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Health & Welfare Plans Newsletter
December 10, 2009 
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www.ftwilliam.com (Advert.)
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[Guidance Overview]
Beyond Compliance with Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008: An Opportunity to Integrate Behavioral Health and Medical Coverage
Excerpt: "Sponsors of group health plans have the opportunity to reexamine their current behavioral health coverage as they prepare to comply with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA). If trustees of multiemployer health funds start soon, they will have sufficient time to conduct a thorough and thoughtful plan review and craft strategies for better management of the coverage for mental health and addiction conditions. These strategies can help keep cost increases under control, while maintaining, and even enhancing, critical benefits." (The Segal Group, Inc.)
[Guidance Overview]
DOL's Two New FAQs Related to COBRA Premium Subsidy (PDF)
2 pages. Excerpt: "Many employer-sponsored group health plans provide coverage through the end of the month during which a termination of employment or other event resulting in a loss of coverage occurs and offer COBRA continuation coverage effective on the first day of the following month. The DOL FAQ makes clear that, if a plan has such a provision, employees who are involuntarily terminated in December 2009 (and covered family members) will not be eligible for the subsidy. The Q&A notes that it is possible that the subsidy period will be extended by Congress." (Groom Law Group)
[Guidance Overview]
DOL's Guidance as COBRA Subsidy Eligibility Nears End (PDF)
Excerpt: "The DOL recently posted two new FAQs on its website addressing eligibility for the ARRA COBRA subsidy after December 31, 2009. One Q&A confirms that individuals who do not become eligible for COBRA until on or after January 1, 2010 will not qualify for the subsidy even if the termination of employment occurred prior to that date. The second confirms that individuals who qualify for the subsidy in 2009 may continue to receive it in 2010. Ultimately, Congress may act to extend the subsidy. In the meantime, employers will need to decide how to handle the end of the subsidy for affected individuals." (Buck Consultants)
Making Healthy Choices Easier for Americans Can Prevent Deadly Diseases and Save Money
Excerpt: "[W]hat are the real options for reducing health care expenditures? One is to reduce the cost of chronic diseases that increasingly afflict our population. Chronic conditions account for more than 75 percent of U.S. health care spending, according to research by Johns Hopkins. Seven of the most common chronic diseases -- diabetes, heart disease, cancer, stroke, high blood pressure, pulmonary conditions and mental disorders -- cost the American economy an estimated $1.3 trillion annually, $280 billion for treatment and $1 trillion in lost productivity, says the Milken Institute, a nonpartisan think tank. If we do nothing to prevent these diseases, researchers estimate the annual cost could balloon to $4.2 trillion by 2023. Exactly how much can be saved, and over what time period, is subject to debate. What's not in dispute, however, is that many promising state policies and programs could help prevent some of the most prevalent chronic diseases and reduce their costly complications." (National Conference of State Legislatures)
New, Hidden Workforce Danger May Be Lurking: A Specific Type of Stress Called 'Covert Coping'
Excerpt: "A recent study finds that workers who covertly suffer from stress are more likely to have heart attacks or suffer from heart disease. And since these employees suffer in silence, there are limited options available for HR leaders who would like to help mediate the problem. Experts offer some ideas, however." (Human Resource Executive Online)
Ford Motor Company Proposes VEBA Based on $13.2 Billion Contribution
Excerpt: "Ford Motor Co., Dearborn, Mich., wants to contribute more than $13.2 billion -- including up to $6.6 billion in company stock -- to a health-care VEBA for UAW-represented company retirees, according to a Ford proposal with the Labor Department's Employee Benefits Security Administration. Ford is seeking an exemption to allow the United Auto Workers Voluntary Employees Beneficiary Association to hold Ford securities in excess of the amount allowed from an employer by ERISA." (Pensions & Investments; free registration required)
[Opinion]
A Holiday Reminder on the Economy and Health Care
Excerpt: "As we all focus on the health reform debate, in this holiday season it is appropriate to remember that more people are struggling with health care bills than when we began this debate. While the jobs picture is starting to brighten, with the latest government report showing the unemployment rate actually falling from 10.2 % to 10%, improvement is expected to be slow. This is a reminder of why people need the kind of help health reform can deliver. But it is also a reminder of why for the next several years, while the country may be gearing up to implement health reform, we can't take our eyes off of the problems people are having today, or of the role that the existing programs that serve them will continue to play." (Kaiser Family Foundation)
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]Executive Compensation and Equity Compensation Plan Issues for Consideration as 2010 Approaches (PDF)
6 pages. Excerpt: "The . . . checklist describes important issues for consideration as 2009 comes to a close and we enter into 2010. Though not exhaustive, this list is intended to provide a reminder of some of the issues that will need to be considered as we enter a new year." (Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP)
An Alternative Viewpoint on CEO Compensation with Supporting Evidence
Excerpt: "A column recently caught my eye in the Chicago Tribune, of all places, 'Executive compensation: Booth School of Business professor a pay pal of CEOs,' Melissa Harris, Chicago Tribune, December 6, 2009, . . . . In the column, University of Chicago Professor Steven N. Kaplan offers interesting evidence debunking four myths about CEO compensation. Hopefully, I am not violating any copyright laws by quoting at length from the column, but Ms. Harris summarizes it best . . . ." (Michael Melbinger via Winston & Strawn LLP)
Press Releases
US Labor Department Proposes Exemption to Allow New Health Plan for Ford Motor Co. Retirees to Acquire Company SecuritiesU.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)
Financial Engines Plans IPO
Financial Engines, Inc.
Lincoln Financial Group Names New President for Defined Contribution Unit
Lincoln Financial Group
Merrill Lynch Realigns Retirement Leadership Team
Merrill Lynch
NextStep Adds vWise SmartPlan Enterprise to Its Participant Education Offering
vWise Inc.
BrightScope Releases 2009 Top 30 401k Plan List
BrightScope
(Click to post your press release)
Employee Benefits Jobs
Client Service Manager (DC)for New York Life Retirement Plan Services
in MA
Proactive, COBRA/FSA Operations Department Manager
for TRI-AD
in CA
Benefits Manager - North America
for Dow Corning Corporation
in MI
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