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Insurance

How will employer-provided health plans change in 2015?

12/19/2014
Fewer than 1% of employers plan to drop health insurance benefits in 2015. In many workplaces, however, employers are taking steps to rein in the cost of health benefits. Here are the top five measures.

Employers still offer health benefits despite Obamacare

12/18/2014
Employer-provided health benefits are as common as ever more than a year after the Affordable Care Act began reshaping the health insurance landscape.

Health care cost growth lowest in over 50 years

12/16/2014
Health spending last year grew at the lowest rate since 1960, according to the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

COBRA: Employer Obligations

12/13/2014

HR Law 101: Under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) of 1985, employers are required to continue offering health insurance benefits to employees and their covered dependents for a specified period after they leave the organization …

It’s time to tell a new story about voluntary benefits

12/10/2014

The Affordable Care Act has precipitated a new appreciation for voluntary benefits. A well-designed package of them will be essential for recruiting and retaining top talent.

Quitting in anticipation of being fired bars benefits

12/08/2014
An employee who quits because he thinks he may be fired isn’t usually eligible for unemployment benefits. If there was still work available, quitting would have been unreasonable.

Rival manufacturers partner on emergency fund for employees

12/05/2014

Rival recreational vehicle makers Forest River Inc. and Thor Indus­­tries can agree on one thing: Busi­­nesses need to be there for their employees during times of need. So the two largest employers in Elkhart, Ind., have joined forces to create and jointly fund the Forest River/Thor Community Foundation, which will provide grants of up to $20,000 to employees of either company during emergencies.

Know which ‘personal’ injuries qualify for workers’ comp

12/01/2014
Be on the lookout for em­­ployees who try to pass off personal injuries as being job-related. Chal­­lenge workers’ comp claims in such cases.

HIPAA: Compliance Rules

11/15/2014

HR Law 101: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 made changes to three areas of the continuing-coverage rules that apply to group health plans under COBRA …

After GOP Senate takeover, will ACA survive?

11/10/2014
When the midterm elections swept Republicans to complete control of Congress starting in January, incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Speaker of the House John Boehner immediately vowed to repeal the Affordable Care Act. That’s unlikely to happen.