| The BenefitsLink Newsletter - Welfare Plans Edition |  |
September 13, 2001 - 6,306 subscribers
Today's sponsor: EmployeeBenefitsJobs.com
(Click on company name or banner to learn more.)
Fill your employee benefits job openings fast by advertising on BenefitsLink. What better place to find qualified candidates? Your help wanted ad will be listed in the BenefitsLink Newsletter (over 19,000 subscribers to the two editions), will be seen by thousands of candidates who view our listings online, and will be emailed to over 2,000 job-seekers.
(Help BenefitsLink to provide this newsletter at no charge to you -- our sponsors pay our way. Remember to visit them periodically; we try to make sure their products and services will be of interest to you. Thanks! --Editor)
San Francisco Ordinance on Domestic Partner Benefits for Airline Employees Withstands ADA Challenge
Air Transport Association of America v. City and County of San Francisco, No. 99-16391 (9th Cir., Sept. 11, 2001). Excerpt: "[Under the ordinance,]in order to execute new airport property contracts or to amend existing airport property contracts, the Airlines must provide benefits on an equal basis to married employees and employees with registered domestic partners.... [W]e hold that the Ordinance is not preempted by the ADA or the [Railway Labor Act]." (U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit)
Employee Communications With EAP Counselors Are Privileged
Excerpt: "EAP counselors must have been delighted with the Ninth Circuit's March 20, 2001 decision in Oleszko v. State Compensation Insurance Fund, 2001 U.S. App. LEXIS 4109. The appeals court held that the existing privilege for licensed social workers recognized by the Supreme Court in Jaffee v. Redmond, 518 U.S. 1 (1996), should be extended to unlicensed counselors employed by an employer's EAP." (Nixon Peabody LLP)
Many Employers Unaware of Child-Care Tax Break
Excerpt: "Starting in January, for the first time, companies can receive a federal tax credit for offering workers child-care services, including subsidizing day-care facilities. The credit is 25 percent of companies' costs for providing these services, to a maximum of $150,000. The tax relief bill also includes a 10 percent tax credit for businesses that provide child care resources and referrals." (Knight Ridder/Tribune via IFEBP)
ACLI Statement on September 11 Tragedy
Press release. Excerpt: "The thoughts and prayers of the life insurance community are with victims, families, loved ones and friends of the terrible tragedy inflicted upon our citizens and nation.... Our industry is financially strong and prepared to make good on our promises to our policyholders. Our responsibility is to assist the families and loved ones of those affected by this terrible tragedy." (American Council of Life Insurers, via Yahoo! Finance)
Information on Benefits for Families of Federal and Military Employees Killed and for the Injured
Excerpt: "Survivors of federal civilian employees killed in Tuesday's attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon likely are eligible for annuities under the Civil Service Retirement System or Federal Employees Retirement System. To certify their eligibility and apply for those benefits, survivors can call 724-794-2005, where the Office of Personnel Management has staffers from its Retirement and Benefits Group standing by to handle calls related to the attacks." (GovExec.com)
Attacks Recast Congressional Budget Priorities
Excerpt: "Responding to Tuesday's terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, leaders of Congress yesterday abandoned their fixation on Social Security 'lock boxes' and other budgetary restraints and promised to give President Bush as much money as needed to cope with the emergency.... [L]egislators said such issues as trade negotiating authority, Medicare drug benefits, patient rights, campaign finance reform and the president's 'faith-based initiative' may slide over until next year." (Washington Post)
HMOs in New York and Washington Remove Restrictions After Attacks
Excerpt: "Cigna Corp. of Philadelphia has stopped requiring prior authorization of hospital admissions for its members receiving medical treatment in New York and the Washington area. Oxford Health Plans, one of the largest health insurers in the New York metropolitan area, has vowed that its members injured by the attacks will receive whatever medical care is needed." (The Houston Chronicle)
Group Disability Sales Premiums Increased To $1.1 Billion In First Half of 2001, Survey Finds
Group disability sales premiums for the first half of 2001 rose to $1.1 billion, an increase of approximately 9% over premiums for the same period in 2000, according to the 2001 Mid-Year U.S. Group Disability Market Survey. The survey reports that group long term disability and short term disability sales earned premium results for 39 disability insurance carriers, including the top 20 carriers. (Spencernet)
ASPA to Refund Registration Fees for This Weekend's Canceled Los Angeles Benefits Conference
Excerpt: "Your registration fee will be refunded in-full. We will begin working on processing all the refunds over the next three weeks, we would appreciate your patience. If you paid by credit card, you will receive a credit to that credit card account, if you paid by check, you will be refunded by an ASPA check. Thank you for your understanding and God Bless America." (American Society of Pension Actuaries)
Andersen's U.S. Compensation and Benefits News Briefs: September 5, 2001 (PDF)
Articles include: 'IRS rules stock options qualify as 'performance based' compensation; IRS rules 419A(f)(6) welfare benefit plan is deferred compensation; DOL issues two advisory opinions on qualifying governmental plans; PBGC issues Data Book; Proposed legislation on IRAs, medical expenses, welfare benefit plans, ISO and ESPP stock, and severance pay plans; EEOC rescinds guidance on ADEA and retiree health plans" (Andersen)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings (Post Yours!)
| Compliance Specialist | for Mellon Financial Services in NY |
| Campaign Manager | for New York Life Benefit Services, LLC in MA |
| Retirement Plan Administrator | for FM International Services (NY), Ltd. in NY |
| Pension Services Consultant | for CUNA Mutual Group in WI |
| Client Service Consultant | for Diversified Investment Advisors in NY |
| Pension Benefits Administrator | for New England Financial/MetLife in OH |
| Small Group Account Manager | for Regional Employee Benefits Consulting Company in NC |
| Manager, Compliance Department | for Associated Pension Consultants in CA |
Newly Posted Conferences (Post Yours!)
| 11th Annual Business Management Conference | in AZ on January 12, 2002 presented by National Institute of Pension Administrators |
Newly Posted Press Releases
| Atlanta-Based Payroll Provider Creates Easy Way for Americans to Donate to Red Cross Through Automatic Paycheck Deductions (MyBenefitSource) |
Subscribe to the Retirement Plans Edition, too (click)
Copyright 2001 BenefitsLink.com, Inc., but you may freely distribute this email newsletter in whole. This newsletter is edited by David Rhett Baker, J.D.
- How to Sponsor an Issue: reach 6,306 benefits professionals!
- How to Subscribe
- Privacy Policy
- Archive of Prior Issues