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Most Read Benefits Management News

IRS relaxes health reform law $2,500 limit for noncalendar-year FSAs

Published May 30, 2012 CST

WASHINGTON—The Internal Revenue Service on Wednesday provided regulatory relief for health care flexible spending account participants and also said it is reconsidering its longtime use-it-or-lose-it rule for FSAs.

Health savings account enrollment surges 18%: AHIP

Published May 30, 2012 CST

Enrollment in health savings accounts linked to high-deductible health insurance plans leaped more than 18% to 13.5 million as of Jan. 1, according to an annual census released Wednesday.

Health plan termination may not save employers money

Published May 27, 2012 CST

ORLANDO, Fla.—Many employers who think they will save a lot of money by terminating their health care plans and bumping up employees' salaries to enable them to buy coverage in state insurance exchanges are likely to be disappointed.

House panel approves bill to ease FSA ‘use-it-or-lose-it' rule

Published June 01, 2012 CST

WASHINGTON—A decades-old Internal Revenue Service rule that requires forfeiture of unused flexible spending account balances would be eased, and health care reform law-imposed restrictions on using FSAs and health savings accounts to pay for over-the-counter medications would be eliminated, under separate bills approved Thursday by a panel of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Ways and Means Committee to vote on bill to overturn health care reform law OTC provision

Published May 30, 2012 CST

WASHINGTON—The House Ways and Means Committee is expected to vote on and pass legislation that would overturn an unpopular provision in the health care reform law that restricts the use of flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts to reimburse employees for over-the-counter medications.

Health plan 'affordability' test back on regulatory table

Published May 27, 2012 CST

WASHINGTON—An issue that employers thought had been settled—when they are liable for penalties if their health plans flunk an “affordability” test under the health care reform law—is back on the regulatory table.

OPINION: Health care act final ruling will require support for employers

Published May 27, 2012 CST

How the Supreme Court will rule on the challenge to the health care reform law remains an unanswered question.

Defense of Marriage Act struck down by U.S. appeals court

Published May 31, 2012 CST

BOSTON—The controversial federal law that effectively denies married same-sex couples the same federal benefits afforded to heterosexual couples violates constitutional guarantee of equal protection, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday.

Health care act ruling by Supreme Court may impact benefits

Published May 27, 2012 CST

ORLANDO, Fla.—The U.S. Supreme Court's upcoming ruling on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act could be complicated and result in a flurry of legislation if all or part of the law is declared unconstitutional, human resource association WorldatWork said last week.

Average PPO cost per family hits all-time high: Milliman

Published May 15, 2012 CST

While cost increases for families enrolled in employer-sponsored preferred provider organizations have slowed since 2010, average total costs per family still hit an all-time high, according to a report released Tuesday by Seattle-based Milliman Inc.

Suspension of pension increases for N.J. public employees upheld

Published May 31, 2012 CST

TRENTON—A New Jersey Superior Court judge has upheld a 2011 state law suspending automatic cost-of-living pension increases for retired state employees.

Defined benefit plan could help attract, retain talent

Published May 27, 2012 CST

The biggest retirement plan trend in recent years—the shift by employers away from defined benefit plans—may start to ease, a survey suggests.

GALLERY: Supreme Court justices on health care reform law

Published May 25, 2012 CST

Before its term ends, the Supreme Court is expected to rule on a challenge to the health care reform law. As the ruling nears, we take another look at key comments made by justices that may shed light on where they stand.

PBGC inspector general finds lack of quality control

Published May 30, 2012 CST

WASHINGTON—The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp.’s actuarial estimates suffer from a lack of quality control or review, according to a new audit from Rebecca Anne Batts, the agency’s inspector general.

HMO stocks may struggle over health claim costs

Published May 25, 2012 CST

NEW YORK (Reuters)—Americans' low use of health care services has proved a boon to health insurers over the past two years, reducing medical claim costs and raising profits.

WorldatWork human resources conference attracts 1,500

Published May 27, 2012 CST

ORLANDO, Fla.—About 1,500 people attended the WorldatWork Total Rewards 2012 Conference & Exhibition held May 21-23 in Orlando, Fla., at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center.

Business Insurance In FOCUS video: Wellness program success

Published May 22, 2012 CST

In our latest weekly video, we highlight the successful wellness initiatives brought forth by this year's Benefit Manager of the Year® and Benefit Manager Honor Roll® winners

Contraceptive coverage may be blocked by Catholic groups' suit

Published May 27, 2012 CST

WASHINGTON—More than 40 Catholic organizations, including the archdioceses of New York and Washington and Catholic University of America, have sued in federal courts to block implementation of part of a final Department of Health and Human Services rule that will require health insurance coverage of prescription contraceptives.

GM offers lump sums, passes benefit payments to Prudential

Published June 01, 2012 CST

DETROIT—In a move to “de-risk” its pension liabilities that is unprecedented in scope, General Motors Co. said Friday that it will terminate its pension plan for salaried employees and retirees and buy a group annuity policy from Prudential Insurance Co. of America to cover the promised benefits.

Treasury to re-examine health care coverage affordability penalty

Published May 21, 2012 CST

The Treasury Department says it will take another look at whether to revamp rules published last year that now apply a stiff “affordability” penalty on employers based on what percent of the premium employees pay for single coverage.

PBGC takes over pension plan sponsored by Lower Bucks Hospital

Published May 24, 2012 CST

WASHINGTON—The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. has taken over and terminated an underfunded pension plan sponsored by Lower Bucks Hospital in Bristol, Pa.

Catholic bishops threaten lawsuit to block HHS contraceptive rule

Published May 17, 2012 CST

WASHINGTON—Unless federal regulators reverse course or Congress intervenes, the organization representing Catholic bishops says it will sue to stop implementation of a final Department of Health and Human Services rule that will require health insurance coverage of prescription contraceptives.

Most firms with DB plans to keep them open to new hires: Study

Published May 23, 2012 CST

More than two-thirds of U.S. corporations that offer a defined benefit pension plan to new employees say they are committed to continue offering the plan to new hires, according to a survey from Towers Watson & Co.

Exchanges and employers: Wave of the future?

Published May 23, 2012 CST

Health insurance exchanges soon will be a dominating fixture in the nation's health care landscape.

Rick Dorazil of BP America named to Benefit Management Honor Roll®

Published May 20, 2012 CST

Like nearly all employers, BP America Inc. has been battling hefty health care cost increases for years.