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

Wisconsin Employers' Approaches to Medicare-eligible Prescription Drug Benefits
EXCERPT: "Employers that offer Medicare-eligible prescription drug benefits must soon chart their direction for their second year under Part D. Throughout the country, employers have to analyze their options to make wise decisions for 2007. Milliman’s Flash Survey had found that many Wisconsin employers offering Medicare-eligible prescription drug benefits have not yet started considering their Part D approach for 2007—in fact, 32% of the public employers and 23% of the private employers have not."
Full Article
June 2006—Milliman

Treasury Dept.'s HSA Comparability Guidance Could Allow More Contribution Flexibility
EXCERPT: "The upcoming guidance will likely define the relationship between the "comparability" rule and an exception for HSA contributions made through a Section 125 "cafeteria" plan. Employers that make their contributions through a cafeteria plan, however, are subject to the cafeteria plan nondiscrimination rules."
Full Article
June 9, 2006—AISHealth.com

Health Costs Forecast: Moderate Hike in 2007
EXCERPT: "Employers preparing to renew their health benefits packages later this summer or fall will find some good news and some bad news awaiting them: The good news is that medical cost increases, which a few years ago were rising at rates as high as 15 percent or 20 percent a year, appear to be moderating.

The bad news: That means they're still rising at around 10 percent, about triple the rate of general inflation, according to several industry sources."   Full Article
June 26, 2006—HealthDecisions.org


Understanding COBRA’s Scope: Covered Rights, Plans, People
EXCERPT: "This Update is the first of a COBRA Basics series designed to help employers understand the COBRA rules. This initial article sketches COBRA’s general scope; later issues will examine specific COBRA topics, including: notice requirements; election, payment, duration and termination of COBRA benefits; and special considerations in mergers and acquisitions."
Full Article
May 12, 2006—Mercer
 

Real-life
Health Care Consumerism

Only 1 in 5 respondents thinks that individuals are extremely responsible for controlling health care costs.

Only 25% of respondents spent more than 24 hours reviewing and selecting a health plan; however 53% of respondents spent more than 24 hours researching their last auto purchase.

4 out of 5 (80%) feel they
cannot control rising costs.

Two-thirds attribute that lack of control over cost to the fact that insurance covers most of the cost.

Source: Great-West Healthcare


 

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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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