “discretionary clauses” that give insurers discretion (within limits) to determine eligibility for benefits. This is similar to the discretion granted ERISA plan administrators in a 1989 U.S. Supreme Court case, Bruch v Firestore. Bob argued that in the current case (American Council of Life Insurers, et al v Ross), the 6th Circuit has added to the burden of multi-state benefit plan sponsors, which now must deal with a patchwork of claims review processes. Also, both ERISA and centuries of common law recognize such discretionary powers, and already prohibit abuse of discretion.

SKA attorneys provided to clients and friends two webcasts on urgent benefit updates. The second was held on March 19th. We thank you for your attendance, and for your following feedback.

For those who would like to review content, or if you missed the webcasts, the phone presentation was recorded. Below is the information you need if you would like to listen to it again. If you have any questions, or problems accessing the recording, please contact Kristy Zelenka at kristy@skalaw.com.

Click here to view the latest issue of our Burning Benefits News.

Bob Stevenson was quoted on Sunday, March 8th in a Detroit Free Press article, about the possible effects of national healthcare reform on the Detroit Three. Although Bob and SKA represent may high-profile VEBA’s and although Bob was interviewed for about 45 minutes, his sole pearl of wisdom to see print was this:

“Would it (national health care) be the silver bullet?” asked Bob Stevenson, an employee benefits attorney in Ann Arbor. “I think we all know the Detroit Three have more problems than just their legacy retirement benefits.”

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You should have your plan document reviewed for written compliance, and prepare to implement the nondiscrimination rules sooner, rather than later, in 2009.

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