Insurance

What do you think? Should the Supreme Court affirm or overturn the Affordable Care Act health-care reform law?

11/22/2011

The 2010 health reform law is about as popular with HR pros as it is with the public.

Supreme Court to decide: Is health care reform law constitutional?

11/15/2011

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a challenge to the sweeping federal health-care reform law enacted in 2010, deciding the constitutionality of the Obama administration’s signature domestic policy achievement. No matter how the High Court rules, its decision could affect HR and employee benefits for years to come.

Health care reporting: What you need to do now

11/15/2011

If dealing with year-end 2011 hasn’t caused enough anxiety, lurking just around the corner is W-2 reporting of employees’ health benefits. If you’ll be filing at least 250 W-2s for 2012 and don’t have a self-insured plan that’s not subject to COBRA, you’re on the hook for health care reporting, beginning next year.

Health premiums rose 9% this year; average family plans top $15,000 for first time

11/14/2011

Health insurance premiums paid by employers this year rose by 9% from 2010, much faster than workers’ wages (2.1%) and general inflation (3.2%), according to a Kaiser Family Foundation annual report.

State agencies slapped with age discrimination suits

11/09/2011

Three state agencies—the Minnesota departments of Commerce, Public Safety and Natural Resources—face nearly identical EEOC lawsuits claiming they discriminated against workers based on their age.

Cost-sharing skyrockets as health premiums rise

11/03/2011

Employers are asking employees to shoulder a far greater share of the burden as health insurance premiums continue to rise, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. After several years of relatively modest increases, annual premiums for employer-sponsored family health coverage rose to $15,073 this year, up 9% from last year.

Regs Require Uniform Summary of Health Benefits & Coverage

11/01/2011

Beginning March 23, 2012, all group health plans—including grandfathered plans, self-insured plans and plans not covered by ERISA—must provide employees and beneficiaries with a simple explanation of their benefits and a uniform glossary covering basic health insurance and medical terms.

Health benefit affordability safe harbor leans on payroll

10/30/2011

Under the Affordable Care Act health care reform law, employers will pay a penalty if just one employee enrolls in coverage through the individual exchange and receives a premium tax credit and his or her contribution isn’t affordable because it exceeds 9.5% of his or her household income. Problem: You usually don’t know employees’ household income. To remedy this, the IRS is proposing an employer affordability safe harbor.

Higher rates approved for state employee health plans

10/26/2011

New Jersey and its public employees will pay more for health insurance coverage next year. Rates for 2012 health insurance plans will rise by an average of 9% for active state employees, 3% for retirees and a whopping 10.3% for municipal employees.

Kansas City employers save $11 million with wellness

10/24/2011

A group of employers that participated in the Kansas City Collaborative avoided almost $11 million in direct health care costs by giving employees and their dependents access to better health information and making it easier to get preventive care.