Health & Welfare Plans

Overview

With continuous regulatory changes and frequent misalignment of state and federal laws, employers face complex benefits plan challenges. Faegre Drinker helps clients attract, incent, and retain employees by designing appealing, compliant health and welfare benefits plans and providing comprehensive and constructive counsel to plan sponsors, plan fiduciaries, and benefits plans on issues that may arise from plan design, administration, and operation. We regularly advise on how to navigate the complexities of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), the Internal Revenue Code, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and other laws governing health and welfare plans. We approach benefits law questions with an eye toward preventive strategies — minimizing the likelihood of liabilities and claims — and practical resolutions. When necessary, we counsel clients on the administrative claims and appeals process, working with our ERISA litigation team to position plan sponsors, fiduciaries, and plans to effectively defend disputes that advance to litigation.

Insights & Events

Latest

最新 July 2026

Where There's (Wildfire) Smoke, There Are Safety and Compliance Concerns for Employers

Employers have parallel duties to protect employees from hazards related to wildfire smoke in the workplace and to consider possible accommodations for disabled employees exposed to wildfire smoke.
6 min read
Blog Post June 2026

New Proposed Rules Would Allow Employers to Offer Fertility Benefits as "Excepted Benefits" Outside Their Major Medical Plans

Spotlight on Benefits blog
1 min read
媒体报道 April 2026

Sarah Bassler Millar Comments on New Mental Health Parity Rule in Law360

1 min read
Blog Post February 2026

DOL Proposes New PBM Fee Disclosure Rules

Spotlight on Benefits blog
1 min read
最新 January 2026

State & Local Employment Law Developments: Q1 2026 (and Beyond)

New Employee Protections and Employer Obligations in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Washington
18 min read
Press Release July 2025

Cynthia Lee Rejoins Faegre Drinker’s Benefits & Executive Compensation Practice as Counsel in Minneapolis

2 min read
Speaking Engagement Recap December 10, 2024

Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System - More Updates - Webinar

ASPPA Winter Symposium
1 min read
News September 2024

Sarah Bassler Millar Named ‘Notable Leader In Law’ by Crain’s Chicago Business

1 min read
Speaking Engagement Recap March 21, 2024

SECURE 2.0 Now - Webinar

1 min read
Recorded Webinar January 25, 2024 CLE

Defending Employer Health Plans Against a New Wave of Fiduciary Litigation - Webinar

2 min read
Insights
最新 July 2026

Where There's (Wildfire) Smoke, There Are Safety and Compliance Concerns for Employers

Employers have parallel duties to protect employees from hazards related to wildfire smoke in the workplace and to consider possible accommodations for disabled employees exposed to wildfire smoke.
6 min read
Blog Post June 2026

New Proposed Rules Would Allow Employers to Offer Fertility Benefits as "Excepted Benefits" Outside Their Major Medical Plans

Spotlight on Benefits blog
1 min read
媒体报道 April 2026

Sarah Bassler Millar Comments on New Mental Health Parity Rule in Law360

1 min read
Blog Post February 2026

DOL Proposes New PBM Fee Disclosure Rules

Spotlight on Benefits blog
1 min read
最新 January 2026

State & Local Employment Law Developments: Q1 2026 (and Beyond)

New Employee Protections and Employer Obligations in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Washington
18 min read
最新 September 2025

2025 Legislative Developments for Colorado Employers

Increasing Employee Protections in the Workplace and More
15 min read
Blog Post August 2025

HIPAA Reproductive Health Care Privacy Rule Vacated

Spotlight on Benefits blog
1 min read
Blog Post July 2025

One Big Beautiful Bill: How It Affects Health Savings Account Administration

Spotlight on Benefits blog
1 min read
最新 July 2025

Federal Agencies Announce Non-enforcement of 2024 Mental Health Parity Regulations

DOL, HHS and IRS Will Not Enforce Certain Nonquantitative Treatment Limitation Rules
4 min read
Blog Post July 2025

Increase to Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account Limit

Spotlight on Benefits blog
1 min read