On Nov. 21, 2014, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued the 2016 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters Proposed Rule, which contains several proposed changes for 2016. Among these changes are adjustments to the reinsurance program’s annual contribution rate, the Health Insurance Marketplace open enrollment period for 2016 and following years, and annual limitations on cost-sharing.

The transitional reinsurance program, created by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to help stabilize coverage premiums in the individual market for the first three years of the Exchange, imposes fees on health insurance issuers and self-insured group health plans. The fees are lowered each year that they are assessed. Read More

Resolutions are possibly the best and worst part of beginning a new year. Who doesn’t like a fresh start or a new challenge? However, New Year’s resolutions can often be viewed negatively.

Part of the reason many resolutions fail is that the term is seasonal and fixed to a very specific holiday. Come February, New Year’s resolutions start to look as relevant as a brown Christmas tree. On top of that, resolutions come loaded with a ton of cultural baggage and are often the setup to jokes about failure.

So, instead of making resolutions that will quickly fade, why not try setting goals for yourself? With that new attitude, here are some tips that should increase the probability of success for your 2015 goals.   Read full article

Whether you’re in full-out hibernation mode or stressed out and busy from the holidays, your exercise routine might be one of the first casualties of the season. However, continuing your workouts throughout winter will help you stay energetic and healthy during the colder months of the year, and exercise might enable you to stave off that dreaded holiday weight gain. Lack of motivation, limited time and drab winter weather can all work against your attempts at getting sufficient exercise—whatever your reason, use some of the following tips to get moving this winter.

No motivation. The holidays are busy, and winter brings fewer daylight hours and colder temperatures. Here are a few options for rekindling your interest in exercise: Read More

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has ruled that employers may require workers to post a disclaimer on their social media accounts stating that their views are separate from those of their employer.

In an advice memorandum, the NLRB found that, “requiring employees, when they identify themselves as the Employer’s employees on various social media, to state that the views expressed are their own is lawful, because the Employer has a legitimate interest in protecting itself against unauthorized postings purportedly on its behalf.”

The NLRB further found that employees, who have the right to discuss working conditions on social media, would not be unduly burdened by having to post a disclaimer.  Read More