ALERT / JANUARY 12, 2026

Announcing our spring series of webcasts on ERISA compliance

4 MIN READ

As we ring in 2026, one thing to be sure of is that the new year will be another eventful one in the realm of health and welfare compliance.

The Compliance Consulting team at Lockton can’t predict what regulatory changes might arise this year from the presidential administration, the states or the Supreme Court. But this spring we’ll discuss three evolving topics that can keep plan sponsors on the right path with ERISA compliance.

Whether you’re a Lockton client or not, we hope you’ll make the time to attend the Spring 2026 edition of our Client Advisory Seminar Series. These free, one-hour webcasts will provide practical, informed guidance on adapting to ongoing changes at Department of Labor, navigating federal and state laws to provide compliant fertility benefits options and, finally, learning the basics and new wrinkles to HIPAA privacy law. Our panel of legal experts will also field some of your questions during these sessions.

Read on to learn more and to register for one or all three of these webcasts:

The road ahead: Traversing the Department of Labor’s changing compliance landscape

2-3 p.m. CT on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026

Speakers: Suzanne Bach JD, and Amanda Curtin, JD

Join us for a fresh look inside the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), and the ERISA enforcement outlook for health and welfare plans in 2026 and beyond.

Suzanne Bach and Amanda Curtin, both former EBSA employees, will discuss important updates to the structure and leadership of EBSA, including changes in staffing and organization. We’ll also examine:

Current enforcement priorities and areas of focus for the future
How EBSA will address emerging issues such as cybersecurity, fiduciary responsibilities, and compliance with the Consolidated Appropriations Act
Valuable EBSA programs that plan sponsors can utilize to mitigate compliance risk and penalties

REGISTER HERE (opens a new window)

Fertility benefits: Navigating through 2026 and beyond

2-3 p.m. CT on Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Speakers: Rory Akers, JD, and Paula Day, JD

There is a growing focus among employers and regulators on ways to support individuals on their path to parenthood. The concept seems simple but designing and implementing compliant benefit programs related to fertility treatments, adoption, surrogacy, etc. is anything but.

Adding to the complexity, employers must consider the interplay of applicable employment laws that may impact their employee benefit and leave programs as the current presidential administration focuses on creating more access to fertility with potential regulatory changes in 2026.

Join us as we discuss how employers can address these complex issues and ensure compliance. Topics will include:

Recent Department of Labor guidance offering avenues to provide fertility coverage as excepted benefits
The Trump administration’s executive order and announcement of access to fertility drugs through TrumpRx
The most up-to-date insights on how federal, state and local laws intersect with family planning and fertility benefits in the workplace

REGISTER HERE (opens a new window)

HIPAA privacy: Learning the basics and what’s new for 2026

2-3 p.m. CT on Thursday, April 16, 2026

Speakers: Ethan McWilliams, MBA and Ruhe Wadud, JD

Join us for our annual training on the ever-evolving realm of HIPAA privacy and security. We’ll discuss how self-insured and fully insured sponsors alike can benefit from playing an active role in handling their protected information. Topics will include:

An overview of HIPAA privacy and security rules, and how they apply to employer plans
Heightened reproductive health requirements – where do we stand now?
How employers can respond to recent measures to strengthen cybersecurity protocols under HIPAA
A temperature check on the current HIPAA enforcement environment, including case studies of recently publicized breaches and penalties for noncompliance