| BenefitsLink Welfare Plans Newsletter |   |
August 25, 2005
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Initial Findings from HSC's 2005 Site Visits: Growing Health Care Cost and Access Problems
Excerpt: "Many developments in local health care markets appear to be setting the stage for additional health care cost increases and access-to-care problems, according to initial findings from the Center for Studying Health System Change's (HSC) 2005 site visits to 12 nationally representative communities." (Center for Studying Health System Change)
Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance Coverage: Selection and Cost, 2003 -- July 2005 Report (PDF)
6 pages. Excerpt: "This Statistical Brief presents estimates on the selection and cost of single, employee-plus-one, and family health insurance coverage in the year 2003. Only differences that are statistically significant at the 0.05 significance level are discussed in the text." (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)
Large Company 2006 RFPs Show Strong Interest in Consumer-Directed Health Plans
Excerpt: "Large employers are more enthusiastic than ever when it comes to account-based consumer-directed health (CDH), insurers report. Although many employees will see a CDH option in the lineup of benefit designs offered during this fall's open-enrollment season, few firms are expected to move to a full-replacement strategy, health plans say." (INSIDE CONSUMER-DIRECTED CARE via AISHealth.com)
Audio: Costco Selling Health Insurance in Pilot Program
Excerpt: "Costco, the members-only discount retailer, is testing sales of individual health insurance policies. The pilot program launched last month in California. It targets mom-and-pop business owners, and those without a job or without job-provided health insurance." (Morning Edition via National Public Radio)
Eighth Circuit Upholds Arbitrator's Award Of Benefits Under The FMLA
Excerpt: "The Eighth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has upheld an arbitrator's award ordering that a terminated employee be reinstated and given back pay and benefits under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The case is Electrolux Home Products v. The United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, et al. (No. 04-4080)." (Spencer Benefits Reports)
The Yearly Reminder -- U.S. Workers Enjoy Far Fewer Vacation Days than Europeans
Excerpt: "With summer quickly coming to a close, many vacation destinations will soon be less crowded as summer vacationers settle back into the routine of work. Vacation is an important part of work -- a time to get away from the demands of a job, to enjoy family, and to rejuvenate. President Bush's extended vacation at his ranch in Texas reflects this need." (The Economic Policy Institute)
COBRAs Can Qualify for Health Savings Accounts
Excerpt: "I left my job with a company last October and have been working as a consultant on my own ever since. I am still on my past employer's COBRA plan for health insurance. If my COBRA qualifies, may I set up a health savings account even though I am not an employee any longer?" (Kiplinger.com via insurancenewsnet.com)
Health Care Funding Design May Aid Smaller Employers
Excerpt: "As health insurance premiums continue to soar, some small and midsize employers that may not otherwise be candidates for self-insurance are turning to hybrid health plans that blend self-funding with fully insured coverage. The programs are permitted under Section 105 of the Internal Revenue Code--the same section of U.S. tax law that the originators of the consumer-driven health plan concept used to develop health reimbursement arrangements." (Business Insurance via Workforce Management; one-time registration required)
Health Care Consumerism: Towers Perrin Takes a Look at the Current State in Can.ada and U.S. (PDF)
10 pages. Excerpt: "More than 150 HR executives in the United States and Can.ada responded to our TP Tracksurvey to share their views on health care consumerism issues and initiatives within their organizations. Because the health care systems in the U.S. and Can.ada are so different, we were not surprised that the views of our two groups of respondents differed markedly in many key areas." (Towers Perrin)
Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General
Response to FASB Staff Advice on 'Date of Grant' for Equity Awards under FAS 123(R) (PDF)
2 pages. Excerpt: "'The FASB's staff has recently caused considerable turmoil in the compensation community. This is the result of the staff's advice to one or more of the big four accounting firms that grant date for financial measurement purposes under FAS 123(R) does not occur until the terms of the grant have been communicated to the employee. The ProblemIn most cases, communication to the employee takes several days after the board's compensation committee has approved the grant." (Frederic W. Cook & Co.)
National Compensation Survey: Employee Benefits in Private Industry in the United States, March 2005 (PDF)
32 pages. This summary presents NCS benefits data on access to employee benefit programs and participation in those programs for: Worker characteristics; Establishment characteristics; and Geographic areas. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Massachusetts State Employees to Keep Salary, Pension, Health Benefits If Called Up for Active Duty
Excerpt: "State employees will not lose their salary, pension and health benefits if they are called up for active duty in the military under legislation approved by the House and Senate last week.The plan mirrors an existing law that was set to expire on Sept. 11 of this year." (HarvardHillside.com)
Newly Posted Press Releases
Survey: Collection of Employer Contributions New Data Finds 90% of Funds Turn to Courts in Delinquencies
(International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
401(k) Client Relationship Manager
for The Douglas Group
in CA, CO, NJ, NY, PA
Leader of Benefits Outsourcing Operations
for Client of Jan Hufnell, Certified Personnel Consultant, Hufnell, Inc Benefit Recruiters
in PA
Supervisor
for Benefit Consultants Group
in NJ
Pension Administrator
for Benetech, Inc.
in AZ, DC
Trust Operations Specialist
for New York Life Investment Management LLC
in MA
Defined Contribution Client Account Manager
for New York Life Investment Management LLC
in NJ
Defined Benefit Client Account Manager
for New York Life Investment Management LLC
in MA
Defined Benefit Conversion Specialist
for New York Life Investment Management LLC
in MA
Defined Contribution Plan Administrator
for New York Life Investment Management LLC
in NJ
Senior Retirement Plan Specialist
for New York Life Investment Management LLC
in MA
Government Reporting Specialist
for New York Life Investment Management LLC
in MA
Manager - Employee Benefits
for A Retirement Plan Administration And Consulting Firm
in MN
Administrator - 401(k) Plans
for A Retirement Plan Administration And Consulting Firm
in MN
Legal Assistant - Employee Benefits
for A Retirement Plan Administration And Consulting Firm
in MN
Benefit Analyst
for Ameriprise Financial
in MN
Benefit Specialist
for Ameriprise Financial
in MN
Dir-Retirement Plans
for Ameriprise Financial
in MN
Benefits Specialist (Contract, Contract-to-Perm, or Direct Hire)
for The Rosen Group
in PA
Benefits Manager
for The Rosen Group
in PA
In house Counsel
for HWR Legal Search
in DC, VA
Handy Links:
- View Today's Active Message Threads
- Search BenefitsLink
- Using the Web for Employee Benefits Research (hypertext article)
- Employee Benefits Library
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