Insights

On November 12, 2025, President Trump signed the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2026, effectively ending the 43-day federal government shutdown. The stopgap bill temporarily extended funding for most of the federal government through January 30, 2026. Notably, though, the bill did not include any extension of the ACA enhanced premium tax credits (PTCs), which was the central issue during the shutdown. However, the parties tentatively agreed to vote on the outcome of the enhance

The California Employment Development Department (EDD) has published the 2026 employee contribution rate for the state's disability insurance (SDI) and paid family leave (PFL) for 2026. Effective January 1, 2026, the employee contribution rate for SDI and PFL will increase from 1.2% to 1.3%. Employers with at least one employee in California who earns $300 or more in wages in a 12-month period are subject to the provisions of the SDI program. (SDI is the umbrella program that includes both DI a

On September 11, 2025, the Colorado Division of Insurance (DOI) adopted Emergency Regulation 25-E-04 requiring carriers to cover COVID-19 vaccines as a preventive service without cost-sharing. This regulation aligns with Public Health Order 25-01, issued September 3, 2025, which authorizes trained healthcare professionals – such as nurses and pharmacists – to administer vaccines under protocol. The Public Health Order also allows Coloradans to receive vaccines from participating providers and p

Governor Josh Shapiro signed SB 88, a measure to expand coverage of breast cancer screenings into law on November 24, 2025. The new law amends Pennsylvania’s existing mandate to cover breast cancer screenings, which was outlined in the May 9, 2023, Compliance Corner article, “Coverage for Preventative Breast Cancer and Ovarian Cancer Screenings.” Designed to bring Pennsylvania’s existing law into compliance with recent changes to federal breast cancer screening guidelines published by the Healt

On November 17, 2025, the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation, which includes the Insurance Department, approved Permanent Administrative Order ID 9-2025: List of Prosthetic and Orthotic Devices under Oregon SB 699 (2025). The Order: Establishes a list of prosthetic and orthotic devices consistent with Oregon Revised Statute 743A.145, such as any device for which CMS has established an L Code in the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System Level II as of January 1, 2026, and any additiona

Employers should consider all the facts and circumstances surrounding the enrollment change request before taking any action. The timing of the request related to the plan year will influence what the employer may allow. Requested Change Before the Plan Year Begins Employers can allow election changes after open enrollment ends and before the coverage effective date (e.g., the new plan year). Employers should have a policy in place for how they will handle these requests. Allowing changes after

An Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT) is designed to be permanent. However, even a well-drafted ILIT can stop working as intended over time. Life insurance agents, trustees, and advisors frequently encounter ILITs that no longer align with a client’s current goals. This usually happens because circumstances have changed since the trust was created. Common reasons an ILIT may go “bad” include: Changes in family dynamics Beneficiaries facing unexpected financial situations Shifts in tax law

How market swings, inflation, longevity, and inaction can impact your portfolio — and what you can do to manage them

The 401(k) plan got its name from the portion of the IRS tax code that governs its use. In the past, most employees received guaranteed monthly retirement income through an employer-funded pension plan.