Issues Raised By Section 409A Proposed Regulations Protect Your Benefits Decisions Cost-of-Living Adjustments for 2006 Year-End Deadline Regarding Automatic Rollover Requirements Deadline for Deferring Bonuses Back to Newsletter

Please keep in mind that the Medicare Part D enrollment period is already underway, and group health plans that offer prescription drug coverage to Medicare-eligible employees or retirees, must provide notices of creditable coverage to those individuals. Plan sponsors that filed for a Part D subsidy should be making efforts towards putting the required acknowledgments and plan sponsor agreements in place if not done so already. See our September 2005 Alert for details.

Also, the year-end compliance deadline related to the HIPAA Portability Regulations is rapidly approaching for calendar year plans. See our March 28, 2005 Alert for details.

Feel free to call us for Medicare Part D and HIPAA compliance assistance.