Benefits Executive Roundtable

In this week’s podcast, host Dorothy Cociu discusses the process of the employer selection of a benefits broker and consultant with guests Sue Wakamoto-Lee, Director of Business Development of Advanced Benefit Consulting and Marilyn Monahan of Monahan Law Office.  What services are important?  What suits the employer’s needs?  Should a broker/consultant assist an employer in benefit plan compliance, and if so, to what level?  How do you properly compare, contrast and evaluate brokers and consultants?  ERISA fiduciary rules, the CAA and the DOL Cybersecurity regulations and guidance have made it clear that employer plan sponsors should have a process to compare, contrast and select all service providers, including brokers/consultants, yet most employers are not even aware of these rules.  Should that be a red flag?  We’ll provide you with a “checklist” to help you compare benefits brokers and consultants, so that you can make the best decision and selection for your organization.  Join us for this informative podcast!

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https://advancedbenefitconsulting.com/s5e11-selecting-benefits-broker-and-consultant-helpful-checklist

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#benefitplancompliance #benefitsbroker #selectionchecklist #DOL #Cybersecurity #ERISA #healthcarebenefits #hiringguide #MarilynMonahan #SueWakamoto-Lee #DorothyCociu

In this week’s podcast, Host Dorothy Cociu interviews Kathy Ruffino, Vice President, Train Me Today, a Southern California-based Human Resources Consulting and Training firm, on the upcoming law changes for 2024 related to Human Resources and Employment Law. In this podcast, we discuss California’s SB 616 Paid Sick Leave, Cannabis Legislation SB 700 and AB 2188, SB 699 Non-Compete Agreements, SB 553 Workplace Violence, SB 497 Rebuttable Presumption of Retaliation, AB 594 Public Prosecution for Labor Code Violations, AB 1228 Fast Food Minimum Wage, SB 525 Health Care Industry Minimum Wage, SB 723 Rehire/Retention of Displaced Employees in Hospitality and Service Industries, and SB 848, Reproductive Loss Leave. In addition, we discuss Federal Laws The Pump Act and Federal Pregnant Worker Fairness Act (PWFA). Join us for this informative podcast!

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#DorothyCociu #KathyRuffino #HumanResources #EmploymentLaw #SB616 #SickLeave #Cannabis #SB700 #AB2188 #SB699 #SB553 SB497 #AB594 #AB1228 #SB525 #SB723 #SB848 #PumpAct #PWFA

In this week’s episode, host Dorothy Cociu discusses the self-insurance industry hot topics with Ryan Work, VP of Government Relations and Chris Condeluci, Washington Counsel, for the Self-Insurance Institute of America. We discuss the current threat to ERISA pre-emption following recent Supreme Court rulings on PBM cases that could have adverse effects on self-funded health plans, as well as updates on the Transparency in Coverage, the wide variability and incompleteness of files and inability of plan sponsors and administrators to access their claims data. In addition, we discuss the Surprise Medical Billing and Federal Independent Dispute Resolution process and issues within the portal, the lack of Independent Dispute Resolution Entities to arbitrate the cases, and recent cases that strike at the heart of the NSA rules, the QPA. We also discuss the CAA Gag Clause Prohibition & Attestation and requirements of plan sponsors. Join us for this informative podcast!

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#DorothyCociu #self-insurance #RyanWork #ChrisCondeluci #self-fundedhealthplans #Transparency #SurpriseMedicalBilling #Federal IndependentDisputeResolution #NSA #QPA #GagClause

California’s Governor recently signed into law SB 770, which is a bill aimed at obtaining federal financing from Medicare and MediCal funds to be directed into a state-run single payer healthcare system in California. If a single payer system were to pass into law, we would have no more private health plans, no more Medicare, MediCal, or Covered California. In this week’s podcast, Host Dorothy Cociu discusses SB 770 and Single Payer Healthcare, and what it could mean in California, with Faith Borges, Legislative Advocate for the California Agents & Health Insurance Professionals (CAHIP). Learn about what this would all mean, and the heavy tax burdens this would place on employers and individuals, if this type of legislation were put into place. Listen to this very informative podcast!

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In this week’s episode, host Dorothy Cociu interviews Maggie Stedt, Medicare and Senior Care expert, who shares with us updates for Medicare enrollees and Medicare Open Enrollment Updates for 2023-2024. We discuss the new CMS Medicare Rules for agents, the highlights of the current Open Enrollment period, and important information that seniors need to know, including how they can get the help they need and sign up. Should employees over 65 continue on their group plans or enroll in Medicare? We discuss all of the latest information that can help seniors. Join us for this informative podcast!

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https://advancedbenefitconsulting.coms/5e7-medicare-updates-2023-2024-with-maggie-stedt

#DorothyCociu #MaggieStedt #Medicare #Senior #OpenEnrollment #CMS #GroupPlans

In Part Two of our 2-Part Series in honor of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Host Dorothy Cociu discusses with our Panel of Marilyn Monahan, ESQ, Ted Flittner and Ted Mayeshiba of Aditi Group, processes for selecting service providers under the DOL/EBSA Cybersecurity Guidance, what they mean by a “Cybersecurity Program,” Best Practices for Plan Sponsors, and more. We discuss some of the policies and procedures Plan Sponsor Employers must have in place, the importance of regular Risk Assessments, more details about service provider contracts, and the importance of Plan Sponsors to educate their plan participants so that they can play a part in their own benefit account security. Join us for Part Two of this informative podcast series!

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#AditiGroup #compliance #CyberLiability #cybersecurity #CybersecurityAwarenessMonth #DepartmentofLabor #DorothyCociu #EBSA #fiduciaryresponsibility #hackers #MarilynMonahan #TedFlittner #TedMayeshiba

In Part One of a 2-Part Series, in honor of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Host Dorothy Cociu discusses the US Department of Labor/EBSA Cybersecurity Guidance with an expert panel, including Marilyn Monahan, ESQ of Monahan Law Office, Ted Flittner and Ted Mayeshiba, Principals of Aditi Group, ABC’s partner IT, Cybersecurity and Technology firm. In part one, we discuss the background of the cybersecurity guidance, what’s included in the Guidance, who has to comply, recent court cases setting precedents, Tips for Hiring a Service Provider with strong cybersecurity practices and the role of fiduciaries in this function, including selection and monitoring. We also discuss the importance of cyber liability insurance and what you need to do to get it, and the importance of contract terms with service providers. Join us for Part One of this important and informational podcast!

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#AditiGroup #compliance #CyberLiability #cybersecurity #CybersecurityAwarenessMonth #DepartmentofLabor #DorothyCociu #EBSA #fiduciaryresponsibility #hackers #MarilynMonahan #TedFlittner #TedMayeshiba

Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRAs) have been around for years, but suddenly, they are being looked at as a way to save considerable dollars for fully insured plans being hit with high renewal increases, particularly if you offer high benefit-level plans. By increasing your deductible and using an employer-funded HRA, you can design your HRA to mirror your original plan benefits, offer a Debit Card for easy use by your plan participants, and lower your overall health plan costs! In this podcast, Host Dorothy Cociu interviews Sue Wakamoto-Lee, Claremont Insurance Services and David Franklin, EBA&M Corporation, on how to effectively design and use a cost-effective HRA Wrap! Join us for this informative podcast!

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https://advancedbenefitconsulting.com/s5e4-saving-money-with-an-hra-wrap

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#HealthReimbursementAccounts #HRA #costeffective #costoptimization #employers #employerfunded #retirement

As we enter into the 4th quarter and the busiest Benefits Open Enrollment season, this podcasts gives expert assistance to be sure your Open Enrollment goes off without a hitch! Host Dorothy Cociu interviews Marilyn Monahan, ESQ, Anne Kelly, and Anthony McCarren on Open Enrollment Best Practices. We discuss the legal and regulatory work that needs to be done, online enrollment and benefits administration, what’s best for heavy Hispanic-populated groups, a frank discussion on market concerns with the Ease sale to Employee Navigator, the need for employee education, and overall best practices for both fully insured and self-funded groups. Join us for this informative podcast!

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https://advancedbenefitconsulting.com/s5e3-open-enrollment-best-practices

#BenefitsOpenEnrollment #DorothyCociu #MarilynMonahan #AnneKelly #AnthonyMcCarren #BestPractices #legal #regulatory #onlineenrollment #benefitsadministration #Hispanic #EmployeeNavigator #EmployeeEducation #fullyInsured #selfFunded

In this week’s episode, Host Dorothy Cociu interviews Marilyn Monahan, ESQ, of Monahan Law Office, on the dangers and pitfalls for plan fiduciaries that can cost you more than just money!  We’ll talk about ERISA requirements for plan fiduciaries, the Prudent Person Rule, Parties in Interest, the DOL Guidance on plan fiduciary responsibilities for Cybersecurity, and the risks and penalties to fiduciaries if they don’t do the right things.  Our discussion also includes CAA requirements, disclosure and litigation, and more.  Join us for this very informative podcast!

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https://advancedbenefitconsulting.com/s5e2-plan-fiduciaries-beware

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