Enlighten Newsletter

Volume 4, Number 9


How to Talk to Your Employees about Health Care Reform Mercer		Recent polls show the general public is still uninformed about PPACA changes to take effect in January 2014. Chances are good that many of these questions will find their way to your Human Resources staff. You can educate your work force through targeted communications. Click here to read more.

Same-sex Marriage Clarification Issued

News articles are popping up across the Internet following the August 29, 2013 revenue ruling by the Treasury Department and the IRS that all legal same-sex marriages will be recognized for federal tax purposes, regardless of whether the couple lives in a state that recognizes same-sex marriage. According to Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew, the ruling "assures that legally married same-sex couples can move freely throughout the country knowing that their federal filing status will not change."

For additional reading, click to see an early analysis, including a chart of affected group benefits.

Information from the Treasury and IRS includes the ruling, the press release, an FAQ for married same-sex couples, and an FAQ for those in domestic partnerships and civil unions.

ACA Summary of Benefits and Coverage Must be Completed for 2014 Plan Year

Segal Consulting

The new form adds two short sections to the Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC). The first column of the table here shows the new sections. Each poses a question that the plan sponsor must answer by choosing either "does" or "does not" depending on the plan coverage offered. No other changes were made to the form.

Click here to read the full publication.


CT Lung Cancer Screening Recommended U.S. Preventive Services Task Force The U.S. Preventive Service Task Force has issued draft recommendations calling for annual low-dose CT screening for individuals		at high risk of lung cancer (current and former smokers, ages 55-79 years, who have significant cumulative tobacco smoke exposure and have smoked within the last 15 years). If the recommendations are approved, annual screenings will be covered at no cost under all medical insurance, including Medicare. Click here to learn more.

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Worksite Wellness Conference

September 10, 2013

Click here for more information.

UCS Las Vegas Mid-Sized Retirement & Healthcare Plan Management Conference

September 15-18, 2013

Click here for more information.

EBA Workplace Benefits Summit

September 22-24, 2013

Click here for more information.

Client Reminder: More information regarding Health Care Reform and other benefit resources are available on the HR360 website, available to BSG clients under the "Resources" menu of your HR Express website.

BSG subscribes to this service for your benefit. If you would like to learn more regarding this resource, please contact your account management team at BSG.

Additional Tools:

How to Comply with Health Care Reform in 2013 ---- A 5-Step Plan. Click here for webinar information.
Pay or Play Toolkit
2013 Health Care Reform Checklist
Performance Review Builder

Click here to view previous articles.

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.

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