September 2012 | Volume 3, Number 9 |
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BSG Day ---- September 24th
Governor Scott Walker issued a proclamation in recognition of The Benefit Services Group, Inc. (BSG®) 25th Anniversary, on Monday, September 24, 2012.
Click here to view the full proclamation.
BSG's Health Matters Program Wins Worksite Wellness Award from UHC
BSG's Health Matters employee wellness program was recognized as a best-in-class program by UnitedHealthcare (UHC). UHC's Worksite Wellness Award program was pilot tested this year and is designed to recognize small business employers (<99 employees) who demonstrate a commitment to worksite wellness and help their employees enhance or improve their own well-being and health status. It was introduced in the Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Louisiana, Mid-Atlantic, Mississippi, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin markets. BSG's Health Matters employee wellness program was selected as one of the 10 award recipients.
To read UHC's article highlighting BSG's wellness program, click here. |
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Contacts, Compliance and Research Updates
More Guidance on "Full-Time" Employees and 90-Day Waiting Period
In response to numerous comments, the IRS has now extended the maximum measurement period for newly hired employees to 12 months. As a result, this "initial measurement period" could now be as long as the "standard measurement period" applicable to ongoing employees. Moreover, Notice 2012-58 would allow plan sponsors to apply this 12-month initial measurement period not only to variable hour employees, but also to seasonal employees. And through at least the end of 2014, sponsors would be allowed to use any reasonable, good-faith definition of a "seasonable employee." (Spencer Fane)
Click here to read the full article.
Health Premiums Rise A Relatively Modest 4 Percent, Study Finds
Health insurance premiums rose 4 percent for family coverage this year, well below last year's increase and half the 8 percent average of the previous decade----largely because people used less health care in an uncertain economy. Family plan annual premiums hit $15,745 on average, while annual premiums for single employees rose to $5,615, according to a survey of employers by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research & Educational Trust. (Kaiser Health News)
Click here for the complete article. |
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Wellness
Healthy Worksite Webinar: Mental Health and Chronic Disease in the Workforce
Wednesday, October 10, 2012 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. EDT
Featured Speakers: Jamie F. Becker, LCSW-C ---- Laborers' Health & Safety Fund of North America; Paul A. Landsbergis, PhD, EdD, MPH ---- SUNY Downstate Medical Center; Richard McKeon, PhD, MPH ---- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
The CDC National Healthy Worksite Program (NHWP) provides employers and interested organizations nationwide FREE access to subject matter enhancement webinars. These webinars focus on emerging issues in the workplace to enhance worksite health programs.
This webinar provided by the CDC will offer a comprehensive overview of mental health and chronic disease in the working population. It will focus on the opportunities and challenges employers are confronting, along with practical actionable guidance and recommendations for employers to take to address this issue.
For more information on the NHWP, visit the CDC website. |
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Upcoming BSG Events
Northwestern Mutual Fee-Based Financial Planning Annual Meeting
October 8-10, 2012 ---- Chicago Marriott O'Hare
BSG's Gerald "Jerry" W. Frye will present a general session presentation, followed by two (2) consecutive breakout sessions on Tuesday, October 9, 2012.
- General Session: How Employers Can Deal With Transformation in the Health Care Delivery System (8:30 - 9:45 a.m. CDT)
- Two Consecutive Sessions: Take Advantage of Health Care Data to Positively Affect Benefit Plans (2:05 - 3:00 p.m. and 3:10 - 4:05 p.m. CDT)
Click here for the meeting agenda or visit the Northwestern Mutual website for additional information on Fee-Based Financial Planning.
WMC Affordable Care Act Seminar
November 1, 2012 ---- Jefferson Inn ---- Wausau, WI
Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) will host a seminar on provisions of the Affordable Care Act and what your business needs to know to be compliant. Jerry Frye will present:
- How Employers Can Deal with Transformation in the Health Care Delivery System (2:00 - 3:00 p.m. CDT)
For more information, click here. |
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HR360 |
More information regarding Health Care Reform and other benefit resources is available on the HR360 website, available to BSG clients under the "Resources" menu of their HR Express website. HR360 includes new features such as step-by-step interactive guides which make the processes of hiring, termination, COBRA and FMLA so much easier. In addition, there are new online tools such as a job description builder and salary benchmarking tool.BSG subscribes to this service for your benefit. If you would like more information regarding this resource please contact your account management team at BSG. |
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| Enlighten is published by The Benefit Services Group, Inc., (BSG®) and is provided free of charge to select BSG client representatives and associates.
By providing links to other sites, BSG does not guarantee, approve or endorse the information or products available at these sites, nor does a link indicate any association with or endorsement by the linked site to BSG.
The preceding is not intended to be and is not offered as legal advice. We are prohibited from the practice of law. Compliance is the responsibility of the employer or Plan sponsor and affected employees who should seek their own legal counsel regarding questions about information presented in this newsletter.
Copyright© 2012 The Benefit Services Group, Inc. BSG® is a registered trademark of The Benefit Services Group, Inc.
READ BSG's PRIVACY POLICY |
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