- TABLE OF CONTENTS -

The list below shows the period published and the feature article(s) for that edition. To view a specific article, simply click on it.

Health Plans

• Introduction
• Employer As Plan Sponsor
• Overview Of ERISA
• The Indemnity Medical Plan
• The HMO
• Preferred Provider Organizations
• Point-Of-Service-Plans
• Dental & Vision Coverage
• Health Flexible Spending Arrangements
• Health Reimbursement Arrangements
• Employee Assistance Programs
• Supplemental Health Care Insurance

Non-Health Plans

• Introduction
• Disability Plans
• Accidental Death And Dismemberment Plans
• Life Insurance
• Vacation
• Sick Leave
• Dependent Care Assistance Programs

Medicare

• Introduction
• Medicare Part A & Part B
• Health Care Plans Offered Under Medicare
• Medigap
• Coordination Of Benefits
• Coordination Of Benefits: Medicare Secondary Payer Rules (MSP)
• Medicare & COBRA
• Medicare & COBRA: Initial COBRA Qualifying Events
• Medicare & COBRA: Multiple COBRA Qualifying Event
• Medicare & COBRA: Medicare As A COBRA Terminating Event

HIPAA Portability

• Purpose Of HIPAA Portability And Availability Provisions
• Benefits Subject To HIPAA Portability: Group Health Plans
• Benefits Not Subject To HIPAA
• Excepted Benefits
• Health Flexible Spending Arrangements Under A Cafeteria Plan
• Creditable Coverage
• Definition Of Creditable Coverage
• Applying Creditable Coverage
• Significant Breaks In Coverage
• Methods For Counting Creditable Coverage
• Certificates Of Creditable Coverage
• Form And Content Of Certificates
• Responsibilities For Providing Certificates
• Method Of Delivery
• Tracking Coverage For Certificates of Coverage
• Providing Certificates of Coverage
• Confirming Certificates of Coverage
• Documentation Issues

HIPAA Privacy

• Background
• Intent Of HIPAA
• Exempted Health Information
• Affected Plans
• Administrative Requirements
• Covered Entities
• Health Plans
• Employer / Plan Sponsor
• Use And Disclosure Of PHI
• Required Disclosure
• Authorization
• Authorization Requirements
• Core Elements For A Valid Authorization
• Invalid Authorizations
• Rights Of The Individual
• Restrictions On Individual Rights
• Claim Disputes
• HIPAA & The Americans With Disabilities Act
• HIPAA & The Family And Medical Leave Act
• State Privacy Rules
• Refraining From Intimidating Or Retaliatory Acts
• Separation Of Health Care Plan And Termination Duties
• Record Retention

Cafeteria Plans

• Introduction
• What Is A Cafeteria Plan?
• Plan Documents
• Eligible Benefits
• Health Flexible Spending Arrangements
• HFSAs: Claims Submission & Reimbursement
• Dependent Care Assistance Programs
• Claims Dispute Options & Requirements
• Other Benefits
• Severance Agreements

Retirement Plans: Vesting

• Introduction
• Overview
• Vesting Requirements
• Minimum Vesting For Non-Elective Contributions
• Minimum Vesting For Matching Contributions
• Calculating Vesting Service
• Calculating Vesting Service: Vesting Computation Period
• Vesting Service & Termination Of Employment
• Determining A Participant’s Vested Account Balance
• Full Vesting And Other Special Vesting Rules
• Forfeitures

Retirement Plans: Distributions & Taxation

• Overview
• Tax Treatment Of Distributions: An Overview
• Severance Of Employment: Vested Benefits
• Severance Of Employment: Non-Vested Benefits
• Payment Of 401(k) Benefits Upon Retirement
• Death Benefits
• Disability Benefits
• Automatic Cash Outs
• Required Minimum Distributions
• Rollover Distributions
• Form Of Benefits
• Qualified Joint & Survivor Annuity
• Qualified Pre-Retirement Survivor Annuity
• Participant Loans
• Qualified Domestic Relations Orders
• Requesting A Distribution
• Taxation
• Required Notice
• Income Tax Withholding
• Reporting Distributions

ADA

• Employers And Employees Subject To The ADA
• Review Of ADA
• Medical Information & Inquiries
• Terminating An ADA-Qualified Individual
• Terminations While On ADA Leave

FMLA

• Employers And Employees Subject To The FMLA
• Types Of Leave
• Leave Requirements
• Handling Leaves & Terminations
• Terminating Employees Who Exhaust FMLA Leave And Don’t Return To Work
• Terminations While On FMLA Leave

Workers’ Compensation

• Employers And Employees Subject To Workers’ Compensation
• Exclusive Remedy Principle
• Benefits Under Workers’ Compensation
• Worker’s Compensation And FMLA Leave: Paid Leave Rule
• Compensable Injuries & Illnesses
• Terminations While On Workers’ Compensation Leave

COBRA

• What Is COBRA?
• Defining A
• Individuals Eligible For COBRA
• Election Rights
• The Initial COBRA Notice
• What May Be a QE
• Duration Of COBRA Coverage
• What QE Notices Should Include
• When To Send A QE Notice
• Defining The COBRA Timeline
• Understanding The COBRA Timeline
• Managing The COBRA Timeline
• The 14-Day Notification Period
• The 60-Day Election Period
• The 45 Day Retroactive Premium Payment Period
• The 30-Day Grace Period
• Determining The Start Of The Election Period
• Handling Coverage During The 60 Day Election Period
• Region-Specific HMO Issues
• Alternative Coverage
• Alternative Coverage: Consecutive Coverage Method
• Alternative Coverage: Concurrent Coverage Method
• Alternative Coverage: Choice Method
• Selecting An Alternative Coverage Method
• Implementing The Selected Alternative Coverage Method
• Stop-Loss Carrier And Insurance Company Issues

USERRA

• Introduction
• Purpose Of USERRA
• Protected Individuals
• Exceptions To The Five-Year Limit
• Employee Notice Of Service
• Nondiscrimination
• Re-Employment Rights
• Time Limits For Reporting Back To Work
• Re-Employment Not Required
• Failure To Timely Report
• Required Documentation
• Job Reinstatement Criteria
• Disability Related To Service
• Undue Hardship
• Employee Discharge
• USERRA And FMLA
• Health Care
• USERRA And COBRA
• USERRA: Election Notice
• USERRA Does Not Extend Beyond 18 Months Of Continuation Coverage

Paid & Unpaid Leave

• Introduction
• Unpaid, Non-FMLA Leave: Treatment Of Health Care Plan Participation
• Unpaid, Non-FMLA Leave: Maintaining Health Care Coverage During The Leave
• Unpaid, Non-FMLA Leave: Cafeteria Plans And HFSAs
• Unpaid, Non-FMLA Leave: Cafeteria Plans And COBRA
• Unpaid, Non-FMLA Leave: Cafeteria Plans And Status Changes
• Unpaid, Non-FMLA Leave: Cafeteria Plans And Day Care Assistance Plans
• Paid, Non-FMLA Leaves
• Paid, Non-FMLA Leaves: Health Care Plan Participation
• Paid, Non-FMLA Leaves: COBRA
• Paid, Non-FMLA Leaves: Cafeteria Plans
• Paid, Non-FMLA Leaves: Day Care Assistance Plans
• Unpaid FMLA Leaves
• Unpaid FMLA Leaves: Health Care, Cafeteria Plans, And HFSAs
• Unpaid FMLA Leaves: Day Care Assistance Plans
• Paid FMLA Leaves
• Unpaid FMLA Leaves: Waiver Of Coverage
• Paid FMLA Leaves: Day Care Assistance Plans
• Failure To Return From Leave
• Temporary Losses Of Coverage

Integrating The Leave Laws

• Introduction
• When FMLA, ADA, And Workers’ Compensation All Apply
• Leave Issues
• Reasonable Accommodation Issues
• Pay & Benefits
• Length Of Leave
• Return To Work
• Light-Duty Assignments
• Employer’s Light-Duty Offer And The Impact Of FMLA & ADA
• Impact Of Taking FMLA Leave On Workers’ Compensation
• Consequences Of Taking A Light-Duty Assignment
• FMLA Leave, Workers’ Compensation, And Reasonable Accommodation
• Alternative Position And Reasonable Accommodation: An Apparent Contradiction
• Medical Information
• Risk Of Injury
• Termination
• Disciplining & Terminating Employees With Illnesses Or Injuries
• Disciplining & Terminating Employees With Illnesses Or Injuries: Actions While An Employee Is On Leave

Pre-Termination Issues

• Pre-Termination Issues: Downsizings, RIFs, and Mergers
• Pre-Termination Issues: Non-Compete Agreements
• Pre-Termination Issues: Severance
• Pre-Termination Issues: Settlements & Releases
• Pre-Termination Issues: Employees With Illnesses Or Injuries
• Pre-Termination Issues: Actions While An Employee Is On Leave

Post-Termination Issues

• Post-Termination Issues: Sample Checklist For Benefits
• Post-Termination Issues: Sample Checklist For Notifications
• Post-Termination Responsibilities: Exit Interviews
• Post-Termination Responsibilities: Reference Checks
• Post-Termination: Responding To Provider Inquiries Concerning Coverage For Qualified Beneficiaries

Events Terminating COBRA Coverage

• An Overview Of The Rules Governing Terminating COBRA Coverage
• Events Terminating COBRA Coverage
• Natural Expiration Of COBRA Continuation Period
• Termination Of COBRA Because Of Employer's Cessation Of Health Plan Sponsorship
• Termination Of COBRA For Failure To Pay Premiums
• Termination Of COBRA Because Of Other Group Health Plan Coverage Or Medicare Entitlement
• Termination Of Extended Disability COBRA Coverage Because Of Cessation Of Disabled Status
• Procedures For Terminating COBRA Coverage
• Conversion Coverage Requirement