Insurance

Worker fired for lack of wheels is eligible for unemployment

10/29/2013

A former employee of Bell Socialization Services in York has won unemployment compensation benefits after she was fired for not having “reliable transportation.”

With ACA Web woes mounting, will SHOPs be delayed again?

10/29/2013

With Obama administration officials now stating that Healthcare.gov “will work smoothly for the vast majority of users by the end of November,” it seems reasonable to wonder when employers will be able to use the site to buy coverage for their employees under the Small Business Health Option Program (SHOP).

Put your ACA expertise to use during open enrollment

10/25/2013

This open enrollment season may prove to be the most challenging in years, thanks primarily to two converging forces: the Affordable Care Act and the fact that employees barely understand their health benefits anyway. You can burnish your reputation in the company by having answers to employees’ questions.

When and how do we notify that COBRA is ending?

10/23/2013

Q. I have a COBRA participant who is nearing the end of his 36-month maximum coverage period. What notices must I send him regarding coverage termination?

Per-employee health benefit costs up slightly in 2014

10/22/2013

Employers expect health benefit costs per employee will rise by 4.8% on average in 2014, based on early responses from an annual survey conducted by Mercer.

Health clinic is latest wellness perk at bio-tech firm

10/18/2013

With 400 employees, Colorado-based AlloSource is joining the ranks of much larger organizations as it launches an on-site health clinic for its staff. Employees of the nonprofit tissue-donation organization (and their dependents) have access to the clinic, part of the company’s wellness program.

Employers forecast health benefit costs to rise slightly in 2014

10/16/2013

U.S. employers expect health benefit cost per employee will rise by 4.8% on average in 2014, according to early responses from an annual survey by consulting firm Mercer. Cost growth slowed to 4.1% in 2012, a 15-year low. The projected increase for 2014, while still relatively low, represents a slight uptick in the rate of growth.

4-point checklist clarifies open enrollment

10/10/2013

With key pieces of health care reform going into effect, employers that offer health benefits have even more to consider when implementing this year’s open enrollment. Make the most of your annual benefits sign-up by following this checklist.

Fired for death threats? No unemployment for you!

10/08/2013

A Commonwealth Court has ruled that a Ridgway man who was fired for threatening his bosses can’t collect unemployment benefits.

No penalty for not providing ACA notice? Maybe, maybe not

10/07/2013

The Affordable Care Act required you to provide employees with notices regarding the health insurance exchanges by Oct. 1. The DOL first posted an FAQ absolving employers that didn’t provide these notices from penalties. However, later clarifications by the DOL imply that this isn’t a consequence-free zone …