| BenefitsLink Welfare Plans Newsletter |   |
October 7, 2005
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Overview: District Court Judge Reverses Decision Blocking EEOC Regulations on Retiree Benefits (PDF)
2 pages. Excerpt: "In a very promising development for employers that provide retiree health coverage, a Pennsylvania district court judge has reversed her previous ruling that the EEOC is barred from issuing regulations that would provide an exemption from ADEA for the reduction, alteration or elimination of retiree health benefits upon Medicare eligibility. However, the injunction against issuing these regulations will still stand pending an appeal of this decision ...." (Buck Consultants)
Massachusetts Governor Signs Law Allowing State Employees to Take Paid Leave for Organ Donation
Excerpt: "BNA reports that, under the new law employees who donate an organ can take up to 30 days of leave 'without loss of or reduction in pay, without loss of leave to which he is otherwise entitled and without loss of credit for time or service.' The state bill authorizes cities, counties, and towns to adopt the policy also." (PLANSPONSOR.com: one-time registration required)
How Long Do Employees Have to Elect COBRA Coverage? (PDF)
1 page. Excerpt: "COBRA election periods do not automatically end after 60 days. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit ... recently reiterated that point when it held that the statutory requirements of COBRA only provided a minimum period during which COBRA continuation coverage could be elected. (Lifecare Hospitals Inc. v. Health Plus of Louisiana Inc., 5th Cir., No. 04-30422, 7/20/05.)" (Haynes and Boone, LLP)
Best Health Plans 2005
Excerpt: "Find out which plans came out at the top in new U.S. News rankings." (USNews.com)
HHS Announces Proposals to Facilitate Implementation of Electronic Health Records
Excerpt: "HHS ... announced proposals to help facilitate the use of electronic medical records and electronic pres.criptions nationwide, CQ HealthBeat reports. The proposals include exceptions to self-referral laws to allow hospitals and certain health care organizations to provide hardware, software and related training services to physicians for EHRs and electronic pres.criptions." (Kaiser Family Foundation)
Opinion: Big-Box Retail Stores Add Discounted Health Insurance to Wares
Excerpt: "So now the big-box discount stores are entering the competitive market for health insurance. And how do they compete? By reducing benefits and require greater cost sharing than the competing products that have already reduced benefits and required greater cost sharing. It's a race to the bottom!" (Sacramento Business Journal via Physicians for a National Health Program)
Missouri Health Care Buying Group, AIMCare, Launches
Excerpt: "A Missouri trade association has launched a group health care purchasing initiative that will enable employers in the state with two or more employees to buy coverage using the Internet for less than it would cost if they purchased it individually." (Business Insurance)
Priestly Bonus: $500 to Diet or Not Smoke
Excerpt: "Priests, it turns out, are prone to bad habits, like everyone else. Some smoke; others eat too much. So as old priests die off faster than new ones replace them, and health care costs climb, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York is taking steps to conserve its precious and not-quite-renewable resource: it is offering bonuses of $500 to priests who quit smoking or lose weight." (The New York Times; one-time registration required)
Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General
Overview: GASB Issues Long-Awaited OPEB Implementation Guide (PDF)
2 pages. Excerpt: "A Segal Company Bulletin for the Public Sector that discusses long-awaited guidance released by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB), Guide to Implementation of GASB Statements 43 and 45 on Other Postemployment Benefits, only touches on highlights of GASB's implementation guide, which is extensive." (The Segal Company)
Overview: Proposed Regulations under Section 409A
Excerpt: "In particular, the new 409A proposed regulations ... provide detailed operational rules relating to elections and distributions, and they address a range of important issues like when a plan may be terminated (and not just frozen) and how to value private and public company stock." (Kilpatrick Stockton LLP)
Hewitt Federal Legislation Quick Guide Updated as of October 4, 2005
Excerpt: "Hewitt's Federal Legislation Quick Guide provides short updates on federal legislation that is currently under active consideration by Congress or has recently been enacted into law regarding health and welfare benefit plans, retirement plans, and human resources and employment law." (Hewitt Associates)
Newly Posted Press Releases
401(k) Conference For Sales And Investment Professionals Now Taking Registrations Online
(American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries (ASPPA))
New England Business Warms to Health Savings Accounts; Survey Finds Over 60% Considering Offering an HSA by 2007
(Compensation & Benefit Solutions (CBS))
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Plan Administrator
for RSM McGladrey Retirement Resources
in IL
Inside Sales Representative
for BISYS Retirement Services
in PA
Key Account Manager
for ING U. S. Financial Services
in CA, NV
Non-Qualified Plan Consultant
for The Newport Group
in FL
Omni Specialists; Contract positions
for RSM McGladrey Retirement Resources
in IL
Senior Consultant/Manager
for Milliman, Inc.
in CO
Director, International Compensation and Benefits
for Sony Pictures Entertainment
in CA
Consultant, Health and Productivity Management
for Kindred Healthcare
in KY
Client Services Representative
for National Automobile Dealers Association
in VA
Director- Variable Life
for MassMutual Financial Group
in CT
OmniPlus Business Analyst
for High Point Consulting & Staffing, LLC
in ANY STATE
Producer
for First Charter Bank
in NC
Systems Development Leader/Actuary
for Lynchval Systems Worldwide, Inc.
in DC, VA
DB Client Service Analyst
for Mercer HR Services
in ANY STATE
Handy Links:
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- Search BenefitsLink
- Using the Web for Employee Benefits Research (hypertext article)
- Employee Benefits Library
Copyright 2005 BenefitsLink.com, Inc.; except that you may reprint this newsletter in full (including this sentence) without obtaining our permission.
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