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November 3, 2003 - 8,609 subscribers
Today's sponsor: Thompson Publishing Group, Inc.
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IRS Official Reveals Penalty-Free Ways to Fix Your Pension Plan Problems An Interactive Audio Conference, November 13, 2003, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. ET During this audio conference, you'll learn about the recent changes to the Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System (EPCRS), the benefits of complying, as well as the penalties associated with non-compliance from an IRS official who will also answer your specific questions.
(Please visit our sponsors. We try to make sure their products and services will be of interest to you. Thanks! --Editor)
A User's Guide To Over-the-Counter Drugs
Excerpt: "Several reliable, free guides to the appropriate use of OTC medications are available on the Internet." (BenefitNews.com)
Opinion: Why Do Employers Pay for Healthcare, Anyhow?
Excerpt: "Nobody expects employers to provide groceries, housing or clothing, but for odd historical reasons American employers have evolved into providers of health insurance. Nearly two-thirds of Americans under 65 rely on health coverage from an employer." (Daniel Akst in the New York Times; one-time registration required)
Legislation Could 'Decimate' Drug Discovery, Eli Lilly CEO Says
Excerpt: " Legislation currently before Congress could 'decimate pharmaceutical innovation,' Sidney Taurel, the president, chairman and CEO of Eli Lilly, wrote in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece on Monday." (KaiserNetwork.org)
Caution: Medicare Drug Benefit Won't Cover All Expenses
Excerpt: "While $400 billion is a huge sum of money, the Congressional Budget Office says prescription drugs for the Medicare population over 10 years will cost roughly $1.8 trillion. This means the proposed Medicare drug benefit would cover less than one-fourth of all anticipated drug costs for the nation's elderly." (The Star-Ledger via NJ.com)
Analysis: California Mandates Pay or Play Coverage (PDF)
At pp. 1-3 of 7-page document. Excerpt: "It is likely that SB2 will be challenged on both the issues of whether it is a fee or a tax and whether it is preempted by ERISA. It will certainly be interesting to follow the life of SB2 as it makes its way through the legal system. Ideally, these issues will be resolved well before the January 1, 2006 effective date of the new law." (Trucker Huss LLP)
Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General
Overview: New Proposed Regulations Regarding Statutory Stock Options (PDF)
At pp. 3-5 of 7-page document. Excerpt: "The new regulations are an attempt by the IRS to provide a complete and comprehensive set of rules governing incentive stock options ('ISOs') and to update the references in the rules regarding qualified options exercised under employee stock purchase plans ('ESPPs')." (Trucker Huss LLP)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Health & Welfare Consultant
for Towers Perrin
in Location Other Than U.S., CA, CT, MA, NY, OH, TX
Senior Plan Administrator
for JRN Benefits
in CA
Total Benefits Specialist
for Consulting Firm
in MA
Manager Health & Welfare
for Consumer Packaged Goods Company
in OH
Sr. Plan Administrator
for American National Insurance Company
in TX
Newly Posted Webcasts
(Post Yours!)
The Pension Underfunding Crisis: How Effective Have Reforms Been?
on October 29, 2003
presented by Committee on Education and the Workforce, U.S. House of Representatives
Newly Posted Conferences
(Post Yours!)
Dependent Care Decision Making Rules
in MA
December 4, 2003
Greater Boston Chapter ISCEBS
Newly Posted Press Releases
(Post Yours!)
eePulse/ U of M Study-Leaders Are More Confident in Economy But Less Confident in Themselves
(eePulse, Inc.)
Section 125 Cafeteria Module Now Available with Relius Administration
(SunGard Corbel)
ERISA Advisory Council to Hold Final Meetings for 2003
(U.S. Department of Labor)
Handy Links:
- View Today's Active Message Threads
- Search BenefitsLink
- Using the Web for Employee Benefits Research
- Employee Benefits Library
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