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Insurance

4-step checklist eases open enrollment process

10/11/2012
If you’re like most U.S. employers, your workers sign up for health insurance coverage during a two- or four-week span—known as open enrollment—in late October or early November. If you’re planning open enrollment for your 2013 plan year, follow this checklist.

The cost of new health care law? 14 cents a pizza

10/10/2012
The Papa John’s pizza chain made headlines recently when it became one of the first national businesses to estimate a specific per-customer cost of the Affordable Care Act. CEO John Schnatter figured the law will cost him between 11 and 14 cents more per pizza.

Health premiums up 4% this year; forecast to rise 7% in 2013

10/04/2012
Annual premiums for employer-sponsored family health insurance are averaging $15,745 this year (up 4% from 2011), while worker-only coverage is averaging $5,615 (up 3% from last year), according to a new Kaiser Family Foundation report.

Health premiums up 4% in 2012, forecast to rise 7% next year

09/19/2012
Annual premiums for employer-sponsored family health coverage reached $15,745 in 2012, up 4% from last year, with workers on average paying $4,316 toward the cost of their coverage, according to a new Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) survey.  Premiums for worker-only health coverage increased 3% in 2012 to reach $5,615 annually. Here’s a full analysis:  

IRS cuts slack under final health premium tax credit regs

09/18/2012
While the legality of the Affordable Care Act health care reform law was pending before the Supreme Court, the IRS issued final regulations on the premium tax credit. Since the dust has settled, it’s time to take a closer look at the regs.

Census: Health coverage varies widely by state

09/12/2012
Nearly one in five Americans under age 65 lacks health insurance, according to data analyzed by the U.S. Census Bureau, but the rate of coverage varies widely depending on where people live.

Bank extends wellness from employees to local communities

09/10/2012
Cleveland-based KeyBank has healthier employees and lower medical costs since it embraced a systemic approach to encouraging employees to become more involved in their well-being.

Health reform: After Supreme Court vote, compliance scramble begins

08/22/2012
If you took a wait-and-see approach to implementing health benefit changes until the Supreme Court ruled on the health care reform law, it’s time to kick your planning into high gear. Several short-term deadlines are approaching that require HR’s immedi­ate attention.

Grand jury: S.F. eateries took tips on health care surcharge

08/21/2012

A San Francisco civil grand jury has concluded that 38 restaurants built into their prices the cost of providing city-mandated employee health coverage—and then never offered the benefits to workers. The grand jurors’ suspicion: That restaurateurs pocketed a substantial portion of the money.

Reminder: Give employees summary of benefits/coverage

08/21/2012
Now that the Supreme Court has upheld the legality of the Affordable Care Act, your first responsibility under the law is to ensure that for open enrollment periods beginning Sept. 23 employees receive a summary of benefits and coverage (SBC) and a glossary that defines basic health benefit terms.