WRITING AN EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK: 5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Hiring employees means creating rules for them to follow. How to write an employee handbook that can help you run a better company -- and protect you in court.  Let AMS help you, our clients receive valued added HR Portal to HRANSWERLINK the number on line HR site.
When you're launching a startup, writing an employee handbook probably isn't the first thing on your mind. But once you start hiring, and have enough employees to round out a company softball team, you'll start to realize that maybe you should actually put some rules down on paper. And then you remember the employee handbook you were given when you were a lowly cog in the system, and how you glanced at it, threw it in a drawer and never looked at it again. Except there's one difference now -- now, you're the boss.

While an employee handbook is about as fun to write as it is to read, it can be one of your company's most important documents. Where should you begin and what should you include? Here are five things you need to know.

1) A handbook can protect you in court.

A business can be sued for countless reasons. You fire someone who doesn't believe they deserve to be fired, and they lawyer up. A lecherous employee makes a pass at another employee, who eventually takes you to court. "In the United States, most civil rights laws apply to companies with 15 or more employees, and some local human rights ordinances apply to organizations with less than 15 employees," says Rita Barreto Craig, president of The Craig Group, a Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.-based HR consulting firm. "Companies need to become aware of local, state and federal laws to ensure they are in compliance."

So a handbook is your chance to get everything in writing, to establish rules on virtually every topic you can come up with. Obviously, having everything in writing doesn't mean you won't wind up on an episode of Judge Judy, but it can help demonstrate in court that you weren't making up everything on the fly. And the justice system notwithstanding, writing up all these rules and thinking about how to handle each situation will probably help you run your business more efficiently. Can't remember your own sick-day policy? Check the handbook.

2) Cover the gray areas.

Like what, you ask? "The tech boom is here to stay, and it's causing all kinds of new litigation," says Craig, who has worked in human resources for the past 30 years, served as the chair of the Florida Commission on Human Relations and has written numerous employee handbooks. "Make sure you develop policies that identity what is and isn't acceptable. Facebook, Twitter, etc. Where does work begin and personal life end? This is a new and growing issue."

Remember to consider the everyday workplace scenarios that still pose challenges, even if they are not legal issues, Craig adds. "There is no law on the books that's going to stop people from falling in love at work," she says. "Cover it. Think about those gray areas that are open for interpretation. When is my vacation earned? Do I have to call in if I'm going to be out sick? What happens if I'm called on jury duty?"

3) Remember, it's only a guide.

Some employees -- and their bosses -- misunderstand the nature of a handbook and treat it as a contract. But unless you want it to be, clarify at the outset that the handbook contains policies, and does not serve as a contract. Your opening pages might include a statement along the lines of this: "The contents of this manual should not be confused for a contract between the company and its employees. This is a summary of our policies, which are being offered here only as information."

Why is this important? Well, consider the topic of employment-at-will, says MaryAnne M. Hyland, associate professor in the School of Business at Adelphi University in Garden City, N.Y. If you're not familiar with the term, employment-at-will means you can fire an employee for basically any reason. There are some obvious exceptions like discrimination, of course. But if somebody is incompetent or the company budget calls for eliminating a position, as an employer, you probably want the freedom to let people go whenever you want. However, Hyland says, if your handbook lists specific reasons for termination, without the proper disclaimer up front, "these could be interpreted as the only legal grounds for termination if the handbook is considered to be a contract."

4) Avoid endless jargon.

"The tone of the writing should match the company culture, but it should be professional," advises Janet Flewelling, the director of HR operations for Administaff, which specializes in offering full-service HR services to companies with 10 to 20,000 employees. "Even if the company is very lax and informal, it's fine to have an informal tone, but you still want to make it professional and understandable." She also advises that "if most of your employees are high school graduates, you want to make sure you're writing to the level that they will understand."

5) Consult an employment attorney.

In the beginning, if you're just writing 10 bullet points on a sheet of paper as an early outline, this might not be necessary. But once your handbook is finished, and if it's pretty comprehensive, Flewelling suggests that you have an employment lawyer take a look before finalizing it. "It's worth the money to have an attorney review and approve it," Flewelling says. "There are state laws that are often overlooked, and if a company operates [or has employees] in several states, those states may have different rules you need to abide by."

And once your employee handbook is finished, Flewelling suggests reviewing it at least once every two years. The world moves fast. If your employee handbook has references to typewriter policies, chances are, it's time to update.

CASE OF THE WEEK:

This is a good one: An insured was out in his yard doing yard work. All of a sudden he sees a person running and being chased by a policeman - the guy runs right by him over his fence into his back yard. So - he immediately goes after him because his kids are in the back yard. He though doesn't make it over the fence - but falls and cracks his back. (Kids are fine and the bad guy was caught). However, in a split second the insured is disabled for well over 18mths. With his disability benefits - they kept their house, car and dignity!!!

Care Giving can be Stessful

This Just In Caregiving can be stressful—just ask your employees who care for an older relative.  They are more likely to report health problems such as depression, diabetes, hypertension or heart disease. The MetLife study Working Caregivers and Employer Health Care Costs estimated that employees with ldercare responsibilities cost employers an average of 8 percent more per year in healthcare costs than employees withthout eldercare responsibilities.

This equals an estimated $13.4 billion annually in additional costs for all U.S. employers. 

Click here for more infomation

Coverage for Students, Faculty, and Scholars who travel outside of their home country.

Student Travel Medical Insurance


Liaison Student

Best for: Students who are traveling outside of their home country that are engaged in full time educational classes, and or research.

•Price specifically designed for students

•Maternity coverage included

•Underwritten by Nationwide

•24 Hour Worldwide Assistance Service

Jobs in the South Bay doing better!

While dismal unemployment numbers continue to challenge the nation, there is good news to report from the South Bay. Thanks to the South Bay Workforce Investment Board (SBWIB) and their partnerships with government, non-profits, and the local business community, a remarkable number of people are getting put back to work.

Of the thousands of job seekers that visit the SBWIB every year, 80% get placed in new jobs. It is exciting to see so many lives being saved.



This week, I visited the SBWIB’s Beach Cities One-Stop in Redondo Beach to observe this success story in action. Several hopeful clients filled the computer stations in the recruitment station where help was at hand to revise resumes, find training programs, and make connections with potential employers. By 11 o’clock on the morning of my visit, Cortez Washington in the Jobs Development Department had already found one job seeker a permanent position with an air conditioning repair company in San Pedro.

What can we do for those we love!

The older you get, the more you realize that love is synonymous with family security.

Disability Case

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUipMiDtFSU to view video

A client who was earning $40,000. He needed disability income. However - he also had about $30k of unearned income. Normally, this would take him out of the disability income line up as his earned/unearned ration was pretty high. We put our heads together to see if there was anything that could be done - and among our office - we found a company that would let us go with a benefit. It saved the case.

U.S. judge allows Va. health-care lawsuit to move ahead

The Washington Post (8/3, Helderman) reports, "A federal judge refused Monday to dismiss a Virginia lawsuit challenging the nation's sweeping new healthcare law, indicating the law represents a novel extension of Congress's constitutional authority that should be tested in court and handing the law's foes an early legal victory." Had the suit been "dismissed," the development "would have provided powerful ammunition for the law's supporters, who believe such suits are frivolous political exercises."

Reform May Result in Higher Health Insurance Premiums

President Barack Obama fulfilled his promise to reform the nation's healthcare system and make health insurance affordable on March 23, 2010, when he signed the Patient Protection and Affordability Care Act of 2010 (PPACA) into law. Proponents of the law applauded the reform, based on the assumption that many formerly uninsured Americans would be given the opportunity to obtain health insurance coverage.

Obama predicted at the time, that the average family would save $2,500 in yearly premiums. This amount was later refuted by the Congressional Budget office, which predicted a yearly health insurance premium increase of $2,300.

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click here for more information:
Reform May Result in Higher Health Insurance Premiums

How one hospital rebranded itself from the inside out | Article |

Enhanced in-house communication and taking a vow of excellence have motivated the staff to improve the experience for patients.

Trover Health System was suffering from a less than sterling reputation.

If things were perceived badly from the outside, it didn’t look too bright on the inside, either. The culture inside the Madisonville, Ky., hospital was described as “stressed.” A hospital survey showed that employees wanted better internal communication.

The new CEO, Bert Whitaker, wanted to change the internal and external perception about the organization. It enlisted the help of Ten Adams, a health-care marketing and business development consultancy. The two worked together to connect employees and the public with its new branding efforts.

click for more information:
How one hospital rebranded itself from the inside out Article

Sibson Consulting's Perspectives - The Compensation Scorecard: What Gets Measured Gets Done

Employee compensation, one of the largest expenses in any organization, is also one of the least managed. While transparent data and scorecards have greatly improved the management of other aspects of performance, compensation often goes unevaluated beyond the fundamental measure of incremental costs. The invisible nature of compensation leads to problems. These include failing to differentiate pay for performance, over- and/or underpaying jobs relative to the market, having compensation spending grow faster than revenue and allowing employees to suspect they are not being paid fairly.


click here for more information:
SibsoConsulting's Perspectives - The Compensation Scorecard: What Gets Measured Gets Donen

How to make the most of employee benefits

Don't miss out on a match. If your company offers a 401(k) or 403(b) retirement plan, ask whether the employer will match the money you save.


Having a portion of your salary withheld from each paycheck and deposited into a tax-deferred retirement savings account is generally a good idea even without an employer match. But if your company matches the money you save, it's like free money.


"This is the biggest mistake I see people make,"  "They somehow think joining the 403(b) is costing them money, when it's actually getting them more."

Independent Contractor Vs Employee - The Exponential Risk of Worker Misclassification

Think twice before routinely classifying that next worker as an independent contractor or employee, or be prepared to write the Internal Revenue Service a large check for unpaid taxes, penalties and fines, should the worker be found incorrectly classified during an audit. In addition, employers in violation of worker classification laws should also be ready to provide retroactive access to employee benefits programs for incorrectly classified workers. And, if during an audit, a privately held company has plans to go public, it could be faced with providing misclassified workers retroactive access to stock options as well.

For more information click on this link.....a must read for business owners.
Independent Contractor Vs Employee - The Exponential Risk of Worker Misclassification

Reasons to consider Disability Insurance

Female architect had a father who got Parkinson's. She had just started her practice and wasn't making a whole lot of income, but wanted and needed disability income. To be covered, as a 32 year old female, was pretty expensive. She couldn't afford it. She had 2 other people working for her - so what we did was have her buy minimal ($1000 for 2year benefit) on each of the assistants. This let us go with a Multi-Life unisex plan and even with her buying the coverage for her employees - She saved enough to be able to afford it - This works extremely for females

IRS ombudsman warns of barriers to health reform implementation - The Hill's Healthwatch

The IRS is neither structured correctly nor funded adequately to tackle the responsibilities assigned to it under the new health reform law, an IRS ombudsman warned this week.

IRS ombudsman warns of barriers to health reform implementation - The Hill's Healthwatch Click on link for full article.

Health-care law may pose compliance issues for IRS, taxpayers

The Washington Post (7/9, Hitzenrath) reports that the IRS "has been given a key role administering health insurance premium subsidies, tax credits for small businesses, assessments on employers." For example, beginning in 2012, all businesses and tax-exempt organizations will have to issue a new IRS form to vendors "from whom they buy goods totaling $600 or more annually." The Post writes that it "will require thorough record-keeping," adding to the agency's burdens. In addition, a tax reporting requirement in the healthcare law "may impose significant burdens on businesses, charities and government agencies," the advocate service said.

Trends in Pension Planning

•Highly customized, strategic programs that are designed around a company’s specific needs, benefits, demographics, culture and existing communication channels. There’s been a big shift away from “one size fits all” education through standard plan communication materials and tools and towards custom programs that deliver personalized guidance on an individual level.



• A shift away from “benefits communication” which provides employees with an understanding of the benefits they have available towards “benefits planning” which takes the communication a step further by providing employees with guidance around how to best manage their benefits in order to achieve their financial goals. This is in response to employers freezing pensions, eliminating or cutting 401(k) matches and reducing company-subsidized health care. Now employees have a greater burden for funding their benefits and making key choices between different options. Employers are responding by working with financial education vendors and retirement plan providers to launch programs that provide this level of guidance rather than relying on plan communication materials and workshops that simply describe the benefits available to employees.



• Launching retirement and financial education as an employee benefit, rather than simply using it to announce plan changes or communicate during open enrollment. Ten years ago, companies tended to launch education based on a specific event or change. Now, nearly all the companies we talk to are making financial education a key part of their benefits package..

Healthcare Law Expected To Help 1 Million People Obtain Coverage By 2011.

The AP (7/6, Alonso-Zaldivar) reports, "The first stage of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul is expected to provide coverage to about 1 million uninsured Americans by next year, according to government estimates." While this is a small beginning, "many others -- more than 100 million people -- are getting new benefits that improve their existing coverage." The AP notes, "For weeks, the White House has been touting the new law's initial benefit changes, even as Obama dares Republicans to make good on their threat to repeal his signature social policy achievement. Now, a clearer picture is starting to emerge from the patchwork of press releases."

Discussion: HRAnswerLink | LinkedIn

Employee vs. Intern GuideImproperly classifying an individual as an unpaid intern instead of a paid employee increases an employer’s wage and hour compliance liabilities. To help minimize your company’s risks of unnecessarily owing unpaid wage and overtime, the Employee vs. Intern Guide will help strengthen your position in case the U.S. DOL decides to pay a visit and questions your company’s internship programs. The guide covers relevant areas including:

Discussion: HRAnswerLink LinkedIn Click fo mor information,

a value added service of AMSINSURE for clients.

Discussion: HRAnswerLink | LinkedIn

"HR Fact of the Month
July 2010

Did you know?!?

90% of unemployed job seekers reported that they would accept less than they originally wanted to land a new job. (Source: Glassdoor.com)"

Insurance Pools for High-Risk Patients To Start July 1

Submitted by Denise Reynolds RD on 2010-06-25
All about:

All about:


Affordable Health Insurance

For those with chronic medical conditions who are finding it difficult to get affordable insurance, relief is on the way. Beginning July 1st, the federal government will start paying for new insurance programs aimed at providing affordable coverage for uninsured people with pre-existing conditions.

Currently, insurance for someone with a pre-existing condition can cost as much as 200% of the standard rate that an otherwise healthy person would pay, if the coverage is available at all.

Under the new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, $5 billion has been set aside for states to set up high-risk pools for people who have been uninsured for six months or longer. These pools are intended to provide a “bridge” for people most in need of medical coverage until the insurance exchanges begin operating in 2014.

The pools will have no restrictions based on pre-existing conditions. Coverage will begin immediately and there is no annual or lifetime limit. The law mandates that the premiums for coverage must be the same as the standard rate for a healthy adult in that state.
About 18 states in the US have opted to allow the federal government to run their programs, while 30 are going to run their own program instead. The states must file a proposal to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) that will outline a list of pre-existing conditions that will help define who is eligible for each pool.

On July 1, the DHHS will introduce an online portal at www.hhs.gov that will include information on available health insurance in each state. Alternatively, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners has a directory of state insurance departments that can be contacted for further information on each state’s proposed plan, including the date they will begin taking applications.

While waiting for the programs to begin taking applications, Cheryl Fish-Parcham, director of health policy at Families USA, recommends that those who will likely qualify for the insurance program begin gathering official copies of medical records to prove pre-existing conditions.

Many experts worry that the $5 billion won’t be enough to last until 2014. The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has estimated that the $5 billion will last for only two years. An analysis from the Congressional Budget Office estimates that the program may actually cost as much as three times the amount originally planned for.

“We just don’t know how many people will sign up for the new pools,” said Deborah J. Chollet, a senior fellow at Mathematica Policy Research, a public policy research company, who has studied existing state risk pools and the new plan. “Until we see what happens, there’s no way to know how long the money will last.”

The Observer, Billionaires Meeting

Here is something worth noting and perhaps the U.S. government might want to emulate.

Billionaires plan to put the world to rights following secret supper
Bill Gates and Warren Buffett are among those signing up to the greatest private donation in history

It was a dinner meeting that fed the appetites of the world's conspiracy theorists just as much as those sitting down to eat. Held in May 2009 at a secret location in New York, the meal was a meeting between some of the globe's richest billionaires, organised by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett.
A year later, we know what they were talking about. Not taking over the world, but working out ways to give away billions of dollars.

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/ click here for more information

Medical Costs Will Increase in 2011, Companies to Add Wellness Programs

According to a new report published by the PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PWC) Health Research Institute, employers across the nations can expect medical costs to increase by 9% in 2011. As a result, about two-thirds of companies intend to expand or improve wellness programs in an effort to reduce preventable medical conditions related to those expanding costs.

Medical Costs Will Increase in 2011, Companies to Add Wellness Programs click here for more information:

*Experts say travel health insurance can be crucial

By LINDSEY TANNER, AP Medical Writer Lindsey Tanner, Ap Medical Writer- Sun May 9, 1:32 pm ET
CHICAGO - Plane tickets, check. Passport, check. Medical evacuation insurance? It's probably not something most people think about when packing for a vacation.

But Louise Robbins says she'd probably be bankrupt without it. The University of Wisconsin library educator and her husband, Robby, were in southwest China last summer when Robby slipped and fell backward on a hotel walkway made of the region's famed red marble.

Their regular health insurance covered many expenses, but not flying him home on a jet specially equipped for transporting critically ill patients and medical equipment. The cost exceeded $100,000.

"We would have been lost" if not for the medical evacuation insurance, Louise Robbins said.

With summer vacation season approaching, experts say there are several ways international travelers can protect themselves against medical emergencies - from registering in advance with the State Department, which can help locate doctors abroad and arrange emergency medical flights, to buying supplemental insurance or stand-alone medical evacuation policies.

Thousands of American travelers each year are flown home with medical assistance because of health emergencies. Car accidents and heart attacks are among the most common reasons.

......

But most regular health insurance plans don't cover costly evacuations. And finding that out after an emergency can be catastrophic.

A 21-year-old California woman died last year after her insurance company initially said its emergency coverage wouldn't pay to fly her home from China when she developed a blood disorder, according to her family's lawsuit. The suit, claiming wrongful death and breach of contract, says the company relented too late. Anthem Blue Cross, the insurer, disputes the claims.

Travelers should check their policies to see what kind of expenses are covered, said Susan Pisano of America's Health Insurance Plans, a trade association. Most will pay for emergency care outside the United States - but for leisure travelers that often doesn't include medical evacuation.

"Just make sure you know very clearly" what your policy says, she advised.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends considering supplemental health insurance, including medical evacuation, if your existing policy is lacking.

According to the U.S. Travel Insurance Association, another trade group, Americans increasingly have been buying travel insurance; more than $1 billion was spent in 2008. Most covered things like unexpected trip cancellations - disruptions caused by the erupting Iceland volcano have prompted a flurry of recent business. But growth also has been strong in policies covering medical emergencies and evacuation, the group says.

A thought on good health!

Positive attitudes—optimism, high self-esteem, an outgoing nature, joyousness, and the ability to cope with stress—may be the most important bases for continued good health.

helen hayes

June 2010 Health Care Reform Insights, "Rules on Coverage for Children Clarified"

Abstract

The Affordable Care Act (the abbreviated name for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care, the new health care reform law) contains a provision requiring group health plans that provide dependent coverage for children to continue to make such coverage available for an adult child until the child turns 26 years of age. This requirement ("the age-26 mandate") applies to all group health plans, including "grandfathered" plans (those in existence when the law was enacted).


Health Care Reform Insights Sibson Consulting for more information click here also download pdf

Youth Clubs Build Confidence, Reduce Problem Behaviors

Would you like your child to have more confidence and stay out of trouble? An Ohio State University study reveals that children who belong to youth clubs develop a better self concept and are less likely to engage in problem behaviors.

Youth Clubs Build Confidence, Reduce Problem Behaviors click here for more info

Accident Patients without Health Insurance Have Higher Mortality

If you are the victim of an auto accident or gunshot wound and you don’t have health insurance, you are more likely to die of your injuries than if you have private insurance. This statistic comes from University Buffalo researchers who also found that accident patients with Medicaid had a lower death rate than those who had private insurance.

Accident Patients without Health Insurance Have Higher Mortality click here for more information;

NASA Face in Space

Fly Your Face in Space

NASA wants to put a picture of you on one of the two remaining space shuttle missions and launch it into orbit. To launch your face into space and become a part of history, just follow these steps:

NASA Face in Space

Life

Life is like a game of cards. Reliability is the ace, industry the king, politeness the queen, thrift the jack: Common sense is playing to best advantage the cards you draw, and every day, as the game proceeds, you will find the ace, king, queen, jack in your hand and opportunity to use them.

edgar watson howe

The Internal Revenue Service recently released the inflation-adjusted minimums and maximums for Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and High-Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs) for 2011.

A new Checkup includes a chart noting the numbers for 2011, which are the same as for 2010. AMS can help plan sponsors that are considering offering HSAs:  
Small Business (2-50 Employees)  HSA and Other plan quotes

• Create the "right" strategy for their participant populations

• Determine whether HSAs would be a "good fit" for their participants' needs

• Identify the impact that implementing an HSA option with an HDHP would have on existing benefits

• Decide between an HSA/HDHP plan and a design that includes Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs)

• The chart below notes the numbers for 2011, which are all the same as for 2010.

2011 Minimums and Maximums for HSAs* and HDHPs (All the Same as for 2010)
2011 Minimums and Maximums for HSAs* and HDHPs (All the Same as for 2010)


Maximum Annual                                 Individual Coverage     Family Coverage



HSA Contribution**                             $3,050                         $6,150

Minimum HDHP Deductible                  $1,209                         $2,400

Maximum HDHP Deductible                 None                           None

Maximum HDHP

Out-of-Pocket Expense***                  $5,950                         $11,900

*

HSAs, established by the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) as of January 1, 2004, allow individuals or employers to contribute to an HSA as long as the individual is covered under an HDHP. (For more information about HSAs, refer to various publications available on Sibson Consulting's Web site.)

**

As in 2009 and 2010, individuals age 55 or over can contribute an additional $1,000 to their HSAs in 2011 and subsequent years.

***

The out-of-pocket expense does not include premiums.

News Analysis - Health Insurers and the Administration Find They Need Each Other - NYTimes.com

AFTER squaring off as political foes for more than a year, the Obama administration and the health insurance industry have suddenly discovered that they need each other.
Both have huge stakes in the success of the new health care law. The political fortunes of President Obama and Congressional Democrats depend on their ability to translate its promise into reality for voters, by reining in health costs and making insurance available to everyone at an affordable price. News Analysis - Health Insurers and the Administration Find They Need Each Other - NY Times.com

Continue reading article:


NOTE: One thing is very clear, as citizens we need to continue to voice our opinions and help guide this monumental tasks; the real question is how do we as a nation cover everyone, have no limits on spending and make available the funds to pay for services? A very important and often overlooked fact is; in countries where there is Socialized Health Care they have limits on services based on available funds to pay for services, just ask the right people, service providers. There can not be a system without restrictions, or you will not be able to raise the money to pay for services. This maxim applies to everything; as one

This becomes a real push/pull between bringing care to an affordable level while being able to pay for all services.

Heath reform will increase costs, survey finds - The Hill's On The Money

Nearly all employers — 94 percent — tapped by the Towers Watson Health Care Reform Pulse Survey believe the new healthcare law will raise health costs for their organization.

Additionally, 61 percent believe reform will have a minimal effect on encouraging healthier lifestyles, and 73 percent said it will either have a negative impact or no impact on the quality of care.

"Employers are currently weighing the short-term challenges and long-term opportunities of the new law," said Mark Maselli, North American Health and Group Benefits Leaders for Towers Watson, in prepared remarks. "While many employers have not yet assessed the full impact that reform will have on their businesses, they do realize that the responsibilty to hold costs down will fall primarily on their shoulders."

click here for additional article:

Investors Tap Into 401(k) Money Tax-Free for Business Startups - BusinessWeek

May 27 (Bloomberg) -- Hal Mottet, a Lake Oswego, Oregon, businessman bought a family-owned packaging company for $3.5 million in late 2007, and he and a partner financed 40 percent of the sales price with their retirement money.

Start a 401 K plan today: Pension Plans

More Americans Enrolling in Health Savings Accounts

"A new census released by America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) has found that ten million Americans are now using a Health Savings Account (HSA), an increase of 25% since last year. With upcoming changes likely to most insurance plans due to the health care reform law, will an HSA benefit you?" Read More

HSA Heatlh Plan Quotes: Affordable HSA PLANS

Learn about HSA here: HSA Plans explained

Federal Plans and What They Mean for Small Business

Employee Benefit Newsletter










The United States Small Business Administration states that, among the 25.8 million businesses in the United States, over 99 percent of employers are small businesses. In fact, small businesses are key drivers of growth in the U.S. economy, creating more than 66 percent of all new jobs each year. President Obama’s initiatives to create jobs reflect these statistics by including substantial assistance plans for small businesses to free up access to capital, ease the burdens of health care costs, and fund innovation and development.



According to Obama, “The true engine of job creation will always be businesses. What government can do is fuel that engine: by giving entrepreneurs and companies the support to open their doors, expand, and hire more workers. Today, we're taking another step towards assisting small business owners to get the capital they need to grow and hire.”



The Small Business Lending Fund and Other Financing Sources



The Administration has earmarked $30 billion in Small Business Lending Fund capital to assist community-based banks in increasing lending to small businesses.



Approximately 8,000 banks fit the mold, with assets of just under $10 billion and a customer base of local community businesses.



Small Business Lending Funds would provide these banks with the necessary liquidity to loosen the reins on small business lending and jump-start growth in this sector. This initiative would be funded by repayments from large banks that benefited from the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) bailout of Wall Street’s financial crisis that culminated in the fall of 2009. In addition, banks would receive a substantial cut in the dividend tax rate for up to 5 years. For small businesses, it provides new and expanded access to capital necessary to invest, hire, and grow.



In addition to government-sponsored programs to fuel lending to small business, other financing options include angel investors and venture capitalists, commercial bank loans, Small Business Administration loans, and home-equity loans.



Small Business Real Estate Refinancing



The President has also proposed a program to allow small business owners to refinance existing mortgages through a Small Business Administration 504 Loan Program that provides guarantees for loans for the development of real estate and other fixed assets. SBA Administrator Karen Mills states, “Thousands of good, creditworthy businesses find themselves caught by declining real estate values as a result of this recession. With many of them now facing mortgages coming due in the next few years, the ability to refinance into SBA’s 504 loan will give them the chance to lock in long-term, stable financing, as well as protect jobs by protecting small businesses from foreclosure.” Learn more about 504 loans.



Health Care Initiatives



Providing health care to employees without the bargaining power and leverage held by large corporations has made health care costs prohibitive to owners of small businesses. In response, Obama has proposed:



•A tax credit of up to 50 percent of the premiums paid to cover workers for firms with 25 full-time workers or less. The White House Council of Economic Advisers states that approximately 4 million small businesses will be eligible for this tax credit for providing health insurance to their employees.

•Creation of The National Health Exchange, a low-cost, high-quality source of health insurance that all small businesses can buy into, raising the collective purchasing power and spreading the risk and administrative costs.

•Reimbursement of catastrophic costs, or “reinsurance” for small business employers of those workers with chronic illness.

Keep up-to-date on the latest health care reforms impacting small business.



Tax Incentives and Additional Funds for Small Business



The Obama Administration has proposed the elimination of all capital gains taxes for small and start-up businesses to create incentives for investment in the small business sector. Last year’s Recovery Act instituted an exemption of 75 percent. This proposal would increase that exemption to 100 percent on investments in small business.



In addition, Obama states that he would like to double federal funding for research, alternative energy sources, continued advancement of broadband technology, and implementation of a research and development tax credit to help businesses invest in innovation.

By Jim Casey

Leader, Small Business Marketing, D&B

Employees with Company Health Insurance Will Pay More

Will health care reform will push up an already escalating cost for health insurance.

If you are an employee with a big company and you have health insurance, chances are your employer will continue to provide you with insurance. However, 88 percent of employers plan to pass along increases in health care to their employees, which in turn will make it hardly anymore affordable for the workers.

Helping Employers and Employees to find affordable health care coverages.

Small Business (2-50 Employees)

More Medicare, Medicaid Patients Turning to Alternative Therapies?

Submitted by Denise Reynolds RD on 2010-05-26

The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is increasing in the United States. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), about 38% of adults in the US used some form of CAM in 2007. Most of those are women with higher levels of education and income, however it appears that more patients on government healthcare plans, such as Medicare and Medicaid, are also using CAM due to frustration with access to standard healthcare.  click on the here for full article

Looking for medicare coverage:  Medicare Supplements

Employee Fraud and how to cope!

If you ever worry about the risk of being defrauded, here's

a number to take your breath away: almost a trillion dollars per year.



That's how much businesses lose to occupational fraud –

inside jobs, usually by employees. Shocking, isn't it? It

represents about 7% of total company revenues.



The numbers come from the experts – the Association of

Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) – in their latest annual report.



Not surprisingly, the firms that lose the most are the ones

that have taken the least action to try to prevent employee fraud.

And the crime is disproportionately worse in small and medium

sized businesses, which are the most vulnerable.



You won’t be surprised to know that most employee fraud originates

in the accounting department, but it's distressing to learn that second

place goes to executives and management, followed by

operations and sales departments.



And although you can actually insure against loss through

fraud, I'm sure you'd agree that taking some smart and simple

steps to prevent the crime is your best starting point – and the

best way of keeping any insurance premium as low as possible!



Nothing's fool-proof but I've compiled this list of a dozen things

you can start to do right now to virtually eliminate the risk of

employee fraud – or to quickly expose the culprits:



1. Build your company culture on integrity. Be a role model of honesty yourself.

2. Be seen to deal quickly and firmly with any employee misconduct whatsoever.

3. Don’t allow one employee to be responsible for both billing and handling payments.

4. Insist that all checks above a fairly low amount have two signatures.

5. Never sign blank checks, or checks for new suppliers without verifying them.

6. Tell your bank not to permit transfers between accounts without your say-so.

7. Carefully screen all new employees, taking up references and monitoring them.

8. Keep an eye on disgruntled employees or those who seem to be living above their means.

9. Regularly check financial statements yourself – take a course if you're not up to scratch.

10. Conduct surprise audits – with no warnings, or when your bookkeeper is on vacation.

11. Use sequential numbering on checks, purchase orders, invoices, so it's easy to spot gaps.

12. Run a test by submitting a money order or check as an unspecified payment.



It's important to let your employees know of these policies –

especially items 2 and 12 – since that's the easiest way to

discourage fraud in the first place.



You might also want to implement – and tell everyone about it –

an anonymous "whistleblower" policy that enables suspicious

employees to report their concerns to you.



With a little bit of forethought, you can slash the likelihood of

fraud in your business – even the ACFE figures show that.

If you're not already doing it, there's no time like the present

to tackle my Top 12 list!

Dr. Oz Gives GMA Viewers Six Step Plan for Long Life

Because of the many demands placed on us today, many people find it difficult to take the necessary time to exercise and plan for healthy meals. But Dr. Mehmet Oz, physician, talk show host and author, told AARP Magazine and Good Morning America Viewers to “stop making excuses”. Poor diet and lack of exercise can be more harmful than a disease.

Dr. Oz says that it is never too late to start following a better lifestyle, and one of the best ways to go about making major changes is to do them in a step-wise fashion, incorporating them slowly so that they become habits and not burdens.

Dr. Oz Gives GMA Viewers Six Step Plan for Long Life click here for more information

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and Hopes to Remove Stigma

Mental health issues affect all of society in some way, shape, or form. It is estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older — about one in four adults — suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year and that translates to about 57.7 million people.


May is Mental Health Awareness Month and Hopes to Remove Stigma: click here for more information

Grocery Shopping with Food Safety in Mind

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, food-borne illnesses cause about 325,000 hospitalizations and 5,200 deaths each year across the US. Congress introduced legislation last year, called HR 875 (S510 in the Senate) Food Safety Modernization Act to establish a Food Safety Administration within the Department of Health and Human Services to protect the public from preventable contaminants that cause food-borne illness, however the bill has been delayed because of the recent healthcare reform law and, most recently, consideration of financial regulatory reform.

Grocery Shopping with Food Safety in Mind for more information click here.

Companies which are implementing the child coverage early.

We’re pleased to report that the following insurance companies are implementing prior to September date for covering children dependents to age 26: These are the companies in California which moved early.

Blue Shield of California Blue, Kaiser Permanente, Cigna,Aetna,United, WellPoint (Anthem B.C.), Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Oakland, California The Permanente Federation, Oakland, California Priority Health,

This is another step forward in the work to provide coverage to young adults with the release of new guidance from the Internal Revenue Service specifically stating that children can be covered tax-free now on their parents' health insurance policy. The new guidance also discusses incentives the Affordable Care Act provides for employers to immediately extend health insurance coverage to young adults.

Business Edge Newsletter

Cost Management Creates a Firm Foundation

From the smallest proprietorship to the largest international conglomerate, cutting costs can often be perceived as a “quick fix” for improving bottom line. However, such cost management decisions may not the best long-term interest of an otherwise healthy company.

Click on the title link to read more:

Financial Monitor Newsletter

Guidelines to Consider When Planning Your Estate

Estate planning is not just a matter of saving dollars and minimizing taxes. The process of planning your estate also raises some difficult emotional and personal issues. First, it forces you to face the fact of your
own mortality; you are trying to plan for a time when you won’t be around to make decisions. Others, particularly those you love, will be affected by the plans you make now and will be required to exercise their own judgment once you are gone. For many people, the most difficult step in the
estate planning process is deciding who gets what and when.

Click on title link to read more:

Chamber Of Commerce Advises Businesses About Healthcare Law While Criticizing It.

CQ HealthBeat (4/27, Norman, subscription required) reports, "The US Chamber of Commerce is lambasting the new healthcare law, yet, at the same time offering advice to befuddled businesses large and small as portions of the law kick into effect as soon as later this year." This "puts the business group in an odd place, though one where it has many opportunities to publicly poke at the holes it sees in the overhaul's fabric. Bruce Josten, executive vice president for government affairs at the chamber, said Monday that his organization opposed the law (PL 111-148) out of the belief it will fail to lower rising health care costs and in the end will in fact increase them." Nevertheless, "'the fact of the matter is we have a new law,' he said, describing it as a 'stimulus bill for actuaries, benefit consultants and compliance attorneys.'"

Health Reform May Lower Medicare Premiums, Boost Overall Health Tab.

The Los Angeles Times (4/23, Levey) reports, "The new healthcare overhaul championed by President Obama may result in lower Medicare premiums for seniors and a more sustainable Medicare program, according to an analysis of the legislation issued Thursday night by independent actuaries at" HHS. In addition, this analysis "suggests that the Medicare program will remain viable until 2029 -- longer than some earlier projections. Before passage of the healthcare overhaul, Medicare had been projected to slip into the red in 2017." Nevertheless, "the healthcare law also will push up the nation's total healthcare tab, as the federal government spends more than $800 billion over the next decade to expand health coverage to more than 33 million Americans, the analysts concluded."

Report Indicates Brand-Name Drug Prices Increased 9.1% In 2009.

The Wall Street Journal (4/20, Mathews, subscription required) reports that drugmakers increased prices for brand-name drugs by 9.1% in 2009, according to a report by Express Scripts Inc. Meanwhile, specialty drug prices jumped 11.5%, compared to 9.4% in 2008. While some drugmakers claim their pricing was not affected by the healthcare overhaul, analysts suggest the increases were tied to higher Medicaid rebates among other expenses drugmakers would have under the new law.

Medicare Payments For Acute-Care Hospitals' Inpatient Services Will Decline Under Proposed Rule.

Modern Healthcare (4/20, subscription required) reports that "Medicare payments to acute-care hospitals for inpatient services will decline by 0.1%, or $142 million, in fiscal 2011 under a proposed rule issued by the CMS." Modern Healthcare adds that, "in a written statement, Richard Umbdenstock, president and CEO of the American Hospital Association, said his membership was 'deeply disappointed with [the] proposal. Plain and simple: this policy will undermine hospitals' ability to care for patients and communities across the country.'"

Cost May Still Pose Insurmountable Barrier To Health Coverage For Many.

The New York Times (4/20, Rabin) reports, "According to the Congressional Budget Office, some 32 million more Americans will have insurance by 2019 under the new [healthcare] law, about half of whom will be buying health insurance on the individual market for the first time (the other half will be covered for the first time under Medicaid, which is being expanded to include more of the poor)." Yet, some experts are "skeptical that so many uninsured people would actually start buying insurance." Data show that most uninsured people "earn less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level," and 60% cite price as the main barrier to obtaining health coverage. Still, officials say that the new law includes subsidies which will help to offset the cost of health insurance.

Some Health Insurers Extending Young Adult Coverage Ahead Of Sept. 23 Deadline. USA Today (4/20, Young) reports that on Monday, "UnitedHealthcare, Humana, Kaiser Permanente, and WellPoint said they will put into effect some provisions of the new healthcare law ahead of schedule to let adult children stay on parents' plans until age 26." Although "the law's provisions relating to young adults won't take effect until Sept. 23...the companies said they are changing rules now to prevent young adults from falling into a coverage gap. Many plans have required adult children stay in school to keep dependent coverage, and age cutoffs vary by state."

The AP (4/20) reports that "UnitedHealth...said its extension starts immediately and extends coverage that graduating college students currently have from their parents until the healthcare reform provision takes effect.." For its part, WellPoint "said its extension starts June 1 and will extend coverage to all dependents." Notably, "the extension, which maintains coverage for young customers who generally use less healthcare, is not expected to affect premiums overall."

According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune (4/20, Yee), "Minnesota insurers said Monday they are looking at the issue. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota said it would follow the lead of the national insurers for its members in the individual and small group markets," while "Medica said it would do so for members in the individual market, according to the Minnesota Council of Health Plans."

Modern Healthcare (4/20, Vesely, subscription required), Dow Jones Newswire (4/20, Wisenberg, subscription required) also cover the story, as did the NPR (4/19, Rovner) "Shots" blog and the Business Courier of Cincinnati (4/19).

Middle-Income Americans Losing Health Insurance Faster Than Others. The New York Times (4/19, Andrews) "Prescriptions" blog reported, "A combination of rising health insurance premiums and falling wages has hit middle-income people especially hard, causing them to lose health insurance coverage faster than workers both poorer and richer than they are," according to data released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. "Over the 10-year period between 1999 and 2008, more than two million people with incomes from 200 to 399 percent of the federal poverty level (roughly $44,000 to $88,000 for a family of four), became uninsured -- an increase of 2.4 percentage points to 12.9 million people." That "represents an uninsurance rate of 16.2 percent," whereas "the 5.9 million people with incomes at or greater than 400 percent of poverty experienced an increase in uninsurance of 1 percentage point, to 5.8 percent in 2008."

AMSInsure.com - Health Insurance California, Health Insurance Quote, Group Health Insurance, Medical Insurance California, Medical Insurance Quote, Online Quotes

"Long Term Care"

LTC Buyers Are Getting Younger
Long-Term Care Issues for Older Seniors
Why Long Term Care Insurance?
Your Assets and Your Children
Your Financial Affairs-Don't Keep Your Children in the Dark
Long Term Care Breakeven (How Long Will It Take)

Beware of Health Insurance Scams

It was bound to happen: health care reform triggered a flood of health insurance scams across the nation, fueled by consumers’ fears and confusion over what impact the new laws will have on them and their families. Bogus health insurance policies are being peddled via every media possible, so buyers beware.
In an April 6 letter to state officials, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius urged them to be on the alert for scammers who are looking to lure people into buying worthless health insurance policies. Her agency had noted a recent increase in the number of health care-related crimes, and the numbers are likely to continue to rise.
The letter noted that “Media accounts indicate that fraudsters have gone door to door selling phony insurance policies. Some have attempted to make dishonest profits by urging consumers to obtain coverage in a non-existent ‘limited enrollment’ period that they falsely claim was made possible by the new legislation.”
Among those most often victimized are seniors. Sebelius said that her department was contacting seniors groups to alert them of possible fraudulent sales pitches for health insurance policies and health care related issues. Such sales pitches often come via a telephone call or door-to-door salesperson who uses high-pressure scare tactics.
Consumers should be wary of tactics that scammers often employ to lure in their victims. Here are some red flags:
· High-pressure scare tactics: If a salesperson tells you that a health insurance policy is only available at a special price or with special options for a limited time because of the new federal health care laws and that you should buy now, don’t.
· “Urgent” Internet and TV ads: Beware of advertisements that urge you to call a toll-free number to take advantage of special insurance coverage because of the new health care laws.
· Door-to-door sales: Legitimate health insurance companies do not use this sales approach any more. Do not fall for it.
· Too good to be true: If someone offers you a health insurance policy at a very low cost with great comprehensive coverage, it’s too good to be true. Health insurance is not inexpensive.
· Verify: If you are considering a policy with a company, verify that the company is licensed to conduct business in your state. Contact your state insurance office, or you can visit the website for the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, which provides detailed information and access to commissioners in all 50 states.
· Examine all documents carefully: Make sure you read all the documents the insurance agent gives you, that all the blanks are filled in, and that you keep a copy of anything you sign.
· Review your policy: After you get a copy of your health insurance policy, compare its contents with the paperwork that you signed to make sure you got what you agreed to buy, nothing more and nothing less. If there is any discrepancy, contact the insurance company immediately.
·
The search for affordable health insurance can be a challenge. Don’t be frightened into becoming a victim of a health insurance scam. If the individual who is trying to sell you a health insurance policy is offended because you ask lots of questions or you try to verify their credentials, that is an instant indication that something is not right. Protect yourself and your family.
SOURCES:Department of Health and Human ServicesNY State Insurance Department news release, April 14, 2010

Considering a Dental Plan for Your Business

Small business dental insurance plans are not in short supply and can be as complicated to navigate as health insurance. Searching for a comprehensive, yet affordable dental plan for your small business will demand the same level of diligence as you would allot for a medical plan to help keep company costs in line and maintain favorable employee relations.

Unfortunately, dental plans are usually an afterthought to medical health care coverage because there's no legal obligation for a business of any size to provide the benefit. As a consequence, many Americans don't have dental coverage. In 2008, a survey from The Segal Group, a benefits and human resource consultancy with offices across the U.S. and Canada, reported that dental coverage was the third-most-utilized health care coverage. Medical and prescription coverage take the No. 1 and No. 2 spots, respectively. The Segal Group, however, cautions employers to not overlook the importance of providing some level of dental benefit.

Dental insurance, like health insurance, is a definite plus in recruiting and retaining top talent. Here's a step-by-step guide to selecting and implementing a dental plan for your company.


How to Set Up A Dental Plan: Deciding What Plan is Best For your Company

There are several questions you'll want to ask yourself and other decision-makers within your company to determine what type of plan is best for your staff:

• What do I want my plan to look like?

• How much should I pay for coverage?

• How much should my employees pay for coverage?

Expect that the most popular plans are fully-employer funded, partially-employer funded or fully-employee funded:

• Fully-Funded Employer Plans: A plan wherein the employer bears 100 percent of the costs associated with providing benefits.

• Partially-Funded Employer Plans: Typically employers will pay less than 100 percent of the costs (traditionally about 80 percent) and the employees pick up the remaining balance (typically about 20 percent).

• Fully-Funded Employee Plans: Employees are responsible for 100 percent of the cost of the plan. On the back end the employer often takes over administrative costs and payroll deductions.

GET A QUOTE FOR FULLY INSURED PLAN
 
CONTACT US FOR PARTIAL OR FULL SELF FUNDED PLAN

Congress Extends ARRA COBRA Subsidy to May 31, 2010

As employers continue to consider health care reform and its coming changes to their workforces, Congress has approved legislation extending the federal COBRA premium subsidies to employees involuntarily terminated from employment through May 31, 2010.

The Continuing Extension Act of 2010 was passed by both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House on April 15. President Obama signed it into law the same day.

The previous extension of the 15-month, 65 percent federal premium subsidy for involuntarily terminated employees expired March 31. The Continuing Extension Act further extends the COBRA subsidy eligibility period by two months to May 31, 2010. Assistance-eligible individuals will be eligible for up to 15 months of the subsidy.

It’s important to note that this recent amendment to ARRA’s COBRA subsidy program, as with others in the past, will not affect those assistance-eligible individuals who are already receiving the premium reduction and who remain eligible to continue to receive the subsidy for up to 15 months.

The subsidy program was first enacted as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). It has been amended several times, including by the Temporary Extension Act in March 2010, which made the subsidy available to an additional group of qualified individuals.

Individuals who experience an involuntary termination of employment on or after March 2, 2010, that follows a reduction in hours of employment occurring on or after September 1, 2008, are eligible for the subsidy program. Under COBRA there is no second qualifying event that follows a reduction in hours of employment. However, under ARRA, employers will need to report these second events.

Also, as in the previous extension, if the qualified beneficiary did not elect coverage as a result of their reduction in hours, the assistance-eligible individual would be entitled to elect COBRA as of the involuntary termination of employment, and any gap in coverage would be disregarded for purposes of pre-existing condition limitation.

Ceridian will continue to monitor Congressional activities regarding the COBRA premium subsidy program. As circumstances change, we will keep you informed.

Currently, Ceridian is finalizing its COBRA notices based on recent federal and state guidance. Where Ceridian is responsible for the notification, we will be providing notices to your participants within the timeframes specified in the guidance from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).

Our cross-functional teams are working to complete the following:

• Our systems are being updated to change the end date to May 31, 2010.

• Qualifying Event Notifications will be updated to include a revised Special Notice statement on the first letter.

• We are updating and printing additional notices required from the DOL guidance. Notices will be sent to all assistance-eligible individuals who experience a reduction of hours followed by an involuntary termination of employment on or after March 2, 2010.

• FAQs and Service Alerts are being updated as well.

For More Information about the COBRA premium reduction extension, you may visit the DOL Web site at www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq-cobra-premiumreductionEE.html.

NEED TO COMPARE COST FOR AN INDIVIDUAL PLAN or COMMING OFF COBRA click here

Eight things clients should know about buying travel insurance!

US Travel Insurance Association, April 14, 2010


The US Travel Insurance Association has formulated an 8 point checklist to help agents guide their clients in making informed decisions about travel insurance. "UStiA is issuing the checklist in light of a Florida Department of Financial Services warning to travel agents that any travel insurance sold must be underwritten by an insurance company fully licensed in the state," says Mike Ambrose, USA's immediate past president. "It's important to remember that companies providing travel insurance products, as well as sellers of travel insurance must be licensed by the state in which business is conducted. "


Client Tips


AMS-offers these eight consumer-wise hints to help with your travel insurance decision.


1. Know the company that is underwriting the policy. Ask for the name of the insurance company underwriting the policy. All legitimate policies must identify the insurance company.


2. If you are not familiar with the company providing your travel insurance, do a little research. Visit the company website. Check the credentials of the company's insurer through A.M. Best, an international insurance rating agency; or the Better Business Bureau. Also check for membership in the US Travel Insurance Association. The Web site carries a list of member companies, each of whom adheres to strict legal and ethical standards.


3. Buy from a reputable source such as a travel agent belonging to the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA), or from a reputable cruise line, tour operator, airline, Internet site, insurance broker or directly from the travel insurance provider.


4. Assess your needs. Will you need medical protection, financial reimbursement in case you have to cancel your trip or a family member becomes ill, financial reimbursement in case your trip is delayed because of bad weather? Ask yourself what possible scenarios could develop to derail your travel plans.


5. Know if you have other coverage. When you travel, don't assume that you have the coverage you need from your credit cards, home owners insurance, airlines, or other sources. While these sources may offer limited coverage for some travel scenarios, only comprehensive travel insurance offers full protection under a single umbrella.


6. Know the difference between "Travel Protection," a travel waiver, and travel insurance:


- A Travel Waiver will usually give you a future credit with the same travel supplier for a missed vacation or cruise but will not financially reimburse you.


- "Travel Protection" may not be the same as travel insurance. While the term "Travel Protection" has been used by some unscrupulous companies, many legitimate companies also use it to describe travel insurance.


- Travel insurance must be underwritten by a legitimate insurance company and is regulated by the state in which it is sold.


7. Know what the policy includes. Always do your homework and read the policy carefully so you know what is and is not included. Most companies provide a customer service number for questions and answers, and also provide a grace period for cancellation.


8. Keep all appropriate paperwork/documentation. When traveling, keep records and save all receipts in case you have to file a claim for travel delay, medical treatment, lost luggage, or any of other unforeseen situations.

Travel Insurance you can count on> HERE

Big News from the US Treasury Department & IRS

HSA Limits Set for 2011

Big news today from the US Treasury Department and IRS! They issued new guidance on the 2011 maximum contribution levels for health savings accounts (HSAs) and out of pocket spending limits for high deductible health plans (HDHPs) used in conjunction with HSAs.

The dollar levels remain the same in 2011 as those set for 2010. Specifically, for 2011:

 The maximum annual HSA contribution for individuals is $3,050 and $6,150 for families.

 Catch up contributions for those age 55 plus remains at $1,000 annually.

Health Savings Account is an alternative to traditional health insurance; it is a savings product that offers a different way for consumers to pay for their health care. HSAs enable you to pay for current health expenses and save for future qualified medical and retiree health expenses on a tax-free basis.  

Get A Quote at:  http://www.amsinsure.com/

Get a quote at http://www.amsinsurea.com/
 The maximum annual out-of-pocket limits for individuals is $5,950 and for families is $11,900.



 In 2011, the minimum deductible for HDHPs is $1,200 for individuals and $2,400 for families.

Check out my @constantcontact newsletter

401 K Myths and Misperceptions
how the small company can afford a plan

Work-sharing programs let companies cut hours, not jobs - Business Wire - The Olympian - Olympia, Washington

WASHINGTON – When homes sales started tumbling more than three years ago, New York-based window shade manufacturer, Comfortex, felt the pain. But instead of cutting jobs, the 300-employee business reduced some of its workers' hours, and the state labor department agreed to make up part of their lost wages with unemployment checks.Read more:

AMSInsure.com - Health Insurance California, Health Insurance Quote, Group Health Insurance, Medical Insurance California, Medical Insurance Quote, Online Quotes

Take a look at our new Web Site; ready to assit you with quality products and services.

AMSInsure.com - Health Insurance California, Health Insurance Quote, Group Health Insurance, Medical Insurance California, Medical Insurance Quote, Online Quotes

Small Business Health Care Tax Credit

Health coverage legislation enacted this year includes a Small Business Health Care Tax Credit to help small businesses and small tax-exempt organizations afford the cost of covering their workers. This is the link to the IRS site for further information.

Small Business Health Care Tax Credit

Ceridian Health Care Compass

Health Care Reform: Beginning at Square One

As a first step, employers will need to sort out immediate priorities for this year and 2011.

Click on the link to view article.

Power Point Presentation

Provided by the National Association of Health Underwriters

Social Networks Like Facebook Could Improve Health Care

Social Networks Like Facebook Could Improve Health Care

Centers of Medicare and Medicaid May Soon Receive Permanent Administrator

Centers of Medicare and Medicaid May Soon Receive Permanent Administrator

Kaiser Permanente Completes Electronic Health Record Implementation | Kaiser Permanente News Center

Kaiser Permanente Completes Electronic Health Record Implementation Kaiser Permanente News Center

What Employers Need to Know about Health Care Reform

After a detailed analysis of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Ceridian has identified some key provisions that could have significant impact on all employers and employer-sponsored health benefits plans.

Below are some of the more significant provisions affecting employers with existing plans in the two-bill package. Additional requirements will apply to employer plans adopted after enactment. Although many of the provisions in the bill will not go into effect until 2014, and in one case 2018, some take effect the first plan year following six months after enactment. While six months following the date of enactment is October 1, 2010, for employers with calendar year plans the effective date will be January 1, 2011.

Employer Mandates

Employers who employ more than 200 employees must automatically enroll new full-time employees in coverage. Employers must also provide employees with an opportunity to opt-out of coverage. Clarification on the effective date of this provision is forthcoming.

Effective 2011

A health plan W-2 reporting requirement will be imposed, requiring employers to report the aggregate value of medical benefits, vision, dental and supplemental insurance coverage. It is expected that this requirement would apply to Forms W-2 for the year 2011 that are made available to employees in January 2012.

Effective 2013

Not later than March 1, 2013, employers will be required to give a notice to their employees that they may be eligible to participate in one of the state-based health-insurance Exchanges.

Effective 2014

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act requires employers with 50 or more employees to offer coverage to their employees or pay a fine of $2,000 per full-time employee, if even one employee obtains a federal subsidy to buy health coverage from one of the new state-based health-insurance exchanges.* The first 30 employees are exempt from the calculation of the penalty.

The mandate also requires an employer who does provide coverage to pay either of the following: an “assessment” of $3,000 for each employee who qualifies for subsidized coverage from an exchange either because the employer pays less than 60 percent of the full actuarial value of the coverage provided or because the employee’s cost is greater than 9.8 percent of their adjusted gross income; or $2,000 per full-time employee, whichever is less.

* By 2014, the Act requires states to create health-insurance exchanges, which would offer four different levels of qualified health insurance plans. It also would mandate individuals at this time to purchase coverage and provide subsidies for certain individuals to do so.

Mandates Impacting Employer-Sponsored Plans

Effective 2010

Employer-provided group health plans will be required to cover adult children up to age 26, unless they are eligible under another group plan (for years before 2014). This coverage will be nontaxable. Also, the group health plan will be required to eliminate pre-existing condition exclusions for children under age 19.

Employer health plans will be prohibited from rescinding or cancelling health coverage, except in cases of fraud.

Employer-provided coverage will be required to eliminate lifetime limits on essential benefits coverage and may only place "restricted" annual limits on essential benefits coverage until 2014, when annual limits are prohibited.

Effective 2011

Over-the-counter medicines will no longer be eligible for purchase with funds from Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts or Health Reimbursement Arrangements, unless a prescription is provided.

The penalty for use of funds from a Health Savings Account for non-qualified medical expenses will increase, doubling the additional tax on these types of withdrawals from 10 percent to 20 percent for anyone under the age of 65.

Effective 2013

A statutory cap of $2,500 will be placed on the amount of funds an employee can save in a Flexible Spending Account. The limit will be adjusted annually in accordance with the U.S. Consumer Price Index.

Effective 2014

The employer’s group health plan will be required to eliminate the pre-existing condition exclusions for adults. The plans also have to eliminate annual limits on essential benefits coverage for adults.

Employers will be required to eliminate waiting periods beyond 90 days when enrolling employees in a group health plan.

Tax Provisions

Effective 2010

Small business tax credit: Businesses with fewer than 25 employees and average wages of less than $50,000 could qualify for a tax credit of up to 35 percent of the cost of employees’ premiums.

Effective 2013

Individuals with adjusted modified gross income over $200,000, and joint filers with over $250,000, will be required to pay a Medicare surtax of 3.8 percent on investment and other passive income, including rents, interest, dividends, royalties and capital gains.

In addition, these high-income earners will have to pay a Medicare payroll tax of 2.35 percent — an increase of 0.9 percent — on the portion of their wages in excess of the above noted thresholds. (Note: These are individual mandates that affect employees; they do not employers.)

An employer's deduction for retiree prescription drug coverage is disallowed to the extent the employer receives the Retiree Drug Subsidy for providing coverage that is as good as or better than Medicare Part D coverage.

Effective 2014

The 35 percent tax credit that goes into effect in 2010 for businesses with fewer than 25 employees and average wages of less than $50,000 increases to up to 50 percent of the cost of employees’ premiums.

Effective 2018

Excise tax on high-value health plans: A 40 percent excise tax will be applied to the excess value of a health plan above a statutory threshold. For most health plans, the threshold in the law will be established at $10,200 for individual health plans and $27,500 for family coverage. The threshold for the new excise tax will be adjusted annually for general inflation.

Also in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

Wellness: The Act provides limited incentives for employers to provide corporate wellness programs to their employees. The new law permits employers to offer premium discounts of up to 30 percent and other cost-related incentives to employees who participate in employer-sponsored wellness programs.

Stay in touch and send us your questions:

info@amsinsure.com

Health bill spreads the pain, benefits - USATODAY.com

Health bill spreads the pain, benefits - USATODAY.com

Looking at the Just signed bill and how it will affect various people, covers just about eveyone, although many may choose not to particpate.

Know and Avail Your Disability Insurance Benefits Pronto | No SubHealth | How to get better health.

A study reveals, “a 20-year-old worker has a 3 in 10 chance of becoming disabled before reaching retirement age. ”If you suddenly find yourself out of job because of disability, do not lose hope. There is disability insurance and benefits program that you can avail in the US to help you tide over the times you were disabled and thus off work.

read more here.
Know and Avail Your Disability Insurance Benefits Pronto NoSubHealth How to get better health.


Disability Income Plans…More informtion.

America Saves Week

Is your corporation helping employees to save. 

As an individual or family are you saving.

Here are some valueable tips and information.

Click her for more information!

Let free enterprise take over health care

Let free enterprise take over health care

Where are our choices going and what will we loose in the end.

Choosing the Right Health Insurance

Choosing the Right Health Insurance

Delta Dental receives Benefits Selling magazine's reader's choice award!

As a professional broker its important that clients receive the best products and survices consistant with industry recognition.

Readers of Benefits Selling magazine recently chose the national Delta Dental system as the dental benefits carrier with the best coverage, plan design and networks. The awards were announced as part of the magazine's annual Readers' Choice Awards issue at the end of 2009.  Benefits Selling is one of the leading publications serving the broker community.

"We appreciate that the readers of Benefits Selling recognize the value of dental benefits and, specifically, Delta Dental," says Gary Radine, president and CEO of Delta Dental's holding company of 15 states and the District of Columbia. "Our goal is to build on and increase market recognition of what we bring to the table."

The results of the Benefits Selling Readers' Choice Awards are consistent with another survey conducted in 2008 by independent research firm The Long Group and sponsored by Delta Dental Plans Association. The Long Group survey found that brokers recognized Delta Dental as the dental benefits category leader and that Delta Dental outperformed competing carriers in areas that were identified as being most important to brokers, including customer service, value and easy administration.

According to the Long Group survey, Delta Dental also outperformed the competition on all attributes of importance to benefits decision makers, who consider the brand three times more frequently than its competitors. Among benefits decision makers, Delta Dental has more supporters than any other competitor.

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Nightingale Conant Email Subscriptions: Subscribe a friend

Nightingale Conant Email Subscriptions: Subscribe a friend

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Can Consumer Driven Plans Help Your Business

One aspect in our troubling economy that seems to be flourishing is the growing number of employers implementing consumer-driven health (CDH) plans and wellness programs. The primary areas of participant behavior that consumerism seeks to change and the fundamental factors a “consumer-focused” health care strategy must include education, options and other aspects to assist users. The issues employers must address when designing a successful incentive program and its accompanying communications strategy. A case study of a company that has a 70% enrollment rate in its CDH plans shows how an integrated consumerism and wellness strategy can slow the rate of health care cost increases for both the employee and employer.

Quotes & Services for Small Business 2-50 Employees.

Principal.com - The Principal RetireWire, February 2010, Improved Performance for Principal LifeTime and Bond & Mortgage Portfolios

Looking for performance on your 401 K or 503 pension plans.

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Discussion: HRAnswerLink | LinkedIn

Our clients look to us and our resources for HR and Cobra assistance for small group covered through benefit programs.

Discussion: HRAnswerLink LinkedIn