The Daily Brief for Benefits Professionals
BenefitsWire
Health & Welfare Plans
June 20, 2026
— § —
10 items · ~2 min read
In this issue
Expert Analysis (5) · Regulatory Action and Guidance (1) · ERISA Litigation (1) · Health & Welfare Plans (2) · Webinars (1)
Expert Analysis
5 items“In October 2025, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker signed amendments to the FCRSSO, effective January 6, 2026.” MORE >>
Source: Ogletree Deakins
“Employers must permit eligible employees to accrue at least one hour of PSL per 30 hours worked, up to 40 hours per year. Employers are not required to permit employees to use more than 40 hours of PSL in a year. Employee accruals must begin upon hire. Employers must permit employees to carry over any accrued but unused PSL to the following year.” MORE >>
Source: Groom Law Group
“Press Coverage June 17, 2026 Ryan Last Ryan Last, an associate in Troutman Pepper Locke’s White Collar Litigation + Investigations Practice Group, was quoted in the June 17, 2026, BioWorld article, “Rx Tariff Just Around the Corner.” MORE >>
Source: Troutman Pepper Locke
“The average number of issuers fell from a record high of 9.6 per state in 2025 to just nine this year, according to the health policy researcher. The decrease marks the first time the average number of insurers in the ACA marketplaces has fallen since 2018, according to KFF.” MORE >>
Source: Healthcare Dive
“Forgot Your Password? If you do not yet have an ERIC Online profile or user name and password, please create one using Create Profile Form. If you need assistance with your user name/password or profile, please contact ERIC at (202) 789-1400.” MORE >>
Source: ERIC
Regulatory Action and Guidance
1 item“This site displays a prototype of a “Web 2.0” version of the daily Federal Register. It is not an official legal edition of the Federal Register, and does not replace the official print version or the official electronic version on GPO’s govinfo.” MORE >>
Source: Federal Register
ERISA Litigation
1 item“On June 3, 2026, plaintiffs City of Columbus et al. (including municipalities, local governments, and advocacy organizations) filed a complaint alleging that several policies in the HHS 2027 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters Final Rule (2027 Payment Notice Final Rule) are unlawful.” MORE >>
Source: Groom Law Group
Health & Welfare Plans
2 items“Forty-six percent of employers offer paid parental leave, up 7 percentage points from 2025, according to the Society of Human Resource Management — but a well-designed parental leave plan requires more than just days off. ... In May, Heidi announced changes to its family benefits, including an increase from 18 weeks of parental leave for both parents to 26 weeks for primary caregivers and 18 weeks for secondary caregivers. Accrued annual leave can be added to either for extended time off. The company also offers a one-time fertility assistance ($7,000 for U.S. employees in 2026) and four weeks of paid compassionate leave in the event of a miscarriage.” MORE >>
Source: Employee Benefit News
[Regulatory Action and Guidance]
The Trump Administration's New ACA Marketplace Rule Gives Insurance Companies Flexibility and Consumers Red Tape“The May 20, 2026 finalized rule allows insurers to disregard statutory out-of-pocket maximum protections for bronze and catastrophic plans—permitting spending caps up to 130% of the statutory limit ($15,600 for individuals, $31,200 for families in 2027).” MORE >>
Source: commonwealthfund.org
Webinars
1 item“Segal WebinarDate: Wednesday, June 17, 2026Time: 1–2 pm ET More than half of American adults have experienced a serious mental health crisis in their families.” MORE >>
Source: Segal
Also of Note
- Oregon Expands Protections for Immigration Status in the Workplace — “The law creates a clear prohibition on employers' taking adverse action against employees who update—or attempt to update—their "personal information" following a lawful change in work authorization status, effectively recognizing such updates as a protected activity.” (Littler)
- Medical Stop-Loss Premiums Increase Nearly 13% | Segal — “Reports and Surveys | June 8, 2026 By Michael S. Tesoriero Rate of increase in medical stop-loss premiums has accelerated.” (Segal)
- Canada: Federal Update — Equal Pay Provisions in Force Effective October 2026 — “ASAP By Shana French and Cameron Miller Federally regulated employers are facing a significant development under the Canada Labour Code (the “CLC”) with the coming into force of new equal pay provisions on October 20, 2026.” (Littler)
- Employers plan to shift more health costs to employees — “Employers are considering raising premiums and increasing other forms of cost sharing as they grapple with stubbornly rising health costs, according to a new survey from Mercer.” (Healthcare Dive)
- CBO asks for more No Surprises research — “The No Surprises Act “might not have the effects that CBO anticipated,” the agency wrote in petitioning for more research into the 2020 law’s effects.” (Healthcare Dive)
- Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: Public Comment Request; Information Collection Request Title: 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program Application, Implementation, and Evaluation, OMB Number 0906-NEW — “This site displays a prototype of a “Web 2.0” version of the daily Federal Register.” (Federal Register)
- Why AI alone won't solve the mental health crisis — “The separation of mental health from the rest of the care ecosystem is one of the biggest barriers to delivering holistic care that treats the whole person.” (Employee Benefit News)
- The most expensive mistake in employer benefits: Assuming cancer is 'covered' — “While GLP‑1s have dominated budget conversations and boardroom anxiety, cancer costs are accelerating quietly — and far faster.” (Employee Benefit News)