[Official Guidance]
EBSA Advisory Opinion 2011-02A: Guidance on Behalf of State of Florida Department of Financial Services Regarding the Applicability of Title I of ERISA to Certain Health Benefits Programs
"Whether the Depawix Health Resources, Inc. employee welfare benefit plan and the Green Cross Managed Health System health benefits program are multiple employer welfare arrangements within the meaning of ERISA section 3(40), and whether ERISA section 514(a) precludes the State of Florida from applying its insurance laws and regulations to those entities and programs, or to any persons who sell or market them in Florida." (U.S. Employee Benefits Security Administration)

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[Official Guidance]
EBSA Advisory Opinion 2011-05A: Guidance Regarding Use of Demutualization Proceeds Received by J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. Employee Benefits Plan
"[A]bsent plan terms to the contrary, in our view, fiduciaries of an employee welfare benefit plan may use demutualization proceeds that are plan assets for the benefit of all current participants and beneficiaries, rather than only for those who actually contributed to premium payments for the insurance policies. In the situation you describe, ERISA does not require plan fiduciaries to consider the interests of individuals who are no longer covered under the plan in deciding how to use such demutualization proceeds." (U.S. Employee Benefits Security Administration)

Video: Deconstructing Disability Policy: The Stats and Strategies Employers Need to Know
"[The president of the Council for Disability Awareness] offers tips to strengthen workplace disability programs and debunks myths about disability insurance." (Employee Benefit News; free registration required)

Factoring in Deficit-Reduction Proposals When Conducting Cost-Benefit Analysis on Providing Health Insurance Under the Health Law
"For example, the task force recommends amending tax exclusions and deductions on employer-provided health insurance, which would result in employees being taxed on health care services and employers missing out on some tax breaks for the plans that they currently provide." (Employee Benefit News; one-time free registration required)

The History of Health Insurance in America: The Ultimate Web Guide
"To get an idea of why health insurance is such a hot button topic in the United States, and where the debate over the roll health insurance companies and the government should play in the future of health care is going, it can help to have some historical perspective." (The Health Hut)

Will Adoption of Electronic Health Records Improve Quality in U.S. Hospitals?
"Shares findings on the potential effects of electronic health records . . . on health care quality, based on analysis of extensive data from 2003 and 2006 on EHR adoption, hospital characteristics, and hospital quality in nearly 2,100 hospitals." (RAND)

Podcast: An Employer's FMLA 'To Do' List for 2011
"We cover topics such as revisions to your FMLA policy and forms, how to best calculate FMLA leave, and revisiting job descriptions and personnel policies so as to best administer FMLA leave." (Franczek Radelet P.C.)

Understanding the Leveraging Effect of GASB 45 OPEB Liabilities
"The [example in this article] illustrates how a small change in either of the input components can have a much larger effect on the net liability result. We call it the 'leveraging' effect." (Van Iwaarden Associates)

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[Guidance Overview]
SEC's Say-on-Pay and Say-on-Golden Parachute Rules (PDF)
"Say-on-golden parachute votes are required in initial filings made on or after April 25, 2011." (Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP)

Report Warns that Florida Cities and Counties Owe More in Retirement Obligations to Workers Than They Can Afford to Pay
"From Hialeah to St. Petersburg, Florida's cities and counties face a 'ticking time bomb' of debt because they do not have enough money to pay future pensions and health care benefits already promised to current employees, according to a report released Wednesday from the LeRoy Collins Institute." (Miami Herald)

Study Suggests Ways Florida Localities Can Meet OPEB Obligations
"Recommendations for local governments on retiree benefits: The minimum age before a retiree qualifies for benefits should be gradually raised. . . . Localities should not include overtime or additional earnings/bonus pay in the base salary used to calculate pension benefits." (PLANSPONSOR.COM)

IRS Begins Examinations of HIRE Act Payroll Tax Exemption
"[The IRS] is asking employers to provide several things, including: (1) a list of qualified employees; (2) a written statement explaining whether any qualified employees were hired to replace another employee, and whether any of the qualified employees are related to the employer; and (3) copies of the employer's Forms 941." (McGuireWoods LLP)

18 Careers with Unbelievable Perks
"When you're looking for a job, there's more to think about than just salary. Factors like working conditions and environment, opportunity for advancement, retirement benefits and even free swag should vie for a spot in your evaluation of a job opportunity." (CareerOverview.com)

[Opinion]
The Traditional Distinction Between 'Core' and 'Voluntary' Benefits No Longer Relevant
"Since the terms 'core' and 'voluntary' no longer serve a real purpose, we'll ignore these designations and instead focus on the actual purpose - the value proposition, if you will - of these benefits for the insured, which we'll categorize as health, life and disability insurance." (Employee Benefit News; free registration required)

Secretary of Labor to Host Live Web Chat on Department’s Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Request Feb. 14
(U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA))

US Department of Labor Announces Intention to Extend Applicability Date of Section 408(b)(2) Fee Disclosure Regulation
(U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA))

US Labor Department Sues Pittsburgh Manufacturing Company to Protect 401(k) Plan Participants
(U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA))

US Labor Department Obtains Court-appointed Independent Fiduciary for Retirement Plan of Defunct Charleston, W.Va., Mental Hospital
(U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA))

How Education and Household Income Affect HSA and HRA Balances
(Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI))

The Principal's Target-Date Collective Investment Funds Exceed $1 Billion
(Principal Financial Group)

Milliman Analysis: Corporate Pensions Begin 2011 With Improvement in Funded Status
(Milliman USA)

International Foundation Announces 2011 Executive Committee
(International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans)

CIGNA Provides Access to Health Care for Workers on Military Bases in Afghanistan
(CIGNA Corporation)

New Rule Ensures Students Get Health Insurance Protections of the Affordable Care Act
(U.S. Department of Health & Human Services)

CPI Qualified Plan Consultants, Inc. Establishes Consulting Office in Phoenix, Arizona
(CPI Qualified Plan Consultants, Inc.)

Corporate Voices for Working Families Releases EITC Toolkit: Employer Guide Provides Companies with the Tools to Help Employees Take Advantage of Tax Credits and Other Federal Benefits
(Corporate Voices for Working Families)

NCTR Opposes Federal Take-Over of Public Pension Accounting
(National Council on Teacher Retirement)

SEI Quick Poll: Pension Sponsors Identify Controlling Volatility, Establishing Long-Term Strategies as Top Priorities For 2011
(SEI)

RealAge Launches Major Update of Its Landmark Online Health Assessment, Answering Popular Question “What’s Your RealAge?” More Precisely Than Ever
(RealAge, Inc)

DATAIR Employee Benefit Systems, Inc.

Participant Service Representative in MA for New York Life

Manager, Account Management- Large Market in IL, IN for Lincoln Financial Group

VP, Channel Relationships in CT for Prudential

Retirement Plan Administrator in PA for Atlantic Pension Services, Inc.

Director of Human Resources in MD for Maryland Office of the Public Defender

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Benefits are Getting Personal
Nationwide on March 8, 2011 presented by Buck Consultants

Benefits are Getting Personal
Nationwide on March 10, 2011 presented by Buck Consultants