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Insurance

Health reform: Most employers will play, not pay

05/06/2010
The new health care law forces most employers to either provide employee insurance or pay a per-employee fine. Although the impact of the reforms is still not clear, more than two-thirds of employers (68%) say they disagree that their organizations would be better off dropping coverage and paying the fine.

Wellness program pays for itself at Simonton

05/03/2010

The nearly 2,000 employees who participated in Simonton Windows’ wellness program last year had such good results that the company was able to pay for its entire wellness initiative with the money it saved on health care. Simonton President Mark Savan says the program has reaped measurable improvements in employee health screenings for blood pressure, body mass index, smoking and cholesterol.

COBRA subsidy expanded, extended through May 31

04/28/2010
On April 15, President Obama signed into law amendments to the COBRA subsidy provision of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus. Those amendments—plus amendments enacted in March—not only extend the time that the subsidy is available, but also offer it to certain individuals whose hours were reduced before they were involuntary terminated.

Georgia firm adds ‘medical tourism’ to benefits

04/28/2010

Employees of IDMI Systems in Warner Robins, Ga., who are willing to travel out of the United States for medical procedures could pay 80% less than they would if they had surgery at home. The firm, which develops automation software for the insurance industry, has added an international medical travel option to its employee health plan.

5 keys to boosting participation in your health plan

04/27/2010

Innovative employers are applying five new principles when they talk to employees about health and health insurance. As you look for ways to encourage employees to be active, informed consumers of the health benefits you offer, see how many you can incorporate into your own communication plans.

New amendments extend COBRA 65% subsidy to May 31

04/23/2010
Effective April 15, 2010, the 65% COBRA premium subsidy program that originally took effect in early 2009 will remain available until May 31, 2010. The new date became official on April 15 when President Obama signed the Continuing Extension Act of 2010, which stretched eligibility for the subsidy and extended several other federal benefits designed to help unemployed workers.

65% COBRA subsidy extended through May 31

04/20/2010

On April 15, President Obama signed into law amendments that extend eligibility for the 65% COBRA subsidy through May 31. The amendments buy time for Congress to consider additional legislation that could keep the subsidy alive until the end of the year.

Lowe’s to offer free employee health screening

04/15/2010
Home improvement giant Lowe’s is offering free health screenings to its employees. Lowe’s partnerships with health care providers mean employees will be able to get free checks of their blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, waist size, hip size, weight, height, body fat percentage and body-mass index.

The hidden HR hurdles of health care reform

04/06/2010
It’s no wonder that some provisions of the recently enacted health care reform law flew under the media radar. After all, it’s more than 2,000 pages long. But HR pros need to know about new requirements concerning reporting of employer-provided health benefits, breastfeeding at work and background checks for health care workers.

Lowe’s to offer free employee health screening

04/05/2010
Home-improvement giant Lowe’s is offering free health screening to its employees. It also recently announced that it will fully cover heart surgery costs at the Cleveland Clinic for any Lowe’s employee (or family member) from anywhere in the U.S. and Canada.