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A free monthly newsletter for plan sponsors and employee benefits 
professionals published by The Benefit Services Group, Inc.

Waist and Hips Best Heart Attack Checks for Obese
EXCERPT: "After studying over 27,000 people in 52 countries, researchers said the waist-to-hip ratio was a far more effective way of measuring heart attack risk than the traditional body mass index (BMI) method...The study said that if the risk of heart attack in the obese is redefined using the waist-to-hip ratio, the proportion of people in danger would increase threefold."  Full Article
November 3, 2005—Reuters.com


Why Employer-Based Health Insurance Is Unraveling
EXCERPT: "Some industry experts argue the high prices will force employers to change the way they calculate compensation. According to compensation and benefits expert Richard A. Matthews of the Michigan-based firm Desjardins Matthews & Company, "when insurance costs were 2 percent of payroll no one cared. Now that they approach 33 percent for family coverage everyone cares. Driven by the huge annual increases in the cost of health insurance premiums, I believe it is inevitable that all employers, including Starbucks, will go to some form of 'total compensation.'"  Full Article
November 1, 2005—The Heartland Institute


IRS Announces 2006 Retirement Plan and Inflation Adjusted Benefits
EXCERPT: "The Internal Revenue Service has announced cost-of-living adjustments applicable to dollar limitation for retirement plans and inflation adjusted limits for other benefits for 2006. Many of the limitations have increased from the 2005 limits. Some of the
limitations which increase do so as a result of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act (EGTRRA), enacted in
2001, rather than cost-of-living adjustment."  Full Article
November 2005—Seyfarth Shaw LLP


Are We At a Tipping Point on Healthcare Reform?
EXCERPT: "For one thing, says Century Foundation fellow and healthcare expert Leif Wellington Haase, many middle-class Americans simply did not think a healthcare crisis applied to them.

'During the 1990’s, American employers absorbed the rising costs of healthcare. Now that the increased costs are being passed to employees and their families, it’s like the air is coming out of the balloon,' said Haase.

And as more companies decide that they simply cannot offer health insurance benefits to all their employees and dependents and stay competitive—like Wal-Mart—Haase says this could lead to a 'tipping point' that will galvanize more Americans to demand that their elected officials tackle healthcare reform.
Full Article
October 26, 2005—MSNBC
 

We are thankful for all of our associates and clients.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving Holiday.

By providing links to other sites, The Benefit Services Group, Inc. does not guarantee, approve or endorse the information or products available at these sites, nor does a link indicate any association with or endorsement by the linked site to The Benefit Services Group, Inc.

The preceding is not intended to be and is not offered as legal advice. We are prohibited from the practice of law. Compliance is the responsibility of the employer or Plan sponsor and affected employees, who should seek their own legal counsel regarding questions about information presented in this newsletter.

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