Resources

State Employment Laws Becoming Effective January 1, 2025

Important Date January 1, 2025: Effective date for most laws and provisions presented in this bulletin. Several states have adopted new or amended existing labor…

Illinois Issues FAQs for 2025 Pay Transparency Law

Effective January 1, 2025, covered Illinois employers must include pay and benefits information in job postings and post promotional opportunities. Highlights August 11, 2023: Illinois…

Illinois Employment Laws Effective New Year’s Day 2025

Illinois passed several employment laws that are effective January 1, 2025. Highlights Senate Bill (SB) 3208 allows current and former employees to inspect their pay…

Biden Administration Cancels Proposed Changes to Contraceptive Coverage Mandate

Highlights The Departments are withdrawing a proposed rule from February 2023 regarding the ACA’s contraceptive coverage mandate. The proposed rule would have eliminated the current…

EEOC Examines Wearable Tech and Its Implications for Federal Discrimination Laws

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released a fact sheet on Dec. 19, 2024, addressing the application of federal employment discrimination laws to the…

Texas Court Rejects New Fixed Indemnity Coverage Notice Requirement

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas rejected a new notice requirement for fixed indemnity coverage in the group market on December…

How to Get the Best Insurance Pricing

We’ve been in a historically long hard market. The hard market started in late 2017 and has lasted much longer than the typical 1-2 year…

Medicare 101 Main Takeaways

If you’re approaching age 65, you may be wondering how Medicare works and what steps you need to take to enroll. The Horton Group hosts…

5 Ways to Protect Your Business from Cyber Vendor Risks and Interruptions

In today’s interconnected business environment, third-party vendors play a critical role in driving operations and revenue. From IT providers to supply chain partners, these vendors…

Tail Policies 101: Key Insights for Mitigating M&A Insurance Risks

When undergoing a merger or acquisition, insurance policies might not be your top priority. However, if a claim arises after the policy period ends, you’ll…

Federal Court Vacates DOL’s Final Overtime Rule Across the U.S.

On Nov. 15, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas vacated the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) final rule to modify…

Personal Cyber Security Checklist

Unlike physical threats that prompt immediate action — like stopping, dropping and rolling if you catch on fire — cyber threats are often difficult to…

Employees Can Use FMLA Leave to Participate in Clinical Trial

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has released Opinion Letter FMLA2024-01-A, clarifying that employees can use leave under the federal Family…

Physician Insurance Limits: Does $1 Million Provide Enough Protection?

The Horton Group recently had a physician client named in a wrongful death claim. This physician was insured with a national carrier, carried a $1M/$3M policy…

Ice Damming – What Is It, and Am I Covered?

Winter landscapes may seem peaceful and picturesque – however, water/ice damage makes up 20 percent of all homeowner insurance claims. Some of the most common…

Side A Difference in Conditions – The D&O Insurance You Think You Have

Side A Difference in Conditions, a specific Directors & Officers Liability policy, is one of the most overlooked insurance policies.

Social Determinants of Health

This paper offers background and strategies to create a supportive environment that can help meet the diverse needs of your workforce. Social Determinants of Health…

DOL Targets Employment-related Contract Clauses

On Oct. 15, 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of the Solicitor (SOL) released a special enforcement report identifying seven “fine-print” employment-related contract…

FTC Appeals Federal District Court Decision Blocking Noncompete Ban

On Oct. 18, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a notice of appeal contesting the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas’…

Proposed Rule Would Broaden ACA’s Contraceptive Coverage Mandate

On Oct. 21, 2024, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury issued a proposed rule that, if finalized, would expand access…

How Educational Assistance Programs Can Help Pay Student Loans Through 2025

The IRS is reminding employers that their educational assistance programs can be utilized to help cover their employees’ student loan payments. While educational assistance programs…

IRS Ruling Allows Employees to Choose Between Health, Retirement, and Student Loan Benefits

The IRS has issued a private letter ruling (No. 202434006) approving an employer program that allows employees to allocate employer contributions across multiple available benefits.…

CMS Sets New Cost-Sharing Limits for 2026 Health Coverage Plans

On October 8, 2024, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the maximum cost-sharing limits for 2026 under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).…

New ACA Reporting Penalties for Returns Filed in 2026

IRS Revenue Procedure 2024-40 outlines updated penalty amounts for reporting entities that do not meet the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirements under Internal Revenue Code…