Quote Of The Month
Employees See More Restrictive Health Plans
Need an HSA Model? IRS Responds
Employers scrutinize cost of running 401(k)
PatientCare Advocacy maximized plan benefits
You Can Never Predict the Health of your Pet


The Benefit Network
September 2004

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CONTENTS
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QUOTE OF THE MONTH
HEALTH INSURANCE INCREASED 11.2% IN 2004
CENSUS DATA SHOWS 45 MILLION UNINSURED
TIPS ON COMPLYING WITH OT RULES
RAISES AT 30 YEAR LOW
FSLA CHANGES -HOW IT AFFECTS YOU -
NEW WEBSITE FOR AGENTS-
INSURANCE AGENT TIPS.COM

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QUOTE OF THE MONTH
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You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if
you don't try."
-Beverly Sills

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HEALTH INSURANCE INCREASED 11.2% IN 2004
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Premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance increased
an average of 11.2 percent in 2004, marking the fourth
consecutive year of a double-digit increase and outpacing
the growth rate in wages and inflation by wide margins,
according to a survey released by the Kaiser Family
Foundation and Health Research and Educational Trust.

http://hr.blr.com/Articlerss.cfm/Nav/5.0.0.0.31037

For relief, talk to a local agent;
http://www.thebenefitnetwork.com/contact.html
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CENSUS DATA SHOWS 45 MILLION UNINSURED
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The number of people without health insurance rose by 1.4
million to 45.0 million between 2002 and 2003, according
to a report by the Census Bureau.

http://tinyurl.com/4jans

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TIPS ON COMPLYING WITH OT RULES
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The Department of Labor has launched a new Internet tool
for helping businesses comply with updated overtime-
exemption rules.

http://tinyurl.com/5cpaw

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RAISES AT 30 YEAR LOW
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http://tinyurl.com/6tx6b

Raises are the lowest in nearly 30 years and won't get
much better next year, according to benefits consultant
Hewitt Associates. Also requires registration.

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FSLA CHANGES -HOW IT AFFECTS YOU
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You will need to register, and that's a pain, but this is
a very good article that sketches out the implications of
the changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) that go
into effect today. Are you in compliance...
http://humanresources.about.com/b/a/106827.htm
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NEW WEBSITE FOR AGENTS
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The Benefit Network Completes acquistion of Insurance
Agent Tips, (
www.insuranceagenttips.com) a website
dedicated to providing tips for insurance agents.

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TIPS
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Getting this copy second hand? If you are an HR manager or
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Weather Trivia:
Earliest weather predictions were made by pure instinct. Then came the galileo thermometer. Now we have home weather stations we can check out with first before starting to prepare grass cutting equipment. In fact other decisions pertaining to garden statuary also depend upon the weather. Whether we are deciding about garden equipment capability or the garden decor, confirming with apt weather is a sensible decision.
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General Info
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E-zine September 2004

(c) Copyright 2004 The Benefit Network