Health & Welfare Plans Newsletter |
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| October 2, 2009 \ Compliance \ Costs \ Administration \ Design \ Policy | ||
Employee Benefits Institute of America (EBIA) (Advert.)
EBIA's Recorded Web Seminars - Quality and Convenience! We know that employee benefits professionals have many demands on their time. To help ease the time-crunch, EBIA's recorded web seminars are available 24/7--any time and any place you have an internet connection. What's more, when you purchase a recorded web seminar from EBIA, you and your co-workers can view it as many times as you wish for 60 days after purchase! Visit our website and you can search for seminars by topic, experience level, or key word. |
[Official Guidance]
Interim Final Rules Prohibiting Discrimination Based on Genetic Information in Health Insurance Coverage and Group Health Plans (PDF)
137 pages. Excerpt: "This document contains interim final rules implementing sections 101 through 103 of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008. These provisions prohibit discrimination based on genetic information in health insurance coverage and group health plans. . . . For the group market, these regulations become applicable to plans and issuers on the first day of the plan year beginning on or after [Insert Date 60 Days After Publication In The Federal Register]. For the individual market, these regulations become applicable with respect to health insurance coverage offered, sold, issued, renewed, in effect, or operated in the individual market on or after [Insert Date 60 Days After Publication In The Federal Register]." (IRS, DOL, HHS)
[Official Guidance]
EBSA Fact Sheet on The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA)
Excerpt: "The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA) prohibits discrimination in group health plan coverage based on genetic information. GINA is effective for plan years beginning after May 21, 2009 (January 1, 2010 for calendar year plans). Regulations implementing the provisions of GINA were made public on October 1, 2009." (Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor)
Health Insurance Actuaries Review Administrative Costs: Impact of Individual, Small Group Insurance Market Mergers
Excerpt: "In two separate papers published in September as part of a series examining Critical Issues in Health Reform, the American Academy of Actuaries reviews administrative functions and expenses currently assumed by health insurers and the potential impact of merging the individual and small group insurance markets." (Wolters Kluwer)
Workplace Wellness Seems to Really Work
Excerpt: "Workplace wellness programs are an effective way to reduce major risk factors for heart disease, such as smoking, obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes, says a new American Heart Association policy statement." (US News And World Report)
Senate Panel Stiffens Employer Fees in Health Reform Bill
Excerpt: "The fees -- based on the cost of those subsidies and subject to an annual cap of $400 times the total number of a company's employees -- also would apply if the premium charged by an employer exceeds 10% of an employee's income and the employee obtains coverage through an exchange. The fees would apply only to employers with more than 50 employees." (Business Insurance)
Proposal to End Federal Health Plan Is Off The Table
Excerpt: "Civil servants are no longer in danger of being forced off the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program under the Senate Finance Committee's version of health care reform legislation." (GovernmentExecutive.com)
Opal Events (Advert.)
The Future of Medicare Advantage under the New Administration Opal Events brings together the best and brightest of the Medicare Advantage community to discuss the problems and solutions facing the managed care industry today. Topics to be covered include: logistics of transitioning members from PFFS to a network; MIPPA interpretations; risk-adjusted reimbursement issues; compliance specific to Part D; and HR6331. |
Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General
[Guidance Overview]Mandatory Electronic Filing of 5500s to Begin in 2010
Excerpt: "The Department of Labor has taken another step toward requiring electronic filing and disclosure of all Form 5500 annual reports by announcing that paper filing will no longer be accepted for filings for the 2009 plan year. In a related development, sponsors of defined benefit pension plans who maintain an intranet website for communications with employees must post portions of the plan's Form 5500 on the website beginning with the 2008 annual report." (Seyfarth Shaw LLP)
Massachusetts Takes on Identity Theft; Get Ready for the New Data Security Requirements (PDF)
Excerpt: "On August 17, 2009, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts issued new data security rules that will affect employers with workers who live in Massachusetts and businesses that serve Massachusetts residents. The rules, which are now scheduled to take effect on March 1, 2010, will require companies that touch personal information of Massachusetts residents to provide certain minimum safeguards to protect the information from unauthorized access, disclosure or misuse." (Buck Consultants)
Early Retirement Incentive Program Did Not Violate ADEA
Excerpt: "The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has determined that an early retirement incentive program for Fort Lauderdale police officers and firefighters did not violate the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)." (PLANSPONSOR.com)
Public Pension and Retiree Healthcare Expense Problems Mount for Local California Governments
Excerpt: "Unless government officials muster up the political courage to implement reforms that would make government pensions and retiree health-care benefits sustainable, the cost of government services will continue to be inflated and growing pension costs could threaten the very solvency of state and local governments." (PublicCEO.com)
Options to the Traditional 401(k) Match (PDF)
Excerpt: "Companies looking ahead to how they will restructure their reward programs in a recovering economy will no doubt be asking some tough questions about their 401(k) plans. One option is more challenging but also more intriguing -- reengineer their strategies to make their employees' retirement objectives more achievable, focus more on health care needs, and attract and retain the best people." (Towers Perrin)
Webcasts and Conferences
"ERISA Workshop" in San Franciscoin California on November 6, 2009
presented by SunGard Relius
COBRA Compliance Checkup: Administrative Challenges and Strategies
Nationwide on October 1, 2009
presented by EBIA / Thomson Reuters
(Click to post your webcast or conference)
Press Releases
ASPPA Expands Expertise in Recordkeeper Certification ProgramASPPA (American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries)
Education, Due Diligence Key to Gaining From Sustainable Investing
Watson Wyatt
Newport Appoints Industry Leader to Head Qualified Retirement Services Division
Newport Group, The
New Rules Protect Patients’ Genetic Information
U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)
U.S. Labor Department Proposes Exemption to Allow New Health Plan for Chrysler Retirees to Acquire Company Securities
U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)
Firms Select SunGard's New ETF Retirement Plan Solution
SunGard
(Click to post your press release)
Employee Benefits Jobs
Actuarial Assistantfor New York Life Retirement Plan Services
in MA
Account Mgr, Retirement Plans
for The Standard
in OR
(Click to post your job opening | View all jobs |
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EmployeeBenefitsJobs.com (Sponsor)
(Click on banner to learn more.)
| Where the best employers find the best candidates! |
Handy Links:
- View Today's Active Message Threads
- Using the Web for Employee Benefits Research (hypertext article)
- Employee Benefits Library
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