DOL Releases Guidance On Model Exchange Notice and Model COBRA Election Notice

By on May 17, 2013 in Affordable Care Act, COBRA, DOL, Exchanges

From the Desk of Larry Grudzien May 9, 2013 Yesterday, the Department of Labor released Technical Release 2013-02.  It provided guidance for the Model Exchange Notice and the Model COBRA Election Notice.  A copy of Technical Release 2013-02 follows: I. Introduction Many provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Affordable Care Act) that [...]

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How VEBA / HRAs will work under the Affordable Care Act in 2014 and beyond.

By on May 16, 2013 in ACA, Affordable Care Act, DOL, Grandfathering rules, HRA, Treasury

  In light of the Affordable Care Act prohibition against health plans with an annual dollar limit on essential benefits, which takes effect in the plan year beginning on or after January 1, 2014, there have been concerns about whether Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) will be permissible in 2014 and after. The three federal agencies [...]

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The unexpected benefits of effective benefits education; research offers clear guidance on what works and why

By on May 16, 2013 in Effective education, Employees, Employers, Health Benefits

The unexpected benefits of effective benefits education; research offers clear guidance on what works and why By Richard F. Stolz We all know employees can’t appreciate benefits they don’t understand. But not everyone realizes how strongly linked good benefits education is to the way employees feel about their employers and their financial security. Once those [...]

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Are The Health Law’s Coverage Requirements Scaling Back Some Restaurants’ Expansion Plans?

By on May 16, 2013 in ACA, Affordable Care Act, health care reform

Eateries Fear Health Law’s Bite Franchisees Try to Stay Below Insurance Threshold; White Castle Slows Its Expansion By JULIE JARGON Some restaurant operators are scaling back expansion plans because of uncertainty about the expense of insuring employees under the new federal health-care law. The concerns are especially acute among smaller operators who are more likely to [...]

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Four Myths about Private Health-Care Exchanges

By on May 14, 2013 in Exchanges, Private Health care Exchanges

Four Myths about Private Health-Care Exchanges Health Benefits | May 03, 2013 | CFO.com | US They’re not as cost-predictable as you think, you can’t use them to provide nongroup coverage, and offering dental and other ancillary benefits through them may be risky. David McCann For all the hoopla in the past year about private [...]

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