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December 11, 2003 - 8,712 subscribers
Today's sponsor: Agent 77

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(Please visit our sponsors. We try to make sure their products and services will be of interest to you. Thanks! --Editor)
What the New Medicare Law Means to Employers (PDF)
5 pages. Excerpt: "Beginning Jan. 1, 2004, employers will be able to offer tax-favored accounts – 'health savings accounts,' or HSAs – that are closely modeled on the Archer Medical Savings Accounts currently available only to small employers or the self-employed.... Beginning Jan. 1, 2006, employers may be eligible for subsidy payments if their retiree medical plans provide pr*scription drug coverage to retirees who are also eligible for pr*scription drug benefits under new Part D of Medicare." (Gardner Carton & Douglas)

Extension Allows Mental Health Parity To Continue Another Year
Excerpt: "Another bill currently is waiting for President Bush's signature: the extension of the 1996 Mental Health Parity Act that prevents annual and lifetime limits on coverage of mental health benefits unless there are similar limits for medical and surgical coverage." (BenefitNews.com)

To Compete, Small Employers Might Need To Provide More Comprehensive Health Care
Excerpt: "A new survey ... by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and CNNfn has found that fewer than half of employees at small businesses are satisfied with their total benefits packages, compared to 74% of workers at large organizations and 60% at mid-sized firms. And that might be explained in part by the health benefits." (BenefitNews.com)

Some Think New Medicare Law Will Eliminate Retiree Health Care Programs
Excerpt: "The Medicare reform bill (http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/medicare/) signed this week by President George W. Bush, on its surface, might appear to be good for retirees. But some experts express doubts that many employers will retain their retiree health care plans, despite the promise of tax-free subsidies for those who do so." (BenefitNews.com)

AARP Coverage: AARP Backs Medicare Bill After Bargaining Improves Provisions for Retirees, Poor
Excerpt: "Long-awaited but bitterly controversial legislation to add a pr*scription drug benefit to Medicare was enacted just before Thanksgiving--and after AARP ultimately declared its support for the final package." (AARP)


Newly Posted Events

Savings and Retirement Symposium
in Florida on January 22, 2004
presented by Securities Industry Association
Newly Posted Press Releases

The WEB Network Issues RFP for Accounting Services - UPDATED
(Worldwide Employee Benefits Network (WEB))

Keenan & Associates Advisory Board Formed to Help Guide Public Sector Strategy Initiatives
(Keenan & Associates)

WebFinance Inc. Unveils WiserAdvisor.com, a Breakthrough Service for Finding Financial Advisors
(Metrics Partners)

Benefits Satisfaction Declines Among Workers as Companies Focus on Cost-Shifting, MetLife Study Shows
(MetLife)

Governor Rendell Signs Pension Bill; Legislation Will Result in $1.7 Billion In Savings for School Districts Over Three Years
(Pennsylvania Office of the Governor)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Post a Help Wanted Ad

Mgr-Compliance
for American Express
in MN

Qualified Plan Administrator
for High End Small Plan TPA
in FL

Manager - Benefits Administration
for Search firm on behalf of client company - confidential
in AR, KS, MO, OK

Pension/401(k) Administrator Assistant
for Pen-Cal Administrator, Inc.
in CA


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