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The BenefitsLink Newsletter -
Welfare Plans Edition
December 6, 2000
Today's sponsor is UltraLink, Inc. (click on banner for more information) 
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Final SPD Regulations Explain COBRA Language That Must Be in SPDs
Excerpt: "SPDs for group health plans must include specific language on the COBRA rights of participants and beneficiaries, including qualifying events, qualified beneficiaries, premiums, notice and election requirements and the duration of coverage, according to final regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)." (Thompson Publishing Group)
Humana and PacifiCare Settle Landmark ADA Lawsuit in Texas
Excerpt: "Humana Inc. and PacifiCare Health Systems Inc. have settled a ground-breaking Texas lawsuit alleging that they denied medical care to chronically ill health plan members and that the denials violated their patients' rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)." (insure.com)
City May Take Benefits From Gay Partners
Excerpt: "Two weeks after quietly becoming Orange County's second city to offer health benefits to the domestic partners of its gay employees, Mission Viejo is considering taking those benefits away." (Los Angeles Times)
What to Do If Your Health Insurer Says No
Excerpt: "A recent survey of 2,500 men and women under 65 conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Consumer Reports found that slightly more than half of the respondents had experienced some difficulty over the past year in getting health plans to pay their claims." (MSNBC.com)
HMO Shares Up in Hopes of Bush Victory
Excerpt: "Shares of managed care companies shot up Tuesday along with the broader stock market as investors anticipated a likely Republican victory in the White House that may spell relief for HMO reform in Washington." (New York Times; free registration required)
(Following also appears in Retirement Plans Edition)
DOL Issues Final Rule on SPD Content Requirements
Excerpt: "There are no big surprises in the final rule, as it largely adopts the changes set forth in the DOL's proposed rule issued on September 8, 1998. The final rule's primary focus is on SPD requirements pertaining to group health plans, although the rule also identifies and clarifies SPD requirements for pension and other welfare benefit plans." (Groom Law Group)
Job Openings Newly Posted or Reposted on EmployeeBenefitsJobs.com
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Copyright 2000 BenefitsLink.com, Inc.
Feel free to forward this email to friends, colleagues or clients, if no fee is paid to you and the email is forwarded in its entirety. Thanks!
BenefitsLink is a trademark of BenefitsLink.com, Inc., published by Dave Baker with much help from Mary Hall and lots of friends.
To subscribe (free): visit https://benefitslink.com/newsletter - or the person desiring to subscribe can send an email to BLwelfare@add.mb00.net
We have an online archive of prior issues at
https://benefitslink.com/newsletters/
Welfare Plans Edition
December 6, 2000
Today's sponsor is UltraLink, Inc. (click on banner for more information)
Final SPD Regulations Explain COBRA Language That Must Be in SPDs
Excerpt: "SPDs for group health plans must include specific language on the COBRA rights of participants and beneficiaries, including qualifying events, qualified beneficiaries, premiums, notice and election requirements and the duration of coverage, according to final regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)." (Thompson Publishing Group)
Humana and PacifiCare Settle Landmark ADA Lawsuit in Texas
Excerpt: "Humana Inc. and PacifiCare Health Systems Inc. have settled a ground-breaking Texas lawsuit alleging that they denied medical care to chronically ill health plan members and that the denials violated their patients' rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)." (insure.com)
City May Take Benefits From Gay Partners
Excerpt: "Two weeks after quietly becoming Orange County's second city to offer health benefits to the domestic partners of its gay employees, Mission Viejo is considering taking those benefits away." (Los Angeles Times)
What to Do If Your Health Insurer Says No
Excerpt: "A recent survey of 2,500 men and women under 65 conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Consumer Reports found that slightly more than half of the respondents had experienced some difficulty over the past year in getting health plans to pay their claims." (MSNBC.com)
HMO Shares Up in Hopes of Bush Victory
Excerpt: "Shares of managed care companies shot up Tuesday along with the broader stock market as investors anticipated a likely Republican victory in the White House that may spell relief for HMO reform in Washington." (New York Times; free registration required)
(Following also appears in Retirement Plans Edition)
DOL Issues Final Rule on SPD Content Requirements
Excerpt: "There are no big surprises in the final rule, as it largely adopts the changes set forth in the DOL's proposed rule issued on September 8, 1998. The final rule's primary focus is on SPD requirements pertaining to group health plans, although the rule also identifies and clarifies SPD requirements for pension and other welfare benefit plans." (Groom Law Group)
for DailyAccess.com
in AL
in AL
for Trustar Retirement Services
in MA
in MA
for Ceridian Retirement Plan Services
in CA, CO, FL, VA, WI
in CA, CO, FL, VA, WI
for Buck Consultants
in NJ
in NJ
for Pentec, Inc.
in CT
in CT
for Pentec, Inc.
in CT
in CT
for Pentec, Inc.
in CT
in CT
for The GlobalQuest Group
in CA, GA, IL, MA, MI, NY, PA, TX
in CA, GA, IL, MA, MI, NY, PA, TX
Subscribe to the Retirement Plans Edition, too (click)
Copyright 2000 BenefitsLink.com, Inc.
Feel free to forward this email to friends, colleagues or clients, if no fee is paid to you and the email is forwarded in its entirety. Thanks!
BenefitsLink is a trademark of BenefitsLink.com, Inc., published by Dave Baker with much help from Mary Hall and lots of friends.
To subscribe (free): visit https://benefitslink.com/newsletter - or the person desiring to subscribe can send an email to BLwelfare@add.mb00.net
We have an online archive of prior issues at
https://benefitslink.com/newsletters/
DEPARTMENTS
BENEFITS SPEAKERS
Looking for a speaker for your benefits group? Want to throw your hat into the ring? Free.
BENEFITS CANDIDATES
Need personnel? It's like fishing in a barrel here.
BENEFITS JOBS
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BENEFITSBOARDS.NET
Exchange questions and tips with colleagues. Co-sponsored by us and several employee benefits organizations.
PROGRESSIONS
Promotions and new personnel in the employee benefits community.
Q&A COLUMNS
Experts field questions online, submitted by readers via email.
CONFERENCES
View by location, by sponsoring organization, or by date.
SOFTWARE
Largest listing of benefits software on the net: descriptions, downloads.
ADVERTISE
Ads are our sole source of support. No subscription fees!
davebaker@benefitslink.com ">CONTACT US
Questions?
Comments?
Suggestions?
Copyright 2000 BenefitsLink.com, Inc. All rights reserved. BenefitsLink is a trademark of BenefitsLink.com, Inc.
Looking for a speaker for your benefits group? Want to throw your hat into the ring? Free.
BENEFITS CANDIDATES
Need personnel? It's like fishing in a barrel here.
BENEFITS JOBS
Need a benefits job? Sort the openings by their distance away from you.
BENEFITSBOARDS.NET
Exchange questions and tips with colleagues. Co-sponsored by us and several employee benefits organizations.
PROGRESSIONS
Promotions and new personnel in the employee benefits community.
Q&A COLUMNS
Experts field questions online, submitted by readers via email.
CONFERENCES
View by location, by sponsoring organization, or by date.
SOFTWARE
Largest listing of benefits software on the net: descriptions, downloads.
ADVERTISE
Ads are our sole source of support. No subscription fees!
davebaker@benefitslink.com ">CONTACT US
Questions?
Comments?
Suggestions?
Copyright 2000 BenefitsLink.com, Inc. All rights reserved. BenefitsLink is a trademark of BenefitsLink.com, Inc.