For years, employers have used wellness programs with the hope they would help improve employees' overall health while simultaneously reducing group health plan costs. The pandemic has presented challenges for wellness programs though, as employees have found it more difficult to meet the requirements for discounts because of lockdowns and fears of COVID-19. To address these challenges, some employers are considering modifications to their programs to allow employees to qualify for discounts if they obtain a flu or COVID-19 vaccine. Before adopting any changes, employers should use caution, as wellness programs are subject to numerous legal requirements, including requirements under the ACA, ERISA, HIPAA, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. By carefully evaluating changes and considering the myriad of legal requirements applicable to wellness programs prior to implementing any changes, plan sponsors can avoid jeopardizing the legal health of their wellness programs.
Our prior blog posts regarding wellness program compliance are available here, here, here, and here.