COBRA Subsidy Appears Likely to End

Unless Congress passes an extension retroactively, people who lose their jobs on or after June 1 no longer will receive government financial help to cover 65% of their premium costs for Cobra health coverage, which lets them continue on their former employer's group health plan.  Click here to continue.

 

Grandfathering Gains Ground as a Key Regulatory Issue of Health Care Reform

As employers prioritize their next steps with health care reform, the federal government is expected to announce regulatory guidance later this month on several key provisions of the health care reform law.  The most immediate priority for employers remains the age-26 dependent provision and other coverage and benefit mandates that begin to take effect this year.  But emerging as one the biggest regulatory issues for 2010 is how to define "grandfathered" plans.  Click here to continue.

Health-Care Bill Surprise: 1099 Nightmare

A clause buried in the bill requires more tax forms - and small business will bear the brunt.  Click here to continue.
 
Health-Care Law Faces Test as Regulators Settle Which Plans Must Do What

Now that Congress has imposed new requirements on health insurance plans, regulators are trying to resolve another big question: which plans must comply with the requirements?  In keeping with President Obama's promise that you can hold on to your insurance if you like it, the new law exempts existing health plans from many of its provision.  But the law leaves it to regulators to decide how much a health plan can change without giving up its grand fathered status.  In other words, when does a health plan cease to be the same health plan?  Click here to continue.
 
Agencies Publish Rules for Age 26 Dependents

The DOL, Department of Treasury and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) acted swiftly in providing guidance related to several provisions in the Affordable Care Act, which was enacted in March 2010.  In mid-May, the three departments issued Interim Final Rules on dependent coverage of children up to age 26.  Click here to continue.
 
Digging Deeper into the New Adult Children Coverage Rules

Last month, this column addressed new regulations related to coverage of adult children to age 26.  These regulations generally provide that a group health plan may define the relationship between a dependent child and the enrollee, but may not add other conditions, such as tax dependency residency student status or marital status.  This month's column follows up with additional questions related to the age 26 rules.  Click here to continue.
 
Measuring the Impact of 401(k) Fee Disclosures
 
Starting soon, 401(k) plan sponsors will be required to tell employees clearly just how much they pay in fees. In turn, investment firms will have to spell out for plan sponsors what they shell out in charges. How might all this candor about costs change the settled world of 401(k) plans?  Click here to continue.

IRS Sets HSA, HDHP Limits for 2011

Click here for the rates, which remain the same as last year.
 
401(k) Plans for Small Businesses

The IRS has made available 401(k) information to help small business owners better understand their responsibilities in establishing and operating their plans.  Click here to continue.

Early Retiree Reinsurance Program

The recently passed Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act includes the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program, providing $5 billion to help health care plan sponsors maintain benefits for retirees who are not yet eligible for Medicare.  Click here for a summary of the key features of the Program and an outline of the application process necessary to become eligible for available funds.

HHS Releases Draft Application for Early Retiree Claims

A newly posted draft application by the Department of Health and Human Services details the kind of information regulators will seek from employers applying for federal reimbursement of health care claims incurred by early retirees and their dependents.  Click here to continue.

Connecticut Expands State Continuation

Connecticut Governor Jodi Rell recently signed into law Public Act 10-13, which increases the maximum continuation coverage period from 18 to 30 months for some qualifying events.
Click here to continue.
 
Health Care Reform Timeline for Employers and Employees

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act, enacted March 23, 2010, describe changes in health care coverage to be implemented between now and 2020.  Click here for a quick overview of the changes that will most directly affect employers and employees. 

 

 

 

 

 

An Ounce of Prevention

Employee health care costs have increased 9% to 12% annually in recent years, far outpacing inflation.  Those costs are expected to double within five years.  Since health care expenses are already equal to half of the after-tax profits for the average corporation, the cost of health care is threatening to drown many employers and their top executives.  Click here to continue.

Employers Preparing to Expand Wellness Efforts

The costs of the health care reform law make it more important than ever that employers keep their workers healthy and motivated to adopt healthy lifestyles, a vast majority of employers said in a recent survey.  Click here to continue.
 
Protecting Your Nest Egg from Disability

Three in 10 workers entering the job market will become disabled before retiring, according to the Social Security Administration, impacting their ability to earn an income in the near-term and significantly affecting their retirement income.  Click here to continue.

 

 

 

Helpful Tips for the Summer Months

Click here to read Bollinger's Personal Lines Newsletter, which features articles on topics such as the use of credit scores in auto policies, insuring a new boat and protecting your family on the road this summer.

 

 

For Nannies, Hope for Workplace Protection

In a city of secret economies, few are as vital to the life of New York as the business of nannies, the legions of women who emancipate high-powered professionals and less glamorous working parents from the duties of daily child care.  Click here to continue.