Do plan changes confuse your employees? [Advert.]
No matter how savvy your employees, today?s benefits world can confuse the most sophisticated consumer. That?s why more organizations use BeneCom for benefits communication. We know what employees need to make their benefits work for them ? and you.
Health Care Reform's Internal Claim Processes and External Review Rules Revised Again
"Nongrandfathered group health plans and insurers will need to comply with revised rules on internal claim processes and external reviews." (Mercer LLC)
Amended Regs on Enhanced Claims and Appeals and External Review, Revised Model Notices, and Guidance on External Review
"[Agencies have] issued revised model notices as part of new technical release guidance on state and federal external review procedures." (Thomson Reuters / EBIA)
Last Call for Waivers of Annual Dollar Limits: All Requests Due by Sept. 22
"Group health plans have until Sept. 22 to request waivers from health care reform's minimum annual dollar limits for 2012 and 2013." (Mercer LLC)
Wellness Program Grant Materials Contracts Awarded to Wellness Organizers/Vendors
"As announced on June 23, 2011, the 'Comprehensive Health Programs to Address Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Tobacco Use in the Workplace' is not designed to grant funds directly to employers who sponsor wellness programs, but instead to established wellness program vendors which will in turn organize and staff 24-month wellness programs among seven employer cohorts located throughout the U.S." (E Is for ERISA)
The Affordable Care Act's Impact on Employer Sponsored Insurance: A Look at the Microsimulation Models and Other Analyses (PDF)
"The Affordable Care Act . . . includes a number of provisions that will affect employer decisions to offer coverage to employees after 2014. Given that employer sponsored insurance (ESI) is the primary source of coverage for Americans, any change to this market is of significant interest. To assess the validity of differing estimates of the effect of the ACA on ESI, Avalere reviewed analyses conducted by economists and policy analysts." (Avalere Health LLC)
IRS and Treasury Officials Provide Informal Views on Wellness, Health FSA, and HSA Issues
These notes from the ABA's Joint Committee on Employee Benefits' May 2011 Q&A session with IRS and Treasury officials report on health issues. (Thomson Reuters / EBIA)
Five Things You Should Know About Workplace Wellness
"1. Engage your leadership." (www.DesMoinesRegister.com)
Benefits in General; Executive Compensation
June 2011 Employee Benefits Update (PDF)
The newsletter includes select compliance deadlines and reminders, retirement plan developments, health and welfare plan developments, and other issues of note. (Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c.)
After New York, New Look at Defense of Marriage Act
"[T]he first lawsuits regarding same-s.ex marriage that are likely to reach the Supreme Court challenge the Defense of Marriage Act and its effect on benefits in a more surgically focused way." (The New York Times; free registration required)
2011 Employee Benefits Research Report
"In 2011, 284 benefits were explored, covering the areas of health care and welfare benefits, preventive health and wellness benefits, retirement savings and planning benefits, financial and compensation benefits, leave benefits, family-friendly benefits, flexible working benefits, employee services benefits, housing and relocation benefits, and business travel benefits." (SHRM)
A Compact Review of SHRM's 2011 Employee Benefits Research Report
"Although the percentage of HR professionals that reported their companies have been negatively affected by the economic recession has slightly decreased over the last year, there has been a slight increase in the percentage of respondents reporting their benefits offerings have been negatively affected by the economy." (PLANSPONSOR.COM)
Press Releases
Employee Benefits Jobs
New Business Specialist
for BeneTrends, Inc. in PA
Associate
for Thompson Hine LLP in OH
Client Relationship Manager - Chicago, Illinois
for Transamerica Retirement Services Corporation in IL
Retirement Plan Operations Manager
for Charles Schwab in OH
Sr. Analyst - Retirement
for AECOM in CA
Post Your Job on EmployeeBenefitsJobs.com
Webcasts and Conferences
401(k) Rekon Advisor Symposium- Leawood in Kansas on July 26, 2011 presented by 401(k) Rekon
Coordination of Multiple Health Care Account Plans Nationwide on July 7, 2011 presented by ftwilliam.com
Voluntary Fiduciary Compliance Programs in Illinois on August 16, 2011 presented by U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)
We also publish the BenefitsLink Retirement Plans Newsletter (free): Subscribe