February 8, 2002 - 6,451 subscribers Today's sponsor: The COBRA Administrator Handbook (Click on company name or banner to learn more.) The first and only compliance manual designed specifically for COBRA self-administration. Simple step-by-step format ensures accurate COBRA documentation, efficient record keeping and complete COBRA compliance protection. The only manual written by expert third-party administrators for COBRA nonprofessionals! Click on the link above for more information. (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) Insurer Properly Denied AD&D Benefits Under Policy's Felony Exclusion, Fourth Circuit Rules An insurance company properly applied a policy's felony exclusion to deny accidental death and dismemberment benefits to the beneficiary of a 19-year-old insured who shot himself. This was the ruling of the Fourth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in Simpson v. Safeco Life Insurance Company (No. 01-1804). (Spencernet) Working Parents Mostly Tough Out Child Care Issues on Their Own Excerpt: "A decade ago, American business seemed to be addressing the child-care issues that inevitably follow as more women combine motherhood with paying jobs.... While no one expected business alone to solve the problem, the promise of help has, for the most part, gone unfulfilled." (Society for Human Resource Management) Rising Health Costs Likely To Be 'Hot Issue' During November Elections, National Journal Reports Excerpt: "Among the public, 'growing alarm' over health insurance for unemployed workers and increased costs for Americans with employer-sponsored health coverage 'should set in just in time' for the congressional elections in November, according to analyst predictions, the National Journal reports." (KaiserNetwork.org) Split Dollar Arrangements of Lay, Skilling Apparently Protected Despite Enron Bankruptcy Excerpt: "Although Lay's and Skilling's agreements automatically terminated with Enron's bankruptcy or the executive's departure from the company, they included provisions that essentially allowed the executives to buy out Enron's interest in the policies within 60 days for the cost of premiums paid to that point." (MSNBC.com) No SSNs Allowed? California Law Could Complicate HR, Benefits Administration Excerpt: "The law, which becomes effective July 1, prevents businesses from posting or displaying Social Security numbers or printing Social Security numbers on identification cards. Businesses can print a Social Security number on documents mailed to a customer if the SSN is required by law or if the document is a form or application." (Society for Human Resource Management) Analysis: IRS Proposes Payroll Taxes on Statutory Stock Option Holders Excerpt: "[T]he IRS' new position on statutory stock options could result in new employment tax assessments on the more than 10 million employees currently participating in tax-favored statutory stock option plans. The guidance could require thousands of employers to comply with the new reporting, withholding and filing requirements." (Thompson Publishing Group) Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings -
Newly Posted Press Releases
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.
|