Defined Contribution Administrator
Well Established South Florida Actuarial and TPA/Consulting Firm
in FL

Client Relations Manager
ING
in CA

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Managing Benefit Costs – A Top Business Priority
April 23, 2014 WEBCAST
(United Benefit Advisors)

Legislative Update of Defined Contribution Plans
April 24, 2014 WEBCAST
(National Association of Government Defined Contribution Administrators)

2014 Webinar: HSA Basics
May 15, 2014 WEBCAST
(Ascensus)

ERISA Audits: What We All Knew but Forgot
June 5, 2014 WEBCAST
(Lorman Education Services)

View All Webcasts and Conferences

Paid Sick Leave Laws: A Growing Trend Across the U.S.
"In 2006, San Francisco became the first city in the U.S. to require paid sick leave. Since then, the momentum for paid sick leave has been building, with Washington, D.C.; Jersey City, N.J.; New York City; Portland, Ore.; Seattle; the state of Connecticut; and most recently Newark, N.J., following suit. Washington, D.C., and New York City have recently expanded their sick leave laws.... In a countertrend, some states have enacted preemption laws that prohibit local governments from passing paid sick leave legislation, including Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and Tennessee. Wisconsin enacted legislation in 2011 that bars cities, villages and counties from enacting family and medical leave rules that differ from state standards, which effectively eliminated Milwaukee's paid sick ordinance." (Towers Watson)  

[Advert.]

What Employers Need to Know About the Pay or Play Mandate in 2014

Enroll in this May 14 live webinar to learn the latest in employer reporting requirements and tweaks to regulations and transition rules on the "Pay or Play" Employer Mandate under the ACA. Special BenefitsLink discount.

Suddenly Health Insurance Is Not for Sale
"Exchange plans don't have a choice, but off-exchange health insurers can decide when to offer coverage ... They can limit enrollment to a designated period mirroring the Obamacare sign-up and special enrollment periods. Or, they can sell insurance year-round ... Few are choosing to leave the door wide open ... '[T]he biggest misconception was that [consumers] would just get the tax penalty' if they missed the March 31 open enrollment deadline, [Carrie McLean, director of customer care for eHealthInsurance] noted. 'People really did not understand that you couldn't get insurance at all[.]'" (Philadelphia Inquirer)  

Obamacare Triggers Jump in U.S. Consumers' Healthcare Spending
"Consumer spending climbed by $20.4 billion at an annualized rate adjusted for inflation in February, and $13 billion of the increase came from outlays on health services spurred by the [ACA].... While it's been rising fairly steadily since 2000, the share of consumer budgets dedicated to medical care climbed to a record 17.1 percent in February from 16.9 percent in December. Since the end of the recession in June 2009 through September, the proportion ranged from 16.4 percent to 16.7 percent." (Bloomberg)  

Health Care Spending's Recent Surge Stirs Unease
"A surge of insurance enrollment related to rising employment and President Obama's health care law has likely meant a surge of spending on health care, leaving policy experts wondering whether the government and private businesses can control spending as the economy gets stronger and millions more Americans gain coverage.... A report from IMS, a health care data and analytics firm, found use of the health care system increasing broadly in 2013. Americans made more visits to doctors' offices, were hospitalized more often and purchased more prescription medication." (The New York Times; subscription may be required)  

The ACA and Small Business: Economic Issues (PDF)
"[T]his report explains how employer-sponsored insurance can be used to address concerns about health insurance coverage and cost. Second, it summarizes the three ACA provisions most relevant to small businesses ... Next, it analyzes these provisions for their potential effects on small businesses. Last, this report presents several approaches that could address some concerns associated with these provisions (particularly the employer penalty)." (Congressional Research Service)  

Health Insurance Exchange Enrollment Closed, Risk Assignment Challenges Start
"Aside from collecting premiums -- it's still not known how many of the new enrollees have paid for the first month -- many exchange insurers are now trying to learn as much as they can about new enrollees to start assigning them risk scores. What is known is that in the 36 states with federally-managed exchanges, 28 percent of new plan buyers are between 18 and 34 years old -- a bit less perhaps than what some may have hoped for, but probably enough to avert a premium 'death spiral.'" (Healthcare Payer News)  

Governor Details Healthcare Payment Reform Path in Arkansas
"Arkansas is among several states that have decided to expand Medicaid through a 'private option,' using the 100 percent federal expansion financing to fund private insurance policies for the poor purchased through the state's PPACA exchange[.]" (HealthLeaders Media)  

Overview of Health Care Changes in the FY2015 House Budget (PDF)
"Chairman Ryan's budget proposal, as outlined in his report and in the committee report, suggests short-term and long-term changes to federal health care programs, including to Medicare, Medicaid, and the health insurance exchanges established by the [ACA]. Within the 10-year budget window (FY2015-FY2024), the budget allows for the full repeal of the ACA or just certain provisions, including those that reduce Medicare spending, those that expand Medicaid coverage to the non-elderly with incomes up to 133% of the federal poverty level, and those provisions that establish health insurance exchanges. Committee documents also suggest restructuring Medicaid from an individual entitlement program to a block grant program. In addition, beginning in 2024, the budget assumes the conversion of Medicare to a fixed federal contribution ('premium support') program. This report summarizes the proposed changes[.]" (Congressional Research Service)  

Report on CMS Collection and Use of ACA Annual Fee on Branded Prescription Drug Companies
"Although the funds from the annual fee are allocated to the [Medicare] Part B Trust Fund, the ACA grants to Treasury the responsibility of administering the fee process, including transferring the fee to the Trust Fund. To the extent that the fees were not in the Trust Fund, the Trust Fund may have missed an opportunity to earn interest income on these fees. Our results indicate that it may be beneficial for CMS to periodically monitor the status of this fee in the Trust Fund, and to contact Treasury if CMS finds that the full amount to be collected under the ACA each year has not been received." (Office of Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services)  

Obamacare's High Risk Pools Are Closing for Real This Time
"About 21,000 people were still enrolled in PCIP at the end of January, the most recent figures CMS has provided. That was down from about 77,600 at the end of December. Presumably, more people have found coverage since the end of January, and advocates feel comfortable seeing the program come to an end." (The Washington Post; subscription may be required)  

New Perk Gives Federal Employees a Break on the Cost of Education
"Federal workers who live outside of Maryland can receive a 25 percent discount on all undergraduate and most graduate programs offered at the University of Maryland University College.... Federal workers' spouses and their legal dependents also are eligible for the reduced rates. The tuition break applies to in-person and online classes." (Government Executive)