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Alpha e-News Update
August 2015
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The Alpha Group Agency
4200 Rockside Road, Suite 300
Independence, Ohio 44131
216-520-3300 |
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Penalties Increased for Section 6055 and Section 6056 Reporting Violations
On June 29, 2015, President Obama signed the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015 into law, which increases penalties for the failure to file correct information returns or to provide individual statements under either Section 6055 or Section 6056. This Health Care Reform Bulletin provides the increased penalty amounts, as well as action items for employers.
View Article
Section 6056 Q&A
These Q&As clarify existing requirements under Section 6056, and provide additional guidance on specific aspects of reporting that had not been addressed previously. View Q&A
Presentation on 6056 Reporting
This PowerPoint presentation provides an overview of the Section 6055 and 6056 health coverage reporting requirements.
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Final Rule Issued on ACA Contraceptive Coverage Exemption
On July 10, 2015, final regulations on the ACA's women's preventive care coverage requirement were released. The rules finalize an accommodations approach for nonprofit and for-profit organizations with religious objections to providing contraceptive coverage and provide additional clarifications on the preventive care requirement. View Article |
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Know Your Benefits
Telemedicine Basics 
This Know Your Benefits article describes telemedicine: what it is, how it works and how to prepare for a telemedicine appointment. View ArticleDownload our KNOW YOUR BENEFITS handouts for employee distribution or include the link on your benefits website. |
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Live Well, Work Well
Please download & print or email this month's LIVE WELL, WORK WELL Newsletter for your employees! This month's issue covers artificial trans fats, plank exercises, information on nutrition facts and a summer fruit salad recipe.
Download Live Well, Work Well - August Issue
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2015 Survey Results: Paid Time Off Benefits
This document provides results from the 2015 Paid Time Off Benefits Survey. View Article
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HR Brief: Human Resources Tips
This month's HR Brief gives an overview of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to legalize same-sex marriage, the DOL's proposed rule to expand overtime protections and the DOL's request for information regarding employee use of technology while outside working hours. View HR Brief
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Data Breaches: Fighting Identity Theft with New Technologies
Our videos provide helpful information on a variety of financial topics and illustrate key financial concepts. Click here or the image below to watch the video.  For other videos, flipbooks, and financial resources, visit our Financial Learning Center on our website. |
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The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently released 2015 draft versions of the forms that employers will use to report under Internal Revenue Code (Code) Sections 6055 and 6056. These new reporting requirements were created by the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and require certain employers to report information about employee health plan coverage to the IRS.
For the most part, the 2015 draft forms are no different from the 2014 versions except for a few minor updates. However, instructions for the 2015 forms have not yet been released, and the current 2015 forms are draft versions only. Employers should not rely upon or file the 2015 draft forms with the IRS.
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This summery salad incorporates fresh fruit, yogurt and almonds for a satisfying and healthy dessert.
Ingredients:
2 cups strawberries, sliced
1 cup blueberries
1 cup pineapple chunks
3 Tbsp. 100 percent pineapple or other fruit juice
2 cups plain, low-fat yogurt
2 Tbsp. almonds, sliced or slivered
Wash the fruit.
Combine fruit and pineapple juice in a large bowl and let stand for 15 minutes.
Spoon 1 cup fruit salad into a small bowl and top with ½ cup yogurt.
Sprinkle almonds on top and serve.
Yield: 4 servings. Each serving provides 171 calories, 4 g of fat, 2 g of saturated fat, 88 mg of sodium, 8 g of protein and 4 g of fiber.
Download Printable Recipe
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Android "Stagefright" Bug - What You Need to Know
The "Stagefright" bug could leave as many as 95 percent of Android devices vulnerable to attack. Learn more about this vulnerability and what you can do to protect yourself. Read more  |
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Health Care Reform: 2016 Compliance Checklist
 Although many key reforms under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) became effective in 2014 and 2015, additional reforms will become effective in 2016 for employers sponsoring group health plans. To prepare for 2016, employers should review upcoming requirements and develop a compliance strategy. This Legislative Brief provides a health care reform compliance checklist for 2016. View Checklist |
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Summary Plan Description
Now includes Premium Conversion Plan 
AlphaHR can help you stay in compliance with the required plan documentation for your benefit plans. Alpha clients are eligible for a discounted annual rate and the set-up fee is waived. Annual rate includes:
- Separate Plan Document and Summary Plan Description (wrap document)
- ERISA and Affordable Care Act Notices at no extra charge
- Summary of Material Modification
- Instructions on how to distribute information to employees
- Email alerts regarding changes to ERISA or IRS requirements that could impact Wrap SPD and Plan Document compliance
- Premium Conversion Plan <NEW!
- Learn more
Sean Nehlsen of AlphaHR and his team are available to help with the creation of SPD's and total ERISA Compliance. AlphaHR is also available to our clients for questions, clarification and general help.
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Alpha Property & Casualty
Alpha Property & Casualty's main office is located in Westlake Ohio, with agents available at both the Westlake and Independence locations. Alpha P&C offers solutions for Business Insurance as well as personal lines. Get a quote
Here are the articles from Alpha P&Cs July issue:
A few simple tips to prevent Contractor Fraud from the Ohio Department of Insurance. >>Click here
5 Things Successful People Do Before They Go to Bed >>Click here
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Alpha Benefits, Inc. / Alpha Financial Services, Inc. / Alpha Property & Casualty, Inc. / AlphaHR, LLC.
Stability in an ever-changing environment.
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