February 2006
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Benefit Services Group, Inc.
28423 Orchard Lake Road
Suite 200
Farmington Hills, MI 48334

Phone: (248) 553-9040
Fax:    (248) 553-9042

Info@BenefitServicesGroup.com
www.YourBenefitStore.com


Welcome to Our Newsletter!

Benefit Services Group specializes in quality employee….l benefit programs.  Our clients are an employer that cares about their employees.  We provide our clients a prescription on how to contain benefit cost while maintaining a good benefit program.

This month we have some articles that will provide ‘cupid’ some idea’s which employees of your benefit program will love.  Keep your heart healthy with American Heart Month.  This month’s articles “Implementing an HSA with an Existing FSA Requires Careful Planning”, “Selling Employees on Supplemental Life Insurance”, “What’s the Financial Impact of Disease Management Programs?”, “Workers Placing Higher Value on 401(k) Plans.”, “Top 15 Things You Should Do To Protect Yourself From ID Theft.” are articles you don’t want to miss

Let us know if you want us to further investigate how some of these idea’s can improve your employee benefits and or there cost.  If you have a topic for future discussion, please let me know.  We value your opinion; any suggestions for improvement are always welcome.  Send them to us via email to jshort@benefitservicesgroup.com or fax (248-553-9042).


J. Patrick Short
President
 


Kenneth E. Tebbetts
Account Executive


Implementing an HSA with an Existing FSA Requires Careful Planning

With regulatory guidance on the books and multiple product offerings available, more employers are considering adding a high deductible health plan/health savings account (HDHP/HSA) to their health benefits options. However, for employers that already offer a Section 125 health care flexible spending account (FSA) to employees, HSA implementation requires additional advance planning. The reason being employees who contribute to a health care FSA cannot also participate in an HSA.
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Selling Employees on Supplemental Life Insurance

Despite the fact most Americans believe life insurance is the best protection against the financial hardship that can be brought on by the death of a primary wage earner, close to half of U.S. households are uninsured or underinsured, according to a fact sheet put out by LIMRA International. Given such sentiment about the value of life insurance, one would think that coverage offered through the workplace would be an easy sell. However, according to a survey by MetLife, only a few employers—about 15%—have employee participation rates of more than 50% in their voluntary supplemental life insurance programs. Why the seeming disconnect, and what can employers do to help employees get the coverage they need?
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What’s the Financial Impact of Disease Management Programs?

Disease management (DM) is becoming increasingly commonplace in health plans of all sizes. In the large employer arena, 70% offer at least one DM program, according to Mercer Human Resource Consulting’s National Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Plans 2004. A separate survey by Aon Consulting of human resources executives found that 43% of the surveyed companies had formal disease management programs in place. And, a survey by Kaiser Family Foundation/Health Research and Educational Trust (KFF/HRT) of public and private firms ranging in size from upwards of three employees reports that 56% of workers with health care coverage are in plans that have at least one DM program.
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Workers Placing Higher Value on 401(k) Plans

Workers are placing a higher value on employer-sponsored retirement plans, and are contributing more to them, according to the Seventh Annual Transamerica Retirement Survey. In 2004, 66% of surveyed workers viewed a 401(k)-type plan as very important, and this figure rose to 74% in 2005. And, average 401(k) contribution rates increased in 2005 to 9.9%, from 8.4% in 2004.
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Top 15 Things You Should Do To Protect Yourself From ID Theft

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The purpose of this newsletter is to provide information about industry trends and news of general interest to our clients, potential clients and other professionals. Information about product offerings, services, or benefits is illustrative and general in description, and is not intended to be relied on as complete information. While every attempt is made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided, we do not warranty the accuracy of the information.

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