Pension Consultants/Administrators
for Northern NJ Mid-Size Pension Consulting Firm in NJ

TL Plan Services
for The Standard in OR

Onsite Participant Counselors (Full & Part-time) - Retirement Services
for Diversified in MN

Onsite Participant Counselor - Retirement Services
for Diversified in NC

Senior Benefits Coordinator
for NASCAR in FL

Associate Manager, Small Market Rate Calculation Team
for Prudential in PA

Director, Reporting & Strategic Initiatives
for Prudential in CT

Senior Business Development Associate
for Westminster Consulting in NY

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Communications with Plan Participants: The New Landscape After the Supreme Court Decision in Cigna v. Amara
in California on September 20, 2011 presented by Western Pension & Benefits Conference, San Diego Chapter

ERISA Advisory Council Teleconference
Nationwide on September 28, 2011 presented by U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)

Target Date Funds: Guidance for Fiduciary Prudence
Nationwide on September 22, 2011 presented by Pension Consultants, Inc.

“Has New Jersey Solved the Pension and Retirement Health Benefit Problem?” Public Forum
in New Jersey on September 30, 2011 presented by Hall Institute of Public Policy-New Jersey

Internal Claims and Appeals and External Review under Health Care Reform (PDF)
"The Amendments clarify that plans or insurers must provide benefits following a final external review decision without delay. A plan or insurer cannot refuse to provide benefits on the grounds that it intends to challenge the decision in court. However, a court decision contrary to the final external review decision would be a basis for not providing benefits." (Groom Law Group)

30th Annual ISCEBS Employee Benefits Symposium · October 2011   [Advert.]

The Symposium is an unparalleled opportunity to learn from hundreds of industry colleagues, experts and leaders. Solution-oriented workshops, discussions, case studies and strategic sessions offer practical, timely takeaways. Register Now!

Minnesota Conforms State Tax Law to Health Care Reform Changes while Wisconsin Does Not
"Employers with employees in Minnesota should review their payroll practices now that Minnesota has conformed its state law to federal tax law. More importantly, employers with employees in Wisconsin should verify that the amount being reported as taxable income for Wisconsin state income tax purposes accurately reflects Wisconsin state tax law." (Dorsey & Whitney LLP)

Regulators Encourage Review of Small Business Health Care Tax Credit
"Small employers that pay at least half of the premiums for employee health insurance coverage under a qualifying arrangement may be eligible for the small business health care tax credit. The credit is specifically targeted to help small businesses and tax-exempt organizations that primarily employ 25 or fewer workers with average income of $50,000 or less." (PLANSPONSOR.COM)

Proposed Regulations Implementing the Summary of Benefits and Coverage Requirement
"In the case of mid-year changes, the proposed rule requires the notice of material modifications to be provided 60 days in advance of the effective date of the change. This requirement can be satisfied either by a separate notice describing the material modification or by providing an updated SBC reflecting the modification." (Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.)

Proposed Rule on Summary of Health Benefits and Uniform Glossary Requirements
"The proposed regulations provide that the plan administrator of a group health plan is responsible for providing an SBC to participants and beneficiaries, including enrolled employees, dependents, COBRA-qualified beneficiaries and children covered pursuant to qualified medical child support orders." (McDermott Will & Emery)

The Draft Template for the Uniform Summary of Health Benefits
"The Departments propose that this template be used beginning March 23, 2012, but request comments on the feasibility of this time frame." (The Segal Group, Inc.)

ACA Reforms Could Reduce the Number of Underinsured U.S. Adults by 70 Percent
"Health reform has the potential to help by providing premium assistance and lowering out-of-pocket costs. In this study published in Health Affairs, Commonwealth Fund authors provide a baseline estimate of the number of underinsured and uninsured adults in 2010, and examine how health reform can help." (The Commonwealth Fund)

U.S. Doctor Fees Major Factor in Health Costs, Study Says
"The study, being published Thursday in the journal Health Affairs, found that the incomes of primary care doctors and orthopedic surgeons were substantially higher in the United States than in other countries. Moreover, it said, the difference results mainly from higher fees, not from higher costs of the doctors' medical practice, a larger number or volume of services or higher medical school tuition." (The New York Times; free registration required)

Grandfathering of Health Plans Explained
"For the provisions now in effect, the only one that grandfathered plans are exempt from that is likely to have a material effect on costs is the preventive services requirement. According to the economic impact analysis that accompanied the regulation implementing this requirement, it's projected to increase premiums in non-grandfathered employer plans by about 1 percent." (The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation)

One Question Regarding Stress Can Help Tailor Wellness Programs
"According to a study published by the Mayo Clinic, one simple question asking employees to rate their current stress level may help identify individuals who could benefit from wellness programs to reduce stress and improve resiliency and overall health." (PLANSPONSOR.COM)

CO-OPs: Health Plans That Create Another Consumer Option for Cost-Effective Healthcare Insurance
"With the October 17 application deadline for Consumer Operated and Oriented Plans (CO-OPs) fast approaching, Health Leaders takes another look at the challenge of establishing a CO-OP." (Milliman, Inc.)

Work Absences and Rheumatoid Arthritis
"Rheumatoid arthritis, estimated to affect 1.3 mil.lion adults in the United States, often results in disability and decreased work-related productivity." (Milliman, Inc.)

Health Plan Administrator Seeks to Exempt HRAs from Health Reform Law Research Fees
"That fee—to be used to fund research on medical outcomes as part of the federal health care reform law—will be $1 per plan participant for the first plan year ending after Sept. 30, 2012, and $2 per participant in succeeding years." (Workplace Management: free registration required)

ERIC Comments on Costs to Employers to Fund Comparative Effectiveness Research (PDF)
"The comparative effectiveness research fee is assessed for seven years based on the average number of lives covered under a group health plan. In addition to paying the fee, ERIC's members will have to develop administrative systems that will enable them to determine the average number of covered lives for a variety of group health plans covering a large and dynamic work force." (The ERISA Industry Committee)

Benefits Discrimination against Same Se.x Couples Violates Equal Protection, Court Says
"The Ninth Circuit affirmed the grant of a preliminary injunction . . . against the State of Arizona, requiring it to continue to provide workers in same se.x intimate relationships the employee benefits provided to employees in opposite se.x intimate relationships. The decision, Diaz v. Brewer, blocks a state law that would have removed those benefits for same se.x couples." (Workplace Prof Blog)

2011 Report of Executive Retirement Benefits Practices
"This report reviews today's executive rewards landscape and illustrates the details of current executive program provisions." (Towers Watson)

Build Voluntary Benefits into Workplace Strategies to Attract, Engage and Retain Generation Y
"Total rewards packages that incorporate voluntary benefits will play a key role in not only giving Gen Y workers the flexibility to balance work and life, but also the ability to build more financial security for them and their families. In addition, effective education and communication efforts will be critical components in helping Gen Y workers understand and appreciate the true value of voluntary benefits." (Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company)

The Equity Compensation Report
The NCEO has launched a newsletter focusing on equity compensation issues for companies with broad-based plans and closely held companies. The first three issues will be available at no charge to everyone through November. (National Center for Employee Ownership)

Treasury and DOL 2011–2012 Regulatory Agendas for Employee Benefits (PDF)
"The principal regulators of U.S. employee benefits have recently published their guidance plans for the coming months." (Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP)

AUL Retirement Services Hires VP of Marketing Communications
(American United Life Insurance Company®)

TPAs to Save on Retirement Plan Installation Expenses with The Principal
(The Principal Financial Group)

PenChecks Names Michael Jorgensen as East Region Sales Director
(PenChecks, Inc.)

Generation Y Demands New Workplace Benefits Strategies
(Colonial Life)

Funded Status of U.S. Pensions Falls to 78.0 Percent in August, According to BNY Mellon
(BNY Mellon)

Connelly, Carlisle, Fields & Nichols Plans Ybor City Office
(Connelly, Carlisle, Fields & Nichols)

ING Responds to Challenges Faced by Public Pension Retirement Systems with New Tools and Guidance
(ING Retirement)

Institutional Retirement Income Council Releases Issue Brief On Need For Retirement Income Menu For Defined Contribution Plans
(Institutional Retirement Income Council)