Federal Benefits Laws Employers Track.
One place to find every federal and Michigan benefits law we cover, grouped by what it asks of an employer. Each guide explains who is covered, what the law requires and what to do about it. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Coverage Mandates.
Laws that set what a group health plan must cover and what employers must offer.
Affordable Care Act for Employers
The rules behind employer coverage, reporting and the small group market.
Employer Shared Responsibility for Employers
When larger employers must offer affordable, minimum-value coverage.
ACA Reporting for Employers
Forms 1094-C and 1095-C and who files them.
No Surprises Act for Employers
Protections against surprise bills and what plans must do.
Mental Health Parity for Employers
Limits on how plans treat mental health and substance use benefits.
Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act for Employers
Reconstruction and related coverage after a mastectomy.
Newborns’ and Mothers’ Health Protection Act for Employers
Minimum hospital stays for mothers and newborns.
Primary sources: 26 U.S.C. 4980H (employer mandate) · ERISA, 29 U.S.C. ch. 18 · 45 CFR 160.103 (HIPAA definitions) · MCL 15.561 et seq. (Public Act 152 of 2011)
Leave and Military Service.
Laws that protect job and health coverage while employees are away.
FMLA and Group Health Coverage
How group health coverage continues during protected leave.
USERRA and Military Leave Coverage
Health coverage rights for employees who serve in the military.
Discrimination and Privacy.
Laws that limit how employers use health information and treat employees.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act for Employers
Employment discrimination rules that reach benefits.
Americans with Disabilities Act for Employers
Accommodations, medical inquiries and wellness programs.
Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act for Employers
Limits on requesting and using genetic information.
HIPAA Privacy Rule for Employers
How plans and plan sponsors handle protected health information.
Plan Administration.
Laws that govern how an employer runs and reports on its benefit plans.
ERISA and Employer Health Plans
Fiduciary duties, plan documents and disclosures.
Plan Reporting for Employers
Annual filings and notices plans owe.
COBRA Continuation Coverage
Temporary coverage after a job or life event.
Medicare Secondary Payer for Employer Plans
Who pays first when an employee also has Medicare.
Creditable Prescription Coverage for Employers
Notices about drug coverage for Medicare-eligible people.
Cafeteria Plans for Employers
Pre-tax benefit elections under Section 125.
Health Savings Accounts for Employers
Rules for HSA-eligible plans and employer contributions.
Michigan Overlay.
State laws that sit on top of the federal rules.
Publicly Funded Health Insurance Contribution Act for Employers
Public Act 152 and public employer health plan spending.
Michigan Earned Sick Time Act for Employers
Paid sick time requirements for Michigan employers.
Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act for Employers
Michigan’s civil rights law for employment.
Related Calendars and Checklists.
Pair the laws with the dates they create.
Michigan Compliance Calendar
Federal and state deadlines in one place.
ACA Reporting Deadlines 2027
Filing and furnishing dates for the coming season.
Mid-Year Benefits Compliance Check-In
A checkpoint to catch gaps before year end.
Newer Developments.
Benefits Compliance Alerts
Recent changes that may affect your plan, linked to plain-English guides.
AI in HR and Benefits for Employers
Which laws already apply to AI tools and the state rules to watch.
State Paid Family and Medical Leave Laws
Which states pay leave benefits and when programs start.
Transparency in Coverage for Employers
The October 2026 final rule and its key dates.
Federal PBM Reform for Employers
What the 2026 law requires of PBMs and plans, and when.
Quick Answers.
Short answers to what employers ask most. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Which federal laws apply to my group health plan?
It depends on your size and plan type. ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, the ACA and the No Surprises Act reach most employer plans. We map which rules apply to your group.
Do these laws apply to small employers?
Some do and some do not. For example, the ACA employer mandate applies to larger employers, while the HIPAA Privacy Rule covers group health plans that have 50 or more participants or are administered by someone other than the employer (45 CFR 160.103). Each guide lists who is covered.
Which Michigan laws should I know about?
The Michigan Earned Sick Time Act, the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act and, for public employers, Public Act 152 of 2011. Each has its own guide above.
How do I keep up with changes?
Check this page and the compliance calendar, and ask us. We flag changes that affect your plan before they take effect.
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