Live report from SHRM: Looming Obamacare crisis could cost you top performers

by Jared Bilski

Many employers are so focused on the costs and resources associated with Obamacare compliance that they’re woefully unprepared for a crisis that could develop right under their noses – one that may prove very costly in the long run.

That was one of warnings issued by Karl Ahlrichs at the 2013 SHRM Annual Conference & Exposition in Chicago.

HR Benefits Alert attended Ahlrichs’ presentation at the conference entitled, Using the PPACA as a Catalyst to Move Organizational Culture.

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Benefits recordkeeping: What you must keep – and for how long

by Christian Schappel

The trouble with recordkeeping at a lot of companies: You don’t know how complete your records are until you get involved in litigation or an audit. But by then, it’s often too late to fill in any critical gaps.

That’s why it’s essential to know — before you’re charged with any wrongdoing — what documents you need to hold onto and what you can trash without putting your company at risk.

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What 94% of employers said about sponsoring health coverage under ACA

by Patrick Schober

With Fall implementation coming fast, one survey tried to assess what Obamacare’s impact on employer-sponsored health care will be.

The International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP) has been surveying HR reps, general and financial managers, and other company officials on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) since 2010. IFEBP released its fourth survey in March, having received 966 responses.

Perhaps the most interesting stat to come out of it: 94% of employers said they “definitely” or “very likely” will continue providing coverage after the ACA kicks in.

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Tip Tuesday! Which Protein is Better, Whey or Soy?

Dr. Josh Axe 
Whey Protein vs. Soy Protein: Which is the Best Choice?
With thousands of protein powders on the market it’s hard to know which one to choose. Let me start by saying protein supplements are for “supplementing” a diet that is already high in quality sources of protein.  that come from real foods like free-range eggs, poultry, wild caught fish, raw dairy, and grass-fed beef. Check out my superfood plate below for a breakdown of how much protein/fat/carbs I recommend and sources for each.

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Are You Vitamin D Deficient?

BY DR. AXE

Recently the importance of the often forgotten vitamin D have come into the spotlight. Study after study reveals that low levels of vitamin D enable disease progression in the body while adequate levels of this sunshine vitamin not only decrease your risk of disease but also helps to fight off diseases already in place.

(There are five known types of vitamin D. D1, D2, D3, D4, and D5. For our purposes here we are speaking of vitamins D2 and D3.)

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Breaking down the barrage of new Obamacare guidance & forms

By Jared Bilski

With the main part of the Affordable Care Act set to take effect in a little over half a year, the feds have been very busy releasing new guidance. Here are the highlights of their latest efforts.

Exchange notices, SBC changes

The most recent guidance came from the DOL and offered some highly anticipated info on the notices that businesses are required to distribute to employees on the availability of health insurance exchanges.

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New bill would add big changes to HSAs, FSAs

By Jared Bilski

The popularity of tax-advantaged accounts like FSAs and HSAs has surged in recent years. But many feel the rules governing these accounts could use a makeover, and now there’s a new bill being considered that would do just that.

The Family and Retirement Health Investment Act of 2013 was introduced by Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), and the bill aims to strengthen HSAs and FSAs and expand the accounts to cover more individuals.

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