Insurance

When and how do we notify that COBRA is ending?

10/23/2013

Q. I have a COBRA participant who is nearing the end of his 36-month maximum coverage period. What notices must I send him regarding coverage termination?

Per-employee health benefit costs up slightly in 2014

10/22/2013

Employers expect health benefit costs per employee will rise by 4.8% on average in 2014, based on early responses from an annual survey conducted by Mercer.

Health clinic is latest wellness perk at bio-tech firm

10/18/2013

With 400 employees, Colorado-based AlloSource is joining the ranks of much larger organizations as it launches an on-site health clinic for its staff. Employees of the nonprofit tissue-donation organization (and their dependents) have access to the clinic, part of the company’s wellness program.

Employers forecast health benefit costs to rise slightly in 2014

10/16/2013

U.S. employers expect health benefit cost per employee will rise by 4.8% on average in 2014, according to early responses from an annual survey by consulting firm Mercer. Cost growth slowed to 4.1% in 2012, a 15-year low. The projected increase for 2014, while still relatively low, represents a slight uptick in the rate of growth.

4-point checklist clarifies open enrollment

10/10/2013

With key pieces of health care reform going into effect, employers that offer health benefits have even more to consider when implementing this year’s open enrollment. Make the most of your annual benefits sign-up by following this checklist.

Fired for death threats? No unemployment for you!

10/08/2013

A Commonwealth Court has ruled that a Ridgway man who was fired for threatening his bosses can’t collect unemployment benefits.

No penalty for not providing ACA notice? Maybe, maybe not

10/07/2013

The Affordable Care Act required you to provide employees with notices regarding the health insurance exchanges by Oct. 1. The DOL first posted an FAQ absolving employers that didn’t provide these notices from penalties. However, later clarifications by the DOL imply that this isn’t a consequence-free zone …

Delay for buying small business health coverage

10/02/2013

Small businesses owners seeking to go online to buy health insurance for employees through the government’s Small Business Health Option Program (SHOP) will have to wait until November, the Obama administration has announced.

Review whether partially disabled employees can be removed from workers’ comp

10/01/2013

Do you have former employees collecting both workers’ compensation and partial disability benefits for an on-the-job injury? Thanks to a recent Court of Appeals of North Carolina decision, now is a good time to see if they may no longer be eligible for those workers’ comp benefits.

Penn State to require worker weigh-ins, med screenings

09/30/2013

In an effort to control health care costs, Pennsylvania State University is requiring covered employees and their spouses or partners to provide specific health information and submit to a battery of blood tests. Otherwise, they’ll pay a $100 surcharge on top of their health premiums.