Benefits Magazine

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July 2020

Primary Care at Risk

What Employers and Plan Sponsors Can Do

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Workplace Emergency Savings Programs

Helping Employees Save for a Rainy Day

Read Article

Virtual Trustee Meetings:

Tips and Guidelines

Read Article

Sun Capital Partners:

Lessons for Multiemployer Plans

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July Articles include:

Primary Care at Risk: What Employers and Plan Sponsors Can Do

Workplace Emergency Savings Programs: Helping Employees Save for a Rainy Day

Virtual Trustee Meetings: Tips and Guidelines

Sun Capital Partners: Lessons for Multiemployer Plans

Investing in Response to the COVID-19 Response

COVID-19 Crisis: Challenges for Multiemployer Pension Plans

Legal & Legislative Reporter

Benefits Magazine is a monthly magazine that covers benefit issues affecting multiemployer, single employer and public employee plan representatives. It’s filled with timely, important articles from leaders in the employee benefits industry that tackle serious issues and provide tangible solutions.

Benefits Magazine is free to International Foundation and ISCEBS members. If you’re not already a member, Join today!

Past Issues

June 2020

Articles include:

The CARES Act and Its Impact on Multiemployer Employee Benefit Plans

by Lisa M. Gomez
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act contains several provisions applicable to employee benefit plans. In addition to reviewing these provisions, the author discusses special considerations for multiemployer employee benefit plans.
Take Control of Prescription Drug Coverage: Reducing Costs in Challenging Times

by Linda Cahn
Strategies such as customizing drug formularies and programs such as prior authorizations, step therapy and quantity limits can help health plan sponsors cut prescription drug costs.
The SECURE Act: Seven Things Plan Sponsors Need to Know in 2020 (and Beyond)

by Robert M. Projansky and Jennifer Rigterink
What do retirement plan sponsors need to do this year to comply with the SECURE Act? The authors provide a list of changes that should be reviewed in 2020, as well as items to keep tabs on in future years.
HIPAA: Mind Your Compliance Gaps

by Laurie S. DuChateau
A breach of protected health information (PHI) could place group health plan sponsors at risk for fines for failing to comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Risk analysis and workforce training are among the areas health plans commonly struggle with in their HIPAA compliance efforts.
Packing a Punch: Proven Well-Being Strategies

by Jessica Grossmeier, Ph.D.
What’s the best way to ensure strong participation as well as positive outcomes for your workplace wellbeing programs? These ten best practices—based on new research—boost the likelihood of success.
Project Labor Agreements: Multiemployer Plan Benefits Issues to Consider

by Martha M. Henrickson, CEBS
Project labor agreements (PLAs), which establish the terms and conditions for employment, are often used for major construction projects. What are the benefits issues that multiemployer benefit plan trustees should be aware of?
Legal & Legislative Reporter
Printable Issue [PDF]

May 2020

Articles include:

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Impact on Employers and Plan Sponsors

by Stacie M. Kalmer and Katherine R. Kratcha
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act was passed in response to the spread of COVID-19 and remains in effect until December 31, 2020. This article reviews the key provisions affecting employers and plan sponsors.
COVID-19: Emerging Collection Issues for Multiemployer Plans

by Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS
This article is based on an April 1, 2020 webcast presentation by Travis Ketterman, GBA, attorney with McGann, Ketterman & Rioux in Chicago, Illinois.
Structuring Student Loan Repayment Benefit Programs

by Daniel R. Salemi, Michael Gorman and Gena Yoo
Student loan debt is a major strain on the financial health of many Americans and may prevent some from saving adequately for retirement. Employers are finding creative ways to help ease the burden through student loan repayment benefits.
Amplifying Benefit Communications With Data Analytics

by Jillian R. Otten
Data from website traffic and social media interactions offers valuable information that benefits organizations can use to increase the effectiveness of their communication efforts.
Culture and Gender Issues in Retirement Savings

by Brenton Harrison
Women and minorities often face unique obstacles in saving for retirement, including individual and systemic challenges. By providing voluntary benefits and targeted education, employers can take steps to help workers overcome these barriers.
Using Benefits Automation to Improve the Employee Experience

by Colleen Davenport, CEBS
Automating the benefits enrollment process and other human resources functions has the potential to improve employee engagement while increasing administrative efficiencies and streamlining compliance.
Legal & Legislative Reporter
Printable Issue [PDF]

April 2020

Articles include:

Finding the Right Tool for the Job: Helping Employees With Retirement Planning

by Mark Dennis and Anna M. Rappaport
Retirement planning tools, such as calculators, can help workers determine whether their savings and investments are keeping them on track for a successful retirement. What factors should employers consider when choosing a tool for their employees?
Managing DC Plan Loans

by Paul O. Catenacci and Greg Jenkins
Plan loans are an optional means of early access to defined contribution (DC) account balances, but they come with risks to both plan sponsors and plan participants.
Roth Trends Revisited: Divergence Between Sponsors and Participants

by Daniel Schwallie, Ph.D.
The percentage of defined contribution plan sponsors offering Roth contributions continues its upward trend. Will employee participation rates follow?
Infrastructure Ten Years On: What Have We Learned?

by Monte E. Tarbox, CEBS
Infrastructure remains an attractive investment for investors seeking returns similar to those of private equity as well as dependable cash flows. The author offers lessons learned over the last ten years as considerations for institutional investors evaluating their allocations to this asset class.
The Resurgence of Health Care Coalitions

by Josh Bindl, Fred G. Brown and Kristina D. Gaughan
Amid continuing consolidation in the health care industry, plan sponsors and employers may look to health care coalitions to help them gain a better footing in negotiations with insurers and health care providers.
Transforming the Employee Benefits Landscape With Digital Health

by Louise Short, M.D.
The digital health umbrella covers a wide scope, from patient diagnostics to administrative tasks. Employers that want to implement digital health tools should have an understanding of their potential opportunities and complexities before investing in these rapidly developing applications.
Legal & Legislative Reporter
Printable Issue [PDF]

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Benefits Magazine

Primary Care at Risk

Workplace Emergency Savings Programs

Virtual Trustee Meetings:

Sun Capital Partners:

July Articles include:

Past Issues

June 2020

May 2020

April 2020

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Benefits Magazine

Primary Care at Risk

Workplace Emergency Savings Programs

Virtual Trustee Meetings:

Sun Capital Partners:

July Articles include:

Past Issues

Certified Employee Benefit Specialist^®

Certified Employee Benefit Specialist^®