|
Joseph Epstein
6334 Brava Way
Boca Raton, Florida 33433
(703) 439-9446
Jepstein54@gmail.com
CAPABILITIES
• Direct and manage all aspects of employee benefits including unemployment, workers compensation, employee and retiree health insurance plans such as preferred provider organizations, point of service options, health maintenance organizations, Medicare supplemental, vision, dental, long term disability, flexible benefits (including spending accounts), wellness and disease management programs, employee assistance, and retirement programs such as 401K and defined benefit plans.
• Evaluate, design, and manage employee/retiree benefits programs to determine whether programs are operationally and financially efficient and effective.
• Integrate benefit practices that exist due to mergers and acquisitions.
• Possesses excellent labor relations/negotiation experience to develop bargaining strategies and have excellent persuasive skills in dealings with labor organizations and vendors.
• Knowledgeable of methods used by insurance companies to develop experience ratings, maintain financial disciplines, profit goals and structure premium quotations, as well as possess an excellent knowledge of financial and economic matters. Personally conducts all contract negotiations and Request For Proposal processes.
• Possess the ability to recommend solutions to problems and policy matters involving the whole spectrum of employee benefit programs. This function requires the development and maintenance of effective cost controls and management of funds in the operation and administration of employer benefit programs.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills which facilitate sound decision making to ensure correct and timely implementation and administration of programs, changes and policies by employers, insurance companies and others.
• Represent employers in employee benefit matters by preparing and presenting reports, data, testimony and other information to legislative committees, emergency boards, task forces, financial institutions, organizations and other groups having an interest in control over employee benefits and serve on dispute and special committees within my area of expertise.
• Review and analyze state and federal legislation and regulations to determine their impact on employee benefit programs.
• Ensures all plans and their operations comply timely with applicable laws and regulations.
• Manage a human resources department in all aspects- budgets, recruiting, compensation, policy planning/implementation, identify problems, analyze alternative solutions, direct appropriate corrective action and ensure that goals are met.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Directed benefits valued at over $2 Billion for over 200,000 active and retired employees and 500,000 dependents located nationwide and in Canada who are employed by approximately 100 railroads and represented by 42 unions.
• Negotiated favorable contribution rates/administrative service fees and other fees with nationally recognized insurance companies.
• Assisted in negotiating labor agreements for more than 20 years, resulting in substantial cost savings relative to a variety of contractual concerns.
• Introduced nationwide managed care programs and policies effectively creating a reduction in cost of several hundred million dollars through an in-house educational and bilingual communications program communicated through newsletters, posters, meets and payroll inserts.
• Represented the NRLC in plan development, implementation, and administration with labor organizations, insurance companies, TPA’s, consultants, auditors, financial institutions, plan participants, railroads, and governmental agencies. This responsibility involved serving as the primary contact for the NRLC after changes were agreed to by both labor and management to ensure successful implementation and administration of all programs.
• Converted a variety of fully insured health benefits to self-insured, self-administered operations, which resulted in savings of several million dollars per year.
• Designed one of the first-cafeteria-style benefit plans for union members, increasing participation by more than 100% in four years.
• Converted manual in-house claims operation to on-line computerized operation with a 60% increase in production, eventually converting the entire operation to on-line.
• Designed in-house training programs for claims, processing, contributing to a reduction in labor costs by 40%, training costs by 100% and turnover by 35%.
CAREER EXPERIENCE
1993-2007 National Railway Labor Conference Director Employee Benefits
Washington, D.C.
1990-1993 State of Maryland Director Employee Benefits
Department of Personnel
Baltimore, MD
1989-1990 JHE Associates Consultant
Baldwin, N.Y.
1988-1989 Local 355 Assistant to President
Briarwood, N.Y.
1978-1988 ACTWU Health Plan Director (1983-1988)
New York, N.Y. Assistant Director (1978-1983)
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts L.I University
AFFILIATIONS
• International Foundation of Employee Benefits
• Aetna Client Advisory Group
• Coalition America Client Advisory Group
• Highmark BCBS Client Advisory Group
• VALUEOPTIONS Corporate Client Group
• Medco Client Advisory Steering Committee
• Medco Client Advisory Group
• United Healthcare Client Advisory Group |