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Most Read Benefits Management News

CBO lowers health reform 'Cadillac' tax, employer penalty estimates

Published May 15, 2013 CST

The Congressional Budget Office has nearly halved the revenue it expects the federal government to collect from employers through the health care reform law's so-called “Cadillac tax.”

Future health care to cost 2013 retirees $220,000: Fidelity estimate

Published May 16, 2013 CST

A 65-year-old couple retiring in 2013 without employer-provided retiree health insurance will need about $220,000 to pay future medical-related expenses, Fidelity Investments said in an analysis released Thursday.

Measure to repeal health care reform will be vetoed: President Obama

Published May 15, 2013 CST

President Obama will veto legislation that would repeal the 2010 health care reform law, the administration said Wednesday.

Genetic test that saved Angelina not widely covered

Published May 15, 2013 CST

Angelina Jolie's revelation that she had a preventive double mastectomy to reduce her risk of getting breast cancer was hailed as a brave move by patient advocates.

Grandfathered health plans dwindling: Analysis

Published May 16, 2013 CST

The percentage of employers with grandfathered health care plans continues to dwindle, according to a survey released Thursday.

House once again votes to repeal health care reform law

Published May 17, 2013 CST

For the third time, the U.S. House of Representatives has voted to repeal the health care reform law, but it again looks highly unlikely that the Democrat-controlled Senate will follow suit.

Senate bill would end 'use-it-or-lose-it' FSA rule

Published May 17, 2013 CST

Legislation introduced in the Senate would end a decades-old Internal Revenue Service rule that requires the forfeiture of unused health care flexible spending account contributions.

HHS approves new health insurance exchange coverage approach

Published May 14, 2013 CST

Utah will continue to operate its two-year-old health insurance exchange for small employers, while the federal government will start one for individuals under an agreement reached by federal and Utah officials.

Business Insurance's Benefit Manager of the Year® for 2013 named

Published May 17, 2013 CST

CHICAGO — Business Insurance announced Friday that Matthew Harmon, senior director of benefits at J.C. Penney Co. Inc., is the 2013 Benefit Manager of the Year®.

Health care reform law will enable subsidies, may slash COBRA usage

Published May 19, 2013 CST

The need for the COBRA safety net is expected to shrink dramatically next year when the health care reform law will enable many COBRA beneficiaries to buy federally subsidized health coverage through public insurance exchanges.

Technology firm Rogers to freeze pension plans

Published May 17, 2013 CST

Rogers, Conn.-based technology company Rogers Corp. will freeze two pension plans starting next month, completing a process it began in 2008.

Michigan Senate approves four-year extension of 1% health claim tax

Published May 20, 2013 CST

The Michigan State Senate has approved legislation that would extend the state's controversial 1% tax on paid health care claims for another four years.

Critical illness sales spike with adoption of consumer-driven health plans

Published May 19, 2013 CST

Employers' growing adoption of consumer-driven health plans is helping to drive sales of critical illness insurance as a supplement to help with employees' higher out-of-pocket costs, experts say.

Mass. health insurance exchange enrollment sets record in April

Published May 13, 2013 CST

Enrollment in Massachusetts' Commonwealth Care health insurance exchange has hit another all-time high with 205,475 covered lives in April.

Model notices for health insurance exchange notification released

Published May 09, 2013 CST

Federal regulators on Wednesday released model notices that employers can provide to employees to satisfy a federal health care reform law requirement that employees be notified about the availability of public health insurance exchanges.

JLT buys Jakarta-based health management companies

Published May 14, 2013 CST

London-based brokerage Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group P.L.C. has acquired two employee benefits businesses in Indonesia.

Employers turn to penalties to drive wellness participation: Study

Published May 09, 2013 CST

Employers are taking an ever-harder line with their workforces when it comes to incentivizing engagement in health and wellness management, according to a study published Tuesday by the Midwest Business Group on Health.

HSAs cover critical illness insurance

Published May 19, 2013 CST

Critical illness insurance is one of a handful of supplemental health insurance policies that workers covered by high-deductible health plans linked with health savings accounts can purchase under Internal Revenue Service rules.

Arkansas Best Corp. freezes pension plan for nonunion employees

Published May 20, 2013 CST

Trucking company Arkansas Best Corp. is freezing its pension plan for nonunion employees, completing a process it began in 2006.

Oklahoma governor vetoes pension reform bill

Published May 13, 2013 CST

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin vetoed a pension reform bill that would have given new hires a choice between entering a defined contribution plan and participating in the $7.5 billion Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System.

Business Insurance IN FOCUS Video: Wellness reform

Published May 07, 2013 CST

In our latest weekly video, Business Insurance highlights how newly proposed Internal Revenue Service regulations could affect wellness programs.

Proposed IRS rules clarify health reform issues related to wellness incentives

Published May 05, 2013 CST

Newly proposed Internal Revenue Service regulations provide employers long-sought guidance on key health reform law issues related to corporate wellness and early retiree health plans.

Employers seek clarity on health reform law mandate on essential benefits

Published May 19, 2013 CST

Despite rules that require mental health, behavioral health and substance abuse treatment be included as essential health benefits in 2014, employers say they need more clarification on the benefits that will vary greatly by state.

Health savings account contribution limit to rise in 2014: Mercer

Published April 02, 2013 CST

The maximum contribution that can be made to health savings accounts in 2014 is expected to rise slightly, according to Mercer L.L.C. projections.

Insurers cautious about joining public health insurance exchanges

Published May 02, 2013 CST

(Reuters) — The nation's largest health insurers aren't leaping at the chance to join state health insurance exchanges under President Barack Obama's health care reform law, meaning some markets will have little or no competition next year.