| BenefitsLink Welfare Plans Newsletter |   |
March 10, 2006
Today's sponsor: DATAIR Employee Benefit Systems, Inc.
(Click on company name or banner to learn more.)
| Software for Benefit and Retirement Plan Administration |
| For over 39 years, DATAIR has provided pension and employee benefit software to consultants and administrators. We focus on our clients' needs for reliable and economical solutions and comprehensive support.
DATAIR offers systems for Defined Contribution, Defined Benefit and Sec. 125/Cafeteria Plans. Our modules handle administration, proposals, discrimination testing, document generation and government reporting. Additional programs help manage client relationships, organize and track office tasks and responsibilities, and calculate the tax consequences of plan distributions. Training and support included. For free demo versions and pricing, contact sales@datair.com or call 1-888-328-2474. |
| (Please visit our sponsors. We try to make sure their products and services will be of interest to you. Thanks! --Editor) |
Flexible Spending Account Contributions at Odds with Real Medical Costs
Excerpt: "A majority of workers continue to encounter difficulty estimating how much money to set aside annually in their flexible savings accounts, according to Principal Financial Group's quarterly check-up (http://www.principal.com/wellbeing/wbsummaries.htm) on workers' financial health. " (BenefitNews Connect)
HIPAA Privacy and Security Deadlines Approaching
Excerpt: "Once every three years, health plans and flexible spending account plans must remind participants that their Notice of Privacy Practices is available and how to obtain it. For plans that first issued their Notices in 2003, the reminder needs to be provided by April 14 of this year (unless ...." (Ice Miller LLP)
Conversation with Official of Human Services Department about New Mexico State Coverage Insurance
Excerpt: "NMSCI is a priority because it is a unique public–private partnership that provides affordable health insurance products for small employers who have previously been unable to afford coverage for their employees." (State Coverage Initiatives)
Employers Turning to Disease Management, According to Study
Excerpt: "The number of companies using condition-specific disease management programs grew to 83% in 2005, up from 73% in 2004, according to 'Improving Care Coordination Through Physician/Disease Management Collaboration,' a report from Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions and Healthways Inc., Nashville, Tenn." (National Underwriter Life & Health; free one-time registration or paid subscription required)
Diabetes -- A Self-Care Model That's Been Proven to Work
Excerpt: "An employer-based initiative [The 'Diabetes Ten City Challenge,' sponsored by the American Pharmacists Association (APhaA) Foundation] being rolled out in 10 U.S. cities aims to teach employees with diabetes how to take better care of themselves, holding out the hope of healthier workers and lower medical bills for employers." (Employee Benefit News)
Senate Group Ponders Health Care Tax Expenditure Reforms
Excerpt: "Grassley pointed out in 2005, federal expenditures due to health care tax policy equaled $177.6 billion, and health care tax incentives are expected to cost the government nearly $2 trillion over the next 10 years." (National Underwriter Life & Health; free one-time registration or paid subscription required)
Census Report Foresees No Crisis Over Aging Generation's Health
Excerpt: "The next few decades will see an explosion in the percentage of Americans over the age of 65, but the economic and social impact of this baby boomer sunset may be gentler than had been feared because of a significant drop in the percentage of older people with disabilities, a new federal study has concluded." (The New York Times; one-time registration required)
January 2006 Survey Shows 3.2 Million People Covered by HSA Plans
7 pages. Excerpt: "A periodic census by America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) of its member companies shows that the number of people covered by health savings accounts/high-deductible health plans (HSA/HDHPs) was almost 3.2 million in January 2006, more than triple the HSA/HDHP coverage of about one million reported by AHIP members in March 2005." (America's Health Insurance Plans)
Best Health Plans in 2005 -- Corrected Rankings
Excerpt: "[T]he rankings published last October included numerous errors. The rankings have been corrected." (U.S.News & World Report)
Colleges and Universities Bolster Family-Friendly Benefits
Excerpt: "Ohio State University, Princeton University, the University of Michigan and the University of California systems in the past two years have improved such policies as family leave, part-time work and job-finding help for trailing spouses in dual-earner couples. Massachusetts Institute of Technology altered its policies in 2001." (The Wall Street Journal Online via CareerJounal.com)
Study Points to Shortfalls in Work/life Benefits
Excerpt: "New research about work/life benefits uncovers a policy failure in both developing and industrialized nations, according to Dr. Jody Heymann, a researcher at Harvard and McGill universities." (BenefitNews Connect)
Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General
Study Says Online Participant Communication Set to Explode
Excerpt: "For those who harbor any doubts about whether participants will ever jump on the online advice bandwagon en masse, a new study said the behavior of Generation Y investors should quiet any such reservations. A news release from Diversified Investment Advisors said that its Prescience 2010: Expert Opinions on the Future of Retirement Plans study found that online advice tools will be used by half of Generation Y consumers - up from 33% of Baby Boomers." (PLANSPONSOR.com: one-time registration required)
Comments on Proposed Amendments to Requirements for Executive Comp and Related Party Disclosure (PDF)
21 pages. Excerpt: "This letter sets forth the comments of Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc., which relate primarily to the proposed rules applicable to the disclosure of executive and director compensation under Item 402 of Regulation S-K." (Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc.)
Hewitt Federal Legislation Quick Guide Updated as of March 7, 2006
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)
Overview: New Department of Labor Guidance Affecting Employer LM-10 Reporting Requirements
Excerpt: "The new guidance describes the reporting requirements and exceptions. The information that must be reported on Form LM-10 includes payments, loans, and gifts that the employer made to a union or union official. It includes payments that an employer made to individuals directly, or to other employees or third parties, to 'persuade' employees regarding union bargaining or representation rights. It also includes payments made to gather information on employee or union activities in ...." (Dinsmore & Shohl LLP)
Newly Posted Events
24th Annual Forum: Beating the Odds: Using Data . . Not Dice for HR Success
in Pennsylvania on April 20, 2006
presented by PEBA --Penjerdel Employee Benefits & Compensation Assn.
401(k) Plan Workshop
in Colorado on April 21, 2006
presented by SunGard Corbel
401(k) Plan Workshop
in Michigan on April 21, 2006
presented by SunGard Corbel
401(k) Plan Workshop
in California on April 21, 2006
presented by SunGard Corbel
401(k) Plan Workshop
in Mississippi on April 21, 2006
presented by SunGard Corbel
401(k) Plan Workshop
in Missouri on April 21, 2006
presented by SunGard Corbel
4th Annual Orlando ERISA Update Seminar
in Florida on April 20, 2006
presented by TRI Pension Services/GrayRobinson, P.A.
4th Annual Tampa ERISA Update Seminar
in Florida on April 19, 2006
presented by TRI Pension Services/GrayRobinson, P.A.
Annual Spring Seminar
in Oregon on April 5, 2006
presented by Western Pension & Benefits Conference - Portland Chapter
Cross-Tested Plans - Basics and Beyond Web Seminar
Nationwide on March 30, 2006
presented by SunGard Corbel
Form 5500 Workshop
in Colorado on April 20, 2006
presented by SunGard Corbel
Form 5500 Workshop
in Michigan on April 20, 2006
presented by SunGard Corbel
Form 5500 Workshop
in Mississippi on April 20, 2006
presented by SunGard Corbel
Form 5500 Workshop
in California on April 20, 2006
presented by SunGard Corbel
Form 5500 Workshop
in Missouri on April 20, 2006
presented by SunGard Corbel
Intermediate IRA Seminar
in Pennsylvania on March 14, 2006
presented by Wolters Kluwer Financial Services
Intermediate IRA Seminar
in Wyoming on March 14, 2006
presented by Wolters Kluwer Financial Services
Intermediate IRA Seminar
in Texas on March 14, 2006
presented by Wolters Kluwer Financial Services
Intermediate IRA Seminar
in Pennsylvania on March 15, 2006
presented by Wolters Kluwer Financial Services
Intermediate IRA Seminar
in Texas on March 15, 2006
presented by Wolters Kluwer Financial Services
Intermediate IRA Seminar
in Colorado on March 15, 2006
presented by Wolters Kluwer Financial Services
Intermediate IRA Seminar
in Texas on March 16, 2006
presented by Wolters Kluwer Financial Services
Intermediate IRA Seminar
in Colorado on March 16, 2006
presented by Wolters Kluwer Financial Services
Intermediate IRA Seminar
in New York on March 16, 2006
presented by Wolters Kluwer Financial Services
Intermediate IRA Seminar
in Alabama on March 21, 2006
presented by Wolters Kluwer Financial Services
Intermediate IRA Seminar
in South Carolina on March 21, 2006
presented by Wolters Kluwer Financial Services
Intermediate IRA Seminar
in Florida on March 22, 2006
presented by Wolters Kluwer Financial Services
Intermediate IRA Seminar
in Georgia on March 22, 2006
presented by Wolters Kluwer Financial Services
Intermediate IRA Seminar
in Florida on March 23, 2006
presented by Wolters Kluwer Financial Services
Intermediate IRA Seminar
in Georgia on March 23, 2006
presented by Wolters Kluwer Financial Services
Intermediate IRA Seminar
in Georgia on March 24, 2006
presented by Wolters Kluwer Financial Services
Teleweb: Disease Management and Wellness: A Foundation for Cost Management
Nationwide on March 23, 2006
presented by International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
Newly Posted Press Releases
QDRO Services Limited to Attorneys
(QDROS, Inc.)
Newly Posted or Renewed Job Openings
Plan Administrator for Retirement Plan & ERISA Specialists
for Small Chicago TPA & law firm
in IL
Program Facilitator
for Merrill Lynch
in NJ
ERISA Tax Associate
for Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP
in DE
401K Conversion Implementation Project Manager
for Fidelity Investments
in KY
Defined Contribution Administrative Assistant
for BFP Associates
in MA
Employee Benefits Consultant - Tax
for BDO Seidman, LLP
in NY
Sr. Strategic Planning Consultant
for Transamerica
in CA
401(k) Pension Administrator
for New England Pension Plan Systems, LLC
in RI
Fund Administrator - Taft-Hartley Funds
for Segal on behalf of a client
in NY
Supervisory Pension Law Specialist, GS-958-15
for U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration
in DC
Employee Benefits Lawyer
for Venable LLP
in DC
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