Insurance

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.

9% of employers may drop health benefits by 2014

08/16/2012

In 2014, when the employer-mandate provisions of the Affordable Care Act kick in, 9% of employers may drop health benefits, according to a survey of benefits managers by the consulting firm Deloitte.

Take control of your workers’ comp costs

08/14/2012

Workers’ compensation insurance provides compensation to employees for loss of income and for medical payments when they’re injured on the job. Since employers ultimately bear the expense of workers’ comp benefits, it’s smart to understand how the system works and the proactive steps you can take to control costs.

What employers must do now to meet Affordable Care Act deadlines

08/03/2012

When the U.S. Supreme Court decided in June to uphold most of the provisions of the Affordable Care Act health care reform law, the clock started ticking on a number of benefits-related deadlines employers must meet. From summaries of benefits and coverage to health care flex funds to health benefits reporting on 2012 W-2s, now is the time to review your health insurance obligations.

Deloitte ‘grosses up’ pay to cover tax on domestic benefits