To EmployeeBenefitsJobs.com To BenefitsLink home page

BenefitsLink Health & Welfare Plans Newsletter

December 9, 2011 Get Retirement News  |  Advertise  |  Unsubscribe  |  Past Issues  |  Search

Employee Benefits Jobs

Cash Operations Team Lead
for Charles Schwab in TX

Benefits Analyst
for Sentinel Benefits and Financial Group in MA

VP, Operations
for Prudential in CT

Associate Actuary - Retirement Actuarial Modeling
for Prudential in CT

Pension Administrator
for Coble Pension Group, LLC in AZ

Post Your Job on EmployeeBenefitsJobs.com

View All Jobs

RSS feed for jobs RSS Feed: All Jobs


Webcasts and Conferences

Severance and Other Termination Arrangements: Planning and Executing Defensible Goodbyes
Nationwide on January 17, 2012 presented by ABA Joint Committee on Employee Benefits

The World Congress 7th Annual Employer Health & Human Capital Congress
in District of Columbia on February 7, 2012 presented by World Congress

The World Congress Executive Forum on Self-Funding and Alternative Models for Health Benefit Financing
in District of Columbia on February 7, 2012 presented by World Congress


We also publish the BenefitsLink Retirement Plans Newsletter (free): Subscribe

[Guidance Overview]
Employers Must Comply with Changes to San Francisco Health Care Mandate Beginning January 1, 2012
"While these changes again raise federal [ERISA] preemption concerns, barring a challenge (which seems unlikely), the Ordinance's new requirements will go into effect. Employers, particularly those using a health reimbursement account plan (HRA) or a health savings account (HSA) plan, should consider compliance preparations with the assistance of legal counsel." (Jackson Lewis LLP)


7th Annual Employer Health & Human Capital Congress   [Advert.]

Sponsored by World Congress

Find solutions to empower improved health outcomes, restructure benefits to achieve cost sustainability and implement measurable wellness and benefit designs that stand up to CFO-scrutiny. February 7-9, Washington, DC


[Guidance Overview]
DOL FAQ Delays Summary of Benefits and Coverage Requirement under Affordable Care Act; Clarifies Rules under Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008
"It is expected that when final regulations are released, the applicability date will leave group health plans and health insurers with sufficient time to comply." (Proskauer Rose LLP)

NY Retiree Group Sues over Increase in Health Benefit Costs
"The suit asks for a rollback of a 2% increase in the percentage retirees pay toward the cost of their health insurance premiums. The lawsuit, RPEA, et. al. vs. Cuomo, et.al. . . . asks that Cuomo and other state officials who 'administratively extended' provisions of negotiated union contracts to retired public employees be legally stopped from imposing such terms on existing retirees." (PLANSPONSOR.COM)

California Supreme Court Says County Retirees' Health Coverage Is Vested
"'Under California law, a vested right to health benefits for retired county employees can be implied under certain circumstances from a county ordinance or resolution,' wrote Justice Marvin R. Baxter for the court in a decision involving Orange County employees and retirees." (Governing)

Coalition Urges HHS to Consider Affordability for Employers in Developing the Essential Benefits Package
"In addition to keeping affordability a top concern, the coalition says HHS should also follow the IOM's recommendations for the treatment of state benefit mandates and the basis for making updates to the package." (Employee Benefit News)

State Health Care Reform Update, December 9, 2011
"For the last few years, states have been leading the way toward more comprehensive health care coverage to ensure that more people have or can obtain health insurance. With the passage of federal health care reform, states will have increasing responsibilities in regard to employer-provided health insurance benefits." (Wolters Kluwer Law & Business / CCH)

[Opinion]
Social Insurance and Individual Freedom
"The continuing debate over the Affordable Care Act and the commentary on this blog have convinced me that nothing can ever unite Americans on their vision of an ideal health system." (The New York Times; free registration required)

[Opinion]
To Fix the Health Care System, Look at the Allocation, Not the Costs
"It's common knowledge that the United States spends more than any other country on health care but still ranks in the bottom half of industrialized countries in outcomes like life expectancy and infant mortality. Why are these other countries beating us if we spend so much more? The truth is that we may not be spending more — it all depends on what you count." (The New York Times; free registration required)

Benefits in General; Executive Compensation

Measuring the Cost and Dilutive Impact of Aggregate Share-Based Compensation (PDF)
"This report expands on prior Fair Value Transfer ('FVT') reports in two meaningful ways. First, in addition to FVT, we examine market rates for share usage and overhang. Second, this report provides a broader perspective on FVT rates for the six year period from 2005 to 2010." (Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc.)

Employee Perks Program Lets Small Businesses Offer Big Benefits
"The [BetterWorks Perks Platform] enables SMBs to provide 'large company-style' perks to their employees by offering them a cafeteria-style menu of discounted rates on food and beverages, entertainment, education, auto services, health and wellness, travel, pet care, recreation, cleaning services and more. Discounts average 15 to 30 percent, the company says." (TechMediaNetwork.com)

Five Holiday Benefits and Perks to Thank Employees
"Whether it's giving a small gift or throwing a holiday bash to show your care, employees will be thankful for your support and recognition." (Employee Benefit News)

[Opinion]
Another Unexpected Twist in the Shareholder Say on Pay Lawsuits
"The new twist is good news. On Monday, the judge ordered the plaintiffs' attorneys to show cause for why the court should not vacate the ruling in the Cincinnati Bell case due to sanctionable conduct by the plaintiffs' attorneys. The conduct alleged is somewhat technical, involving a fib as to the state of residence and, therefore, subject matter jurisdiction, but we will take it any." (Michael S. Melbinger via Winston & Strawn LLP)

Press Releases



BenefitsLink.com, Inc.
1298 Minnesota Avenue, Suite H
Winter Park, Florida 32789
Phone (407) 644-4146
Fax (407) 644-2151

Jeanette Hull, News Editor
David Rhett Baker, J.D., Editor and Publisher
Lois Baker, J.D., President
Holly Horton, Business Manager

Copyright © 2011 BenefitsLink.com, Inc. All rights reserved.

All materials contained in this newsletter are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of BenefitsLink.com, Inc., or in the case of third party materials, the owner of that content. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content.

Links to Web sites other than those owned by BenefitsLink.com, Inc. are offered as a service to readers. The editorial staff of BenefitsLink.com, Inc. was not involved in their production and is not responsible for their content.

More useful links: