Over the last few weeks, we have seen significant changes affecting COBRA compliance. Employers should contact their COBRA administrators to discuss the best practices in light of these developments, which include the Department of Labor’s publication of new model COBRA notices and COVID-19 notice and premium payment extensions.  We have a helpful article that discusses agency publications.   This is especially important, given the recent flurry of class action cases involving  COBRA notices.  A recording and a recap of the Jackson Lewis COVID-19 daily briefing episode discussing COBRA class action litigation are also available.  Contact any Jackson Lewis attorney to help you navigate the new agency guidance.

Tags: class action, COBRA, coronavirus, covid-19, DOL, ERISA
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Photo of Suzanne G. Odom Suzanne G. Odom

Suzanne G. Odom is a principal in the Greenville, South Carolina, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. She focuses her practice on ERISA plans, employee benefits, and executive compensation matters.

Sue has worked extensively with all types of employer-sponsored retirement and welfare benefit plans…

Suzanne G. Odom is a principal in the Greenville, South Carolina, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. She focuses her practice on ERISA plans, employee benefits, and executive compensation matters.

Sue has worked extensively with all types of employer-sponsored retirement and welfare benefit plans, including pension, profit sharing, 401(k), 403(b), and 457(b) plans, ESOPs, and health, accident, disability, Section 125, flexible spending, and other welfare plans. Her clients include large and small for-profit companies across all industry sectors, non-profit corporations, and governmental entities.

As a result of Sue’s vast number of submissions and compliance matters, she has developed a close and professional working relationship with both the IRS and Department of Labor Representatives. Her practice is centered on providing her clients with solid and proactive fiduciary and business advice that assists them in avoiding the time and expense of employee benefits litigation.

Sue prides herself on her ability to think outside the box and work with clients to deliver the best business solutions possible.

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Photo of Kathryn W. Wheeler, CEBS Kathryn W. Wheeler, CEBS

Kathryn W. Wheeler is the Knowledge Management (“KM”) Attorney for Jackson Lewis P.C.’s Employee Benefits Practice Group, and is based in the Overland Park, Kansas, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. She has more than 25 years in the employee benefits industry, 14 of…

Kathryn W. Wheeler is the Knowledge Management (“KM”) Attorney for Jackson Lewis P.C.’s Employee Benefits Practice Group, and is based in the Overland Park, Kansas, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. She has more than 25 years in the employee benefits industry, 14 of those years as a benefits manager for private industry. She received her Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) designation from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Ms. Wheeler has experience with employee benefits from the perspective of clients and of legal counsel, giving her the ability to understand the issues confronting clients from both sides of the table. Her zeal for protecting the company’s interests in employee benefit-related areas led her to receive her law license to better negotiate the statutes and regulations imposed on employers. She has experience in a broad range of benefit matters, including general compliance and administration of qualified retirement plans under ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code. She also has extensive experience with welfare plan design for self-insured health plans and welfare plan issues involving cafeteria plans, health plans, flexible spending accounts, group insurance products, COBRA, and HIPAA.

Ms. Wheeler has a particular focus on assisting employers with the various compliance requirements associated with qualified retirement plans and qualified welfare plans, including preparing the Form 5500 annual report for clients. She also prepares submissions for Voluntary Correction Program, Delinquent Filer Corrective Program, and Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program. She has experience negotiating with outside benefits providers, including prototype plan sponsors, third party administrators, insurers, actuaries, and auditors.

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