Established 1973
News & Ideas
This section is devoted practical News & Ideas that address the Design, Administration, Communication and Funding Vehicle issues that Employers must take into consideration when trying to provide high quality, cost effective and administratively efficient employee benefit plans.
Broker / Consultant
The key Professional
Designations that you should be looking for
are described in this article. Did you broker walk away sunburned, hung
over and a new designation for their business card?
Design
Many experts think that the future of Health Care Plans is in Health
Savings Accounts or HSAs - click here to read a thorough explanation of them that was published by Alston & Bird
in August 2004.
State Health Insurance Mandates - The 2008 list.
Birth Control & Pregnancy Disability Act - The EEOC issued regulations in Dec. 2000 plan plans must cover birth control / contraceptive devices.
403(b) Plan Changes Proposed for 1-1-06 - There are some major changes on the horizon for 403(b) plan sponsors & participants
Spousal Coverage Surcharge - This is a must read article for employers who are trying to limit "financial leakage" involving double coverage.
Health
Care Reform
The National
Coalition for Health Care Reform published a very insightful report
in 2004 that we thought that you would want to read.
Administration
Outsourcing
Overseas is losing its luster.
Communication
Companies are encouraging employees to
save for retirement according to Hewitt
survey
Funding Vehicle
Self-Funding - The
whole story including pros & cons.
TPA Interview Checklist - Be prepared for your next meeting. (assumes that TPA also provides re-insurance)
Stop Loss Re-insurance - This is no place for amateurs or inexperienced agents or brokers. Unless you are an expert, the "gotchas" will turn the whole transaction into a very expensive mess.
Insurance & Employee Benefit Plans - What you need to know and what insurance agents don't want you to know. They are not going to show you alternatives that reduce their commissions.
Insurance Commissions: An insurance agent / broker who provides superior service and serve your needs in a way that you find acceptable is entitled to be compensated fairly. On the other hand, if you only see your agent / broker at renewal time and occasionally bearing gifts or tickets to an outing and the service is less than adequate or no new ideas are ever explored except to fully insure your employee benefit plan and collect a large commission then something is wrong. Look at your 5500 forms that are filed with the IRS and in particular the Schedule A. Are the commissions paid commensurate with the services provided?
Financial Planning
Illness is a leading cause of Bankruptcy even with Health Insurance.
Work - Life Balance
The value of Time
Off is more important than salary!