As the season nears for college basketball, I had to post the following. For those out there bleeding blue, you understand. For the others, we still have room on board the #1 program in college basketball history! Enjoy finding your team!
Sagarin Ratings for All Time:
http://assets.espn.go.com/photo/2009/1004/cbe1.pdf
ESPN article
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=katz_andy&id=4532209
Below is a link to an article on how the H1N1 vaccines will be treated for the current and upcoming flue seasons.
http://ebn.benefitnews.com/news/guidance-on-health-insurance-for-swine-flu-vaccinations-2682103-1.html
http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009909050330
For those that kindly and blindly gave to a fundraiser last September, Kurtis and his family are the lives you touched. Please continue to support our troops and their families and they sacrifice daily for our freedoms.
Below is a link to a video on Golf Week in regards to his injury, rehabilitation and success on the golf course.
Brad’s team, University of Central Florida, finished 10th in the NCAA Championship at Inverness CC in Toledo. Brad’s three day finish was 77-67-80.
Congratulations again to Brad and his team for the recent success! Keep up the work and efforts and you are touching the lives of many.
http://www.golfweektv.com/lances_room.asp?CATEGORY_ID=99&ID=5482&FMT=WM
If you think you may have issues during your busy work days, read this story.
Brad Schneider is the son of a dear friend and this story doesn’t tell near the story of pain and hardship he and the family has endured. Bed ridden for months and having to learn to walk again, each has stayed positive and focused through the challenges and Brad will touch the lives of many with his ability to overcome adversity.
From the words of Jimmy Valvano, “Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.”
Brad & Jimmy, you and the family are an inspiration to us.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orl-sportsrobbins20052009may20,0,5632769.column
Benefits + Efficiency
The latest from the Cincinnati Enquirer on beneficiency.net. With the recent COBRA legislation from ARRA, this can assist in managing critical compliance dates with your employee benefit plans.
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090411/BIZ01/904110348/1001/BIZ
Below is a brief synopsis from the Cincinnati Enquirer explaining the newly enacted COBRA and premium subsidy program.
For a full explanation, please contact the Department of Labor, legal counsel or your COBRA administrator.
Current compliance will cover two primary groups: COBRA eligible employees from 9/1/08 to 2/17/09 and from 2/17/09 and forward.
Business owners should begin compliance with the following steps:
STEP #1 – Identify all COBRA-eligible employees who were Involuntarily Terminated between Sept. 1, 2008, and Feb. 17, 2009. If Voluntary Termination is elected, an appeal process is granted to the individual through the Department of Labor (DOL) or Health and Human Services (HHS). DOL and HHS will have 15 days to respond.
STEP #2 — Go to Department of Labor website and download the Model Notices. The notices should then be updated to include your company provisions, plan specifics and contact information.
HTTP://www.dol.gov/ebsa/COBRA.html
STEP #3 — Before April 18, notices must go out to COBRA-eligible workers or those with Qualifying Events who lost coverage from 9/1/08 to 2/16/09.
STEP #4 — Election period is open for 60 days to former employee or COBRA eligible and retroactive to 3/1/09.
STEP #5 — Determination of whether election is eligible for premium subsidy – Assistance Eligible Individual (AEI).
Who is an AEI?
STEP # 6 — Recovery of 65% premium subsidy through a credit on company payroll taxes. Once premium is received by company, the company adds employee back to insurance billing retroactive to March 1 or qualifying effective date. Premium is paid in full and then credit is taken from payroll taxes.
STEP #7 — Employees terminating after 2/17/09 should receive the General Notice (Full Version) that gives explanation of premium subsidy through December 31, 2009.
NOTE: There is much language contained in the legislation not included in the synopsis. Our goal is to get a list of steps needed to comply for immediate compliance needs. For further information and guidance, contact DOL, legal counsel or COBRA administrator. This is only a summary of the legislation.
Mini-COBRA (2-19 employees) — many states are still trying to resolve compliance with the legislation. Since the states regulate insurance carriers and not employers, the burden of the subsidy will, most likely, fall to the insurance companies for managing the billing and recovery of the premium subsidy. More to come on this situation as the carriers have until April 18th to notify terminated employees.
If you would like information on how to institute a simple and inexpensive technology that will send email alerts and reminders to HR, brokers and/or advisors on termination or elibility events, contact Beneficiency.net at 859-431-3360. Beneficiency is a web-based application that will electronically push email alerts on critical eligibility and termination events while connecting to your COBRA administrator.
Stay tuned for more updates.
Electronic notification for benefits compliance
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COBRA tasks ex-employers | Cincinnati Enquirer | Cincinnati.Com |
http://waysandmeans.house.gov/media/pdf/110/cobra.pdf
This is a link to a summary from the Committe on Ways & Means Committee relating to the recently proposed stimulus package and how COBRA will be altered by the recovery package.
For those brokers, HR professionals and advisors working with companies that are currently eligible for COBRA, it is highly recommend you stay in touch with this legislation. Once released in final form, it could cause additional administration, liability issues and cash flow concerns.
