Tip Tuesday! Historic coverage expansion to test promise of Obamacare

By Alex Wayne

(Bloomberg) -- After three months of turmoil surrounding the rollout of Obamacare, the country faces an historic turning point on Jan. 1.

From emergency rooms to pharmacies to company human-resources departments, changes will unfold within the U.S. health-care system as the nation guarantees insurance coverage to all Americans for the first time, a goal that has eluded presidents and lawmakers since the end of World War Two.

Beginning with the New Year, insurance companies can no longer refuse to cover people because of sickness, charge them more than healthy customers or drop them when they fall ill. In return, most Americans are required to have a health plan. Some of the 19 million Americans who buy insurance on their own will find their new plans are more expensive with fewer treatment options than before as insurers seek to contain costs.

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Employee benefits compliance checklist for 2013 year end

By Timothy F. Kennedy

 

2013 is not over yet. Employers and HR and benefits professionals must address these 14 compliance issues before the New Year begins. Timothy F. Kennedy is a partner in Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads’s Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Practice, concisely outlines retirement and health care issues that plan sponsors must consider in the following days.

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What affected HR’s job the most in 2013? Top 6 trends

By Dan Wisniewski

 

It’s almost the end of the year, and you know what that means: It’s time to look back at the past 12 months in employment law and see what mattered most to HR. 
Fisher & Phillips’ Richard Meneghello laid it all out for readers. Here’s some of what he  found relevant about the past year:

Healthcare reform

This past year was supposed to be the year of implementation and compliance for President Obama’s key piece of legislation, but that was thrown out the window when the Treasury department announced the employer and insurer reporting requirements — and the accompanying penalties — under the law will be delayed until 2015.

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List of Top 2014 Affordable Care Act Changes for Employers

By Infinisource

The dictionary defines change as “to become different.” Anyone dealing with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) can tell you that if anything, it’s different. This law has created a lot of change for employers, including a new list of requirements for 2014.

Most of these changes do not apply to grandfathered plans (indicated as GF Exception). Employers need to make sure they are covering all of these new changes due to ACA, either starting on January 1, 2014, (indicated as 1/1/2014) or with the plan year starting in 2014 (indicated as PY2014)

Click here for the list.

Updating your employee handbook: The essentials

By Tim Gould

It’s easy to overlook the importance of keeping the employee handbook current. Here’s a checklist you can use to make sure you’ve got all your bases covered.


A clearly-written, well organized handbook lays out the company’s expectations for employees. It also makes clear what the employee can expect from you.

And when done correctly, it can protect the employer from all sorts of legal headaches.
Sounds simple, right? Maybe not. Badly written or incomplete handbooks have gotten firms in trouble for everything from discriminatory hiring practices to unwittingly creating an employment contract.

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Fit gifts: Presents they'll really go for!

By Karis Gabrielson, R.N.

What could be better than fun and affordable gifts that inspire your favorite people to be healthy and active? Unwrapping fitness gear might give beginners a boost or help seasoned athletes raise their games.*

Here are a few ideas for those on your list. You might even mix and match smaller items for a fitness-themed gift basket.

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Tip Tuesday! U.S. says 15,000 health care enrollments didn’t get to insurers

By Alex Wayne

(Bloomberg) — The government failed to send data to health insurers for about 15,000 people who enrolled in Obamacare through early December, an error corrected last week before it could jeopardize their coverage, the U.S. said.

The percentage of enrollments that aren’t transmitted to insurers, a process known as an “834 transaction” is now close to zero, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said in a report over the weekend.

While the government announced Dec. 1 that it fixed many of the bugs and errors that had frustrated consumers using its insurance-enrollment system, garbled back-end communications with carriers have taken longer to sort out. The data transmissions are critical to complete the enrollment of millions of people seeking coverage under the Affordable Care Act that was the signature domestic achievement of President Barack Obama’s first term.

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Top 3 reasons workers hate health screenings — and how to defeat each argument

By Christian Schappel

 

Most company wellness programs lean heavily on biometric screenings/health risk assessments to be successful at driving down health spending.

The problem is, many workers aren’t willing to participate in these evaluations, making it hard to get wellness initiatives off the ground.

So what do you do when workers are standoffish about your screenings? Confront their fears head-on.

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Heads up: Key changes that could be coming for Obamacare

By Tim Gould

 

The current version of the healthcare reform law is a lot different from the one that took effect on March 23, 2010 — and more changes are bound to come. While it’s impossible to predict exactly what tweaks the feds will make to Obamacare, experts have pinpointed a number of changes that seem plausible.  

 

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4 holiday bonus, gift mistakes that could make you look foolish

By Christian Schappel

 

‘Tis the season for confusing tax liability. And while you’re busy acting like Santa Claus, the last thing you want is for the Grinch — a.k.a., the IRS — to show up, looking to fill its stockings with your hard-earned cash.

The best way to keep the IRS from dampening your holiday spirit is staying in-the-know about the common holiday accounting mistakes that attract its auditors.
A quick rundown of what will land you on the IRS’ naughty list:

1. Failing to report holiday bonuses as taxable income

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Tip Tuesday! 6 questions employers should be able to answer about the Affordable Care Act

By Sheryl Southwick

What do business owners need to do today — before Jan. 1, 2014?

• The marketplace notification requirements went into effect on Oct. 1, 2013, meaning it’s required that employers notify their employees about the Obamacare exchanges. This includes new hires within 14 days of their hire date, whether they are eligible for benefits or not.

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Meet the ‘non-employee’: Congress’ latest take on IC classification enforcement

By Christian Schappel

Another day, another crack at cutting down on the improper classification of employees as independent contractors by making life tougher on every employer — including those abiding by the law.

The latest attempt by Congress, and the ninth since 2007, to stymie “intentional misclassification” is called the Payroll Fraud and Prevention Act.

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Yes, businesses hate Obamacare: But what do doctors think of it?

By Christain Schappel

Two major studies have just been published on the Affordable Care Act (ACA): One reveals employers’ reactions to Obamacare and one reports physicians’ feelings toward the law. Are they both on the same page?

Yes.

Both groups view the law through whatever the opposite of rose-colored glasses would be (charcoal, maybe?).

In other words: They are not fans — and the sample sizes for the studies were not small, either.
According to a study of 3,072 practicing physicians, 56% of doctors want to see Obamacare repealed or defunded. Another 38% said the law should be changed. Only 6% said it should remain unchanged.

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4 potential Obamacare changes HR should watch for

By Jared Bilski

The current version of the healthcare reform law is a lot different from the one that took effect on March 23, 2010 — and more changes are bound to come. While it’s impossible to predict exactly what tweaks the feds will make to Obamacare, experts have highlighted a number of changes that seem plausible.

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Tip Tuesday! Insurers Given Permission to Renew Policies That Don't Meet PPACA Requirements

By Linda Rowings, Chief Compliance Officer United Benefit Advisors

 

 (Nov. 14, 2013) the White House announced that insurers will not be required to meet most of the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) if they renew individual or small group policies that were in effect on Oct. 1, 2013. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) concurrently sent a Letter to all Insurance Commissioners that provides additional details on the waiver. Essentially, coverage that does not meet the "insurance market reforms" that are scheduled to take effect in 2014 may still be provided for renewals with policy years beginning between Jan. 1, 2014, and Oct. 1, 2014. All newly issued policies must meet the PPACA requirements.

 

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Tip Tuesday! 3 reasons COBRA will live on after Obamacare

By Jared Bilski

 

A number of prominent benefits experts and industry groups have said the creation of the Obamacare exchanges will essentially kill the need for COBRA coverage. But there may be some serious holes in their reasoning.

 

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Help managers keep their people motivated in uncertain times

By Tim Gould

It’s one of the biggest challenges a line manager can face: Keeping engagement, performance and morale high during times of change. And, Lord knows, there’s an awful lot of change afoot in American business today.

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How to turn a $40K worker into a 401k millionaire

By Christian Schappel

 

You don’t have to make a six- or seven-figure salary to be able to accumulate $1 million in your 401k account by the time you hit retirement age. Even the average Joe can do it!

That news is sure to perk up the ears of your workforce as you attempt to drum up increased participation in your company 401k plan.

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‘Have you spoken to the carriers,' Mr. President?

By Gillian Roberts

Immediately following President Obama’s pledge Thursday that insurance carriers can offer a one-year renewal of plans that were cancelled for not complying with the ACA, industry members were already warning of numerous practical obstacles.

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Tip Tuesday! Obama admits fault in health reform rollout, tries to let employers keep plans

By Christian Schappel

Small employers disappointed that their current health plans will get canned in 2014 due to Obamacare could – added emphasis on could – see those plans get a second life.

In a sobering news conference at the White House, President Obama took the blame for the botched rollout of his signature law and his inability to make good on a promise to allow Americans and small employers to keep their current health plans if they liked them.

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4 upcoming Supreme Court rulings with major benefits & comp implications

By Christian Schappel

 

The Supreme Court’s current term won’t end until June 30, 2014. And between now and then, it’s expected to hand down four rulings that could significantly impact the benefits and compensation landscape.
Here are the questions the High Court is expected to answer in the coming months — and the potential fallout from each:

1. When does a statute of limitations period begin?

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Complete year-end nondiscrimination testing ASAP

By Kevin Semanick

The end of the year brings celebration and holidays. It is also time to stop procrastinating on the annual to-do list. For HR professionals, mid-year nondiscrimination testing needs to be at the top of that list.

Waiting to test until the completion of the year can have severe negative consequences. Any pre-taxed benefits enjoyed by highly compensated employees in discriminatory health and welfare plans must be included in gross income and taxed accordingly

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Tip Tuesday! Vets’ Affirmative Action Deadline—March 24, 2014

By Stephen Bruce, PhD, PHR

Here are some of the other important changes included in the final affirmative action rule:

The incorporation of specific equal opportunity (EO) clause language in subcontracts. In order to incorporate the equal opportunity clause by reference in subcontracts, contractors must include specific language spelled out in the new regulations. This language notifies subcontractors of their responsibilities and includes a reference to “veteran status.” The reference to veteran status must also be included in the EO clause when listing vacant positions.

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Breaking down the feds’ final Mental Health Parity rule

By Jared Bilski

 

After reviewing nearly 6,000 public comments, the DOL, HHS and Treasury just released the final rule on the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act.

Here’s a summary of what it does. As HR pros know, the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act was created to close the gap — and create “parity” — between the medical coverage individuals with physical illnesses receive versus that available to those with mental health and/or substance-abuse issues.

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Contraception provision of ACA to be reviewed by Supreme Court?

By Tim Gould

 

Looks like Obamacare could be coming before the Supreme Court once again. Don’t get too excited, though — the case involves just one provision of the Affordable Care Act.  
In an unusual move, Hobby Lobby, a chain of craft-supply stores that describes itself as “Christian-owned and operated,” has asked the Supreme Court to review the section of the ACA that requires employers to provide and pay for contraceptives.

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Tip Tuesday! FSA Use-It-or-Lose-It-Rule Modified

By Stephen Miller, CEBS

IRS permits carryover of $500 annually; employers must end grace period to allow rollover

Health flexible spending accounts (FSAs) are becoming more flexible. New federal guidance permits employers to allow workers to carry over unused amounts of up to $500 for expenses in the next year and still contribute up to $2,500 annually.

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How To Do Burst Training On A Treadmill (3x More Effective)

By Dr. Josh Axe

Have you ever spent hours in the gym, pounding away at the treadmill? Are you convinced that the built-in “calories-burned” counter is an accurate indicator of a good workout?

Well… the calorie counter is far from accurate in terms of a good workout. In fact–spending hours pounding away on a treadmill is not the best way to burn fat or get in shape. This is the number one mistake I see most people making in the gym today.

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Health Care Reform Q & A

By Infinisource

 

While health care reform was passed in two stages in 2010 as part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), some obligations for employers are relatively new. As always, with anything new, there are questions.

Here are a few that we’ve received and thought might benefit others.

Q:  Can an employer charge participants the amount of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (PCOR) fee for a self-insured medical plan (e.g., an HRA)?

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Tip Tuesday! How the DOL expects employers to prove they’re in compliance with Obamacare

By Christian Schappel

 

 

Much like it has increased its wage-and-hour law enforcement efforts, the DOL is upping the number of group health plan audits it’s conducting. But this year there’s a new focus: Obamacare compliance.

The DOL’s health plan audit letters now contain requests for documents related to the healthcare reform law’s strict requirements on employer-sponsored plans.

Click here for the list of Required Documentation.

 

Flu shot administration: Pitfalls to avoid, practices to live by

By Jared Bilski

 

Each year, 5% to 20% of the U.S. population gets the flu, and if last year’s record-setting flu season is any indication of how this year will be, employers better start preparing themselves. But be careful: There are certain things firms should never do in an effort to keep staffers healthy during flu season.

 

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Does your employee review process actually improve performance?

By Tim Gould

 

Performance reviews: The most-dreaded procedure in every workplace, painful for workers and managers alike. Here are some thoughts about why they’re often not effective, and how HR can help managers understand just how reviews should be useful to both employer and employee.  

 

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The future of wellness: 3 trends that will soon be everywhere

By Jared Bilski

 

According to Barry Hall and Scott Marcotte of Buck Consultants Talent and HR Solutions Practice, more firms are incorporating tech-based solutions into their wellness offerings. And the sooner companies learn to use tech tools effectively, the greater the success they’re likely to have with their wellness plans.

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Tip Tuesday! Why is health insurance so expensive? [Graphic]

By Sandra Mills

 

One of the questions that so many people in the U.S. have is: “Why is my health insurance so expensive?” Americans also want to know if the high prices they’re paying are normal, when compared to everyone else. This infographic from Carrington College strives to answer those questions.

 

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Ashwagandha Proven to Heal Thyroid and Adrenals

By Dr. Josh Axe

If you are looking to restore your energy, look younger, and reverse disease then Aswagandha may be the herb you’re looking for.

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Managers hold key to engagement: Six steps to help them succeed

By Tim Gould

 

The good news: American workers are two-and-a-half times more likely to be actively engaged in their jobs than their counterparts around the globe. The not-so-good part: only three of 10 U.S. workers are feeling the love.  

 

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Obama to reform retirement savings next? 4 things you need to know

By Christian Schappel

 

Pretty much no matter what happens in President Obama’s final term, his presidency is likely to be defined by his healthcare reform law. But in what appears – at least in large part – to be an attempt to raise money for the federal government, he has set his sights on a new target: Retirement savings.

 

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Tip Tuesday! Obamacare could eliminate COBRA costs, headaches for employers

By Christian Schappel

It’s no secret Obamacare hasn’t been well received by HR professionals. On the whole, they feel it adds unnecessary complexity and costs. But there may be a silver lining to the law.

It appears likely that healthcare reform will virtually eliminate the need for COBRA insurance coverage, according to a joint report by Kaiser Health News and the Chicago Tribune.

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Can we sleep our way slimmer?

By Karis Gabrielson, R.N.

 

It's no secret that healthy eating and regular exercise are keys to managing the number on the scale. But, it turns out that many of us may be missing out on one more smart habit that can help us stay trim: a good night's sleep.

What does sleep have to do with weight?

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Open enrollment crunch time: 5 things employers need to know

By Harry Gottlieb

Open enrollment is here, and employers have to get employees up to speed on the benefits options available to them. And because the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is making this process so complex, Harry Gottlieb, a champion for simple, engaging employee communication, has assembled five things employers need to be aware of during this year’s open enrollment.

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Top 7 mental mistakes employees make during open enrollment

By Christian Schappel

Mistakes made during open enrollment in previous years can help employers figure out what to do to ease the annual headache this year – for themselves and their employees.

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65% of workers don’t understand HSAs: What HR can do

By Jared Bilski

 

As the use of health-savings accounts (HSAs) continues to increase significantly, you’d think workers’ understanding of this healthcare tool would grow right along with it. Unfortunately, many workers are still confused about the basic features of HSAs.

 

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The nuts and bolts of how the government shutdown affects you

By Tim Gould

 

You may have heard: The federal government’s in shutdown mode. Does this mean employers won’t have to worry about being hounded by EEOC and DOL investigators for awhile?

The answer, as usual: It depends. First off, it’s possible Congress will get its act together within a couple of days. Secondly, if your firm is already deep into a complaint investigation with a federal agency, that process will likely continue — although things may unfold more slowly due to the EEOC, DOL and NLRB staff shortages.

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Five Things We Learned About Public Health Exchanges on Day 1

By David Albertson

 

Critics say technology glitches showed public exchanges were not ready for opening day. Proponents of health reform said server-crashing traffic to exchange sites were proof of strong interest. Here's a more objective rundown of learnings from the opening of public exchanges, offered by Kev Coleman, director of Data & Research for Healthpocket:

 

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More Obamacare delays announced as exchanges open

By Christian Schappel

 

The web-based health insurance exchanges established by Obamacare are officially open for business – just not for everyone.

 

Shortly before the exchanges opened, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that small businesses will not be able to buy health insurance online through the new marketplaces until November.

 

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Tip Tuesday! Homework involved for PPACA coverage

By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Getting covered under President Barack Obama's health care law might take you more than one sitting. In a media preview Monday, it felt like a cross between doing your taxes and making an important purchase that requires research.

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FMLA: Same pay and benefits = equivalent position … right?

By Jared Bilski

 

It’s not uncommon for employers to assume a position is “equivalent” under the FMLA just because it offers the same pay and benefits. But a recent FMLA lawsuit is calling that assumption into question.

The case is Crawford v. JP Morgan Chase, and here’s a quick summary:

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Absenteeism: A no-nonsense approach to a chronic problem

By Tim Gould

 

It is rule No. 1 in the workplace: Employees need to show up to do their jobs. In today’s “do-more-with-less” culture, however, absenteeism is a growing concern for many companies.

It’s not uncommon for organizations to deal with absenteeism rates of 10% or more – putting extra pressure on other employees, slowing productivity and taking a day-by-day bite out of the bottom line.

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Feds cancel another penalty under ACA

By Christian Schappel

 

Employers just got some more relief when it comes to complying with the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Obama Administration just announced, via a brief FAQ on the DOL’s website, that employers who fail to provide employees with a health exchange notice will not be “penalized.”

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Pricing issue jeopardizes federal exchange opening

By Gillian Roberts

As the insurance and benefits industries brace for Oct. 1, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that the price determination technology for the federally-run exchanges isn’t consistent. “Government officials and insurers were scrambling to iron out the pricing quirks quickly,” accordingly to the Sept. 19 article.

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More small businesses turning to ICs — and why it’s a potentially dangerous move

By Tim Gould

 

The trend seems clear: Small companies are turning more and more to independent contractors.

A recent SurePayroll study says that 22% of small business owners are more likely to hire independent contractors than full-time workers in the coming months.

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New Obamacare FAQ tackles exchange notices, 90-day waiting period

By Jared Bilski

 

 

The exchange notice requirement and the rule regarding 90-day waiting periods are two Obamacare provisions that generated plenty of questions from confused employers. And the DOL has attempted to answer those questions in its most recent health reform FAQ.
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Ancient Superseed Chia Increases Energy and Metabolism

By Dr. Josh Axe

 

Most wellness doctors agree that Chia is one of nature’s true superfoods.  It delivers maximum nutrients with minimum calories and promotes digestion, energy and detoxification of the body. Originally grown in Mexico, the seeds were highly valued for their medicinal properties and nutritional value. In fact, they we're even used as currency!

 

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Tip Tuesday! Departments Clarify ACA Rules for HRAs

By Infinisource

 

On Friday, September 13, 2013, the DOL and the IRS issued guidance on how the annual limit and preventive services rules in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) apply to HRAs. IRS Notice 2013-54 and DOL Technical Release 2013-03 provided much-awaited answers to questions about what types of HRAs comply with these ACA rules.

 

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Go Mediterranean! Try it the calorie-wise way

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

Imagine this: You're sitting on a piazza in southern Italy, basking in the sights and sounds of a warm autumn afternoon. Bite by delicious bite, you nibble from a small plate of veggies, olives and nuts.

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The Benefits of Intermittent Fasting

By Brad Shepherd

 

Skipping breakfast. Eating all you want five days out of the week, severely limiting calories or even not eating anything at all the other two. Limiting your eating hours to only 6 or 8 hours a day.

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Important Dates to Remember

By Infinisource

The following checklist provides insurance agents/brokers, employers and benefits and payroll professionals key upcoming dates and deadlines related to health benefits. This reminder list does not constitute all of the deadlines applicable to employers and some deadlines may be different based on variations in plan year or plan design.

Click here for the checklist.

Tip Tuesday! Move over myths: Get the facts on flu shots

By Tanise Edwards, M.D.

 

 

There's no question the flu can be a misery maker — causing fever, chills, body aches and more. But, there's a way to avoid all that unpleasantness: Getting vaccinated.

So, why is it that many people skip this simple step?

It could boil down to bad information. Don't let any of these six common myths keep you from taking your best shot at staying well this flu season:

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Is it time for an e-cigarette policy? The pros and cons

By Christian Schappel

The next big change to your employee policies may need to come from the latest smoking cessation fad: the use of electronic cigarettes. Chances are, if they haven’t arrived already, they’re coming to your workplace … soon.

So now’s the time to consider your organization’s position on the devices and whether or not they can be used on the job, inside your facility and/or around co-workers.

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Your Supplements Could Be Made of Shower Scum

By Dr. Josh Axe

Here is some news that will shock you. Approximately 90% of supplements sold on the shelves of health food stores, drug stores and supermarkets contain vitamins that are literally ground up rocks or mineral salts.

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Should man’s best friend also be employees’ best friend?

By Dan Wisniewski

 

Is an employee pet policy good for the workplace — and right for your company?  
There’s no question about it: More companies are allowing workers to bring pets to the office.
Nearly 20% of U.S. companies allow employees to bring pets — mainly dogs — to work, according to a 2008 report from the American Pet Products Association.

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