The Coronavirus pandemic has had a massive impact on the financial health of thousands of companies in the United States. These employers have seen the enormous reduction in business and the effect it has on their employee benefit programs, and adjust them to meet the needs of both their employees and their business. These adjustments still carry certain obligations the employer must meet under federal legislation. So what do employers need to know about FFRCA and benefits?
Employers have had to reduce or terminate a portion of their workforce, put furloughs in place, and reduce hours and compensation for their employees in response to the crisis. All of these changes impact the employee’s benefit plans and policies, so an employer must review said plans and policies and make adjustments accordingly. Here’s what to consider while doing so:
Service provider contracts for employee benefit plans
Review the terms for existing contracts with multiple service providers, as the fees related to administrative contracts can be determined by the number of participants on your plan. Any reduction in workforce or hours for your employees would affect the total number of eligible employees, which could result in additional fees within the contract. The stay-at-home order may affect a service provider’s ability to meet their obligations within the contract, as well. Many of these contracts will contain a “Force Majeure” clause that excuses a party for nonperformance due to extraordinary events. Each of these provisions is contract-specific — be sure to review yours. A service provider’s nonperformance in regard to ERISA plans could pose a problem for employers. Employers should seek legal advice in terms of navigating their service provider’s contracts during this unprecedented time.
Emergency Paid Sick Leave and FMLA Expansion
On March 18, 2020, The Families First Coronavirus Relief Act was enacted. It requires employers with fewer than 500 employees to provide paid sick leave and additional FMLA benefits to their employees. Because of the added cost to employers, the FFRCA provides a quarterly payroll tax credit which is equivalent to 100% of qualified sick and leave wages paid to employees as emergency paid sick leave and emergency family and medical leave.
Health and Welfare Plans
COVID-19 Specific Coverage
The FFCRA requires group health plans to cover COVID-19 diagnostic testing-related costs, healthcare provider services, and facility costs without the participant’s deductibles, copay, or coinsurance. The FFCRA also ensures that prior authorization and other medical management requirements be waived regarding COVID-19 services. In addition to the FFCRA, the CARES Act requires group health plans to cover preventive services and vaccines related to COVID-19.
Reduction in hours (or furloughing)
Specific plan or policy terms determine whether furloughed employees or employees with a reduction of hours can keep their health coverage. Many plans require employees to uphold a minimum amount of hours to maintain coverage. Employers might be able to amend their plan or alter the policy to expand coverage or modify procedures for employee premium payments but must seek approval from their insurance provider before any changes take place.
COBRA Continuation Coverage
COBRA continuation coverage is offered to employees who have been terminated or have reduced hours. Employers can provide a subsidy to help their employees cover the COBRA continuation costs. Be sure to consider any discrimination issues that may arise if the subsidy is not offered throughout your company.
ACA Employer Mandate
ACA requires employers with 50 or more full-time employees (who average 30 hours a week or more) to provide minimum essential coverage to their employees.
HIPAA
Employers who are covered under HIPAA and their associates must remember that HIPAA applies during the COVID-19 pandemic. With changing work conditions, ensure that you review and update HIPAA privacy practices to ensure your safeguards are in place.
Cafeteria Plan Elections
There cannot be any change in mid-year election choices based on employment status change.
Premium adjustments
The potential reduction or change in your workforce could affect the employee eligibility for health insurance policies, which could bring about premium adjustments.
Value of welfare benefits
Welfare benefits and their value is tied to employee compensation, reducing their compensation can reduce the value of these benefits for those employees.
Retirement Plans
There are fiduciary responsibilities under ERISA in a market similar to the one COVID-19 has caused. ERISA plans should pay specific attention to fiduciary duties, like acting prudently, diversifying plan assets, and complying with plan provisions.
Participant Access to Retirement Plan Accounts
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- The CARES Act permits multiple situations for employees. Employers can expand participant access to specific retirement accounts for “coronavirus-related distribution,” without subjection to 10% early withdrawal penalties and must be repaid over a 3-year period.
- The CARES Act also allows employers to increase the maximum loan amount for qualifying individuals if their 401k plan allows participant loans.
- Hardship Withdrawals: Most plans allow for hardship withdrawals in areas that are federally declared disaster areas. These withdrawals are still subject to the 10% withdrawal penalty who have not reached the age of 59 ½ and are taxable in the year they are withdrawn.
- In-Service Distributions: If the employee has reached the age of 59 ½, many plans allow their participants to receive in-service distributions without a withdrawal penalty. In light of the crisis, employers should consider a plan amendment to expand or add in-service distribution to defined contribution plans or benefit plans
Reducing or Freezing Benefits and Contributions
Employers may be looking to reduce operating costs by reducing or freezing benefits or suspending employer matching or nonelective contributions. This requires at least a 45-day notice before the reduction is put into effect. Discretionary employer matching and nonelective contributions may be suspended or reduced prospectively and may or may not require a plan amendment. Consider the IRS rules that prevent cutbacks in benefits.
Funding Relief for Single-Employer Defined Benefit Plans
The CARES Act gives single-employer benefit plans more time to meet funding obligations by delaying the due date until January 1, 2021, with interest on the delayed payment. CARES Act also allows a single-employer defined benefit plan sponsor can elect to treat the plan’s different funding target attainment percentage to the last plan ending before January 1, 2020.
Voluntary Termination of Qualified Retirement Plans
Due to the change in economic circumstances, some employers may feel they need to terminate their qualified plans. All participants must be fully vested in their accounts under the plan during termination. However, there is a rule that employers who terminate a 401k plan may not establish a new plan within 12 months of the termination. Participants and beneficiaries must receive a special notice at least 45 days prior to the effective date of termination.
Partial Termination of Qualified Retirement Plans
Reducing your workforce by 20% or more of qualified retirement plan participants in a plan year that is not considered routine turnover could end up in partial termination of the plan. All participants who have been affected must be fully vested in their accounts.
Deadlines for 403(b) Plans and Pre-Approved Defined Benefit Plans Extended
The IRS is extending the last day of the initial remedial amendment period for 403(b) plans from March 31, 2020, to June 30, 2020. They also are extending both the April 30, 2020 deadlines for an employer to adopt a pre-approved defined benefit plan and submit a determination letter application under the second 6-year remedial amendment cycle and the April 30, 2020 end of the second 6-year remedial amendment cycle for pre-approved defined benefit plans deadline until July 31, 2020.
Incentive Compensation/ Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plans
There are strict rules that Code Section 409A adheres to regarding the time and type of payment incentive compensation and other non-qualified deferred compensation a company puts in place. This could include penalties for both the employer and the employees. As you work to navigate potential liquidity issues through the COVID-19, ensure that you navigate Code Section 409 A properly by addressing these issues:
Paying Annual Bonuses by March 15th
If you missed the March 15th deadline due to COVID-19 related issues with administrative duties or if the payment jeopardized the employer’s ability to continue, the payment may be made as soon as possible after the unforeseen circumstances are alleviated.
Cancellation of Deferrals/ Unscheduled Distributions
In the event of an unforeseeable event, an employee’s deferral election may be canceled, if the plan allows. Employers can also allow a participant to receive distributions if their plan contains these distributions. The employee still must show that emergency expenses cannot be covered by insurance, liquidation of assets, or ceasing deferrals under their plan. The distribution will also be limited to the amount needed to satisfy the participant’s financial needs.
Scheduled Distributions/Distributions Payable Upon Separation From Service
Most non-qualified deferred compensation plans provide payment upon an employee’s separation from service. Separation of service includes termination or a reduction in hours, and the employee would be entitled to a distribution from their plan.
Equity Award Considerations
Employers should consider if they should update their stock option valuation that considers the COVID-19 pandemic. This could affect the issuance of equity compensation.
Termination of Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Plans
Section 409A does allow a voluntary plan termination and distribution of benefits under specific circumstances, but these rules do not allow termination in connection with a downturn of employers’ financial status. This would require similar non-qualified deferred compensation arrangements to be terminated, and payments would be delayed 12 months after the plan is terminated. Once this is done, the employer cannot adopt a new non-qualified deferred compensation arrangement of the same type for 3 years.
As an employer, there are many things to consider with the changing economic times. For more information visit our site.
