Investment Consultant
for Milliman in NY

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Standard Mileage Rate for Medical and Moving Expense Purposes Will Decrease Slightly for 2012
"Transportation expenses that are deductible medical expenses under Code ? 213 generally can be reimbursed on a tax-free basis by a health FSA, HRA, or HSA." (Thomson Reuters/EBIA)

Self-Funding and Alternative Models for Health Benefit Financing   [Advert.]

As employers struggle with increasing health care costs, rising premiums and instability in the market, explore creative approaches to financing benefits that deliver new opportunities to drive real savings. February 7-9, Washington, DC

HHS Outlines Intended Approach to Defining Essential Health Benefits
"[T]he definition of EHB is an important concern to employers, advisors, and insurers since, beginning in 2017, states may allow large employers to obtain coverage through an Exchange and, thus, the requirement may become applicable to a broader range of plans. Furthermore, the requirement is also applicable for purposes of complying with the prohibition on lifetime and annual dollar limits, which is applied to the value of EHB." (Thomson Reuters/EBIA)

2011 California Employer Health Benefits Survey
"This report presents the highlights of the 2011 California Employer Health Benefits Survey, annual research that tracks changes in employer-based health benefits in the state over time. This year workers at a quarter of California businesses saw their health benefits diminished while their copayments, deductibles, and premium shares increased. And more than a third of employers are considering shifting more premium costs to workers next year." (California HealthCare Foundation)

Texas Insurers Could Send Out $160 Mil.lion in Rebates Next Year
"Starting in 2012, health insurance plans in Texas -- and most of the rest of the country -- may have to cough up millions of dollars in rebates to customers. The rebates will come from health plans that spend too much on administrative costs instead of medical care." (The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation)

Regence BlueCross BlueShield Seeks 4.5% Rate Increase for Small Businesses in Oregon
"Small businesses in Oregon will find themselves paying more for health insurance if a 4.5% rate request by Regence BlueCross BlueShield is approved by the Oregon Insurance Division." (The Lund Report)

Employers Weigh Costs, Options to Maintain Health Benefits
"The standard cost division is for employers to pay about 80 percent and employees about 20 percent . . . . In today's health insurance environment, many companies are asking employees to pay up to 25 percent of those costs . . . ." (Journal Publications Inc.)

A Health Insurance Plan Presidential Candidate Gingrich Might Support
"The lesser known proposal would encourage people to purchase insurance by giving them tax credits or deductions. Those who don't buy insurance and need care would get it through hospitals and clinics serving the poor, which would receive subsidies not claimed by individuals." (The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation)

Blues Plans Pilot New Wellness Tool with Personalized Web Platform
"Although many insurers offer smoking-cessation programs or discount health club memberships, three Blues plans have teamed up with a company to use its Web-based platform, mobile apps, wireless-enabled biometric measurement devices and digital coaching to devise a more personalized wellness program for members." (AISHealth)

2011/2012 Staying@Work Survey Report: Finding a Pathway to Employee Health and Workplace Productivity
"[The findings] paint a complex picture: Although companies with highly effective health and productivity . . . programs have clearly gained successes, they are tempered by shortfalls in key areas for all companies, including those with best practices." (Towers Watson)

Self-Insurance Institute of America Challenges Michigan Health Care Tax
"The tax, which is being used to help fund the state's Medicaid program, would be paid by insurers offering fully insured plans and by third-party claims administrators and stop-loss insurers in the case of self-funded plans. The assessment would be paid quarterly starting April 15, 2012." (Business Insurance)

Yale to Reimburse G.ay Employees' Insurance Taxes
"Reimbursements that begin on Jan. 1 will amount to $125 per month for eligible faculty and managerial and professional staff -- an approximate average of the tax incurred across employees, according to a Tuesday article in the New York Times' Bucks section. Under the new policy, only employees whose partners are not allowed health insurance from a different source will be reimbursed." (Yale Daily News)

PepsiCo Will Cover Certain Medical Travel Costs for Nearly 250,000 Domestic Employees
"Under a new agreement with Johns Hopkins, PepsiCo will now cover medical and travel costs for employees and dependents who elect to have certain surgeries at the Baltimore medical facility. The soft drink giant will waive deductibles and coinsurance for those employees, it said." (Travel Market Report, Inc,)

Michigan Governor Signs Bill to Prevent Benefits for Public Employee Domestic Partners
"The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan fired back . . . vowing to challenge the 'constitutionality of the law on behalf of families who will lose their health protections.'" (ClickOnDetroit.com)

Thinking About the High Costs and Toll of Employer-Provided Health Insurance
"Politicians are loathe to even consider the possibility, making my argument moot. But its time we begin to at least think about it and imagine a nation where employment has absolutely nothing to do with health insurance coverage. Ideally, wages would go up, prices would go down and health care costs would stabilize. New jobs could be created and the costs of U.S. exports would become more competitive, and everyone would have affordable health insurance." (Leader Publications, LLC)

Thomas P. Stafford Joins Krieg DeVault’s Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation; Employee Stock Ownership Plans Practices
(Krieg DeVault LLP)