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BENEFITS EXTRA
a quarterly newsletter for members of the New England Employee Benefits Council


July 2011
In This Issue
President's Message
Benefits Fair Recap
Benefits in Brief
Industry Items of Interest
New Leadership Team
Next Generation Advisory Council
Benefits Fair Sponsors
Upcoming Programs

 

August 11

"The New World of Benefits Communications"

 

September 13

"Federal Health Care Reform 2.0

 

September 20

 "Culture of Health"

 

September 23

"Washington Update"

 

Looking Ahead:

 

December 8

"Annual Best Practices Conference"

 

Nomination Information

 Sponsorship Information

  

Joe Mongelli
Joe Mongelli

President's Message 
Joe Mongelli, Covidien
  

 

I hope you are all enjoying the summer and have already had (or soon will have) time to get away for some well-deserved R&R. NEEBC programming typically takes a break in July, too, to provide staff and volunteers with a respite prior to the intense fall schedule. This summer, though, is busier than most with several important initiatives running concurrently, each with its own set of challenges and opportunities. Here's a quick run-down:

 

- Golf Outing: Finishing touches are being made on plans for our first golf outing, scheduled for August 2 at Framingham Country Club. We've seen a rush of late registrations and it looks like the event will be sold out. Kudos to the planning committee (Jerry Evans, Nan Maley, Charlie Donahue, Al Breitman, and Tricia Callahan Fay) for putting together what promises to be a memorable day of golf, food and networking.

 

- New Web Platform: Transition to our new web platform is well underway, with launch scheduled for this fall. When fully operational, the new platform will transform the way we deliver services, connect, network and collaborate. We're all very excited about the many possibilities the new system offers, and look forward to sharing details with you in the coming months. Thanks to Jack, Linda and especially Margaret for working so hard to make the new platform a success.

 

- Next Generation Advisory Council: The Council had its first meeting last month (article below) and a number of great ideas were suggested. I'll report on outcomes as we continue to explore ways to engage and better communicate with younger benefit practitioners. This looks to be a very promising initiative for NEEBC. Thanks to all who participated and for sharing your thoughts and ideas. Keep them coming!

 

Summer is also the time of year when NEEBC welcomes new board members and expresses its thanks to those directors whose tenure is coming to a close. Please join me in welcoming our new board members: Alla Iagniatinskaia, Aon Hewitt; Jack Meyers, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts; Rose Umile, Raytheon and Dennis Whyte, WGBH.

 

At the same time the entire Board, both active and emerit/ae directors, extends its deepest thanks to outgoing directors Tricia Callahan Fay, FM Global; Beth Holman, TowersWatson; Steve Ricci, Ricci Consulting; and Gina Alongi, IUOE Local 4 Funds for more than 40 years of combined service to NEEBC! This outgoing group of directors has made consistent, outstanding and material contributions to NEEBC's success over the years. Lucky for us that Tricia, Beth and Steve have agreed to stay involved as directors emeriti/ae.

 

Your comments and suggestions are always welcome at [email protected]. Hope to see you at the Golf Outing!

 

Recap: Annual Benefits Fair and Trade Show  

 

NEEBC's Annual Benefits Fair and Trade Show took place on May 19 in Norwood.

Michael Zingg Scholarship
Pictured (l-r): Tom Oksanen, Karen Zingg, Justin Teal, Carol Greenfield and Joe Mongelli.

Special guests Jonathan Gruber of MIT and Matt Kasper of MetLife provided keynote remarks, with the balance of the program devoted to panel discussions of two timely topics: "Strategies for the Transfer of Generations" and "Are You Ready for the Economic Recovery?" A highlight of the day was presentation of the first Michael Zingg Scholarship Award to Justin Teal of the University of Connecticut. In making the presentation, former NEEBC executive director Carol Greenfield recalled Mike as a good friend and a compassionate and caring member of the local benefits community. Also participating in the presentation were Mike's wife Karen Zingg, his former Fidelity Investments and NEEBC board colleague Tom Oksanen, and NEEBC President Joe Mongelli.

 

Thank you to all who volunteered and attended and to our many sponsors (list below) and exhibitors. 

 

Benefits in Brief

Robin Antonellis is now VP, Compensation and Rewards Manager, Eastern Bank;

Jill Jankowski is now Vice President in the Employee Benefits Practice at William Gallagher Associates; Mark Bornemann is now Senior Director, Global Compensation and Benefits at A.T. Cross; Scott Polansky is now Chief of Business Development at BMC HealthNet Plan.

  
(Please send items of interest for future issues to [email protected])

Industry Items of Interest 

 

* The MA Division of Health Care Finance and Policy (DHCFP) recently released its 2010 Employer SurveyHighlights include: 

 

- More than three-quarters (77%) of employers with three or more employees offered health insurance coverage to their employees in 2010, compared with 69% of employers nationwide.

- The majority of employees who are eligible for their employer's health insurance coverage enroll in the plan (75%).

- Employee contributions toward health insurance have been steadily rising. Between 2001 and 2010, the median employee dollar contribution towards health insurance premiums tripled.

- Employers contributed 75% and 70% to individual and family plans respectively in 2010, an increase from the 72% and 68% rates for 2009, but lower compared to 82% and 75% in 2001.

-Since 2001, emergency room copayments have more than tripled, copayments for inpatient hospitalizations have risen six-fold, and copayments for prescription drugs have doubled.

- 92% of employers not offering health insurance in 2010 report that they do not offer insurance because premiums are too high.

 

* DHCFP also maintains a health care blog, Commonwealth Conversations, and tweets at www.twitter.com/masshealthcare.

 

* The Boston College Center for Retirement Research has launched a blog.

 

* Hospital cost and quality data is available at the MA Health Care Quality and Cost Council's My Health Care Options  website. 

 

New Directors and Leadership Team

 

NEEBC's Annual General Meeting was held in conjunction with the May 19th Benefits Fair and Trade Show, at which time four new directors were elected to the board: 

 

Alla Iagniatinskaia, Aon Hewitt

Jack Meyers, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts

Rose Umile, Raytheon          

Dennis Whyte, WGBH 

 

Members-elect of the 2011/12 executive committee are:

President: Joe Mongelli, Covidien
Immediate Past President: Andrew Sherman, The Segal Company 

VP-Administration: Kathy Reinhardt, Analog Devices

Clerk: Karen Shine, CDM 
VP-Development: Charles Donahue, Boston Irish Business Association
VP-Programs: Nan Maley, Nan Maley and Associates 
Treasurer: Dan Cassidy, Cassidy Retirement Group

 First Meeting of the Next Generation Advisory Council
 

In recognition of the importance of emerging benefit professionals to our organization's future,  NEEBC has formed a "Next Generation Advisory Council." to inform, advise and work with leadership on how to best engage emerging benefit professionals and support their career needs. The first meeting took place on June 30, at which time director Ross Weiler welcomed  the following council members: Michael Clark, Dan DaCosta, Ibrahim Essa, Tania Hodgdon, Patricia Lamberti, Jason Lavender, Melanie McGrath, and Amy Vacchina.

 

Benefits Fair Sponsors


NEEBC thanks the following organizations for their support as sponsors of the 2011 Benefits Fair and Trade Show:

 

Silver Sponsors:

Aetna  

Aon Hewitt  

Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA 

Bostonian Group

CIGNA 

Fidelity Investments  

Humana 

MassMutual Financial Group 

Mercer 

MetLife 

The Health & Wellness Institute 

UnitedHealthcare

 

Bronze Sponsors:

BeneCom Associates, LLC
Boston Benefit Partners, LLC

Cassidy Retirement Group, Inc.

Crosby Benefit Systems, Inc.

KGA, Inc.

NE Workplace Therapies

Plus One Health Management

Protector Group Insurance

The Segal Company

Towers Watson

Unum


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