Developments in Benefits - June, 2012
Health Care Reform: The Supreme Court's Decision 
On June 28, 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision on the constitutionality of the health care reform law. The Court ruled that Congress acted within its constitutional authority when enacting the individual mandate and it upheld the law.
A major component of the health care reform law, or Affordable Care Act, is the individual mandate — a provision that will require most individuals to purchase health care coverage or pay a penalty, beginning in 2014. The legal challenge to the health care reform law focused on the individual mandate.
In its decision, the Supreme Court held that Congress had the power to enact the individual mandate. Because the Court upheld the mandate, it did not need to decide whether other provisions of the law were constitutional. Thus, the Supreme Court upheld the health care reform law. - View the PDF
Voluntary Benefits
As health care costs continue to rise, so has the demand for voluntary benefits. Since many employers find it increasingly difficult to provide employees with a complete benefit package, voluntary benefits have become an ideal solution. Voluntary benefits allow employers to offer benefits that are attractive to employees without added cost to the company. Employees benefit because they have a variety of insurance options available conveniently in one place, and often with lower premiums than individual policies they would have bought themselves. - View the PDF
Coordinating Retiree Health Benefits with Medicare Eligibility
In December 2007, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued final regulations under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) on coordinating retiree health benefits with Medicare eligibility. The final regulations allow employers to alter, reduce or eliminate employer-sponsored retiree health benefits as retirees become eligible for Medicare or a state-sponsored retiree health benefits program without violating the ADEA. The final regulations became effective on Dec. 26, 2007.
- View the PDF
Health Care Reform: 2012 Compliance Checklist
Health care reform brings a number of changes for employers and health plans in 2012. As employers prepare to comply with new requirements, they need to be aware of how health care reform will affect them in the coming year. - View the PDF
What is a medical child support order?
A medical child support order is a judgment, decree, or order (including an approval of a property settlement) that: Is made pursuant to State domestic relations law (including a community property law) or certain other State laws relating to medical child support (see Q1-8); and Provides for child (more)
