| BenefitsLink Welfare Plans Newsletter |   |
October 13, 2005
Today's sponsor: World Congress
(Click on company name or banner to learn more.)
| The World Congress 1st Annual Human Capital Management Congress |
| The World Congress is proud to present the 1st Annual Human Capital Management Congress taking place this October 31 - November 2, 2005 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC.
The HCMC will bring together the most innovative and knowledgeable industry experts addressing the most pertinent issues relating to health and human capital management. The event is uniquely designed to discuss the impact of benefits on employee productivity, healthcare costs and overall company competitiveness. |
| (Please visit our sponsors. We try to make sure their products and services will be of interest to you. Thanks! --Editor) |
Panel Urges Restrictions on Certain Tax Breaks Including Employment-Based Health Insurance
Excerpt: "Two of the nation's most popular tax breaks -- for home mortgage interest and employer-paid health insurance -- should be narrowed, a federal panel appointed by President Bush suggested Tuesday. The panel's recommendations will be made in a report scheduled to go to the Treasury Department by Nov. 1." (USA TODAY)
Health Plans Increase Their Use of Online Enrollment Tools
Excerpt: "As employers boost enrollee cost sharing, members are growing more interested in how much they'll have to pay in out-of-pocket expenses for one health plan vs. another or one treatment option vs. another. A few insurers have rolled out new customized tools that allow prospective or actual customers to calculate expected out-of-pocket costs." (MANAGED CARE WEEK via AISHealth.com)
Health Insurance Mandates -- Specific Benefit Definition Chart (PDF)
13 pages. Excerpt: "A health insurance 'mandate' is a requirement that an insurance company or health plan cover (or offer coverage for) health care providers, benefits and patient populations. CAHI's newest publication defines various mandates that are found in the states." (Council for Affordable Health Insurance)
Overview: U.S. District Court Says EEOC Can Issue Regulation Overturning Erie (PDF)
2 pages. Excerpt: "In a victory for employers that sponsor retiree health care plans, a federal district court ruled on September 27 that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has the power to issue a regulation that explicitly permits plan sponsors to coordinate post-65 retiree health care benefits with Medicare." (Hewitt Associates)
Treated for Illness, Patients Then Become Lost in Labyrinth of Bills and Other Paperwork
Excerpt: "[B]ecome a patient, and you enter a world of paperwork so surreal that it belongs in one of Kafka's tales of the triumph of faceless bureaucracies. And although some insurers and hospitals are trying to streamline and simplify bills, the efforts have been piecemeal. Medical paperwork is a world of co-payments and co-insurers, deductibles, exclusions and contracted fees." (The New York Times; one-time registration required)
Audio: Connecticut Changes Law on Payment for Fertility Treatment
Excerpt: "Connecticut's new law requiring insurance companies to pay for fertility treatments is different than other states' laws in that it sets an age limit. Women over 40 will have to pay their own way if they want treatment." (All Things Considered via National Public Radio)
Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General
Employers Should Take Care In Designing Early Retirement Incentive Programs
Excerpt: "It is not uncommon for employers to offer early retirement incentive programs encouraging eligible employees to retire sooner than they otherwise might. A recent decision by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals serves as a useful reminder that such programs need to be carefully designed so that they do not violate the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (the 'ADEA')." (Faegre & Benson LLP)
Overview: Notice 2005-45 -- The IRS Takes Aim at Executives' Entertainment Use of Company Aircraft (PDF)
11 pages. Excerpt: "This article summarizes the main points of the Notice, which took effect on July 1, with particular attention to the issues raised by the new expense allocation method and its application." (Miller & Chevalier Chartered)
12 Action Steps on the Deferred Compensation Regulations (PDF)
3 pages. Excerpt: "[The Groom Law Group provides] a summary of the key new guidance in the regulations, and [describes] steps that employers should take soon." (Groom Law Group)
Overview: Proposed IRS Regulations for IRC Section 409A Provide Reasonable Framework (PDF)
17 pages. Excerpt: "On September 29th, the IRS issued long-awaited proposed regulations under Internal Revenue Code section 409A. 70 Fed. Reg. 57930 .... The regulations primarily provide guidance on the scope of section 409A, as well as the rules for deferral elections and distributions under plans subject to section 409A. As widely reported, the regulations also extend most, but not all, of the transition relief for section 409A compliance an additional 12 months to December 31, 2006." (Groom Law Group)
Overview: Proposed Deferred Compensation (409A) Regulations -- Focus On SERPs
Excerpt: "On October 4, 2005, Treasury published proposed regulations under Tax Code section 409A, relating to the taxation of nonqualified deferred compensation. In this article, we are going to focus on issues relating to retirement plans." (Chicago Consulting Actuaries, LLC)
Union Advantage for Benefits Grows Wider
Excerpt: "Union workers receive employer-paid benefits that far exceed the benefits employers provide for nonunion workers, and the union advantage is growing wider. For years, employers have been canceling benefit coverage and shifting more of the remaining costs to workers. Unions have been able to fight off this employer attack on benefits, but nonunion workers have been left with inadequate health care protections and no retirement security." (Labor Research Association via PoliticalAffairs.net)
Newly Posted Events
Correction Methods Under the "New" Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System ("EPCRS")
in Ohio on October 25, 2005
presented by ASPPA Benefits Council of Greater Cincinnati
Processing Benefits Claims and Appeals for Self-Funded Health Plans, Health FSAs, and HRAs: How to Make Plan Decisions That Stand Up to Scrutiny
Nationwide on June 30, 2005
presented by Employee Benefits Institute of America Inc. (EBIA)
Newly Posted Press Releases
Two Step Announces New AmLaw 100 and Investment Company Customers; Leading Law Firms and Private Equity and Technology Company Legal Departments Sign On As New Customers
(Two-Step Software, Inc.)
Taxing health benefits will add costs, discourage coverage, says American Benefits Council
(American Benefits Council)
Ameriprise Retirement Services to Host President's Council
(Ameriprise Retirement Services)
Newly Established Bidwell Consulting Services, Inc. off to a Great Start!
(Bidwell Consulting Services, Inc.)
Movers and Shakers: Newly Posted Announcements of Promotions and New Personnel
(Post Yours!)
Rene Otten
(Bidwell Consulting Services, Inc.)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
401(k) Enroller (Bi-Lingual)
for 401(k) Advisors
in CA
401(k) Employee Communications Specialist (Bi-Lingual)
for 401(k) Advisors
in CA
Retirement Plan Consultant
for Invesmart, Inc,
in WA
Employer Support Specialist
for ICMA-RC : Building Retirement Security
in DC
Senior Product Management Consultant
for New York Life Insurance Company
in NY
Case Manager - ERISA
for CitiStreet
in NJ
Manager, Corporate Defined Contribution & Retiree Health & Welfare Plans
for Raytheon Company
in MA
Retirement Solutions Proposal Manager
for CUNA Mutual Group
in WI
Senior Defined Benefit Plan Administrator and Consultant
for Bay Area Pension Administration and Consulting Firm
in CA
Compliance Analyst
for General Board of Pension & Health Benefits of the United Methodist Church
in IL
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