| BenefitsLink Welfare Plans Newsletter |   |
October 14, 2005
Today's sponsor: WorldatWork
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| WorldatWork publications in the BenefitsLink Bookstore |
| WorldatWork, a not-for-profit professional association, is a leading publisher of compensation, benefits and total rewards information. With a portfolio of books, reports, survey briefs, booklets and online learning programs, WorldatWork creates, markets and distributes publications that are critical to improved organizational performance. WorldatWork has contributed to the education and development of business professionals worldwide since 1955. |
| (Please visit our sponsors. We try to make sure their products and services will be of interest to you. Thanks! --Editor) |
AARP Appeals to the Third Circuit on AARP v. EEOC (PDF)
3 pages. Excerpt: "Notice is given that plaintiffs AARP, Jack W. MacMillan, Frank H. Smith, Jr., Frank A. Wheeler, Fred Dochat, Gerald Fowler and M. Elaine Clay hereby appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit from all orders contained in the September 27, 2005, Memorandum and Order of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Dated: October 12, 2005" (AARP via The ERISA Industry Committee)
Families and Work Institute's 2005 National Study of Employers (PDF)
30 pages. Excerpt: "Families and Work Institute's 2005 National Study of Employers (NSE) is one of the most comprehensive and far-reaching study of the practices, policies, programs and benefits provided by U.S. employers to address the changing needs of today's workforce and workplace. Because this study was designed to build on the Institute's landmark 1998 Business Work-Life Study (BWLS), it is therefore able to provide trend data on changes that have occurred over the past seven years." (Families and Work Institute)
Companies Are Offering Assistance to Their Workers Who Are Parents of Kids with Disabilities
Excerpt: "In a surprising move in today's cost-cutting climate, a few employers are even expanding insurance coverage for special-needs kids. Microsoft, oil-industry supplier Halliburton, and insurer Progressive Group have begun covering some of the cost of applied behavior analysis, or ABA therapy, intensive early training for autistic kids that can cost $20,000 or more." (The Wall Street Journal Online via CareerJournal.com)
Table with Program Details of State High-Risk Health Insurance Pools as of December 31, 2004
Excerpt: "Information on State-Sponsored High Risk Pool Programs is available for each state. Program details include Benefits, Waiting Periods for Pre-Existing Conditions, and Participation levels." (Statehealthfacts.org)
Opinion: A Supply-Side Approach to Health Care
Excerpt: "For too long, employers and others trying to reduce health costs have focused on the demand side of health care, looking for the quick fix. But expediency has come at a cost, leading to more fragmentation and complexity. Instead, they need to look at the supply side of the health-care market to find solutions." (The Seattle Times Company)
Tech Executives Push for Digital Medical Records
Excerpt: "[The Technology CEO Council] urged lawmakers, business leaders and the medical profession to modernize medicine so information can move easily between doctors, patients, labs, hospitals and insurance companies. Doing so, the group says, would cut health care costs because duplicative testing and other administrative costs could be reduced. Quality would rise, the group says, as data are gathered and information shared on what treatments, drugs or surgeries work best." (USA TODAY)
Overview: Medicare Pres.cription Drug Benefit Information for Employment-Based Health Plans
Excerpt: "If any of the participants or applicants to an employer-provided health plan that covers 20 or more participants are eligible for Medicare Part D coverage, the employer must determine whether the pres.cription drug coverage it provides is 'creditable' or not, and notify all Medicare Part D-eligible plan participants and plan applicants of that fact before November 15, 2005." (Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP)
REI Extends Health Care Benefits to Part-Time Employees
Excerpt: "Some 4,000 REI employees who work an average of 20 hours a week - including a seasonal influx of 1,200 workers for the holidays - will be eligible for the plan administered by Strategic Resources Co., which specializes in providing benefits plans for low-income workers." (BenefitNews Connect)
Table: Small Group Health Insurance Market Guaranteed Issue, 2005
Excerpt: "Information on Consumer Protections in the Small Group and Individual Health Insurance Markets is available for 2005 by state. Protections include Guaranteed Issue, Rating Restrictions, and Pre-Existing Condition Exclusion Rules. Information on the Non-Group Coverage Rules for HIPAA Eligible individuals is also available." (Statehealthfacts.org)
Health Savings Accounts: As HSAs Multiply, Technology Plays a Larger Role
Excerpt: "In a few years, health savings accounts, or HSAs, will be a fundamental banking product, a staple, like milk in a grocery store, says John Reynolds, SVP and business director for Wells Fargo's health-benefits service. Right now, however, many banks are just awakening to these accounts' potential to build significant assets, and also be powerful relationship builders with corporate and retail customers." (Bank Technology News)
Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General
2006 IRS Benefit Limits and the Social Security Increases Now Available
Excerpt: "Today the Bureau of Labor Statistics released the September inflation figures (CPI-U and CPI-W) and the Social Security Administration released the 2006 benefit and wage amounts. [Chicago Consulting Actuaries has] calculated 2006 IRS limits on qualified retirement plan benefits, ...." (Chicago Consulting Actuaries, LLC)
Overview: Proposed 409A Regulations Issued (PDF)
7 pages. Excerpt: "In December of 2004, the IRS issued Notice 2005-1 setting forth initial guidance with respect to Code section 409A.1 The newly issued proposed regulations incorporate the guidance provided in Notice 2005-1 and provide substantial additional guidance." (Dechert LLP)
Hewitt Federal Legislation Quick Guide Updated as of October 11, 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 Events
Defined Contribution Plan Expenses
Nationwide on November 17, 2005
presented by ERISA Fiduciary Guild & IBF Conferences*International Business Forum
Fiduciary Responsibility
Nationwide on October 24, 2005
presented by NAGDCA (National Association of Government Defined Contribution Administrators, Inc.)
Newly Posted Press Releases
Figures and Facts on U.S. Retirement Plan Participation
(Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI))
New Harris Rothenberg Work/Life Portal Showcases Innovative Content Integration and Branding Customization Features
(Harris, Rothenberg International (HRI))
Pat Byrnes To Receive the 2005 EIDSON Award
(Actuarial Consultants, Inc.)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Employee Benefits Tax (EB) Manager
for Deloitte
in FL
Account Manager
for CitiStreet
in NJ
Compliance Manager
for PENCO, Inc.
in OH
Internal Wholesaler
for MassMutual Financial Group
in CT
Manager, Enrollment Services
for CitiStreet
in NJ
Client Service Consultant
for The Principal Financial Group
in NY
Call Center Manager
for Health Benefits Consulting Company
in GA
Controller
for Major Midtown Group of Multi-Employer Funds
in NY
Handy Links:
- View Today's Active Message Threads
- 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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