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[Guidance Overview]
Crushing Health Care Taxes and Penalties Delayed
Excerpt: "The [IRS, DOL and HHS] have postponed until at least mid to late 2011, at the earliest, the effective date of the new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act . . . non-discrimination rules that may result in substantial taxes and penalties for noncompliance."
(Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC)
[Guidance Overview]
Nondiscrimination Rules Delayed for Insured Health Plans
Excerpt: "Over the years, many employers have adopted insured health plans as a way of providing health benefits that would not be permitted if the self-insured health plan nondiscrimination rules applied, including special health plan coverage for executives and limited retirees. Notice 2011-1 provides employers a pass for 2011, but it is unclear whether the arrangements set forth above will survive the future guidance. Employers who are concerned about the nondiscrimination rules for their insured plans should submit comments to the IRS."
(Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP)
[Guidance Overview]
Additional IRS Guidance on Use of Debit Cards to Purchase OTC Drugs
Excerpt: "Employers and others involved with debit card programs will appreciate this modification of IRS Notice 2010-59, which had suggested that debit cards could not be used to purchase OTC drugs other than at a 90% pharmacy."
(Employee Benefits Institute of America)
Companies Look to Incentives to Control Benefit Costs
Excerpt: "A study by leading benefit consulting company Mercer shows three years ago a 'token' gift of a water bottle, gift card or hat was the most common incentive for workers to finish a health risk assessment. Now, it's an average $75 cash bonus or an average reduction of $180 in premium contribution."
(Michigan Live LLC)
New Survey Results Reflect Employers' Belief That New Law Will Fuel Health Care Inflation
Excerpt: "For example, 42 percent of large employers -- those with more than 500 employees -- expect cost increases in the range of 2 percent to 5 percent due to complying with health care reform law, while 16 percent expect cost increases in the range of 6 percent to 10 percent. Just 11 percent of large employers expect the law to boost costs less than 1 percent, according to the survey."
(Workplace Management: free registration required)
'Software as a Service' May Ease Adoption of Online Employee Benefit Administration
Excerpt: "Companies that move their benefits management online have experienced increased efficiencies while cutting costs. Most companies don't have the time or resources to develop and maintain a system in-house, so one solution could be to adopt software as a service, or SaaS. An SaaS-based system can be significantly cheaper than an in-house system for many reasons, such as no licensing fees or implementation costs."
(Workplace Management: free registration required)
Cultural Views, Traditions Can Affect Health Treatment Employees Seek
Excerpt: "Companies spend millions of dollars each year providing high-quality health care to their employees. But what should the health plan benefit strategy be when employees reside in another region or country from where the health plan was designed?"
(Employee Benefit News; one-time free registration required)
Analysis Illustrates Big Gap Between Medicare Taxes and Benefits
Excerpt: "[A]n updated financial analysis shows that the amount workers have paid does not come close to covering the full value of the medical care they can expect to receive as retirees. . . . Many workers may believe their Medicare payroll taxes are going for their own insurance after they retiree, but the money is actually used to pay the bills of seniors currently in the program."
(The Washington Post; one-time registration required)
Pro / Con: The Fairness of Health Insurance Incentives
Excerpt: "The evidence is mixed on how well incentives like [smoking cessation] work, but large employers are already embracing them to encourage good diets and exercise -- with an eye toward keeping their employees from missing work and to keep health costs down. The revolution began with the approval of the so-called Safeway Amendment as part of President Obama's healthcare reform: This allows employers to provide employees reimbursement of up to 20% of insurance premiums (rising to 30% in 2014 or 50% with special approval) if they participate in reasonable wellness programs."
(Los Angeles Times)
G.O.P. Congressional Newcomers Set Out to Undo Obama Victories
Excerpt: "Soon after the 112th Congress convenes Wednesday, Republicans in the House plan to make good on a campaign promise that helped vault many new members to victory: voting to repeal President Obama's health care overhaul."
(The New York Times; one-time registration required)
Nine Ways the New Health Law May Affect You in 2011
Excerpt: "Opponents of the new health care overhaul law are threatening to repeal, defund and kill it in court, but that isn't stopping Washington from implementing a number of important provisions in 2011. While many people will welcome the new benefits, some will face higher costs as a result of the law."
(Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation)
Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2009 (PDF)
88 pages. Excerpt: "Summary of findings: The median household income in 2009 was not statistically different from the 2008 median in real terms. The poverty rate increased between 2008 and 2009. The uninsured rate and number of people without health insurance increased between 2008 and 2009."
(U.S. Bureau of the Census)
Quality Matters: Patients Gain Information and Skills to Improve Self-Management Through Innovative Tools
Excerpt: "Medica Health Plans, a Minnesota-based insurer, launched a health coaching program in June 2008 to support its members in strengthening their self-management skills and achieving their health goals. The program has reduced health care expenditures, inpatient utilization, and emergency department usage, while increasing enrollees' self-reported quality-of-life scores and satisfaction ratings."
(The Commonwealth Fund)
Prescription Drug Coupons for Patients, But Higher Bills for Insurers
Excerpt: "With drug prices rising and many people out of work, pharma.ceutical companies are increasingly helping patients with their co-payments. The use of such co-payment cards and coupons and other types of discounts has more than tripled since mid-2006 . . . ."
(The New York Times; one-time registration required)
Sessions by: Whirlpool, Office Depot, State of Missouri, INTEL, Time Warner, Inc., CDC (DHHS), St. Louis Co., Manatee Schools, City of Clearwater, Univ of Michigan, Mayo Clinic, Pinellas Co., St.Johns Schools, Quad Graphics/Quad Med, Athens-Clarke Co., City of Sarasota, Univ. of Iowa, Nat’l Business Group on Health, Ironworkers Funds, Univ. of South Florida, Workers Comp Research Institute, Univ. of Minnesota, NCH Healthcare System, Update on Health Reform...and more sessions. Best Value in Health Benefits Continuing Education (HBCE) - highest quality and modest registration: $275 - $345. SHRM and other CE credits. www.HBCE.com Phone 941-484-1430 or Email: info@HBCE.com
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Benefits in General; Executive Compensation
[Guidance Overview]
Internal Revenue Code Section 409A: Tax Relief for Non-Compliant Separation Pay Arrangements (PDF)
4 pages. Excerpt: "This Alert summarizes guidance set forth in [Notice 2010-6], as modified on November 30, 2010 by Notice 2010-80, for taxpayers who participate in 409A-covered plans conditioning separation payments on employee action and who wish to avoid immediate taxation by voluntarily correcting document failures and/or taking advantage of transition relief."
(Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP)
Some Employers Thinking Outside the Benefits Box
Excerpt: "At some companies, benefits sweeteners can extend beyond health and dental in an effort to better retain employees even after the job market improves. Some of the less-routine perks include pet insurance, elder care, free personal trainers and a $500 allowance toward a commuter bike purchase."
(Workplace Management: free registration required)
[Opinion]
A Look at Trends That Were on Our Mind This Past Year and Those Just Over the Horizon
Excerpt: "What's ahead: More and better disclosures, a growing interest in offerings that take more into account than mere retirement date (including managed accounts), and more discussion around the importance of open architecture solutions and concerns about the (lack of) ERISA fiduciary status for the providers who bundle their own offerings together. But as for real change -- failing another sharp stumble in the markets -- most seem to be content with the way things are."
(planadviser)
Webcasts and Conferences
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