[Guidance Overview]
Departments Expand Guidance and Request Information on Preventive Care Benefits (PDF) – "Sponsors of non-grandfathered plans should comply with all of the steps listed in the 'Implementing a Preventive Care Benefit' section at the end of this Health Care Reform Insights." (The Segal Group, Inc.)

Employee Benefits Producer Training Program (advert.)

A must-attend for those who want to succeed as employee benefits sales professionals! Attendees will develop successful selling skills with a proven sales process and learn the technical side of employee benefits. Register Now!

[Guidance Overview]
More Guidance on Health Care Reform, Mental Health Parity, and HIPAA Wellness Programs (PDF) – "The Departments posted the latest set of FAQs, Part V, on December 28, 2010 [at http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq-aca5.html]. In addition to addressing issues related to PPACA, the Part V FAQs also include guidance with respect to [MHPAEA] and with respect to wellness programs under [HIPAA]." (Buck Consultants)

Is Long-Term Care Insurance Worth the Price? – "The rule of thumb is that premiums should not exceed 7% of your annual income. But the lesson of the recent hikes is that you can't base your decision solely on today's premiums -- you must also figure out if you'll be able to swing the costs later on." (Cable News Network)

The Future of Employer-Based Health Insurance Following Health Reform – On January 20, 2011, a presentation [linked from the target page] at the National Congress on Health Insurance Reform examined this issue. (Economic Policy Institute)

Top 10 Trends for Life and Health Insurers – "[Three of the five trends seen] on the health side (growing interest in health care exchanges, reforming health care payments, increasing adoption of electronic medical records) are all substantially influenced by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act." (Employee Benefit News; one-time free registration required)

Few Employers Dropping Non-Medical Benefits, According to Study – "A MetLife news release about its survey said the poll found that only one in ten employers with fewer than 500 employees and two in ten with 500 or more workers anticipate reducing spending on benefits like disability, life and dental insurance as a result of the legislation." (PLANSPONSOR.COM)

New Guidance on ERRP Claims and Procedures – "The [Early Retiree Reinsurance Program] website - http://www.ERRP.gov - identifies numerous new 'ERRP Common Questions' that were recently added to provide clarification on the reimbursement process." (Deloitte via BenefitsLink.com)

Nat'l Health Benefits Conf & Expo (HBCE) Jan.31-Feb.1, Clearwater Bch, FL (advert.)

Our speakers literally wrote the books on health benefits management, on-site clinics and obesity control. Hear speakers from Walmart, Intel, Time Warner and governmental employers. Low cost, high quality! www.HBCE.com Ph: 941-484-1430 info@HBCE.com

SEC Adopts Shareholder Say-on-Pay Rules – "[The 'say-on-pay' rules are] designed to give shareholders greater input over executive compensation after many investors expressed outrage during the financial crisis at lavish pay practices." (Business Insurance)

DOL Settlements Involve Contributions for Health Plan, ESOP, and 401(k) Plan – "In three separate cases, [DOL's EBSA] has obtained court orders involving the assets of two bankrupt companies and restored $34,000 to an ongoing 401(k) plan." (Wolters Kluwer)

[Opinion]
SEC Issues Final Rules on Shareholder Say on Pay – "[I]t may be time to convene another meeting of Compensation Committee and/or Board, not because the Final Rules are very different [from] the proposed rules (which they are not), but because it is the end January and we need to make final decisions on our proxy statements." (Michael S. Melbinger via Winston & Strawn LLP)

Prudential Updates ‘Highest Daily’ Annuity Optional Benefits Prudential Financial, Inc.

401kTest.com Added an HCE Refund Calculator to Our ADP/ACP Testing Site 401kTest.com

Aon Hewitt Survey Shows Employers Offering Workers More Help to Meet Retirement Goals Aon Corporation

The Standard

Director, Pension Administration
for Pension Consultants, Inc. in CT

Implementation Project Manager
for The Newport Group in FL

Retirement Plan Administrator
for TPA Firm in NC, SC

Initiatives Director
for Prudential in IA

Pension Plan Operations Representative
for Transamerica Retirement Services Corporation in CA

Form 5330 - Completion and Processing Tidbits Phone Forum
Nationwide on March 24, 2011 Internal Revenue Service (IRS)