The Daily Brief for Benefits Professionals
BenefitsWire
Health & Welfare Plans
October 19, 2026
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6 items · ~2 min read
In this issue
Regulatory Action and Guidance (2) · Litigation (1) · General Benefits (2) · Health & Welfare Plans (1)
Regulatory Action and Guidance
2 items“Proposed Rule on public inspection, scheduled to publish 2026-10-20.” MORE >>
Source: Federal Register (public inspection)
“It’s estimated the proposed rules will save the nearly 2.8 million affected group health plans close to $402 million each year. Once finalized, the new safe harbor will be effective on the first January 1 following the publication of the final rule. It will likely take some time for EBSA to consider the numerous comments it received and finalize the rules, but here are some things group health plan administrators should know and consider now. Administrators of group health plans subject to ERISA are required to furnish various types of documents (“covered documents”) to plan participants and their beneficiaries using a delivery method reasonably calculated to ensure the information is actual” MORE >>
Source: Boutwell Fay
Litigation
1 item“Even though the employer never appeared and had defaulted, the court explained that a defaulting party does not concede the law, and the claims failed on their merits. How did a $300,000 election become a $50,000 payout? UACJ offered employees both a basic life insurance plan, with premiums paid by the company, and a voluntary plan, with premiums paid by the employee. Under the voluntary plan, an employee could select coverage from $5,000 to $300,000, but “[i]n no event” could the amount exceed five times annual earnings, rounded up to the next $5,000, and any coverage over $100,000 required an evidence-of-insurability form.” MORE >>
Source: Roberts Disability Law
General Benefits
2 itemsSenate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden is seeking public input on proposals to overhaul long-term care, focusing on affordability, accessibility, quality of care, and workforce development. MORE >>
Source: Senate Finance Committee
“AI is unusually good at collecting data, examining options, finding trends and summarizing information. What it cannot do is fully understand the unique circumstances of an individual employer, their workforce, culture, budget constraints and long-term objectives.” MORE >>
Source: Employee Benefit News
Health & Welfare Plans
1 item[General Benefits]
PBM Reform and Pharmacy Transparency: What Plan Sponsors Need to Know“Laura and Dominic will discuss recent pharmacy benefit changes, rebate pass-through approaches, and proposed Department of Labor rules in everyday terms, including how potential state and federal reforms may affect contracts, costs, and participant access, and what plan sponsors should ask their PBMs now to be ready for change.” MORE >>
Source: Troutman Pepper Locke