Insurance

IRS rolls out health care reform tax credit guidelines for small employers

05/18/2010

The Internal Revenue Service has issued preliminary guidelines on the tax credit available to small employers that provide health insurance benefits to employees. Be a team player — and save your organization some money — by passing this information along to the people down the hall who handle tax compliance matters.

Watch out when offering early retirement based on age

05/14/2010

The EEOC has won the first round of a battle against early-retirement incentive plans that are based strictly on age. If you have such a plan, make sure you review its legal status with your attorney.

Never consider insurance costs when terminating

05/14/2010

Every year, employers face yet another increase in their health insurance premiums. And if there are many older or sick employees, those costs will keep on rising. Even adding one sick child to the list can drive costs into the stratosphere. But before you even consider firing (or refusing to hire) someone because they might jack up insurance costs, count your dollars, not your pennies. You might be staring down a lawsuit that could dwarf whatever premium costs you hoped to avoid.

The HR I.Q. Test: May ’10

05/12/2010

Test your knowledge of recent trends in employment law, comp & benefits and other HR issues with our monthly mini-quiz …

Health reform: Most employers will play, not pay

05/06/2010

The new health care law forces most employers to either provide employee insurance or pay a per-employee fine. Although the impact of the reforms is still not clear, more than two-thirds of employers (68%) say they disagree that their organizations would be better off dropping coverage and paying the fine.

Wellness program pays for itself at Simonton

05/03/2010

The nearly 2,000 employees who participated in Simonton Windows’ wellness program last year had such good results that the company was able to pay for its entire wellness initiative with the money it saved on health care. Simonton President Mark Savan says the program has reaped measurable improvements in employee health screenings for blood pressure, body mass index, smoking and cholesterol.

COBRA subsidy expanded, extended through May 31

04/28/2010

On April 15, President Obama signed into law amendments to the COBRA subsidy provision of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus. Those amendments—plus amendments enacted in March—not only extend the time that the subsidy is available, but also offer it to certain individuals whose hours were reduced before they were involuntary terminated.

Georgia firm adds ‘medical tourism’ to benefits

04/28/2010

Employees of IDMI Systems in Warner Robins, Ga., who are willing to travel out of the United States for medical procedures could pay 80% less than they would if they had surgery at home. The firm, which develops automation software for the insurance industry, has added an international medical travel option to its employee health plan.

5 keys to boosting participation in your health plan

04/27/2010

Innovative employers are applying five new principles when they talk to employees about health and health insurance. As you look for ways to encourage employees to be active, informed consumers of the health benefits you offer, see how many you can incorporate into your own communication plans.

New amendments extend COBRA 65% subsidy to May 31

04/23/2010

Effective April 15, 2010, the 65% COBRA premium subsidy program that originally took effect in early 2009 will remain available until May 31, 2010. The new date became official on April 15 when President Obama signed the Continuing Extension Act of 2010, which stretched eligibility for the subsidy and extended several other federal benefits designed to help unemployed workers.