Contents
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QUOTE OF THE MONTH / 1 QUESTION SURVEY
MORE THAN MONEY?
COVERAGE TESTS FOR HCES
STRESSED OUT, HERE IS AN OPTION
THINGS THAT WILL STRESS YOU OUT
GENERAL INFORMATION

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QUOTE OF THE MONTH
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Last week I stated this woman was the ugliest woman I had ever
seen. I have since been visited by her sister and now wish to
withdraw that statement.
(Mark Twain)

This link will help us tailor our content, click for
1 question survey. Thanks in advance.
http://tinyurl.com/ypcxe
Survey expires June 2004.
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MORE THAN MONEY?
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Employees rank health care benefits higher than
compensation by a two to one margin in one recent survey.
Managing your overall benefits costs may be a key survival
strategy for internal budget wars. The first step is
diagnosing and understanding your employees orientation,
and the second step should be effective communication.
Communicate the pressures that most firms are under to
manage benefits and get the employees “buy-in” , once
employees understand they may internalize steps that you
may suggest to help maintain or reduce costs. One way to
define the issues is listed here;
http://www.thebenefitnetwork.com/communicate.htm
Another option is to educate employees about the costs and
your firms' financial goals and explain why they should
care. Make sure your employees understand the need to
maintain costs and outline the reductions and savings that
you expect to obtain. Most important, outline how they
benefit by accepting the changes. One simple step is to
include how to order prescriptions by mail. Controlling
prescription costs can pay big dividends for an employer.
Focus your message to the groups that have
the highest number of benefit inquiries. You can get a
better return on your printing costs. When in doubt,
simplify the message. Be clear and provide step by step
instructions if they have to make changes. Brush up on
your selling skills. A sales trainer once showed me that
more people will move out of his way in a crowded ballpark
when he loudly said “Hot Mustard coming through!”,
vs. “Excuse Me”. Consider the effectiveness of appealing
to their self interest; “You can use brand name drugs when
generics are available, but you will pay more.” as opposed
to the traditional parental “ You must use generic drugs”.
Finally, communicate often, it is a strategy that has paid
good dividends for most major brand names.

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COVERAGE TESTS FOR HCES
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Congress has devised several nondiscrimination tests in
order to prevent qualified retirement plans from overly
favoring highly compensated employees (HCEs). Keep in mind
that the first test that must always be done is the
coverage test, which will be the subject of a different
article. Once the coverage test is passed or, if not
passed, once the necessary steps have been taken to pass
coverage, then the average deferral percentage (ADP) test
must be performed. Both the coverage test and the ADP test
use mathematical techniques to compare the participation
and contribution rates of the HCEs to the nonhighly
compensated employees (NHCEs) to determine whether the
plan is discriminating in favor of the HCEs.
Click for More;
http://tinyurl.com/2t9ln

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STRESSED OUT, HERE IS AN OPTION
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Facing personal or workplace challenges...
No matter how gifted or committed we are, if we are not
equipped with personal tools to help manage the pressure
of today's economic, world and business environment, we
are facing problems. Impaired performance, emotional
challenges and health issues can be the result. (The
Centers for Disease Control has reported that
approximately 80% of all illnesses are stress related.)
As individuals, we all share a desire to be in contact
with what is most deep and true in ourselves. Yet we know
that we cannot just think our way to that goal. Our minds
on their own are not enough. To be a complete human being
requires something more. It takes heart.

Created by Doc Childre--an author, researcher, and
consultant to leaders in business, science, medicine and
education--HeartMath is a system for unlocking the heart's
innate intelligence. Recognized and highly respected in
the fields of psychology, mind/body medicine, new science,
business and personal development, HeartMath offers a new
psychology and physiology based on the power of the heart
providing an innovative approach to healthy and fulfilling
living.

By learning how to lead a more heart-directed life you can
reduce stress, facilitate change, infuse yourself with a
renewed sense of hope and empower your self to live life
to its fullest potential. The techniques, concepts and
technology incorporated in HeartMath give you a greater
ability to achieve emotional balance, mental clarity and
improved health.

HeartMath is unique in that it is grounded in science,
taking “heart” out of the respected but conceptual confines
of philosophy and spirituality into a practical, common-
sense understanding useful in everyday life. It's also
designed to be easy to learn. That's why so many people
from all walks of life are finding this innovative
approach to personal and organizational development so
appealing. Thousands of people around the world use
HeartMath to improve performance in business, increase
awareness and intelligence, create better relationships
and learn how to ride the waves of change with more poise
and grace.

Creating and sustaining high performance and emotional
balance is not just a good thing to do. It's essential in
order to be successful in this era of high-speed change.
You can build a new power that cuts through problems and
leads to success, health and greater happiness. HeartMath
gives you that power.
http://www.emotionalmastery.com/programs.html

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THINGS THAT WILL STRESS YOU OUT
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The recently discovered is increasing
its presence in the Internet very rapidly.

WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT: This virus attempts to copy your
email address book and then send emails out posing as you
to everyone in your address book. These emails seek to
spread the virus to your business contacts and friends.
This worm virus also attempts to steal your credit card
information by displaying a fake Microsoft licensing
window. The stolen credit card numbers are sent to e-mail
addresses found in the worm's body.

A new telemarketing twist on credit card scams -
http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/p/phishing.htm


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Suggested Reading
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Employee Benefit Plans in a Nutshell
Jay Conison New $23.50!

Employee Benefit Programs
Robert M. McCaffer...New Book!

The Handbook of Employee Benefits
Jerry S. Rosenbloom ..New $115.00!

Check Them Out Here;
http://www.thebenefitnetwork.com/reading1.htm

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GENERAL INFORMATION
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The Benefit Network February 2004 Edition © Copyright 2004,
The Benefit Network, except where indicated otherwise.
All rights reserved worldwide. Reprint only with permission
from copyright holder(s). All trademarks are property of their
respective owners. All contents provided as is.

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