Women’s preventive health benefits – new changes effective August 1, 2012

Aetna Advantage Plans for Individuals, Families and the Self-Employed

As of August 1, 2012, the following women's health services are considered preventive and therefore generallly covered at no cost share, when provided in-network.

These benefits apply to new business effective August 1, 2012. Updated brochures will be available on Producer World beginning May 25th.

Women's preventive health benefits

• Well-woman visits (annual routine physical, annual routine GYN exam and prenatal visits)
• Screening for gestational diabetes
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing
• Counseling for sexually transmitted infections
• Counseling and screening for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• Screening and counseling for interpersonal and domestic violence
• Breastfeeding support, supplies and counseling
• Contraceptive methods and counseling

The federal health care reform legislation, known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), was signed into law on March 23, 2010.

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Don’t Get Burned This Summer: Child Labor Enforcement

Second in a series of three articles

Since 1938, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) has put enforcement of child labor laws in the hands of the DOL.

It’s a job that the DOL’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) takes seriously. Last year, from April to July, the employment ranks of those ages 16 to 24 increased by 1.7 million to 18.6 million as almost half of all Americans in that age group found a summer job. Employers should be aware of the work rules that apply. Recall the severed arm injury article we wrote in January 2012. 

Click Here to continue reading and view these recent actions offer a few examples:

Tip Tuesday! 10 more innovative (and affordable) perks employees love

May 23, 2012 by Christian Schappel

If you want the best and brightest workers, your company needs to have the goods to attract (and retain) them. These companies do.

The folks at BrazenCareerist.com compiled a list of some of the most attractive outside-the-box perks companies are offering these days.

The problem: Most companies could only dream of offering many of the perks mentioned.

But we picked out the ones that are well within the realm of possibility:  

Click Here for the list and to continue reading

Making sense of ‘special circumstance’ pay pitfalls

May 16, 2012 by Dan Wisniewski

You know when non-exempt staff have to be paid for off-the-clock time or travel. But what about these other wage and hour pitfalls?

Here are six compensable time issues that every HR pro should know how to handle, courtesy of Grace Lee and Robert Friedman of Venable LLP.

Seminars and training

Non-exempt workers who attend a lecture, a seminar or a training program outside the office don’t have to be paid if the event meets the following criteria: 

• attendance is voluntary
• attendance is outside the employee’s regular working hours
• the event is not directly related to staffers’ jobs, and
• staff members don’t perform any work during the event.

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Health test confusion: What workers need – and what they’re choosing

May 2, 2012 by Jared Bilski

Here’s a healthcare problem Benefits pros will want to address:  Employees are skipping out on the critical — and potentially life-saving — medical procedures and choosing more costly ones they might not need.

One of the best examples: colonoscopies. Research has proven that individuals age 50 and over (or those with a high risk of cancer) greatly reduce the risk of getting colon cancer, or having it spread and requiring a chemotherapy, simply by getting colonoscopies done.

Cancerous and precancerous polyps found during the colonoscopy can actually be removed right on the spot — making it an extremely cost-effective procedure.

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Tip Tuesday! Cholesterol Management

Taking care of yourself is one of the most important things you can do. We want to be sure you are receiving all of the tests and screenings necessary to help keep you healthy.

Clinical trials have shown that lowering your LDL cholesterol can sharply reduce your risk of a subsequent heart attack.  Regular screenings are important. Have your blood cholesterol and blood pressure checked regularly, as per your doctor’s instructions.  

Click Here for things you can do to reduce your risk and continue reading.

Whooping cough: Boost your protection now

By William Weese, M.D.

Some people may be surprised to hear that whooping cough still causes outbreaks. Isn't that one of those childhood diseases that went the way of polio?

Actually, cases of whooping cough — also known as pertussis — have risen since the 1980s. That includes among adults. One reason: The protection people received as kids can fade with time.

So, unless you've had a booster shot, you could be at risk if an outbreak occurs.

And, there's another matter to consider: sweet little babies. Whooping cough is very contagious. And, if you get sick, you could spread it to an infant who hasn't been immunized yet. It can be very dangerous for babies — even deadly.  


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Aflac Pays for FMLA Violation

Given its experience with time-off issues, Aflac is not the type of employer you would guess to settle with the DOL for a violation of FMLA.

That’s exactly what happened in April, to the tune of almost $17,000.

The DOL Wage and Hour Division (WHD) settlement was based on Aflac’s termination of an employee who took intermittent leave because of a serious health condition. Aflac contended that the leave was not FMLA-protected because the employee did not provide requested documents on a timely basis. The WHD investigation showed otherwise.

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Tip Tuesday! 5 ways to make your freezer your friend

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

If you have a freezer, you can have a wealth of meal options. Today's leftovers become next week's dinner. Frozen peaches can whirl into a luscious breakfast smoothie. A BOGO sale — buy one, get one free — saves you several dollars on skinless chicken breasts. You have a busy week ahead — so you cook a few extra dishes over the weekend.
Used properly, a freezer will preserve fresh foods without destroying nutrients. Yet, too many of us let this marvelous kitchen helper stand by, bloated with foods long forgotten and ignored.

Click Here to continue reading and for some cold, hard tips to make this underappreciated appliance your ally!

Steal these ideas: 3 ways Chrysler keeps healthcare costs flat

April 27, 2012 by Christian Schappel

While everyone else’s healthcare costs are rising, Chrysler’s managed to avoid those increases. The best part: You can steal the automaker’s cost control tactics for use in your organization. 

In 2011, Chrysler avoided healthcare cost increases for the vast majority of its 13,000 salaried workers in the U.S. after its healthcare spending jumped 9% the year before, according to The Detroit News.

Click Here to continue reading about the three secrets to its success that are worth considering:

Health insurers to issue more than $1B in rebates to customers, employers

April 30, 2012 by Christian Schappel

If you sponsor a health plan, and you’re not self-insured, you could be getting a nice fat check from your insurance carrier this August.

Beginning in the 2011 calendar year, the healthcare reform law has required insurers spend at least 80 cents of each premium dollar they take in over the course of a year — 85 cents for plans in the large group market — on medical care and healthcare quality improvement.

If they spent less than that, they have to pay the amount back to policy holders — either by issuing them checks or by reducing future insurance premiums. 

As a result, insurers are expected to refund between $1.2 billion and $1.3 billion dollars in profits this August, according to two research groups.

This is the first time insurers have to issue rebates due to the healthcare reform law rule, most commonly referred to as the medical loss ratio requirement.  

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Wired and tired: 3 signs you’re over-connected

By Michael Rosen, M.D.

Reading this article on your laptop? You're connected.

Got four browser windows open simultaneously, your smartphone singing text alerts and your HDTV glowing in the background — all while you're in bed?

You might be over-connected.

Certainly, electronics and media can enhance our lives. They can inform and inspire us — and help us stay in touch with others.

But, sometimes, plugged-in time can take over our downtime. And, people may find that — as much as they enjoy technology — in excess, it makes them less fulfilled, productive and happy.  


Click Here to continue reading and view the three signs you may be depleting your own battery...

Tip Tuesday: Attention, please! 4 tips for mindful eating

By Arleen Fitzgerald, L.I.C.S.W.


When it comes to maintaining a healthy weight, the word is out: Mindful eating is in. But, what exactly does that mean?
We all know its opposite — mindlesseating. That's what we're doing when we gobble a turkey sandwich at our computers or munch an entire bag of chips in front of the TV. We're putting food into our mouths without really thinking.

Mindful eating, on the other hand, is recognizing when we're actually hungry — and giving each bite our full attention. Experts say when we do this, we tend to consume less food — maybe as much as one-third less. And, that's good news for anyone who's also trying to be mindful of an expanding waistline.  


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Healthful foods that can boost your mood

By Melanie Polk, M.M.Sc., R.D., F.A.D.A., and Arleen Fitzgerald, L.I.C.S.W.

When it comes to the food-mood connection, it's not as simple as "eat this, feel that." A spinach salad can't cure the blues. But, nutrition and brain science shows us that what we eat during the day can affect our thinking and outlook.

Click Here for a few examples of how certain types of food can be a boon to moods:

Catch oral cancer while it’s still treatable – Watch for these signs

Each year 35,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer. Because oral cancer is often not discovered until it is more advanced, there is less than a 50% survival rate at year five after diagnosis, making early detection extremely important.

If you have any of the signs below, you may have oral cancer and should promptly see your medical doctor.

1. Red and/or white spots in your mouth or on your lips
2. Sores in your mouth or on your lips that do not heal
3. Unusual changes to the surface of your mouth or lip tissue
4. Bleeding in the mouth
5. Loose teeth
6. Difficulty swallowing
7. Ear pain
8. Numbness of the tongue or other mouth parts
9. Jaw swelling

Click Here to continue reading and for a helpful brochure.

Tip Tuesday! 5 ways to hold the salt – and pass the flavor

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

Imagine you're standing at your stovetop. Is salt within reach? Here's a quick health tip: Move it to the back of your cupboard or to a high shelf.

Cooking with salt is a habit that many of us need to shake. Most of us get more sodium than we need. And, too much can cause the body to hold on to fluids, which can raise blood pressure. This adds up to a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes.

You can cut back on salt in the kitchen and still enjoy tasty dishes. In fact, they may even be more flavorful! All it takes is a little creativity — and a stash of no- or low-salt seasonings and alternatives.


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