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February 20, 2004 - 8,783 subscribers
Today's sponsor: Worldwide Employee Benefits Network (WEB)
(Click on company name or banner to learn more.)
WEB Benefits Solutions Conference and WEBA - Register Online You can now register online for the most comprehensive and valuable conference of the year - the 2004 Worldwide Employee Benefits Network (WEB) Benefits Solutions Conference - "Controlling Costs in an Ever-changing Legislative and Regulatory Environment." Also, don’t miss out on the "Early Bird" discount by registering before March 31, 2004. The Conference will be held April 22 to 23, 2004 and the WEBA held the night of April 22, 2004 in the Washington, DC area near National Airport and Washington, DC's tourist attractions.
(Please visit our sponsors. We try to make sure their products and services will be of interest to you. Thanks! --Editor)
IRS Creates Confusion In Holding That Spouses Lose COBRA Coverage When Medicare Entitlement Occurs
In Rev. Rul. 2004-22, the IRS holds that the Medicare entitlement of a covered employee is not a second qualifying event for a qualified beneficiary unless the Medicare entitlement would have resulted (if COBRA continuation coverage is disregarded) in a loss of coverage for the qualified beneficiary under the group health plan that is providing the COBRA continuation coverage. (Spencer Benefits Reports)
Disability Claims Related To Obesity Have Increased Tenfold
Excerpt: "It's no secret Americans are growing heavier. However, claims for obesity-related disabilities have swelled right along with them, increasing tenfold over the last 10 years, new research from UnumProvident shows." (BenefitNews.com)
If You Want Your Employees to Help Control Health Plan Costs, Say So and Act Like It (PDF)
3 pages. Excerpt: "What if you simply replaced 'electricity' with 'our company's health plan' [in this memo:] Our company's cost for electricity is out of control-- skyrocketing five times faster than any other business expense! Every dollar we spend for electricity that is unnecessary or inefficient is a dollar we do not have for other business expenses such as production, marketing, or salaries.... We need all employees to become more involved in holding down our cost for electricity." (Dennis Ackley of Benefit Partners)
California Senator Introduces Patients' Bill of Rights
Press release. Excerpt: "U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) announced today that she has introduced comprehensive legislation to protect patients' rights and ensure that Americans have control over their medical decisions. The Bipartisan Patient Protection Act of 2004 lays out a patients' bill of rights for participants in health care plans and sets standards for group health plans and health insurance issuers." (U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer)
Opinion: Health Care Costs-- the Real Story
Excerpt: "Okay, so we all know the causes of increasing health care costs: technology, the aging population, increasing use of pr*scription drugs, malpractice insurance premiums, the decline of managed care. Take your pick; you will be at least partially right. Why is it, though, that no one puts physicians' fees on this list?" (Richard D. Quinn on BenefitsNews.com)
RAND Corporation Promotes Obesity to 'Hot Topic'
New Web page includes 'Obesity Blamed for Rising Disability Rates Among The Young." (RAND Corporation)
Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General
Trilateral Meeting Focuses on Economy, Welfare, Pensions
Excerpt: "[T]he meeting Wednesday of German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, French President Jacques Chirac and British Prime Minister Tony Blair also produced a sobering warning for Europeans deeply protective of their generous health and welfare systems: Reforms are vital because the continent's population is aging dramatically and that threatens to push welfare and pension bills sky-high." (Salt Lake Tribune)
Study Finds Large Increase In Domestic Partner Benefits
Excerpt: "The survey of more than 600 employers shows 35% now offer domestic partner benefits, compared with 6% in 1996." (BenefitNews.com)
The New Jersey Domestic Partnership Act: What It Means for Employee Benefits (PDF)
2 pages. Excerpt: "The Act does not require private employers in New Jersey to provide domestic partners of employees with health or retirement benefits. Rather, the Act requires insurance companies and HMOs in New Jersey to issue policies which offer health care coverage to domestic partners." (Epstein Becker & Green, P.C.)
Newly Posted Events
Retiree Health Benefits
in Massachusetts on March 17, 2004
presented by Worldwide Employee Benefits Network (WEB)
Newly Posted Press Releases
Benefit Advisors Network Hosts Successful Educational Conference and Dialog
(Benefit Advisors Network)
412iCompany to hold National Teleconferece on New 412i Regulation.
(The 412(i) Company)
ClearComp Seminars Offer Employers Guaranteed Strategies for Dealing with California’s Workers’ Compensation Crisis
(ClearComp)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Defined Benefit/Defined Contribution Account Manager
for National Retirement Services, Inc.
in CA, NC
Plan Administrator
for Thomas F Barrett Inc.
in DC, MD
Pension and Health Plans Manager (Multiemployer)
for American Guild of Musical Artists Retirement and Health Plans
in NY
Client Service Representative
for Constantin Control Associates
in NJ
Implementation Specialist
for ExpertPlan, Inc
in NJ
Investment Consultant
for Merrill Lynch
in NJ
Investment Analyst
for Merrill Lynch
in NJ
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- Employee Benefits Library
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