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Insurance

Hospital pumps benefits for nonsmoking employees

08/08/2013
As long as they don’t smoke, the 600 employees of Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital in Baltimore can get free annual physical exams and discounted medical plan premiums.

What do we need to consider when crafting a policy on unpaid intern injuries?

07/26/2013
Q. We recently started to provide unpaid internship opportunities to local college students… The interns are not subject to the same process as other permanent or temporary employees in terms of background checks and workers’ compensation insurance. Now we’re looking at how best to structure this relationship to address issues such as what happens if an intern is hurt at a client facility. How should we approach this?

DOL issues new model ACA notices, SBC templates

07/25/2013
Whether you offer health benefits or not, by Oct. 1, 2013, you must tell employees they can buy coverage through state-based exchanges. The DOL has issued model notice language you are free to use.

ACA regs define minimum value, clarify role of wellness programs

07/22/2013
The two key percentages you need to know to avoid free-rider penalties under the health care reform law are 60% and 9.5%. Your health plan must offer minimum value by picking up at least 40% of the cost (i.e., full-time employees can’t pay more than 60% out-of-pocket) and be affordable (i.e., employees’ premiums can’t exceed 9.5% of their household income).

ACA employer mandate postponed until 2015

07/09/2013
The Obama administration has decided to wait a year before requiring organizations with 50 or more full-time employees to provide health insurance benefits under the Affordable Care Act health care reform law.

Got a wellness program? Heed new rules for 2014 to comply with the ACA

07/01/2013
Employers will be able to offer rich incentives for em­­ployees to participate in workplace wellness programs under new rules issued by the Obama administration. Plus, employers will also be allowed to make smokers pay a surcharge on their health insurance premiums.

DOL releases model ACA notices, revises SBC template

06/30/2013

The Affordable Care Act health care reform law requires you to provide all current and new employees with a notice regarding health insurance coverage by Oct. 1, 2013. For 2014, new hires must receive notice within 14 days of their start date. The DOL also updated its FAQs and the summary of benefits and coverage (SBC) template for the second year of coverage.

2014 inflation adjustments for HSAs/HDHPs released

06/25/2013
The IRS has announced the 2014 inflation-adjusted figures for health savings accounts (HSAs) and high-deductible health plans (HDHPs).

ACA young-adult provisions shifting health costs to insurers

06/21/2013
The Affordable Care Act provision that allows adult children to remain on their parents’ health insurance policies through age 26 shifted at least $147 million in health care costs from patients and hospitals to insurance companies in 2011, according to a RAND Corp. study.

Janitor’s health insurance woes a cautionary tale for employers

06/20/2013
When a Maplewood man went to an appointment following colon cancer surgery, his doctor told him his health insurance had lapsed. It turns out, an avoidable HR paperwork mix-up nearly left him destitute and could have threatened his health.