[Guidance Overview]
Health Laws -- 8 New Changes to Insurance
Excerpt: "A set of new consumer protections officially
went into effect
yesterday, Sept. 23, the six-month anniversary of the law. Here's a
guide to some of the changes -- and some of the caveats."
(Kaiser Health News)
[Guidance Overview]
Seeking Clarity on Grandfathered Health Plans
Excerpt: "Among benefits beginning this week that don't
apply to certain
grandfathered plans: . . . ."
(USA TODAY)
[Guidance Overview]
IRS Issues Guidance on Over-the-Counter Medicines And Drugs
Excerpt: "The IRS guidance, which includes Notice 2010-59,
Revenue
Ruling 2010-23, and questions and answers on the IRS website,
establishes a rule concerning what it means for an over-the-counter
medicine or drug to be 'prescribed,' sets forth new rules
concerning the
use of debit cards for over-the-counter medicines and drugs after the
effective date of the rule, provides a transition rule for any needed
cafeteria plan amendments, and discusses when these new rules are
effective."
(Groom Law Group)
[Guidance Overview]
State Health Care Reform Update
Excerpt: "For the last few years, states have been leading the way
toward providing 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)
[Guidance Overview]
Ohio to Propose Fix for Insurers Fleeing Child Coverage
Excerpt: "The Ohio Department of Insurance plans in the next
few days to
issue an emergency rule that officials hope will entice health insurers
to reverse decisions to stop offering child-only policies on the
individual market to avoid federal health reform requirements
. . . ."
(Business Courier of Cincinnati)
[Guidance Overview]
Health Care Reform: Summary of Key Changes in Coverage for Adult
Children
Excerpt: "[Q:] What about state law? [A:] Some states,
such as New York
and New Jersey, have additional requirements for coverage of dependent
children. These requirements apply only to fully insured plans issued in
the applicable state, but not to self-funded plans."
(Jackson Lewis LLP)
[Guidance Overview]
Court Finds Employer Failed in Helping Employee Obtain Plan Documents
Excerpt: "An employer breached its fiduciary duty to an employee
by not
taking additional steps to help her obtain copies of two resource tools
used in denying her son health plan benefits although it did not have
them in its possession, a court has ruled."
(PLANSPONSOR.com)
Blue Cross, HealthPartners Suspend Some Health Plan Sales in Minnesota
Excerpt: "Two of Minnesota's biggest health plans said
Thursday they
have temporarily suspended sales of individual health insurance policies
because of uncertainty related to the new federal health reform
law."
(Minneapolis - St. Paul Star Tribune)
Even Well Children Cant Get Health Insurance in South Carolina
Excerpt: "As national health care reform takes effect,
health insurance
carriers in South Carolina have halted access to new individual policies
for children -- a move that could leave families unable to find
insurance for their healthy children, advocates said."
(TheSunNews.com)
Industry Insiders Answer Key Questions About Health Insurance Exchanges
Excerpt: "four industry observers offered their perspectives
on how the
insurance exchanges will impact the small-group and individual
markets."
(AISHealth.com)
Businesses Prepare for Healthcare Changes
Excerpt: "[S]ome business owners say they're holding back
on creating
new jobs because they're unsure if the newly added provisions
will
increase their health premiums or those of their customers."
(The Wall Street Journal)
Catholic Bishops Ask HHS Not to Require Coverage of Birth Control
Excerpt: "They noted that at least one drug already approved
by the Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) for 'emergency contraception'
can actually
cause early abortions, so a mandate of prescription contraception
coverage as a preventive service would 'be in direct tension with
[PPACA's] statutory prohibition on mandating any abortion
service.'"
(PLANSPONSOR.com)
Hearing on
Protecting and Preserving Social Security for Generations - Watch
Hearing Live
in District of Columbia on September 30, 2010
presented by U.S. House Ways and Means Committee
HIPAA Privacy
Rules Refresher
Nationwide on October 7, 2010
presented
by International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
McDonald's Corporation Named Plan Sponsor of the Year Profit Sharing/401(k) Council of America (PSCA)
The Profit Sharing/401k Council of America Initiates Plan Sponsor Recognition Program Profit Sharing/401(k) Council of America (PSCA)
ACLI Lauds House For Passing Partial Annuitization Proposal American Council of Life Insurers
Partial Annuitization Provision on Way to President for Signature Americans for Secure Retirement (ASR)
Investor Education In The Recession: Investor Protection Trust Updates Materials To Reflect Economic Downturn Investor Protection Trust (IPT)
Oregon Employers Launch Value-Based Benefits Program to Improve Health Oregon Coalition of Health Care Purchasers
Part
Time On Call Participant Counselor
for Transamerica
Retirement Services
in CA, MI, UT, WA
Pension
Plan Administrator
for M. S. Fox & Associates, Inc.
in CA
Compliance Manager, Compliance Testing and Analysis
for
Vanguard
in PA
VP, Key
Account Sales
for Prudential
in CT
Education Consultant
for AXA Equitable
in NJ
Retirement Plan Administrator
for RSM McGladrey, Inc.
in MD
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