Insurance

After Supreme Court ruling, plan now for W-2 health care reporting

07/03/2012

Now that the Supreme Court has upheld the health care reform law, you have an urgent item on your to-do list: Coordinating closely with the payroll department to ensure you’re ready to make sure employees’ 2012 tax documents reflect the value of their health benefits.

High court’s health care ruling: Full speed ahead for HR

07/03/2012

The Supreme Court’s June decision to uphold the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act health care reform law means a long compliance to-do list for HR professionals.

Health reform law: Supreme Court upholds ACA — What it means for employers

06/28/2012

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the health care reform law means HR pros who handle health benefits are now under the gun to comply. A long list of milestones for implementing the ACA were established when the law was enacted in March 2010, and they remain in full force.

HR law: All eyes on the Supreme Court

06/26/2012

The center of the HR universe is in Washington, D.C., this week, as the U.S. Supreme Court issues a key decision affecting hiring of undocumented workers and announces it will hear an important case concerning supervisor harassment in its next term. Oh yeah, and then there’s that health care reform case, which should be decided Thursday.

Limiting same-sex perks, DOMA ‘unconstitutional’

06/20/2012

A federal district court has ruled that the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) violates the equal protection clause of the Constitution by prohibiting California same-sex couples from signing up for long-term care insurance through the California Public Employees’ Retirement System.

Recession, high costs made fewer seek care

06/20/2012

Money worries and the steadily rising cost of health care led fewer Americans to seek medical treatment in 2010, according to a new, detailed analysis by the nonprofit Health Care Cost Institute.

Minnesota backs away from edge of retirement ‘cliff’

06/18/2012

The Minnesota state government has settled the last age discrimination claims resulting from early retirement packages offered to state employees.

Payroll on the hook for medical loss ratio rebates

06/15/2012

Group health insurers that don’t spend between 80 and 85 cents of every premium dollar on medical care and health care quality improvement must make so-called medical loss ratio (MLR) rebates to employees, beginning Aug. 1, 2012.

IRS announces 2013 HSA inflation adjustments

06/12/2012

The IRS has announced the 2013 inflation-adjusted figures for health savings accounts (HSAs) and high-deductible health plans.

Self-insured plans must pony up fees for research

06/04/2012

The Affordable Care Act health care reform law requires plan sponsors of self-insured plans, including self-insured plans that cover retirees, to pay fees to support medical research for seven years, beginning with plan years ending on or after Oct. 1, 2012. Sponsors of insured plans who offer employees HRAs and certain health FSAs must also pay the fees.