The U.S. Department of Labor says federal workers who collected unemployment insurance during the 16-day government shutdown must return the money because workers will receive back pay. Of the 400,000 federal employees furloughed during the shutdown, about 70,000 applied for jobless benefits with a smaller number actually taking the steps required to receive them. Continue […]
Employers expect health benefit costs per employee will rise by 4.8% on average in 2014, based on early responses from an annual survey conducted by Mercer. Cost growth slowed to 4.1% in 2012, a 15-year low. The projected increase for 2014, while still relatively low, represents a slight uptick in the rate of growth. Employer […]
Every October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month – an annual campaign raising awareness of the disease and celebrating the 2.8 million breast cancer survivors in the United States. This year, however, October also marked the opening of the health insurance marketplaces in each state which enables people with breast cancer and other forms of cancer […]
Information concerning the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is piling up in your employees’ inbox and dominating their news feeds. Undoubtedly they are seeking your expertise to answer questions and clarify any lingering confusion. Below are 10 tips for communication with your employees on the ACA: 1. Explain ACA simply and concisely. The law and […]
The Office for Civil Rights and Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology have collaborated to develop model Notices of Privacy Practices for health care providers and health plans to use to communicate with their patients and plan members. The HIPAA Privacy Rule gives individuals a fundamental right to be informed of the […]
From the desk of Fritz Teutsch, President of BASIC. COBRA has not been eliminated under Healthcare Reform. All the same rules and regulations continue for health plans including those for vision and dental. On May 8, 2013 the Department of Labor (DOL) issued a revised model notice which added additional language to the qualifying event […]
With less than a month until October 1, many employers are facing a healthcare deadline that imposes an overwhelming paperwork burden: Marketplace Notices. According the Department of Labor, “the notice must be provided in writing in a manner calculated to be understood by the average employee.” The written notice must: Inform employees of the existence […]
Set out below are additional Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding implementation of various provisions of the Affordable Care Act. These FAQs have been prepared jointly by the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Treasury (collectively, the Departments). Like previously issued FAQs (available at http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/healthreform/ and http://www.cms.gov/cciio/resources/fact-sheets-and-faqs/index.html), these FAQs answer questions from […]
Except taken from Article by Ilyse W. Schuman and Steven J. Friedman Even with the delay in the employer mandate and reporting requirements, employers cannot ignore other provisions of the ACA that have become effective already or will become effective in 2014. These include the following: 90-Day Waiting Periods Limit : Effective for plan years […]
Compliance – it’s not a new concept, but with the evolving complexities of health care reform and human resources as a whole, remaining compliant has never been more important for your business. Safeguarding our clients from costly fees/penalties and time-consuming litigation has been our top priority for the past twenty-four years. Now as October 1, […]
