5 hidden mandates in new payroll tax cut bill

February 21, 2012 by Christian Schappel

By now you’ve probably heard that Congress passed a bill that’ll extend the Bush-era 2% payroll tax cut. Well, prolonging the tax cut isn’t all it’s going to do.

The bill, dubbed the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, also contains five other provisions that haven’t received nearly as much hype.

Here’s a rundown of else the bill will do: 

• Expand work sharing program. The bill will allow workers who’ve had their hours reduced to receive unemployment benefits equal to half of their reduction in pay. Unemployment insurance funds will be used to pay for this benefit. Proponents of this provision say the current unemployment system tends to encourage layoffs because unemployed workers can collect benefits worth half of the former wages. So this provision is expected to keep more people on the job.

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Tip Tuesday! 10 key things about Medicare

Here’s a review of the top 10 things you should know about Original Medicare and the types of Medicare plans available from private insurance companies.

1.  If you qualify for Medicare, you can enroll in Original Medicare Parts A and B through the federal government.

2.  If you enroll in Original Medicare Parts A and B there are costs not covered.  Many people enroll in a Medicare plan through a private insurance company, like UnitedHealthcare, to help with costs not covered.

3.  To get Part D prescription drug coverage, you need to enroll in a plan through a private insurance company.

Click Here for the full list.

7 grains of truth about celiac disease

By Karis Gabrielson, R.N.

You may have noticed more gluten-free items showing up on store shelves — and on restaurant menus, too.

Today, there's growing interest in avoiding gluten. That may be a trendy choice for some. But, it's a medical necessity for people with celiac disease.

People with this condition shouldn't eat gluten — a protein found in wheat, rye, barley and some other grains — because of the way their bodies react to it.

Here are seven key facts about celiac disease:

1. It's on the rise. Celiac disease was once considered rare. But, blood sample research indicates it may be about four times more common today than it was 50 years ago. By some estimates, 1 in 100 Americans currently has this condition. Experts believe this may be partly due to how wheat crops and processing have evolved over time.

2. It's an autoimmune disorder — not an allergy. The body's immune system reacts to gluten by attacking and harming the small intestine. As a result, the body can't absorb enough nutrients.


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Feds’ new rules & deadline for health summaries

February 14, 2012 by Christian Schappel

The healthcare reform law requires employers who sponsor health plans to provide workers with “summaries of coverage.” But after some delays, the feds just published the final rules, deadline and sample documents.

Under the final rules, insurance companies and plan sponsors with plan years that start September 23, 2012 or later will have to supply the documents during their next open enrollment. 

Originally, employers were tasked with providing the documents beginning March 23, 2012.

The two documents the healthcare reform bill says plan participants must receive from insurers and plan sponsors:

1. A short, easy-to-understand Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) , and 
2. A glossary of terms commonly associated with health insurance, such as “deductible” and “co-pay.”

Click Here to continue reading and find important links.

UnitedHealth Will Tie Doctors’ Payments to Quality of Care

By Sarah Frier and Drew Armstrong

Feb. 9 (Bloomberg) -- UnitedHealth Group Inc., the largest U.S. health insurer by sales, will pay doctors based on the quality of their care in a cost-cutting effort that also benefits the company’s consulting business.

UnitedHealth expects to save twice as much as it would spend on incentive payments for doctors because patients will be healthier, according to company documents forwarded by spokeswoman Cheryl Randolph. The program may cover as much as 70 percent of the insurer’s commercial members by 2015, from less than 2 percent now, the company said.

The nationwide expansion of the program follows similar efforts by the U.S. government and rival insurers to trim medical costs by shifting away from paying based on the amount of services provided. Optum, UnitedHealth’s services business, will be able to sell software, data and consulting to providers making the changes, Sam Ho, chief clinical officer of the insurer’s UnitedHealthcare unit, said in an interview.

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Tip Tuesday! 15 crafty ways to trim 100 calories a day

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

Sometimes in life, small steps can add up big.

Take 100 calories.

Actually, make that "Trim 100 calories." It may not sound like much — but taking this one step daily could add up to a 10-pound weight loss over a year.

It might be easier than you think, too. Here's one way: Use mustard instead of mayo on your turkey sub. And, another: Make your creamy latte a "skinny."

Snip, snip! 
OK, those were two quick calorie-savers. Read on for more how-to-trim tips — 15 total!

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Pump up your potassium – all day long!

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

Potassium — it's a powerful mineral that helps keep blood pressure on an even keel. And, it's a nutrient you might need more of.

In fact, many of us get roughly half of the potassium that doctors recommend. At the same time, more than 50 percent of American adults have high blood pressure. Or, they are at risk of it.

A real necessity

Potassium is essential to the function of every cell in our bodies. Besides lowering blood pressure, it may help:

• Keep bones strong
• Support muscle and nerve function
• Prevent kidney stones

Go bananas ... and potatoes ... and spinach ... Click Here to continue the article.

Potassium is a valuable mineral. Fortunately, it isn't a rare one. It's found in many types of foods. Some of the richest sources are fruits, vegetables, and low-fat or fat-free dairy products, such as milk and yogurt.

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DOL does it again: Pushes back 401(k) disclosure deadline

February 7, 2012 by Christian Schappel

Employers who sponsor worker retirement plans just got a lot more time before they have to issue plan participants 401(k) fee disclosures.

The new deadline: Aug. 31, 2012. That is the date by which plan sponsors must disclose all 401(k) plan fees and expenses to plan participants. The participant fee disclosure rule had previously been pushed back to May 31.

The reason for the further postponement? The Department of Labor (DOL) is pushing back the date retirement service providers (like Fidelity Investments and Vanguard) have to disclose their fees to employers who sponsor plans.

Click Here for more information and the full article.

Tip Tuesday! 7 easy-on-the-eye tips for computer users

By Linda Chous, O.D.

Do you spend much of your day making eye contact with a computer screen? The result can be tired, dry peepers.

Eye strain doesn't actually cause permanent damage to your vision. But, it can be uncomfortable — and may make it more difficult for you to work.

Seven soothing steps
Help yourself see clearly and comfortably — and avoid eye strain — with these screen-time strategies:  


Click Here to read more about the seven steps!

IRS Updates W-2 Health Care Coverage Reporting FAQ

On January 3, 2012, the IRS issued Notice 2012-09, which restates and amends last year’s Notice 2011-28 guidance on W-2 health coverage reporting. 

The Notice arrives just as many employers are processing their first payroll of 2012, the first payroll that is subject to the new reporting requirement. Recall that §9002 of the Affordable Care Act imposes this mandate, with the cost of all applicable coverage reported in Box 12 as Code DD.

Notice 2011-28 was a 31-question FAQ. Notice 2012-09 builds upon the earlier framework, adding eight more questions and revising some of the answers (under the heading of “Additional Issues”). Here are some highlights: Click Here to read more!

• Small Employer Exception. Employers with fewer than 250 W-2s in 2011 still have an indefinite delay, as do Indian tribal governments. An employer that uses a §3504 agent does not qualify for the exemption if the employer would have exceeded the 250 threshold without the agent.
• Health FSAs. The IRS clarified that only the amount that exceeds an employee’s salary reduction (if any) must be reported. An example would be an employer’s matching contribution.

Click Here to read more!

The real reason your best performers want to leave?

January 31, 2012 by Christian Schappel

A recent benchmarking survey revealed which types of companies are spending the most – and the least – per covered employee for healthcare benefits.

These industries spent the most per covered employee in 2010 (the most recent data available):

• Utilities ($20,567 on average)
• Insurance ($14,132)
• Real estate ($11,554)
• Government ($11,406)
• Manufacturing ($11,114)

Click Here for more information and the complete article!

Tip Tuesday! Lack of Sleep Means Lack of Weight Loss

IN WEIGHT LOSS| NOVEMBER 3, 2011 - BY DR. AXE

Sleep is one of the most undervalued essential practices in modern society.  In 1910, an average night’s sleep was 9 hours. By 1975, it was down to 7.5 hours. From 2000 to 2002, polls found that it had fallen to 6.9 hours. Today, many people average just 5-6 hours of sleep per night.

At the same time, obesity rates have doubled! Sleep and the neuroendocrine system are intricately entwined. Chronic lack of sleep is thought to be linked to diabetes, hypertension, obesity and memory loss. Lack of sleep increases blood pressure and the risk of heart disease. 

Click Here for the full article and more links and information.

IRS Reminds Plans of Benefit Gray Areas

Every year, the IRS clarifies areas of the law in which it will not provide guidance. For 2012, Revenue Procedure 2012-03 provides a good reminder of a few gray areas for health and welfare benefits.

Specifically, the Revenue Procedure identified 79 areas in which the IRS will not issue rulings or determination letters “because of the inherently factual nature of the problems involved, or for other reasons.” Four areas are of particular interest.

First, the IRS will not define gross misconduct as it relates to COBRA. Recall that a termination of employment involving gross misconduct is not a qualifying event. In the past, courts have differed on how to define this term. This will continue. Because gross misconduct is so murky, the usual recommendation is to offer COBRA to avoid daily penalties, excise taxes and self-insuring claims.

Click Here to read the entire article.

Childhood Immunization and Well Child Visits

Caring for your children’s health is one of the most important things you can do as a parent. Making sure your child has been given all of the appropriate immunizations can help maintain their health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the following immunization schedule: Click Here for the full article and links to the immunization schedules

If your child is missing or is behind on any immunizations, please call your child’s doctor today for an appointment.