| The BenefitsLink Newsletter - Welfare Plans Edition |  |
October 26, 2001 - 6,463 subscribers
Today's sponsor: Search401k
(Click on company name or banner to learn more.)
Half the time - twice the results? If you've got a prospect or a client, we can show you how! Search401k guides you through customized product expense and return comparisons online and in minutes. Research information and request proposals from more than 80 of the leading retirement plan products, and check out the Search401k Rating for more information about product service! See how easy the 401(k) search and selection process can be!
(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)
House-Passed Stimulus Bill Includes Money for Health Coverage, But Not As COBRA Subsidies
Excerpt: "The Democratic substitute to the bill, which failed on a vote of 261-166, would have created a one-year program under which the federal government would pay 75% of former workers' COBRA premiums." (Reuters Health via Yahoo! News)
House-Passed Bill Aids Unemployed in Buying Health Insurance
Excerpt: "The bill adds $3 billion in federal fiscal 2002 to state social services block grants to help unemployed people buy health insurance." (Modern Healthcare)
The Effect of the Terrorist Attacks on COBRA
Excerpt: "The effect on COBRA administration under employer group health plans is a minor concern in comparison. But it is a very real issue for current and potential qualified beneficiaries. Therefore, employers and plan administrators must be aware of how the terrorist attacks and the call-up of military reservists will affect their COBRA procedures." (Thompson Publishing Group)
Prescription Drug Costs Expected To Increase Almost 20% in 2002
Press release. Excerpt: "The ability of managed care to control medical cost increases has eroded due to consumer-directed prescription drug marketing, higher provider reimbursements, liberalization of plan rules, increased regulation and the aging of the workforce." (The Segal Company)
High Health Premiums Plague Small Firms
Excerpt: "They discovered that purchasing individual policies for each of her five employees would cost less than a group policy. Small-group insurance policies, those serving less than 50 people, are more expensive because there are fewer people to spread the risk among." (The Business Journal of Tampa Bay [Fla.])
Fact Sheet on COBRA Coverage for Low-Income Individuals (PDF)
Excerpt: "COBRA has been an important bridge providing health coverage between jobs for eligible workers. In 1999, roughly 4.7 million people-- one in five of those eligible for COBRA-- elected COBRA coverage. This number includes former employees and their spouses and dependents. Roughly one in four of the eligible spouses and dependents selected the option in 2000." (The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation)
Welcome to new BenefitsLink advertiser BLAZE SSI
Excerpt: "BLAZE SSI Systems offer windows-based support for qualified plan proposal, administration, government approved forms and discrimination testing for DB, DC, 401(k), 403(b) and Section 125 plans. Relational ODBC databases link with payroll, recordkeeping and investment systems for error-free data exchange. Online, context sensitive 'HELP' documentation; parameter based coding; automated data validation; pre-formatted and user-designed reports are supported."
Overview: Military Leave and the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994
Excerpt: "If an employer does not voluntarily maintain coverage for the Veterans, and the Veterans' health plan coverage would terminate because of an absence due to military service, under special health plan coverage rules set forth in USERRA the Veterans and their family (if they are covered under the plan) may elect to continue the health plan coverage for the lesser of (i) 18 months after the absence for military service begins, or (ii) the period of military service." (Haynes and Boone, LLP)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings (Post Yours!)
| Pension Plan Administrator/Analyst | for Abacus Benefit Consultants Inc. in RI |
| Benefits Analyst/Consultant req#212527 | for Allmerica Financial in MA |
| Associate Director of Benefits | for YMCA of USA in IL |
| Retirement Plan Account Executive | for CDM Retirement Consultants, Inc., in MD |
| Employee/HR Communication Manager | for Fortune 500 Durable Goods Manufacturer in NJ |
Newly Posted Conferences (Post Yours!)
| ABC School, Beyond ABCs School, and 401(k) School | in CA on November 28, 2001 presented by National Institute of Pension Administrators - San Francisco Chapter |
| Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Acts of 1994 | in DC on November 28, 2001 presented by Capital Chapter ISCEBS |
| DOMESTIC PARTNER BENEFITS: AN OVERVIEW AND CASE STUDY | in NY on December 6, 2001 presented by New York City Chapter of WEB |
Newly Posted Press Releases
| ABC Payroll Reaches Agreement With Human Resources Provider (ABC Payroll) |
| ABC Payroll Launches Web Site and Client Intranet (ABC Payroll) |
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 6,463 benefits professionals!
- How to Subscribe
- Privacy Policy
- Archive of Prior Issues