Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Employees may think that they can’t afford a big policy, but it’s often a good idea to join the plan at the lowest level and cost, even if the policy is not large, says consultant Mike Miles. That gets your foot in the door and often ensures that you can “buy up” in the future […]
BY Justin Alex, Proskauer Rose Law Firm Defined benefit plan sponsors can solve plan overpayments in several ways, including using IRS self-correction programs. But it’s important to remember that plans are not required to keep paying benefits to those not eligible for them to begin with, Proskauer Rose law firm associate attorney Justin Alex reminds us […]
Miles is vice president and senior employee benefits consultant at Gregory and Appel Insurance. During his presentation at a recent boot camp sponsored by BLR®, he was joined by colleague Janet McClure, vice president and worksite marketing team leader. What Are Voluntary Benefits? “Voluntary benefits” are generally insurance products sold to employees at work through […]
When you find out about a possible FMLA qualifying leave after it has started, how far back can you go to retroactively designate the leave? Athey, an attorney with The Robert E. Miller Group in Kansas City, Missouri, was joined by a colleague, consultant Kristi McKinzey, in a recent webinar sponsored by BLR/HRHero. Athey offers […]
A proposed rule put on public display Nov. 26 adjusts Transitional Reinsurance Program rules and tries to put out fires left burning by the ever-moving target of health care reform. For example, it proposes a lower contribution level insurers and self-funded plans would pay in 2015 to a transitional reinsurance fund, and gives employers the […]
The U.S. Supreme Court on Nov. 26 accepted an appeal of health care reform’s contraception coverage mandate. The cases that will be heard are Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. and Conestoga Wood Specialties v. Sebelius. (Kathleen Sebelius is named as a litigant in her capacity as U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary.) The cases […]
Mckinzey, a consultant with The Robert E. Miller Group in Kansas City, Missouri, was joined by a colleague, attorney Julie Athey, in a recent webinar sponsored by BLR/HRHero. Hazard # 1: Counting Against Attendance Policy If you had reason to know an absence was due to an FMLA‐qualifying reason, you can’t count the absence against […]
In yesterday’s Advisor, consultant Mike Miles presented the case for offering voluntary benefits to employees. Today, more on benefits, plus an introduction to a timely webcast on conducting legal background checks. Employees may think that they can’t afford a big policy, but it’s often a good idea to join the plan at the lowest level […]
While voluntary benefits are scoffed at by some as “garbage benefits that never pay,” such benefits may be very attractive to some employees and may help companies currently reviewing their benefits packages in light of the Affordable Care Act, says consultant Mike Miles. Miles is vice president and senior employee benefits consultant at Gregory and […]
Insurers may not modify or customize letters telling policyholders they can have their cheap health coverage back for one more year if it was cancelled due to health care reform. States may customize the letters, but only if the result is a letter that is more consumer protective and detailed than the federal template. That’s […]