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

By: Jerry Geisel

Published June 01, 2012 - 9:44am 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.

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

By: Matt Dunning

Published May 31, 2012 - 5:00pm 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.

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

By: Matt Dunning

Published May 31, 2012 - 4:07pm 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.

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

By: Jerry Geisel

Published May 30, 2012 - 5:36pm 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

By: Jerry Geisel

Published May 30, 2012 - 12:31pm 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.

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

By: Jerry Geisel

Published May 30, 2012 - 11:50am 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.

PBGC inspector general finds lack of quality control

By: Hazel Bradford, Pensions & Investments

Published May 30, 2012 - 8:41am 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.

Health plan 'affordability' test back on regulatory table

By: Jerry Geisel

Published May 27, 2012 - 6:00am 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.

Health care act ruling by Supreme Court may impact benefits

By: Sheena Harrison

Published May 27, 2012 - 6:00am 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.

Health plan termination may not save employers money

By: Jerry Geisel

Published May 27, 2012 - 6:00am 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.

WorldatWork human resources conference attracts 1,500

By: Jerry Geisel

Published May 27, 2012 - 6:00am 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.

Defined benefit plan could help attract, retain talent

By: Jerry Geisel

Published May 27, 2012 - 6:00am 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.

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

Published May 27, 2012 - 6:00am CST

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

Contraceptive coverage may be blocked by Catholic groups' suit

By: Jerry Geisel

Published May 27, 2012 - 6:00am 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.

HMO stocks may struggle over health claim costs

Published May 25, 2012 - 9:30am 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.

GALLERY: Supreme Court justices on health care reform law

Published May 25, 2012 - 6:00am 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 takes over pension plan sponsored by Lower Bucks Hospital

By: Jerry Geisel

Published May 24, 2012 - 3:01pm CST

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

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

By: Rob Kozlowski, Pensions & Investments

Published May 23, 2012 - 11:18am 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?

By: Vincent C. Ashton

Published May 23, 2012 - 6:00am CST

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

Health cost rate increases slowing for midsize Michigan employers: Study

By: Matt Dunning

Published May 22, 2012 - 4:04pm CST

Health care costs continue to rise for midsize employers in Michigan, but at a lower rate than in previous years, according to a McGraw Wentworth Inc. study.

Catholic organizations file suit to block prescription contraceptive rule

By: Jerry Geisel

Published May 22, 2012 - 10:34am CST

WASHINGTON—More than 40 Catholic organizations, including the archdioceses of New York and Washington as well as Catholic University of America, filed suit 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.

Business Insurance In FOCUS video: Wellness program success

Published May 22, 2012 - 6:00am 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

Treasury to re-examine health care coverage affordability penalty

By: Jerry Geisel

Published May 21, 2012 - 2:09pm 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.

Health care reform law ruling likely complicated: WorldatWork executive

By: Sheena Harrison

Published May 21, 2012 - 1:18pm 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 Monday.