Minimal changes in summary of benefits statement for 2014

By: Jerry Geisel

Published April 24, 2013 - 2:03pm CST

Most employers will have to make only minimal changes next year to comply with a health care reform law mandate that they give employees an annual statement that summarizes their benefits and coverage.

Calif. employers offering health coverage falls by more than 10%: Survey

By: Jerry Geisel

Published April 24, 2013 - 10:43am CST

The percentage of California employers that offer health care coverage to their employees has plummeted in the past decade.

Benefit legislation veteran Sen. Max Baucus will not seek re-election

By: Jerry Geisel

Published April 23, 2013 - 1:34pm CST

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, who played a key role in employee benefit measures that include the health care reform law, will not seek re-election.

Colorado House passes stop-loss insurance legislation

By: Matt Dunning

Published April 23, 2013 - 12:35pm CST

The Colorado House of Representatives has approved legislation that would restrict stop-loss insurance sold to small employers.

Most satisfied with Mass. Commonwealth Care: Survey

By: Jerry Geisel

Published April 22, 2013 - 3:02pm CST

The overwhelming majority of enrollees in a state program set up by Massachusetts’ health reform law that subsidizes health insurance premiums for lower-income uninsured state residents are satisfied with their coverage and the premiums they pay, according to a survey.

Legislation would end FSA 'use-it-or-lose-it' rule

By: Jerry Geisel

Published April 22, 2013 - 12:43pm CST

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

Obama benefits proposal criticized for retirement plan cap

By: Jerry Geisel

Published April 21, 2013 - 6:00am CST

An Obama administration proposal that would ban employees from earning additional benefits once the value of benefits earned in all their retirement plans hit a current cap of $3.4 million would be confusing and difficult to administer.

PBGC intends to terminate underfunded glass container maker's pension plan

By: Jerry Geisel

Published April 18, 2013 - 4:37pm CST

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. said Thursday that it intends to terminate a large underfunded pension plan sponsored by glass container manufacturer Saint-Gobain Containers Inc., a Muncie, Ind., unit of Compagnie de Saint-Gobain of France.

Transitional Reinsurance Program fee to go down after first year

By: Jerry Geisel

Published April 18, 2013 - 2:54pm CST

WASHINGTON — A fee to fund a program established by the health care reform law to partially reimburse commercial insurers covering individuals with high health care costs will decrease significantly after the first year, a regulator said Thursday.

Connecticut to proceed with small business health insurance exchange

By: Matt Dunning

Published April 18, 2013 - 1:02pm CST

The directors of Connecticut's public health insurance exchange are moving ahead with plans to launch the state's Small Business Health Options Program marketplace in October, despite the proposed delay of the program's full rollout until 2015.

Baucus sees insurance exchange 'train wreck' ahead

By: Rich Daly

Published April 18, 2013 - 10:04am CST

A key author of the 2010 health care reform law is worried that the health insurance exchanges planned for launch this year are headed for a “train wreck.”

Domestic partner benefits tax parity bill reintroduced in Senate

By: Matt Dunning

Published April 17, 2013 - 2:54pm CST

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., on Monday reintroduced a bill to the U.S. Senate that would end the disparate taxation of employer-sponsored health benefits for domestic partnerships.

Roofers union calls for repeal of health care reform law

By: Jerry Geisel

Published April 17, 2013 - 10:32am CST

Worried about a potential loss of jobs for its members, a big roofing union is calling for repeal or “complete reform” of the federal health care reform law.

Budget proposes 'self plus one' health care option for federal workers

By: Matt Dunning

Published April 12, 2013 - 3:04pm CST

President Barack Obama has proposed revising the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and extending health care coverage to federal workers' domestic partners regardless of sexual orientation.

Employment-based health insurance coverage in decline: Analysis

By: Jerry Geisel

Published April 11, 2013 - 6:00am CST

The percentage of the U.S. population with employment-sponsored health insurance coverage has plunged over the past decade, while the percentage of employers offering coverage also has declined, according to a new analysis.

Administration renews call for overhaul of PBGC premium structure

By: Jerry Geisel

Published April 10, 2013 - 2:47pm CST

The Obama administration is renewing its call for revamping the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp.'s premium structure so that the premiums employers pay better reflect the risks their pension plans pose to the agency.

Workers compensation opt-out bill advances in Oklahoma

By: Roberto Ceniceros

Published April 10, 2013 - 1:48pm CST

Legislation allowing Oklahoma employers to opt out of their state's workers compensation system advanced Tuesday with supporters predicting adoption.

Retirement savings cap impact will be greater as interest rates rise: EBRI

By: Hazel Bradford, Pensions & Investments

Published April 10, 2013 - 12:36pm CST

A White House budget proposal to cap individual retirement accounts at $3 million would have a minor effect on current account holders but could have a bigger impact on younger workers.

Most employers to continue offering health care coverage: Survey

By: Jerry Geisel

Published April 10, 2013 - 11:50am CST

The overwhelming majority of employers say they will keep offering health care coverage to their employees when key provisions of the health care reform law take effect in 2014, according to a new survey.

Leaders of insurance exchanges fear time is running out for testing

By: Jonathan Block, Modern Healthcare

Published April 09, 2013 - 12:01pm CST

The heads of two state-run health insurance exchanges say they are concerned that there may not be enough time for testing the marketplaces before open enrollment begins Oct. 1.

Supreme Court's ruling on gay marriage could affect group benefit plans

By: Matt Dunning

Published April 07, 2013 - 6:00am CST

Legal experts predict that while the U.S. Supreme Court's forthcoming decision on the federal Defense of Marriage Act likely will be limited in scope, its ruling still could affect thousands of employers' group benefit plans.

Colo. bill would limit medical stop-loss sales to self-funded employers

By: Joanne Wojcik

Published April 04, 2013 - 2:58pm CST

Legislation has been introduced in Colorado that would restrict some sales of medical stop-loss insurance to self-funded employers.

Rollover information confusing and misleading: GAO

By: Hazel Bradford

Published April 03, 2013 - 3:37pm CST

Confusing information about rolling over 401(k) plan accounts is causing some plan participants to make improper decisions when they leave a company, according to a Government Accountability Office report released Wednesday by several members of Congress.

HHS Final Rule on Transitional Reinsurance Fee Adds to Employer Costs

Published April 03, 2013 - 2:37pm CST

This Aon Hewitt report explains details associated with the impending $63 fee that the federal government will charge to all employers for every participant in their health care plans.