Health & Welfare Plans Newsletter

January 26, 2018

BenefitsLink.com logo EmployeeBenefitsJobs.com logo
Search   ·   Past Issues   ·   Get Message Boards Digest   ·   Get Retirement News

Jobs

Executive Director
United Steelworkers Benefit Funds
in TN

Retirement Plan Manager
Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia
in GA

ERISA Compliance Associate
Slevin & Hart, P.C.
in DC

►See 117 Jobs

►Post a Job


Webcasts, Conferences


Discussions

New Topics on the BenefitsLink Message Boards

New Comments and Topics

All Topics, Grouped by Forum


This Newsletter:
Subscribe Now

BenefitsLink Retirement Plans Newsletter:
Subscribe Now

Message Boards Digest:
Subscribe Now


[Guidance Overview]

2017 Year in Review, Plus What Lies Ahead in 2018 (PDF)
49 presentation slides, with link to audio. Topics include: [1] ACA: Repeal and Replace? [2] ACA Marches On: ALE Status, Employer Mandate Pay or Play; 2018 Increased Pay or Play Penalties; 2015 Pay or Play Penalty Letters Arrive; 2020 Cadillac Tax Still Looms (Delayed!). [3] Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. [4] California Leave Law Updates. [5] San Francisco Ordinance Updates.
ABD Insurance & Financial Services

[Advert.]

Employer Health Care Cost & Quality Congress | Washington DC

Sponsored by World Congress

4/29-5/2/2018 in Washington DC. This event brings together Employers, Brokers, and TPAs. Qualified HR & Benefits Professionals may attend as our guest – See website for details/restrictions & to apply.


[Guidance Overview]

Maryland Continues National Trend with Paid Sick Leave Law
"The Act is currently scheduled to take effect February 11, 2018; however, the Maryland General Assembly may delay the HWFA's implementation to April 12, 2018 ... Once available, employers should post the Maryland [DOL], Licensing and Regulation model notice.... Employers should also add employees' leave accrual balances to pay stubs or receipts. Finally, employers should make preparations to keep records of accrued leave and use for at least three years."
Winston & Strawn LLP

Tax Reform Changes for Health, Paid Leave and Fringe Benefits
"Many of the changes made by the tax reform law to health, paid leave and fringe benefits will need implementing guidance to fill in the details before employers can make informed decisions about their programs. Employers will generally need to assess the worth of these benefits to employees as well as the cost of the lost deductions."
Willis Towers Watson

Fighting Back: FMLA Fraud and Abuse
"Fraud and dishonesty in the use of FMLA leave may be grounds for termination of employment. An employer suspecting FMLA fraud or abuse may investigate and take action to deter future FMLA abuse.... [O]ptions to consider: [1] Interviewing the employee.... [2] Private investigation.... [3] Recertification."
Polsinelli PC

Health and Well-Being: Current Initiatives Fall Short of Expectations
Infographic. "[A]lthough employers are investing more in health and well-being and are optimistic about their effectiveness ... [o]nly 39% of employees say the health and well-being initiatives offered by their employer meet their needs."
Willis Towers Watson

[Advert.]

Online Learning Course: COBRA

Sponsored by International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans [IFEBP]

Even with ACA coverage easier for individuals to obtain, group health plans must continue to offer COBRA coverage. This course explains technicalities of COBRA, including who is entitled and how to administer.


Health Care Sharing Ministries as an Alternative to Exchange Coverage
"Membership in an HCSM is typically much less expensive than traditional health insurance on a state exchange or otherwise. But there are a lot of potential drawbacks.... [1] Benefits and coverage are not guaranteed, even if a member makes required contributions. [2] An HCSM could become insolvent and claims may not be paid as expected. [3] Participants have limited rights to appeal denials of coverage and/or bring lawsuits."
Greensfelder

Implementing the Idaho Executive Order on Noncompliant ACA Plans
"[P]lans approved under the bulletin would not have to comply with the ACA's ban on preexisting condition exclusions, the requirement to cover a minimum set of essential health benefits, modified community rating standards ... and the ban on annual dollar limits for medical care. Although the bulletin ostensibly covers preexisting medical conditions, coverage is curtailed through benefit limits and far fewer financial protections. The bulletin also allows a return to medical underwriting, which would allow higher premiums for those with a personal or family history of preexisting conditions."
Health Affairs

[Opinion]

American Academy of Actuaries Comment Letter to HHS on Promoting Healthcare Choice and Competition Across the United States (PDF)
"Various actions can be taken to improve individual health insurance market stability and sustainability, thereby increasing healthcare choice and competition.... [1] Provide clarity regarding CSR payments.... [2] Expand mechanisms to encourage enrollment.... [3] Provide external stability funding.... [4] Increase access to catastrophic coverage or add a lower tier 'copper' plan.... [5] Increase benefit design flexibility.... [6] Continue to improve the risk adjustment program."
American Academy of Actuaries

[Opinion]

CAHC Comment Letter to HHS on Promoting Healthcare Choice and Competition Across the United States (PDF)
"We are calling on the Administration and Congress to make the following changes: [1] Improve price and quality transparency to empower consumers in plan and provider choices; ... [2] Allow consumers to vote with their feet by making premium subsidies portable; [3] Allow private eCommerce companies to compete to enroll consumers in health plans; [4] Expand plan choices, including account-based options; ... [5] Ban anti-competitive contract provisions that harm consumers and drive up costs, such as 'anti-tiering' or 'anti-steering' clauses[.]"
Council for Affordable Health Coverage [CAHC]

Benefits in General

[Guidance Overview]

New Disability Claims Procedure Rules Take Effect April 1 (PDF)
"The Final Rule is very likely to increase the administrative costs and burdens of administering disability benefits under ERISA plans and is likely to make it easier for claimants to pursue their claims in court. Key changes to the procedures that ERISA plans must use to process disability claims include: ... [1] Disclosure of the basis for disagreeing with a third party.... [2] Right to review and respond to new information before final decision.... [3] Strict compliance and possible de novo review."
Groom Law Group

Tax Law Fueling Changes to Employer Benefits, Compensation Programs
"Two-thirds of those (66%) surveyed are planning or considering making changes to their benefit programs or have already taken action. The most common changes ... include expanding personal financial planning (34%), increasing 401(k) contributions (26%) and increasing or accelerating pension plan contributions (19%)."
Willis Towers Watson

Executive Compensation
and Nonqualified Plans

[Guidance Overview]

Annual Reporting Requirements for Incentive Stock Options and Employee Stock Purchase Plans
"[A] separate Form 3921 or Form 3922 [must] be filed with the IRS for each transaction ... even if one participant has multiple transactions during the year. If a company provides participants with an information statement that meets the substitute statement requirements, ... the company may aggregate transactions and provide only one substitute statement to each participant who had multiple transactions during the year."
Orrick

Press Releases

NTSA Honors Paul Indianer with Lifetime Achievement Award
National Tax-Deferred Savings Association [NTSA]

Connect   LinkedIn logo   Twitter logo   Facebook logo

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

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

BenefitsLink Health & Welfare Plans Newsletter, ISSN no. 1536-9595. Copyright 2018 BenefitsLink.com, Inc. 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 those materials. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notices from copies of the content.

Links to web sites other than BenefitsLink.com and EmployeeBenefitsJobs.com are offered as a service to our readers; we were not involved in their production and are not responsible for their content.

Unsubscribe | Privacy Policy