Health & Welfare Plans Newsletter |
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| December 4, 2009 \ Compliance \ Costs \ Administration \ Design \ Policy | ||
DataPath, Inc. (Advert.)
DataPath Reaches Out to Banks in Need of HSA Services with HSAToday® As a leader in benefit administration systems for over 25 years, DataPath, Inc. was the first to offer a comprehensive platform for the administration of Health Savings Accounts with the standard-setting HSAToday® platform. Through tumultuous industry changes, DataPath has remained autonomous, building long-standing relationships by focusing on what they do best, creating solutions for the administration of benefit plans such as HSAs, FSAs, HRAs and COBRA. For information on how DataPath can quickly and seamlessly assume your business, go to www.dpath.com or contact sales at 800-633-3841. |
[Guidance Overview]
2010 Medicare Premiums, Deductibles and Coinsurance
Excerpt: "Plan sponsors that pay the Medicare Part B premium or deductible should carefully review their plan documents and communications to assure that they are accurately stating the amount that the plan intends to pay. For example, plans that simply promise to pay the 'Part B deductible' may want to set that payment at a firm amount or maximum." (Segal Company)
[Guidance Overview]
An Update For Employers on Domestic Partnership and Same-S.ex Marriage Laws
Excerpt: "Despite a November voter referendum in Maine that overturned the state's same-s.ex marriage law and a very recent rejection of same-s.ex marriage by the New York State Senate, the year 2009 saw progress for the legal recognition of same-s.ex marriage and domestic partnerships. The following is a summary of recent developments in this fast-evolving area of the law." (Littler)
[Guidance Overview]
As the Expiration Date for the Temporary COBRA Subsidy Approaches, DOL Clarifies Eligibility
Excerpt: "Someone who does not become eligible for COBRA until on or after January 1, 2010 is ineligible for the subsidy, even if he or she is terminated by December 31, 2009. [Further,] Someone who is terminated by December 31, 2009 and becomes eligible for COBRA by then can receive the subsidy for a full nine months, even if that nine-month period extends well into 2010." (Segal Company)
Retiree Medical Benefit Reductions Limited under House Version of Proposed Healthcare Reform
Excerpt: "Section 110 of the House Bill amends [ERISA] to require all group health plans, including union plans, to add a provision that expressly bars post-retirement reductions in the benefits provided to retirees or their beneficiaries unless the reduction is also made with respect to active participants. This prohibition would override any plan provision that reserves the right to amend or terminate the plan or specifically authorizes the plan to make post-retirement reductions in retiree medical benefits." (Michael Best & Friedrich)
Accounting for Post-Employment Benefits Using GASB 45: Wake-Up Call for Public Plan Sponsors
Excerpt: "It's a warning signal to pay close attention to retiree medical benefits, a signal that was never there before in the public employer arena. Plan sponsors need to be aware of the huge cost of these benefits -- not only what the cost is this year, but where the cost is going in the future. In almost every valuation we've done, the annual bill for retiree medical benefits is projected to double in the next 10 years; in some cases, it will triple." (Milliman)
BenefitsLink Newsletter (Advert.)
We Have Your Target Audience Advertise your company's products and services right here in the BenefitsLink newsletter. Our subscribers care about employee benefit plan compliance, administration, costs and design. Roles include in-house benefits directors and administrators, TPAs, consultants, attorneys, trust officers, auditors and investment managers. Your ad will show both your banner and a paragraph of text -- more exposure than you'll find anywhere else. And, of course, a clickable link to any page on your web site. Contact Mary Hall for details. |
Links to Items on Executive Comp, Benefits in General
[Guidance Overview]Discrimination Claims or ERISA Benefit Claims? The ERISA Preemption Divide
Excerpt: "In this case, the plaintiff sued on state law theories of discrimination and retaliation but the facts she alleged were found tilted toward a claim for severance benefits which in turn warranted preemption." (Health Plan Law blog by Attorney Roy Harmon III)
[Guidance Overview]
2009 Deadline For 409A and 162(m) Transition Relief; Documentary Correction Procedures Forthcoming
Excerpt: "Employers with deferred compensation plans must take action now to review their plans to take advantage of limited special relief that expires at the end of 2009. Under the IRS correction program for operational failures, employers may be able to mitigate adverse tax consequences for historical operational errors that occurred before 2008." (Baker & McKenzie)
Watson Wyatt Merger with Towers Perrin Gets Conditional European Regulatory Approval
Excerpt: "Towers, Perrin, Forster & Crosby Inc. and Watson Wyatt Worldwide Inc. have cleared all regulatory hurdles to merge and become Towers Watson & Co., on the condition that Watson Wyatt sells off its actuarial software business. The companies got clearance from the European Commission to form Towers Watson & Co., which will be one of the largest human resources consulting companies with estimated revenue of $3 billion, with the condition that Watson Wyatt sells its life insurance actuarial software business VIPitech." (Washington Business Journal)
Webcasts and Conferences
"Cross-Testing: Making the Most of Single-Member Groups" Recorded Web SeminarNationwide on December 3, 2009
presented by SunGard Relius
(Click to post your webcast or conference)
Press Releases
Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis to Roll Out US Department of Labor's Regulatory Agenda with Video Remarks and Live Web ChatU.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)
Pittsburgh Business Group on Health Drug Program Lands Solid 1-2 Punch: Drug Costs Dropped in 2008; New Contract Terms Meet Employer Goals, Estimated to Save $55 Million
Pittsburgh Business Group on Health
Majority of Employers Would Reduce Health Benefits to Avoid Proposed Excise Tax, Survey Finds
Mercer
(Click to post your press release)
Employee Benefits Jobs
Pension Administratorfor Chambers Benefit Group
in NM
Senior Pension Administrator
for Snyder Cohn
in MD
401(k) Recordkeeping Accountant
for NRECA
in VA
Participant Communication Consultant
for The Standard
in TX
Director of Business Development
for RPG Consultants
in NY
(Click to post your job opening | View all jobs |
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EmployeeBenefitsJobs.com (Sponsor)
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| Where the best employers find the best candidates! |
Handy Links:
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