The keys for plan sponsors to avoid penalties under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), as well as other liability that may come with data breaches, were discussed by HIPAA experts in a recent webinar. Periodic risk assessments, updated policies and procedures, and ongoing training are critical to HIPAA compliance, said Kathryn Bakich, senior vice president at Segal Consulting. Minimizing HIPAA Privacy Liability. MORE

Technology is making remarkable strides across the employee benefits landscape. A 2019-2020 survey found that the vast majority of organizations are utilizing a benefits application in some shape or form. Benefits administration is regarded as the most complex HR process. MORE

Lost in Space” was a popular television series in the 1960s. Sabotage by crew member Dr. Zachary Smith threw the ship off course and launched endless adventures. The ensuing adventures are anything but fun. The possibility of cyberdata sabotage is now a day-to-day threat that frequently makes the headlines—and employee benefit plans are not spared exposure to data sabotage. The EBSA Advisory Council to the U.S. by Mary B. MORE

ERISA stands for the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. In short, this is the federal law that creates standards for retirement, health, and pension plans. Even though such plans are typically set up privately, employers that opt to offer them have an obligation to meet the requirements under ERISA when implementing their plans. The Act advises when employees must be allowed to join the plan. Compensation benefits COBRA ERISA HIPAA MORE

A federal appeals court recently confirmed that the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) prohibition of lifetime benefits maximums does not apply to retiree-only group health plans. However, the court ruled, the plan had failed to disclose this adequately as required by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). The case is King v. UPS issued a summary plan description (SPD) in 2006 that applies to both the active employee and retiree plans. MORE

Employers that offer group health insurance plans to their employees have an interest in learning how employees’ entitlement to Medicare benefits can affect the administration of those plans. This article discusses the coordination of benefits between the two plans. In other words, it answers the question: How does my company health plan interact with Medicare? The post 4 Facts About Medicare That All Employers Should Know appeared first on HR Daily Advisor. MORE

You need to be able to pull up an employee’s data at any point beyond the onboarding process, such as preparing for audits and any potential unexpected issues that could pop up. You have enough on your plate, so why not consider automating the process? MORE

Alight deploys artificial intelligence and data-driven insights to reach new levels of engagement in the employee experience Link ». Aon Buys Willis Towers Watson: Another Waypoint In The Demise of Employer Pensions Link ». That’s the bigger picture here. MORE