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June 4, 2004 - 8911 subscribers
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(Please visit our sponsors. We try to make sure their products and services will be of interest to you. Thanks! --Editor)
U.S. Senate Approves Health Benefits for Part-Time Military
Excerpt: "The U.S. Senate Wednesday voted to provide health insurance to members of the National Guard and Reserves even while they are not on active duty, over the objections of Department of Defense officials and senior members of Congress." (Reuters via Medscape; one-time registration required)

Aetna Latest HMO to Nudge People to Lose Weight
Excerpt: "Health insurers, spurred on by employers grappling with billions of dollars in costs due to obese employees, are increasingly subsidizing programs such as Weight Watchers and providing other incentives for people to shed pounds. Aetna Inc. on Thursday said it would test a program that pays for weight-loss counseling and other fat-fighting measures." (Reuters via Medscape; one-time registration required)

Rising Benefit Costs Hurt Small Businesses' Financial Health
Excerpt: "Small employers, whacked by soaring health costs, are fighting back as rising premiums threaten entrepreneurship. In November, California voters will be asked to repeal the new California law through a referendum forced on the ballot by small-business and other trade groups." (USA Today via BlueCross BlueShield Association)

Washington D.C.-Area Businesses Look to Slow Rising Health Care Costs
Excerpt: "Washington area businesses will collaborate to try to contain soaring health care costs by studying ways to improve employees' health, encouraging training of new nurses and other health workers, and supporting laws to rein in malpractice awards, a group of local executives said yesterday." (Washington Post; one-time registration required)

Will Association Health Plans Work? (PDF)
35 pages of slides from a Capitol Hill briefing held May 14, 2004. (American Academy of Actuaries)

Text of Testimony by Families USA on Discretionary Clauses in Disability Income Insurance Contracts
7 pages. Excerpt: "Families USA applauds the [National Association of Insurance Commissioners'] adoption of a model rule that prohibits discretionary clauses in group health insurance contracts. However, we are very concerned that discretionary clauses in disability insurance contracts will create similar barriers to accessing health coverage." (Families USA)

Employees Want a Break
Excerpt: "[A]s the job market begins to revive, managers are going to have to devote more thought to what they can do to retain their workers when new opportunities beckon. And while companies have come up with a wide variety of perks -- from adoption assistance to legal services to massages done at the employee's desk -- some experts claim that the benefit employees appreciate most these days is the gift of time." (Treasury & Risk Management)

No-Cost Group Mortgage Benefit for Employees Enters Market
Excerpt: "Mortgage Benefits Corporation (MBC, http://www.mortgageplans.com/) has launched the MortgageChoice Plan, a unique, no-cost group mortgage benefit for employees who wish to purchase or refinance homes." (BenefitNews.com)

Where the Older Workers Work
Excerpt: "In addition to documenting how older workers make up an increasing share of the workforce, the Census Bureau report showed which industries employed the most workers over age 65 in 2001; business services, and eating and drinking establishments topped the list." ([San Jose] Mercury News; one-time registration required)

Newly Posted Events

"Getting It Right" – Compliance Assistance Seminar For Plan Fiduciaries
in Arizona on September 23, 2004
presented by U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)

"Getting It Right" – Compliance Assistance Seminar For Plan Fiduciaries
in Florida on June 17, 2004
presented by U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)

"Getting It Right" – Compliance Assistance Seminar For Plan Fiduciaries
in Ohio on July 29, 2004
presented by U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)

"Getting It Right" – Compliance Assistance Seminar For Plan Fiduciaries
in Massachusetts on September 8, 2004
presented by U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Post a Help Wanted Ad

Client Services Representative
for PAi
in NV, WI

Manager, RFP's
for Diversified Investment Advisors
in NY

Account Manager-Employee Benefit Plans
for Baker, Thomsen Associates
in CA

Plan Administrator
for Benetrends, Inc.
in CA

Flex Benefits Administrator
for BB&T/Stanley, Hunt, DuPree, & Rhine
in SC

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