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Alpha e-News Update
September 2015
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The Alpha Group Agency
4200 Rockside Road, Suite 300
Independence, Ohio 44131
216-520-3300 |
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Employer Reporting of Health Coverage - Section 6056
Effective in 2015, the ACA created new reporting requirements under Code Section 6056. Under these rules, applicable large employers subject to the employer shared responsibility rules must provide information on Forms 1094-C and 1095-C to the IRS about the health coverage they offer to their full-time employees. This Legislative Brief summarizes the Section 6056 reporting rules. View Article See SOLUTIONS section below for  information on Alpha's Value-Added DIY1095 Form Generator! DIY1095 Flyer |
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IRS Issues Notice 2015-52 on Cadillac Tax Implementation
On July 30, 2015, the IRS issued Notice 2015-52 to continue the process of developing guidance to implement the Cadillac tax. Notice 2015-52 addresses additional issues under the Cadillac tax, including who is liable, employer aggregation and notice and payment of the tax. Proposed or final regulations have not been issued. This Health Care Reform Bulletin provides an overview of Notice 2015-52. View Article
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Benefits Insights
What Happens if an Employee Misses Open Enrollment?
 The open enrollment process relies on employees to take action. Despite your best efforts to prevent employees from missing the deadline, there is always a chance that you will encounter a few cases of missed deadlines.
Although you may want to make exceptions, unless an employee qualifies for a SEP, there is nothing you are legally required or able to do. View Article
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2016 Open Enrollment Checklist
To prepare for open enrollment, health plan sponsors should be aware of the legal changes affecting the design and administration of their plans for plan years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2016. In addition, health plan sponsors should make sure that open enrollment packages include certain participant notices. This Legislative Brief includes an open enrollment checklist for the 2016 plan year. View Article
Alpha can help facilitate online open enrollment for your group to eliminate paperwork and cover all your compliance bases. Ask your broker - we have options for you! 
Read About Employee Navigator below
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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 includes the USDA's MyPlate guidelines, information on blood pressure readings, understanding food expiration dates, food storage timelines and a baked chicken with veggies recipe
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HR Brief: Human Resources Tips
This month's HR Brief provides an overview of the DOL's recent administrative interpretation of worker classification, cyber security prevention tips and a recent lawsuit regarding reducing worker's hours to below 30 hours per week. View HR Brief
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Should I Stay or Should I Go? Easing into Retirement
Unforeseen events can sometimes force a person to retire, but for many people the decision to retire is a personal choice. And like any big decision, it can be fraught with uncertainty. View Article
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PCORI Fee FAQs
The IRS recently issued FAQs on the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute Trust Fund fee (PCORI fee). These FAQs provide basic information on the PCORI fee, including what the fee is for, when it is effective and which plans and issuers are subject to the fee. The FAQs also explain how the fee is calculated and provide applicable dollar amounts for each year the fee is effective.
The PCORI fee is based on the average number of lives covered during the year. The FAQs provide detail on how the average number of lives is determined. They also provide clarification on fees for self-insured plans with short plan years.
Since the ACA requires health insurance issuers and sponsors of self-insured health plans to pay the PCORI fee, the FAQs also provide information on how to do so using Form 720 and how to correct previously filed Forms 720 if an error was made (including an overpayment).
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Baked Chicken with Veggies
This hearty meal is rich in health vegetable and lean protein.
Ingredients:
4 potatoes, sliced
6 carrots, sliced
1 large onion, quartered
1 chicken, cut into pieces, skin removed
½ cup water
1 tsp. thyme
1 tsp. pepper
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Place potatoes, carrots and onions in a large roasting pan. Place chicken on top of the vegetables.
Mix together the water, thyme and pepper. Pour the mixture over the chicken and vegetables.
Bake for one hour or until the chicken is browned and tender. Periodically, while the chicken is cooking, spoon the juices over the chicken.
Yield: 6 servings. Each serving provides 240 calories, 3.5 g of fat, 1 g of saturated fat, 130 mg of sodium, 26 g of protein and 4 g of fiber.
Source: USDA
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Employee Navigator
Manage and automate HR and benefits enrollment
Automate your HR and benefits enrollment with Employee Navigator.
Employee Navigator is your online solution for employee on-boarding, eligibility tracking and enrollment. For Human Resources:  - Improves Communications
- Eligibility tracking for hourly employees
- Streamline benefits shopping experience
- Modernize employee management
For Employees: - Easy access to HR information
- Intuitive benefit enrollment
- on-the-go mobile access
- Paperless on-boarding
- Employee self-service
Watch for more information coming soon!
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Do-It-Yourself 1095 Form Generator
How will you produce the required Forms 1094-C and 1095-C this January? 
Alpha has a solution.
Alpha can provide you access to DIY1095, a web-based, user-friendly tool that helps you manage the forms-generation process. An automated template for HR/Benefits professionals to generate compliant, accurate Forms 1094-C and 1095-C (or 1094-B and 1095-B for small employers).
A value-added benefit free of charge for all Alpha clients.
Reduce errors and use your time to focus on other things. Sign up is easy, just complete and submit this Employer Access Request Form. A Welcome email will tell you what's next! Need to know more?
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Summary Plan Description
Including 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.
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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 August issue:
Ever wonder if you need to buckle your pet in the car? Find the answers to this and other weird driving laws. >>Click here
El Nino is back!! Find out what you can do to be prepared >>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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