Employee Benefit News back issues from June 2009:
Cutting the apron strings; Medicare and retiree-health coordinators help move retirees from employer- sponsored plans.(Cover Story)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Byline: Lydell C. Bridgeford A new era in health care reform may see more employers turning to Medicare and retiree-health coordinators to help them transition Medicare-eligible retirees from employer-sponsored group plans to the individual market. Medicare laws have ...
International benefits roundup includes news from Japan, Vietnam, Australia.(Editor's Desk)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Byline: Compiled by IBIS eVISOR Japan proposes changes to defined contribution rules The Japanese government's proposed tax reform legislation introduces a provision allowing employees to make contributions to defined contribution retirement plans, with employee ...
Catching the legislative fastballs; Dealing with the COBRA subsidy has one practitioner dusting off her catcher's mitt.(Benefits Corner Office)
Jun 01, 2009; ... Byline: Nancy L. Bolton I was never an athletic kid, being rather diminutive in stature, but I think I'm going to see if I can find my long-lost baseball glove. I'll need it, as will the rest of the nation's employers, as we try to catch all these fastballs coming at ...
Purchasing power: 10 steps to streamlining your RFP process.(Benefits Corner Office)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Byline: Patrick J. Haraden As employers continue to deal with increasing federal and state regulations, fiduciary obligations, threats of litigation and a shrinking employee benefits vendor pool, they must fundamentally change the way they purchase employee benefits. ...
No 'I' in team: Building a strong team to create your benefits strategic plan.(Benefits Corner Office)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Byline: Jack Kwicien This article is the second in a five-part series to walk benefit professionals through the process of developing a multi-year benefits strategic plan. Part one, "Don't be dead wood," which addressed the rationale for creating such a plan and how to plot an ...
Look for the 'Magnet' label.(Employee-Consumer)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Byline: Betty Long It's no secret that not all hospitals are alike and that quality varies from hospital to hospital. What may not be as well-known is that employers, insurers and patients should look for facilities with Magnet Recognition - an award that recognizes ...
Five tips to engage employees in wellness, move the needle on costs.(Employee-Consumer)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Byline: Jill Hudgins While employees watch the value of their financial assets decrease, the temptation may be to stop investing in their No.1 asset: their health. When this happens, employees may be deferring even greater costs to a later date. Here are five tips to keep ...
No pay, not no rules: Compliance tips for unpaid internship programs.(Employee-Consumer)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Byline: Kathleen Koster In this economy, it may seem like a good idea to hire an unpaid intern to reduce personnel costs, but employers should think twice before replacing their full-time workers with unpaid staff. Maintaining compliance with Department of Labor ...
Avoid hidden retirement plan costs related to layoffs.(Laws and Regs)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Byline: Frank Palmieri Most employers have been evaluating the status of employee terminations that have occurred since Sept. 1, 2008, in connection with the federal subsidy for the cost of COBRA coverage. The federal subsidy only applies to involuntary terminations. ...
Principal honors 10 Best Companies for Employee Financial Security.(Success Stories)(Principal Financial Group Inc.)
Jun 01, 2009; ... Byline: Lydell C. Bridgeford Principal Financial Group recently cheered 10 employers that crossed the finish line in the pursuit to offer benefits programs that help recession-minded workers stay financially secure. Winners of the firm's 10 Best Companies for Employee ...
In their own words.(Success Stories)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Byline: Editorial Staff Rachel Frazier, vice president of human resources and training at 1st United Services Credit Union: "We do a lot of research and market analysis to make sure we are picking benefits that offer the most to our employees at the least cost to us." ...
EFCA debate roils between employer, union groups.(Policy Fight)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Byline: Kathleen Koster As debate rages over the reintroduction of the Employee Free Choice Act, labor and employer groups clamor for political support for or against what many are calling the most dramatic changes to labor law and the 1935 National Labor Relations Act in ...
Tough nut to crack; Better coordination of care for the chronically ill isn't a bad thing to do, but new research shows that it's also not going to help crack the cost-control nut like some may have hoped.(Health Care)
Jun 01, 2009; ... Byline: Robert L. Whiddon Researchers have come to the conclusion that coordination of care programs really don't save a lot of money. In fact, for the programs to just break-even is a stretch, though the best ones manage that and also achieve some gains in care quality. ...
Start at the finish line: Building results-oriented wellness programs.(Health Care)
Jun 01, 2009; ... Byline: Michael Puck The success of any wellness program rests on the active involvement of at least 80% of all employees and spouses. But lack of participation is just one of the potential pitfalls that cause wellness programs to fail. The most avoidable pitfall is ...
Economic crisis makes waves in drug, medical claims activity; Some cut back on medications; others hurry to get more care.(Health Care)(Survey)
Jun 01, 2009; ... Byline: Leah Carlson Shepherd Amid this year's harsh economic climate, an alarming number of people are not taking the medications they need, while others are getting more medical treatments now because they're concerned about losing their health coverage. At least ...
Report shows faults in mental health system.(Health Care)(National Alliance on Mental Illness)
Jun 01, 2009; ... Byline: Leah Carlson Shepherd When employees lack access to mental health treatments, employers bear the cost in terms of increased absenteeism and presenteeism. New research indicates there's much room for improvement when it comes to accessing mental health care. ...
This month at BenefitNews.com; June's don't-miss Web-only content at ebn.benefitnews.com, your best online resource for benefits news and information.(Online content)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Byline: Editorial Staff "Five Minutes With ..." EBN's monthly podcast series, where we get exclusive insights from benefit managers, consultants and innovators behind great new products. This month, EBN spends five minutes with: John Connor, a principal at ...
Take two; 2009 can be a "re-do" year for retirement plans.
Jun 01, 2009; ... Byline: Jerry Kalish The benefits world is one of acronyms - ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA. One biggie that will command the attention this year of everyone who works with retirement plans is EGTRRA - the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001. You might ...
Financial education can help employers' bottom lines.(Retirement Planning)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Byline: Mark Nadler Most advocates of employee financial education emphasize the benefit to employees; the benefit (and profit) to employers from having a financially literate workforce generally is an afterthought. However, this reverses the true order of importance of employee ...
With LTC, youth not wasted on the young; Group LTC insurance draws a younger crowd.(Voluntary)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Byline: Lydell C. Bridgeford Employees who buy long-term care insurance under a group plan at the workplace are younger than those who buy LTC coverage on the individual market, reports the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance. The California-based trade ...
Stretch and bend; Flexibility is key to work-life benefits at small firms.(Quality of Life)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Byline: Leah Carlson Shepherd When it comes to work-life benefits, such as paid leave, small businesses usually have a different set of challenges and needs than large businesses have. Several bills have been introduced in Congress this year to require paid sick days ...
Double whammy of absence costs has employers searching for answers.(Quality of Life)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Byline: Marcia Carruthers and Nazneen Vimadalal The current economic crisis has increased the stakes for HR/benefits professionals to manage the staggering financial impact of employee absence. More than $100 billion is lost each year to absenteeism, according to the Department ...
A reality check on employee benefits.(Research results)(Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.)(MetLife's Institutional Business)
Jun 01, 2009; ... Byline: Lydell C. Bridgeford The recession has placed employee benefits back in the limelight as employers work to trim costs while retaining talent, Bill Mullaney, president of MetLife Institutional Business told attendees at MetLife's 5th National Benefits Symposium. ...
Amid flagging life insurance coverage, Guardian intros auto increase option for group voluntary plans From wire reports.(Voluntary)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Byline: From wire reports The Guardian Life Insurance Company, a leading provider of employee and voluntary benefits, recently introduced an automatic benefit increase option designed to protect life insurance beneficiaries from inflation. Guardian also announced an ...
Prince to pauper; With executive perks already on the decline, TARP exec comp limits may guide policies for non-bailout companies.(Feature Story)(Troubled Asset Relief Program)
Jun 01, 2009; ... Byline: Richard Stolz Only a few hundred companies, mainly banks, have received bailout money under the federal Troubled Asset Relief Program (aka TARP) since last fall. But the strings attached to those funds, sharply restricting executive compensation, will be tugging at the ...
Bare Bones; Voluntary benefits allow employers to strip down core offerings to trim costs.(Feature Story)
Jun 01, 2009; ... Byline: Kathleen Koster This article is the second in a three-part Open Enrollment Boot Camp series that offers benefits professionals tools and tips to prepare for this year's open enrollment season. The first article, "Getting to your fighting weight," which addressed ...
$634 billion for health care reform not needed?(Editor's Desk)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Byline: Kelley M. Butler Although the odds are stacked against them, federal lawmakers are soldiering forth to draft comprehensive health care reform legislation to provide universal coverage to all Americans. President Obama has said repeatedly he wants and expects to sign a ...
Corrections.(Correction notice)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Byline: Editorial Staff In the April 1 EBN, the article "In the red: More pension plans slide into 'red zone' of less than 65% funded," should have clarified that according to research by The Segal Co., the average funded ratio declined to 94% for multiemployer pension plans ...
Readers jeer opt-out payments, cheer onsite clinics.(Column)
Jun 01, 2009 ... Byline: Editorial Staff Palmieri's stance on opt-out payments is 'paternalistic' Frank Palmieri rarely writes something that doesn't spark interest, and I always look forward to reading his column in Employee Benefit News. I don't always agree with him, and his April ...
Feeling bamboozled by payment recovery services.(Editorial)
Jun 01, 2009; ... Byline: Karrie Andes You know that feeling you get when you find out something that you should have known? It's a churn in my stomach that turns into a knot when I see our health care dollars fly right over my head and out the door. I've often been a victim to ...
Increasing transparency; 401(k) fee disclosure takes center stage.(Cover Story)
Jun 15, 2009; ... Byline: Lynn Gresham Momentum is building for greater transparency - and reductions - in 401(k) fees. The estimated loss of $2 trillion in retirement plan assets has put defined contribution plans squarely in crosshairs of the nation's lawmakers, justices and public ...
Thinking holistically about benefits in a lean year.(Employee-Consumer)
Jun 15, 2009 ... Byline: Ronald S. Leopold In the midst of current economic challenges, opportunities have emerged for employee benefits professionals. In this challenging year, compensation and benefits will not necessarily be equal partners. Many companies will face significant struggles in ...
Money gone to waste? Some experts question whether health IT investments truly will save money.(Health Care)
Jun 15, 2009 ... Byline: Leah Carlson Shepherd This year's federal stimulus law includes a $19.5 billion investment in health information technology. It extends incentive payments to doctors and hospitals that buy and use electronic medical records, with penalties starting in 2015 for those who ...
Debunking misconceptions about lupus, health care costs and the workplace.(Health Care)
Jun 15, 2009 ... Byline: Lydell C. Bridgeford This article is the second in a two-part series addressing lesser-known ailments that affect employee health and productivity, and employer costs. The first installment, "Suffering in silence," which addressed the hidden costs of migraines, was ...
Not exactly health IT; Battery-powered electronic cigarettes hit the store shelves, but not incorporated into employers' smoking-cessation programs.(Feature Story)
Jun 15, 2009 ... Byline: Leah Carlson Shepherd Imagine taking a break to relax, reaching into your pocket and drawing a long inhale on ... a tobacco-free electronic cigarette. It may not have FDA approval yet, but it is the latest innovation in series of products designed to aid smoking ...
Looking for land; U.S. multinationals look at pan-European plans as a way to put global benefits plans on solid ground.(Feature Story)
Jun 15, 2009 ... Byline: Paul Shimer In the 1950s and 1960s, American companies initiated ambitious plans to expand business outside the United States. Such expansion also meant exporting American methods of doing business, including employee benefit plans. The original thinking was simply to ...
How may I help you? Brokers launch 401(k) help lines to give employers an extra hand with retirement education.(Retirement Planning)
Jun 15, 2009 ... Byline: Elizabeth Galentine It started with a phone line and a thought. With high deductibles and defined contribution plans that highlight personal responsibility becoming the norm, Craig Hasday, president of New York-based Frenkel Benefits, wanted a way to put his company ...
Summary of alternatives regarding the federal COBRA subsidy.(Laws and Regs)
Jun 15, 2009 ... Byline: Frank Palmieri The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA, but perhaps best known simply as the "stimulus package"), implemented a 65% federal subsidy for the cost of COBRA coverage for individuals involuntarily terminated from their jobs between Sept. 1, 2008 and ...
Video games use 'stealth learning' to teach financial planning.(Success Stories)
Jun 15, 2009 ... Byline: Kathleen Koster Ever consider what you would do with Madonna's money? "Celebrity Calamity" might be the game for you. The computer video game features you as the personal assistant to one of three made-up celebrities, like Missy Moolah, for whom you must make credit ...
10 tips for success with voluntary benefits.(Voluntary)
Jun 15, 2009 ... Byline: Patrick J. Haraden As the costs of traditional employee benefits continue to increase, many employers are re-evaluating their offering of voluntary benefits. Employers can gain from offering voluntary benefits because they can increase employee morale, loyalty and ...
Swimming against, and occasionally with, the tide on cancer insurance.(Voluntary)
Jun 15, 2009 ... Byline: Robert L. Whiddon It only takes a minute or two for the Web-enabled consumer to find a host of people telling them cancer insurance is a bad buy. From consumer financial sites to celebrity advisers, the message is clear: You don't need cancer insurance. The ...
Pitfalls await employers adopting partner benefits.(Same-sex benefits)
Jun 15, 2009 ... Byline: Kathleen Koster Employers avowing equal benefits for same-sex couples and their families should tread carefully down the aisle in order to sidestep potential tax and legal snags, experts advise. The concerns might be fewer for self-insured employers generally ...
Parting ways pleasantly; As layoffs persist, employers embrace offboarding procedures, services to 'focus on the humane side'.(Quality of Life)
Jun 15, 2009 ... Byline: Elizabeth Galentine What do companies such as Citigroup, Nike and Wells Fargo have in common? They've all embraced offboarding. A converse to the more commonplace practice of onboarding employees, offboarding is gaining traction as a necessary HR function while ...
This month at BenefitNews.com; June's don't-miss Web-only content at ebn.benefitnews.com, your best online resource for benefits news and information.(Online content)
Jun 15, 2009 ... Byline: Editorial Staff "Five Minutes With ..." EBN's monthly podcast series, where we get exclusive insights from benefit managers, consultants and innovators behind great new products. This month, EBN spends five minutes with: James ...
Editor's Inbox: Readers write in about DR dental, contributed content.(direct reimbursement)(Editorial)
Jun 15, 2009 ... One pro's experience with direct reimbursement dental I read your April 1 feature story ("Merging past and progressive") with interest. I just had to contact you and let you know we are introducing for our dental plan renewal effective July 1. We have had a direct reimbursement ...
Court rejects ban on guns in workplace parking lots.(Court ruling)
Jun 15, 2009 ... Byline: Lydell C. Bridgeford In Ramsey Winch Inc. v. Henry, the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously ruled that workers in Oklahoma have the constitutional right to keep guns in their vehicles parked on their employers' parking lots. The ruling reversed a ...
Look at the birdie: Tweets are taking over.(Editor's Desk)
Jun 15, 2009 ... Byline: Kelley M. Butler It's no secret, the world's gone a-Twitter. Whether being used to communicate with friends, colleagues or like-minded strangers, the social networking/microblogging site Twitter experienced 1,382% growth between February 2008 and February 2009. ...
International benefits news from Belgium, Taiwan and France.(Editor's Desk)
Jun 15, 2009 ... Byline: Compiled by IBIS eVisor Belgium extends eligibility period for family leave Belgium has extended the eligibility period for paternity and childcare leave. Fathers now are eligible for 10 days of paid paternity leave, with the first three days paid by the ...
Could your employees be corporate thieves? Increased layoffs heighten risk of information theft.(Benefits Corner Office)
Jun 15, 2009; ... Byline: Kathleen Koster Corporate information is at a heightened risk as mass layoffs continue to leave disgruntled former employees desperate for money on top of diminished company investment in safeguarding personal data. These factors could cause massive destruction, whether ...
Claims technology aims to make health care 'retail-ish'.(Benefits Corner Office)
Jun 15, 2009; ... Byline: Kathleen Koster Although limited and mini-medical plans have become increasingly popular with employers to control rising health care costs, not everyone saves when doctors can't collect or patients overpay, which doesn't bode well for employers. "The pain ...
Opinion: ERISA in the crisis zone.(Benefits Corner Office)(Employee Retirement Income Security Act)(Viewpoint essay)
Jun 15, 2009; ... Byline: James W. Nash Whimsical writer P.J. Rourke once said that the mystery is not so much about how Washington works, but about how to make it stop. For better or worse, the financial crisis and ambitious administration will keep Washington working at full speed during this ...
Point-and-click productivity; Research finds Web 2.0 social media are infiltrating the workplace, can add to employee effectiveness.(Employee-Consumer)
Jun 15, 2009 ... Byline: Lydell C. Bridgeford Workers across all generational lines are operating iPods, blogging, downloading podcasts, joining Facebook and LinkedIn and tapping into Twitter. And don't forget: They are texting on their Blackberries and smart phones. Social media ...