Worker confidence in benefits decisions varies by age

December 20, 2011 by Christian Schappel
Which group of employees do you think is more likely to want help when making benefits decisions? Click over to see if you’re correct.

If you guessed Baby Boomers, you’d be correct, at least according to a recent survey of 874 adults by The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. 

Check the stats. When asked whether they were “highly confident” in their ability to make the right benefits decisions:

• 96% of Millennials said “yes”
• 66% of Gen Xers said “yes,” and
• 64% of Baby Boomers said “yes.”

All things considered, however, those numbers appear somewhat positive — until you see what the rest of the survey revealed:

• 80% of employees said they spend less than a total of two hours evaluating their insurance options
• Only 32% of employees described their approach to open enrollment as one that incorporates “careful review,” and
• Millennials are more likely than older workers to say they carefully selected their benefits (50% v. 30% of Gen Xers and 31% of Baby Boomers).
• A smaller percentage of Millennials (78%) are enrolled in available benefits compared to their co-workers — 92% for Gen Xers and Baby Boomers combined. In particular, fewer Millennials are signing up for life insurance (46% v. 71%) and disability (53% v. 68%).

Is that holiday gift taxable? Here’s how to tell

December 21, 2011 by Christian Schappel

Cash gifts – you know they’re taxable. But what about non-cash holiday gifts? The answer: It depends. 

If they’re large, with a value in excess of $100, the employer must report the value of the gift on the recipient’s W-2 and withhold the appropriate amount of taxes.

Smaller gifts like flowers, fruit, books, snacks and the occasional tickets to entertainment events are considered de minimus fringe benefits by the IRS and are not subject to taxation.

The IRS also says it does not consider holiday parties to be a form of taxable compensation, as long as they are “reasonable.”

Click Here for the full article and useful links!

Tip Tuesday! The big chill: Be cautious for your heart

By William Weese, M.D.

Getting out on a wintry, brisk day can be invigorating. But, there's one thing you should know: The cold can also be hard on your heart.

Your body needs to work harder to stay warm in cold weather. Adding physical activity on top of that increases your heart's workload.

If you have heart disease, the combination of frosty temperatures and vigorous activity can be particularly dangerous. For example, you might raise your risk of a heart attack, if you:

• Shovel after a heavy or wet snowfall
• Trudge through snowdrifts — or wet, thick snow
• Overdo it with a cold-weather activity — such as cross-country skiing or snowshoeing

Click Here for more tips and information plus the full article.

Satisfaction scores fall, Workers planning to quit increase: 4 reasons

December 14, 2011 by Christian Schappel

Employees are growing unhappier by the minute.

Nearly one in three (32%) of workers is considering leaving his/her job, according to a recent Mercer Study of 2,400 U.S. workers. That’s a sharp increase from the 23% that said they’d leave their jobs in 2005. 

Who’s the most likely to leave?

• Younger employees — 40% of those age 25 to 34 intend to quit, as well as 44% of employees 24 and younger.
• Men — 34% of men intend to leave their employers v. 30% of women.
• Managers — 37% of managers intend to look for work elsewhere v. 30% of non-managers.

Click Here to read more and find out why are so many employees willing to leave their present jobs? 

Young adults with health coverage due to reform leaps 2.5M

December 19, 2011 by Christian Schappel

The latest data from the federal government shows that nearly 2.5 million young adults have acquired medical insurance thanks to the healthcare reform law’s dependent coverage rule.

The rule mandates that medical plans extend benefits to participants children until they reach age 26.

A recent analysis of the rule’s impact by the National Center for Health Statistics shows that from September 2010 (when the law took effect) to June 2011, the percentage of adults age 19 to 25 with health insurance increased from 64% 

to 73%, translating into 2.5 million more individuals with coverage.

That’s two-and-a-half times more young adults who’ve obtained coverage than a prior analysis — which the feds released in September — had suggested.

The most recent analysis was the first to compare trends between the 19 to 25 age group and the 26 to 35 age group. It revealed that the percentage of those age 26 to 35 with medical coverage remained stable, while coverage among those in the younger group rose significantly.

The Department of Health and Human Services said in a release: “This comparison makes it clear that the increase in coverage among 19- to 25-year-olds can be directly attributed to the Affordable Care Act’s new dependent-coverage provision.”

Click Here for the original article and more links.

Tip Tuesday! 8 everyday tips to get more whole grain

By Melanie R. Polk, M.M.Sc., R.D., F.A.D.A.

Here's a kernel of truth: When it comes to nutrition, whole grains are golden.

Whole grains contain the entire grain kernel — the bran, germ and endosperm. Refined grains, on the other hand, have been milled. This process strips away the bran and germ — and some key nutrients, including fiber.

That helps explain why people who choose whole grains can reap these benefits:

• A lower risk of heart disease and diabetes.
• Help with weight control — the fiber in whole grains can help you feel full on fewer calories.
• Less frequent problems with constipation.

Your whole-grain campaign

According to the latest dietary guidelines, at least half your daily grains should be whole grains. Here are some simple ways to meet that goal:

1. Stock your pantry. See "A handy whole-grain shopping list" at right for some ideas on what to buy.

2. Shop smart. Items labeled as "multigrain," "stone-ground," "cracked wheat" or "bran" may not contain whole grains. Choose products that list whole or whole grain first on the list of ingredients.

3. Pay attention to percents. Check out the Nutrition Facts label. Look for whole-grain foods that contain 10 percent or more of the Daily Value of fiber.

Click Here for the remaining tips and the complete article!

HR: How much does a bad hire really cost? You might be surprised

December 8, 2011 by Tim Gould

Even the best companies make a personnel mistake once in a while. But here’s a shocker: More than two thirds of firms in a recent survey said they’d suffered through a bad hire this year.

A new CareerBuilder survey revealed that 68% of employers were affected by a bad hire in the past year — about the same  number as 2010.

The worst part: Bad hires are expensive.

Forty percent of employers reported that a new hire typically costs $1,000 or less; 34% said between $1,001 and $5,000, and 27% put that number at more than $5,000

Click Here for the complete article and more information on avoiding bad hires!

FUTA tax bill spikes for employers in 20 states

December 9, 2011 by Kerry Isberg

Come Jan. 31, employers in 20 states (plus the Virgin Islands) must deposit higher-than-usual Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) taxes with their Form 940, Employer’s Annual Federal Unemployment (FUTA) tax return.

That’s because with high jobless rates, many states’ unemployment insurance trust funds were depleted. To continue paying benefits to those out of work, many states took on federal loans.

When some states couldn’t pay them back for at least two years, by the repayment deadline of Nov. 10, 2011, they became what’s known as “credit reduction states.” The associated, additional FUTA tax escalates annually, generally 0.3% per year, until states repay their loans.

You’ll find the complete article and a list of the credit reduction states here.

Tip Tuesday! 7 steps to a better doctor visit

By Karis Gabrielson, R.N.

Picture yourself at your next doctor visit. You're in the exam room — waiting for that light tap at the door before the nurse or doctor comes in.

Stop there. So, how ready are you?

Maybe it seems like a silly question. But, when you go to a visit unprepared, it can create missed opportunities — for you and your doctor. For one, you might not have a lot of time. And, it's easy to forget what you wanted to ask — or to overlook something you should have shared.

Prepare wisely with the following seven steps — and be ready when that door opens.

Before your visit:

1. Do your homework. Bring along information that's helpful to your doctor, including:

A list of the medicines you take. Note prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs — and include vitamins and herbal supplements, too.

Any updates to your personal or family health history. Do certain conditions run in your family, such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer or depression? Has anything changed since your last visit?


Click Here to view all the steps and the full article!

Study: Florida Leads Nation In Getting More Kids Insured

By Phil Galewitz

Florida leads the nation in reducing the number and rate of uninsured children, according to a study released Tuesday.

From 2008 to 2010, the number of uninsured children in Florida fell by more than 160,000 to 506,934, says the report by researchers at the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. The state’s rate of uninsured kids dropped from 16.7 percent to 12.7 percent.

Florida was one of 34 states and the District of Columbia to reduce its rate of uninsured children since 2008. But there remain wide differences between states. Nevada has the highest rate of uninsured children — 17.4 percent — while Massachusetts has the lowest at 1.5 percent, according to the study which was based on an analysis of Census data. Texas leads the nation in number of uninsured kids with nearly 1 million although it was able to lower its uninsured rate to 14.5 percent from 17 percent.

Nationally, the uninsured rate for children fell from 9 percent to 8 percent from 2008 to 2010, as the number of uninsured children fell by 960,000, the study said.

“I feel very encouraged. This is exciting news,” said Jodi Ray, project director of Florida Covering Kids & Families at the University of South Florida, a statewide coalition that aims to get more children health coverage.

Click here for the entire article!

New Regs To Prep For: 5 Changes Coming in 2012

November 30, 2011 by Christian Schappel

The new year is just around the corner, and that means a slew of new regulations are about to take effect. Here is what’s on tap for 2012.

W-2 reporting requirements

Employers with 250 or more employees in 2012 will be required to report the cost of employee’s healthcare coverage on workers’ 2013 W-2s. 

Small employers can wait another year. Those issuing fewer than 250 W-2s aren’t required to obey the reporting requirements until 2013 W-2s are issued (in 2014). But the IRS has said the reporting requirement for small employers could be pushed back even further.

The requirement to report the cost of health coverage on employees’ W-2s has caused a lot of confusion among workers. One thing you’ll want to tell them: The W-2 reporting requirements do not make workers’ healthcare benefits taxable — they’re simply meant to let employees know how much their coverage costs.

401(k) fee disclosure rules

On Jan. 1, 2012, the retirement plan fee disclosure regs go into effect. But Uncle Sam has given employers 120 days after that date to comply — making the actual compliance deadline April 30, 2012.

Essentially, the rules require plan sponsors to disclose all fees and expenses to participants of 401(k)-type plans. fee disclosure regs

The feds hope that’ll make the plans easier for employees to understand so they can make more informed decisions about where and how to invest their money. 

Click Here for more changes and the complete article

New legislation aims to stop impending health insurance tax

November 28, 2011 by Christian Schappel

After flying under the radar since the passage of healthcare reform, one of the law’s mandates recently sparked a huge controversy and a new piece of legislation. 

The reform law’s health insurance tax (HIT) is slated to take effect in 2014. It is a requirement that health insurance companies pay a tax on premiums written in the fully-insured market.

A new bill introduced in the Senate, The Jobs and Premium Protection Act, would repeal the HIT tax.

Opponents of the HIT have said it’s actually a tax on businesses, claiming insurance companies will simply pass the tax along to those purchasing fully-insured health plans — primarily small businesses.

A release on the website of Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), who helped introduce the bill, says 87% of small businesses purchase insurance in the fully-insured market, as do the self-employed and uninsured — and those are the three groups who will be hit hardest by the tax.

Click Here to read the full article.

Tip Tuesday! 5 Instant Natural Energy Boosters

By Current Health Articles

We all have days when our energy is low. Days when we have an insanely busy day, a full schedule, or are suffering from lack of sleep and an energy slump strikes mid-afternoon. Here are some instant ways to put a spring back into our step even on the days when we feel dog-tired.

1. Drink more water.
Dehydration causes fatigue, so keep your body hydrated throughout the day. Caffeine can jumpstart your body initially but too much, and you’ll see your energy levels plummet. Start your day with a glass of water, enjoy your daily coffee fix if you must, then switch back to water.

2. Stretch.
Regular stretching not only keeps your muscles and tendons healthy, it also keeps the brain’s arteries unclogged. Maintaining a free flow of oxygenated blood to your most vital organ is an excellent way to increase vigor in your life.

Click Here for the complete list!

6 Things Employees Want From Health Plans

November 30, 2011 by Christian Schappel

Good news: Employees admit they are willing to do more to improve their health and become better healthcare consumers. They also admit they understand wellness programs can help them get healthier and hold down costs. But here’s the rub:

Employees want some extras from employer-provided health plans before their attitudes and actions change about health care.

Recently 3,000 consumers (employees and their dependents) were polled by Aon Hewitt, in conjunction with the National Business Group on Health and The Futures Company to assess their perspectives, behaviors and attitudes toward health and wellness programs.

Click Here for the top six things respondents said they need from their employer-provided health plans and the full article with links!

Massive HSA analysis reveals true impact: 9 stats you should see

November 21, 2011 by Christian Schappel

There are two reasons an employer would want to enroll workers into a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) with a health savings account (HSA): Lower costs and get employees to become smarter healthcare consumers. And new research shows those two goals are being met.

The concept behind HDHPs is simple: In exchange for lower premiums, enrollees pay more out of pocket for the health services they use. And when people spend more of their own money on health care, they’ll shop around for lower prices, cut back on care that isn’t medically necessary a

nd take better care of themselves.

Mission accomplished

Turns out HDHPs attached to HSAs are doing that and much more, according to one of the most expansive research projects ever conducted on the subject of HDHPs and HSAs. It was conducted by Buck Consultants and generated responses from more than 14,000 HSA account holders and 300 employers.

Click Here for the results and the full article.

Taxable wage base for 2012: What Payroll needs to know

Here’s one important piece of info you can pass along to Payroll to help them better prepare for 2012.

The Social Security Administration has just issued the taxable wage base for next year.

Starting in 2012, the amount of employees’ pay that’s subject to social security tax will be $110,000.

That’s a significant increase from this year’s amount of $106,800. It’s based on the increase in average employee wages.

So for 2012, the maximum social security tax employees and employers will each pay is $6,826.20.

Note: It may be good idea to remind Payroll that there’s no limit to the wages that are subject to Medicare tax, which means your firm must take the 1.45% tax off all covered wages. 

Click Here for the original article and important links!

Tip Tuesday! Commit to be fit – and fight cancer while you’re at it

By Tanise Edwards, M.D.

You know every step you take is good for you. Movement is great for your heart, lungs, muscles and mood ... and the list goes on. But, exercise can protect your health in an important way you might not realize.

It may be an impressive cancer fighter.

According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, regular physical activity can lower your risk of certain cancers. For example, research shows that:

• Devoted fitness buffs may reduce their risk of colon cancer by up to 40 percent
• Active women are less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer than those who are less active
• Exercise may also lower the risk of lung, prostate and endometrial cancers

How does working out protect against cancer?

First, it helps keep pounds from piling on. And, that's key because excess body fat increases the risk of several types of cancers.

Exercise also boosts your immune system. It can improve your cells' ability to fight off disease. And, being active may also help control hormone levels in your blood. Some of these may contribute to tumor growth.

Click Here to learn more and find more useful links!

2011 has been a record year for EEOC

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission handled almost 100,000 discrimination cases  — a new record — in Fiscal 2011. And it also managed to achieve a 10% decrease in its “pending charge inventory” — the backlog of cases waiting for resolution.

Frankly, we’re not sure whether this is good news for employers or not.

The EEOC received a record 99,947 charges of discrimination in fiscal year 2011, which ended Sept. 30.

The agency also garnered $364.6 million in monetary benefits for victims of workplace discrimination — the biggest total in the agency’s 46-year history.

The fiscal year ended with 78,136 pending charges—a decrease of 8,202 charges, or ten percent. In previous years, the pending inventory had increased as staffing declined 30% between fiscal years 2000 and 2008.

For the complete article and a closer look at the EEOC numbers Click Here!