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Premiums for commercial property and casualty (P&C) insurance lines once again increased in the second quarter (Q2) of 2021, led by a 25.5% jump in cyber. Q2 marked the 15th consecutive quarter of U.S. commercial P&C premium increases—8.3% across all-sized accounts, according to The Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers (CIAB) Commercial Property/Casualty Market Index.…

The federal Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) provides job protections for employees who are absent from work due to service in uniformed services. Among those protections is the entitlement to rights and benefits generally provided to employees with similar seniority, status and pay who are on furlough or leave of absence. In…

In the final month of 2020, it was revealed that foreign hackers had orchestrated a supply chain cyberattack throughout the past year in an effort to compromise several federal agencies and private organizations. The cybercriminals first infiltrated the digital infrastructure of SolarWinds—a Texas-based technology company—before using that infrastructure to gain access to sensitive data from…

Although an organization may benefit from utilizing vehicles, doing so can also carry numerous exposures. Specifically, drivers who engage in unsafe behaviors behind the wheel could contribute to costly road incidents. Even if an organization’s drivers weren’t responsible for causing such incidents, other motorists or pedestrians might still try to blame them, thus resulting in…

On Aug. 20, 2021, the Departments of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Treasury (Departments) issued frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding the implementation of the No Surprises Act and transparency provisions of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA). The FAQs provide that Departments will defer enforcement of the rules regarding: Publishing transparency…

Fall signals cooler weather, and the pleasant temperatures let you comfortably do necessary home maintenance before winter arrives. By taking the time to maintain your home each season, you can keep common household problems at bay. Clean Gutters and Downspouts. Clear leaves and debris from gutters and downspouts to prevent flooding and freezing around your…

President Joe Biden’s administration is continuing its efforts to curb the COVID-19 pandemic and the spread of the deadly coronavirus Delta variant. Recently, the White House ordered all federal workers and contractors to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Now, the government is imposing a similar requirement on private employers. The move is estimated to affect over…

When a company experiences significant increases in workers’ compensation costs, it usually triggers internal activities aimed at reducing insurance costs and spending. The key to spending fewer dollars is more than just stopping a few accidents; it is having a sound safety program designed to continuously improve. This is where a safety program that, at…

Each year, Medicare Part D requires group health plan sponsors to disclose to individuals who are eligible for Medicare Part D and to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) whether the health plan’s prescription drug coverage is creditable. Plan sponsors must provide the annual disclosure notice to Medicare-eligible individuals before Oct. 15, 2021—the…

On July 23, 2021, the IRS published a proposed rule that would expand the requirement to file certain information returns electronically, including those under the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) reporting requirements in Internal Revenue Code Section 6055 and Section 6056. For Form 1094 series, Forms 1095-B and 1095-C, Form 1099 series and Form 5498 series,…