Alpha e-News Update

November 2014

  

The Alpha Group Agency
4200 Rockside Road, Suite 300
Independence, Ohio 44131
216-520-3300
Health Care Reform

gavel - legal Agencies Issue Final Rule Expanding the Definition of Excepted Benefits 

 

These final regulations simplify the requirements for limited-scope vision or dental benefits to qualify as excepted benefits, and also recognize certain EAP benefits as a new form of limited excepted benefits. View Article

Employee Benefits

Know Your Benefits 

Understanding Your Explanation of Benefits (EOB)

 

An Explanation of Benefits is a form that insurance companies send to their members to explain what part of a claim was paid by insurance, what part was not paid, and why.
Many employees find EOBs difficult to understand since they differ from one insurance company to another.
View Article

Download our KNOW YOUR BENEFITS handouts for employee distribution or include the link on your benefits webiste
  

HHS Guidance on Same-sex Marriage and HIPAA Privacy Compliance 

 

The guidance states that the terms, "spouse," "marriage" and "family member" apply to individuals who are legally married, whether or not they live in a jurisdiction that recognizes their marriage.
View Article

 

 

Wellness Trends

Live Well, Work Well 

live well work well   

Please download and print or email this month's LIVE WELL, WORK WELL Newsletter for your employees!  This month's topics include:

  • A Healthier Thanksgiving
  • Ebola Outbreak Reaches U.S.
  • Can You Really Boost Your Immunity?
  • Lower Winter Fuel Costs

 

Download Live Well, Work Well - November Issue

Ebola

 

Our Live Well, Work Well flyer provides a brief history of the Ebola virus and an in-depth discussion of the symptoms, transmission, treatment and prevention of the virus. View Article

 

Human Resources

Missed Our Seminar? 


If you missed our Seminar this morning, don't worry, we will have the information available soon on our website for those who are interested. 

 

We will also have the Paylocity portion of the presentation available as a webinar coming up on November 12th @ 10am. RSVP information is coming later this week - watch your email.

 

HR Brief: Human Resources Tips 


This month's HR Brief gives an overview of several HR topics, including the U.S. Supreme Court's rejection of same-sex marriage appeals cases, how to fight the flu and new OSHA reporting requirements. View HR Brief

 

Financial

Financial Calculators

  

How much retirement income will you need? How much life insurance is enough? What type of IRA is right for you?

 

Our easy-to-use financial calculators are designed as educational tools to help you estimate answers to common financial questions. Simply click on one of the general financial topics and you'll find a selection of easy-to-use calculators about related financial topics. Go to Financial Calculators

 

Quick Links 

 
e-News Update Archives

Alpha News Page

 

Compliance Solutions

 

Financial Learning Center

 
 Did You Know?
  
 

Open enrollment for the Health Insurance Marketplace, also known as the Exchange, opens Nov. 15, 2014, and continues until Feb. 15, 2015. Employees are likely to hear about the Exchange open enrollment and may have questions.

 

If your company offers affordable, minimum value health coverage, employees may still choose to enroll in a plan through the Marketplace, but they will not be eligible for premium tax credits and other savings.

 

Contact Alpha for more information or for access to employee education materials and information on quoting and enrollment.

 

 

 
 Sweet Potato Casserole
  
 

Skip the marshmallows this year. This five-ingredient sweet potato casserole is low in fat and rich in flavor, and makes for a perfect side to complement your Thanksgiving meal.

 

2 tbsp. low-fat milk

1½ tsp. brown sugar

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

¼ cup quick cooking oats, dry

1 can low-sodium sweet potatoes, drained and chopped

 

Preheat oven to 350° F. In a small bowl, combine milk, brown sugar, cinnamon and oatmeal. Mix well and set aside. In a medium-sized baking pan, add the sweet potatoes so they cover the bottom of the pan. Add the oatmeal mixture on top of the sweet potatoes. Bake for 20 minutes. Serve hot, or refrigerate and serve cold.
 

Download recipe

 

Solutions

HSA Guidance for Employees 

 

Do you offer an HSA option at your company? Our HSA Quiz tests your employees' knowledge of health savings accounts. The HSA Guide explains what health savings accounts are and how they work, discusses why they are a good choice and provides several HSA case studies. Also share our HSA Video, or post to your benefits website.

Steve Orlando is Alpha's on-site HSA expert!  If you or your employees have additional questions about HSA's or any consumer-driven health product, Steve can help.

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