Good afternoon:

Here we go again ... Old Father Time is shuffling his way out of 2010, making way for Baby New Year 2011. Why does it seem like the old guy moves faster than a 12 year-old with a nuclear-powered skateboard? Changes - an evitable part of our lives, for better or worse.

In our business environment, a "go with the flow" mantra is necessary for good mental health and job security. One thing is certain: the past couple of years have been very eventful - never a dull moment in employee benefits administration!

During this time (and, per usual, in our 21 years of customer service), we always endeavor to provide late-breaking news and information. We updated our technology, launched a website, Facebook page and use an email provider that specializes in small businesses to ensure safe and expedient emails containing our newsletter, BenefitsBulletins and other email blasts. There is a sense of "immediacy" for business news and we won't lag behind the curve because you need information and updates now, not later.

Ken is plugged into numerous organizations and he and the rest of the staff monitor the news for issues that are relevant to our clients. If there is an urgent matter, we'll send an email alert (usually a "BenefitsBulletin"); if the information is important, but not time-critical, we'll include it in this newsletter (please check the Table of Contents or the various sections of ClientCall for these announcements). We know that everyone is exceptionally busy and receives a lot of email (sometimes our BlackBerry blinks so much we are considering hanging it on our Christmas tree); we won't flood your Inbox with unnecessary messages . Bottom line: we'll make sure you always have the latest information in employee benefit management.

"Grandfathering" changes: as soon as we got everyone up to speed on what "grandfathering" is all about (no, not about taking Junior's kids for ice cream. Nice try), we have a change to announce ("go with the flow, grasshopper!"): an amendment to the grandfathering regulation in the healthcare law:

This new amendment allows a company that offers a group health insurance plan to switch insurance companies and shop for the same coverage at a lower cost while maintaining their grandfathered status, so long as the structure of the coverage doesn't violate one of the other rules for maintaining grandfathered plan status, i.e., significant cost increases, a reduction in benefits, or other changes described in the original grandfather rule.

The amendment affects insured group health plans.

All health plans, including grandfathered plans, must provide the following benefits to their employees for plan years starting on or after September 23, 2010. Some of these benefits include:

· No lifetime limits on coverage for all plans

· No invalidation of coverage if someone gets sick and previously made an unintentional mistake on their application

· Extension of parents' coverage to young adults under 26 years old; and the

Many Americans get their health insurance through employers, therefore, additional benefits will be offered, irrespective of whether their plan is grandfathered, including:

· No coverage exclusions for children with pre-existing conditions

· No "restricted" annual limits (e.g., annual dollar-amount limits on coverage below standards to be set in future regulations)

This month, check InternetIntel: the IRS thoughtfully provided more reading material about the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit and other issues - please visit their site (link provided) for further notices.

Considering changing your office gizmos? Our Entrepreneur.com article discusses upcoming trends for the office of the Future ... gadgets and technology to update your business environment.
 

Take a look at our BenefitsBulletin for news about health insurance fraud.

You now have enough reading material to see you through the month and holiday break. Enjoy!

From Ken, Julie, Christina, Steve and the Staff at Robbins Insurance Services, we wish you a Happy, Healthy and Safe holiday season!