http://www.infinisource.net/Rss/Healthcare.ashx Healthcare - News & Review 50 As of this publication date, Congress had passed and President Bush was expected to sign into law H.R. 493, better known as The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA). Provisions under this bill are effective for group health plan years beginning one year after enactment. http://www.infinisource.net/Infinisource/News_Review_Articles/news_review20080512-1.aspx 13 May 2008 Breast cancer is a significant health care concern, and many employers provide mastectomy and related benefits through their health plans. While these benefits are subject to federal law, namely, the Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act (WHCRA), this does not obligate employers to pay for everything, as one court recently pointed out. http://www.infinisource.net/Infinisource/News_Review_Articles/news_review20080415-2.aspx 13 May 2008 The ERISA preemption doctrine can perhaps be best understood as a triangle. The first side is the premise that federal law trumps state law in the area of benefits. The second side provides an exception for insurance, where states are free to regulate. The third side provides a clarification that self-insured benefits are not insurance. http://www.infinisource.net/Infinisource/News_Review_Articles/news_review20080415-3.aspx 15 Apr 2008 An employer did not understand two major administrative functions related to its ERISA plan. As a result, the employer had to pay a fine even while the litigation continued in the case of Weddell v. Whirlpool Production Employees Retirement Plan Committee. What were the two mistakes? http://www.infinisource.net/Infinisource/News_Review_Articles/news_review20080211-6.aspx 12 Feb 2008 Consider offering a Wellness Plan! Open enrollment is over and hopefully you’ve been able to manage your health care costs for 2008. But can you do better? The answer is yes. http://www.infinisource.net/Infinisource/News_Review_Articles/news_review20080107-1.aspx 07 Jan 2008 Ending a saga that dated back to the year 2000, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued Final Regulations in December on how employers may design retiree health plans related to Medicare-eligible participants. In what the EEOC called a special employment program, employers now have an exemption from age discrimination laws when they take into account participants’ Medicare eligibility. http://www.infinisource.net/Infinisource/News_Review_Articles/news_review20080107-8.aspx 07 Jan 2008 Deck the halls with boughs of holly, Fa la la la la, la la la la. Tis the season to be jolly, Fa la la la la, la la la la. When reading these words it automatically has you humming the song and thinking of all the holiday preparations to be completed. Does your list encompass year-end benefit planning? Strike the harp and join the chorus with these helpful reminders to prepare for 2008: http://www.infinisource.net/Infinisource/News_Review_Articles/news_review20071210-4.aspx 10 Dec 2007 How would you like the chance to ask government officials questions about any topic within their authority? The American Bar Association's Joint Committee on Employee Benefits (ABA JCEB) has this opportunity every year, and the 2007 responses provide further guidance to both employers and insurance professionals. http://www.infinisource.net/Infinisource/News_Review_Articles/news_review20070910-3.aspx 10 Sep 2007 As the summer gives way to fall, many will focus their attention on a three-word phrase that is commonly spoken: back to school. This is a good time for benefits and insurance professionals to focus their attention on another three-word phrase: plan eligibility audit. http://www.infinisource.net/Infinisource/News_Review_Articles/news_review20070910-4.aspx 10 Sep 2007 As the summer winds down, the days of going back to school may bring back vivid memories of classrooms, teachers and studying for exams. Remember being less than prepared as a pop quiz was being distributed? According to a recent survey, these types of memories could be reality for employees when the subject is health care coverage. http://www.infinisource.net/Infinisource/News_Review_Articles/news_review20070813-3.aspx 13 Aug 2007 Summary Annual Report Deadline. For group health plans that are required to file a Form 5500, they must distribute a Summary Annual Report no later than nine months after the end of the plan year, unless an exception applies. http://www.infinisource.net/Infinisource/News_Review_Articles/news_review20070813-6.aspx 13 Aug 2007 As previously reported, the Massachusetts fair share law became effective on July 1, 2007. In late June, the Massachusetts Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority extended a key July 1, 2007, filing deadline by three months. http://www.infinisource.net/Infinisource/News_Review_Articles/news_review20070709-2.aspx 09 Jul 2007 Most employers, insurance agents and brokers in Massachusetts are aware of the state's so-called fair share law that becomes effective on July 1, 2007. What may not be as clear is what employers need to do in advance of that date to comply with the law. http://www.infinisource.net/Infinisource/News_Review_Articles/news_review20070620-1.aspx 20 Jun 2007 Implementing Consumer Driven Health Care (CDHC) is comparable to running a marathon. Success requires a long-term commitment, training and preparation. Often, the finish line seems beyond reach for both employees and employers alike. http://www.infinisource.net/Infinisource/News_Review_Articles/news_review20070507-3.aspx 07 May 2007 The forecast for health care benefit administration in 2007 calls for continued cloudiness with more clouds on the way. New Congressional leadership, rising health care costs, an expanding number of benefit options and the accompanying compliance issues are all factors that create problems for administrators. Solving those problems and helping administrators navigate through the clouds requires expert research, advice and service. Founded as COBRA Compliance Systems, Inc. in 1986, Infinisource enters its twenty-first year and continues to build upon its reputation for providing all three. http://www.infinisource.net/Infinisource/News_Review_Articles/new_review20070109-1.asp 09 Jan 2007 2007 Thresholds. Employers will want to make sure that all threshold increases are in place for 2007. This effects high-deductible health plans (HDHPs), Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), Transportation Plans and FSA/HRA mileage rates. http://www.infinisource.net/Infinisource/News_Review_Articles/new_review20070109-7.asp 09 Jan 2007 Many people are making a list and checking it twice, for very different reasons than the holiday season. Instead of shopping for two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree, this season is about ensuring that benefit plans are ready for 2007. Here are some helpful reminders from Infinisource: http://www.infinisource.net/news/stories/new_review20061211-1.asp 11 Dec 2006 The following checklist provides insurance agents/brokers, employers and benefits professionals a checklist of key upcoming dates and deadlines related to health benefits. This reminder list does not constitute all of the deadlines applicable to employers and some deadlines may be different based on variations in plan year or plan design. http://www.infinisource.net/news/stories/new_review20061211-7.asp 11 Dec 2006 Employers are asking employees to step up to the plate and not strike out when it comes to being healthier. Lifestyle changes, eating habits; early disease detection and exercise patterns can offset the rising costs of health care. http://www.infinisource.net/news/stories/new_review20061106-3.asp 06 Nov 2006 Four benefit factors may force employers to consider what used to be unthinkable: the “retirement” of their retiree health care. http://www.infinisource.net/news/stories/new_review20061106-4.asp 06 Nov 2006 Question: What is like the proverbial search for a needle in a haystack? Answer: Finding the Cafeteria Plan provision in the recently passed Defense spending bill. http://www.infinisource.net/news/stories/new_review20061106-5.asp 06 Nov 2006 The change of the season brings fall colors, football games, cooler weather and for HR and benefits specialists – health plan open enrollment. As families rake up leaves in the front yard, their HR team is piling up information on what health plans will be offered and how much they will cost. http://www.infinisource.net/news/stories/new_review20061010-2.asp 10 Oct 2006 Expected Guidance on 2007 Thresholds. The IRS typically issues guidance in November on various dollar thresholds. These include HSA contribution maximums, high-deductible health plan minimum deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums and the definition of a Highly Compensated Employee. http://www.infinisource.net/news/stories/new_review20061010-6.asp 10 Oct 2006 The future of Maryland's Wal-Mart Law is in jeopardy after a Federal District Court recently ruled ERISA preempted it. http://www.infinisource.net/news/stories/new_review20060804-4.asp 4 Aug 2006 Who can forget the events of Hurricane Katrina last August and the horrible aftermath? IRS has not, recently clarifying rules for employees sharing vacation time with other employees in need. This guidance is timely as the hurricane/tornado season approaches. http://www.infinisource.net/news/stories/new_review20060712-2.asp 14 Jul 2006 For employers with calendar-year plans, the summer months can be a time of relative peace and quiet. The renewal is long past, run-out periods are over, and open enrollment is still several months away. http://www.infinisource.net/news/stories/new_review20060712-3.asp 14 Jul 2006 Keeping employees healthy may be the key to reducing health care costs. This theme is behind many changes that are embraced by both employees and employers at an ever-increasing rate. http://www.infinisource.net/news/stories/new_review20060516-1.asp 16 May 2006 President George W. Bush focused some of his Jan. 31, 2006, State of the Union Address on making health care in America more affordable, portable, transparent and efficient. The President believes Americans deserve high-quality, reasonably priced, reliable health care, and the security of knowing they will have it when they need it, according to a recent White House press release. http://www.infinisource.net/news/stories/newsroom20060208-3.asp 08 Feb 2006 Health care costs will likely rise again for 2006, pushing many employers to find alternatives to reduce their ever-rising budgets for employment-based health care. The choices for employers who continue to offer health benefits are basically two: either deal with higher health care benefit costs or adopt new and innovative plan designs. http://www.infinisource.net/news/stories/newsroom20051020-4.asp 20 Oct 2005 A great start to a day is usually a nice cup of coffee and a review of the day’s events. However, when that day includes COBRA, HIPAA, ERISA, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), and employment issues, the day can quickly progress from good to bad to ugly! This is the plight that faces many Human Resource (HR) representatives who can take only so much before they scream, Enough is enough! http://www.infinisource.net/news/stories/newsroom20050817-2.asp 17 Aug 2005 Fear and anxiety are influencing employees during the decision-making process about health care rather than a rational examination of the marketplace, according to a Towers Perrin (Towers) study. http://www.infinisource.net/news/stories/newsroom20050817-3.asp 17 Aug 2005 There's nothing better than open enrollment to remind employers of the high cost of providing employee health benefits. http://www.infinisource.net/Infinisource/stories/cdhc2.asp 16 Nov 2004 Higher health insurance costs are leading to increased co-pays and deductibles, which in turn are resulting in many finding it difficult to provide employer sponsored benefits because it is becoming too costly for both the employer and the employee. http://www.infinisource.net/Infinisource/stories/cdhc1.asp 20 Oct 2004 Recent studies of the business environment show employers and HR professionals are more than ready to use web-based resources to help them save time and money, especially if it frees more time for important issues like recruiting, training and compensation. http://www.infinisource.net/Infinisource/stories/agent1.asp 27 Feb 2004 Highly automated, web-based solutions for administering employee benefits and overseeing other HR tasks are being sought by an increasing number of employers – no matter how large or small. http://www.infinisource.net/Infinisource/stories/tech1.asp 28 Jan 2004 The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) provided employers, plan sponsors, service providers and other plan officials with a holiday gift, the Reporting and Disclosure Guide for Employee Benefit Plans. http://www.infinisource.net/Infinisource/stories/ebsa1.asp 19 Dec 2003 According to a study by the Anderson School of Business at the University of California, Los Angeles, the United States spent $1.3 trillion on health care in 2000, more than any other developed nation. The study reported that health care expenses are the fastest-growing portions of labor costs, and the average annual premium for a family health insurance policy is now more than $7,000. http://www.infinisource.net/Infinisource/stories/law1.asp 17 Oct 2003 Use of the web for human resource communications is as high as 75 percent of companies in the US, according to the Cedar 2002 Human Resources Self-Service/Portal Survey, and an additional 18 percent are moving toward web technology in the future. The survey also indicated that online health and welfare benefits management is offered at 55 percent of the companies, with yet another 34 percent ready to make that change. http://www.infinisource.net/Infinisource/stories/online3.asp 17 Oct 2003 Regulations. Proposed. Final. Special Enrollment. Creditable Coverage. Qualifying Event. COBRA. Election. All of these words can put fear into the hearts of both employers and employees. To the rescue is the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) which launched an interactive website, http://www.dol.gov/elaws/ebsa/health/, to aid both groups with an enhanced understanding of the laws that surround group health benefits. http://www.infinisource.net/Infinisource/stories/dol1.asp 15 Aug 2003 The annual benefit enrollment process can be a paper-pushing nightmare. But the Internet can automate this process. http://www.infinisource.net/Infinisource/stories/online2.asp 18 Jul 2003 Health Care is in the public eye now more than ever. Commercials tout the benefits of prescription drugs and news programs talk about how government is working to make health care more affordable. Meanwhile, the cost of health care for you and your employer is going up as much as 35 percent. Many bills have been introduced recently to help Americans deal with the rising costs of health care. http://www.infinisource.net/Infinisource/stories/bills1.asp 20 Jun 2003 Many employers were faced with double-digit increases for the fourth consecutive year on health care. To curb these increases employers are looking at their employees to help curb the rising costs in health care. Numerous employers are finding it difficult to get employees to buy into their part to fix the problem. http://www.infinisource.net/Infinisource/stories/cdh1.asp 09 May 2003 Consumer driven health care and Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRA) are new to most employers, and despite allowing employers to create some long-term control over employee benefit plans, HRAs can be overwhelming. http://www.infinisource.net/Infinisource/stories/hra2.asp 10 Mar 2003 On February 4, 2003, Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao announced a new name for the Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration (PWBA). It is now called the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA). http://www.infinisource.net/Infinisource/stories/rename.asp 07 Feb 2003