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The BenefitsLink Newsletter -
Welfare Plans Edition
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November 14, 2001 - 6,549 subscribers
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U.S. News Examines Rising Health Care Costs
Excerpt: "U.S. News & World Report last week examined the rise in health care premiums and the reasons behind steadily increasing health costs." (KaiserNetwork.org)

Overview: Changes Affecting Cafeteria and Flexible Benefit Plans
Excerpt: "The recently enacted Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 ('EGTRRA') and final regulations issued by the IRS on coordinating the Family and Medical Leave Act ('FMLA') with cafeteria and flexible benefit plans make significant changes affecting those plans in 2002. There are two issues to inform you about which may affect your benefit plans." (Winston & Strawn)

Court Awards Attorneys' Fees To Plaintiffs Who Successfully Sued Health Plan For Coverage
The Eighth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has ruled that plaintiffs who successfully sued a health care plan seeking coverage for a lung transplant were entitled to attorneys' fees. The ruling came in Martin v. Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield (No. 00-3420). (Spencernet)

Salvation Army Rescinds Domestic Partner Benefits
Excerpt: "Less than two weeks after western officials of the Salvation Army decided to extend health benefits to domestic partners in 13 states, the group's national leaders have rescinded the order." (Los Angeles Times)

House Passes Tax Incentive Bill That Would Allow Withdrawals For Health Insurance Premiums
By a vote of 216-214, the House has passed H.R. 3090, the Economic Security and Recovery Act of 2001. The bill is a $160 billion economic stimulus package that includes tax breaks for individuals and businesses. One provision of H.R. 3090 would amend IRC Sec. 72(t)(2) to permit penalty-free withdrawals from IRC Sec. 401(a) qualified retirement plans, IRC Sec. 403(b) tax-sheltered annuities, and individual retirement accounts for the payment of health insurance premiums. (Spencernet)

EEOC Advises Employers On Requesting Medical Information As Part of Evacuation Plan
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has announced that it has posted on its Web site questions and answers to assist employers that are developing or reevaluating emergency evacuation procedures as a result of the September 11 terrorist attacks. The full text of the document is available at http://www.eeoc.gov . (Spencernet)

(Following items are in both editions of the BenefitsLink Newsletter)


IRS Proposes Regs on Payroll and Income Taxes Applicable to Statutory Stock Options
Excerpt: "These proposed regulations would clarify current law regarding FICA tax, FUTA tax, and income tax withholding on the transfer of stock pursuant to the exercise of statutory stock options. These proposed regulations would provide that at the time of the exercise of a statutory stock option, the individual who was granted the statutory stock option receives wages for FICA and FUTA purposes." (Internal Revenue Service)




Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings (Post Yours!)
Consultant, Employee Benefit for The Standard Insurance Company
in
ALL STATES
Implementation Specialist for Mellon Financial Services
in
NJ, NY
Actuarial Analyst, Defined Benefit Plans for Cowden & Associates
in
PA
Pension Administrator for Schiller's Pension Consulting
in
CA
401(k) Plan Administrator for Benefit Designers of Maryland, Inc.
in
MD
Retirement Plan Service Associate for CapTrust Financial Advisors
in
NC
Health and Welfare Ongoing Project Manager - EC-010215-003 for Hewitt Associates
in
GA
Benefits Analyst for Solo Cup Company
in
IL
Benefits Supervisor for Solo Cup Company
in
IL
Pension Trust Administrator for Inline Plans, Inc.
in
CA
Manager of Universal Qualified Plan Administration & Record keeping for First Trust Corporation
in
CO
COBRA Call Center Manager for Ceridian
in
FL
Trust Auditor (several positions) JO#269 for Financial Institution
in
MO



Newly Posted Conferences (Post Yours!)
Retirement Plan Basicsin CA on April 11, 2002
presented by International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
Retirement Plan Basicsin WI on June 20, 2002
presented by International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
Retirement Plan Basicsin WI on July 18, 2002
presented by International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
Retirement Plan Basicsin NY on October 4, 2002
presented by International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
401(k) Plansin CA on April 15, 2002
presented by International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
401(k) Plansin WI on June 26, 2002
presented by International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
401(k) Plansin NY on October 7, 2002
presented by International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
401(k) Plansin WI on June 26, 2002
presented by International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
Investment Basicsin CA on April 9, 2002
presented by International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
Investment Basicsin WI on June 24, 2002
presented by International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
Investment Basicsin NY on October 2, 2002
presented by International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
Health Care Cost Managementin FL on March 4, 2002
presented by International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
Health Care Cost Managementin WI on August 21, 2002
presented by International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
Health Care Cost Managementin NY on October 9, 2002
presented by International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
Choice-Based Benefitsin FL on February 28, 2002
presented by International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
Choice-Based Benefitsin WI on August 19, 2002
presented by International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
Choice-Based Benefitsin NY on October 4, 2002
presented by International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
Variable Payin FL on February 28, 2002
presented by International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
Variable Payin CA on April 11, 2002
presented by International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
Variable Payin WI on July 24, 2002
presented by International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
Investment Planning and Program Designin FL on March 4, 2002
presented by International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
Investment Planning and Program Designin NY on October 9, 2002
presented by International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
Financial Planning Basicsin FL on February 28, 2002
presented by International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
Financial Planning Basicsin NY on October 7, 2002
presented by International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
Certificate in Global Benefits Managementin NY on May 6, 2002
presented by International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
Certificate in Global Benefits Managementin WI on September 9, 2002
presented by International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
Accountants Forum on Employee Benefitsin NV on June 10, 2002
presented by International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
Attorneys Forum on Employee Benefitsin FL on February 25, 2002
presented by International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
Collection Procedures Institutein CA on April 22, 2002
presented by International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
Essentials of Multiemployer Trust Fund Administrationin WI on June 3, 2002
presented by International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans



Newly Posted Press Releases
FACTS Services, Inc. Expands FACTSWeb Functionality To Enable EDI Claim Uploads Through The Internet (FACTS Services, Inc.)
Ceridian's Retirement Plan Services Unit Selects Schwab Retirement Technologies as Recordkeeping Software Provider (Schwab Retirement Technologies tm)

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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.