Blog

Feb
10
2020

Congress Eliminates the ‘Cadillac’ and Other ACA Taxes

by CoreMark | posted in Blog, Newsletter

Congress has passed legislation repealing the so-called “Cadillac tax” on generous group health plans, as well as two other taxes, finally putting to bed an issue that has plagued the Affordable Care Act since its inception. Although it had not yet been implemented, employers didn’t like the Cadillac and labor unions came out against it as well. It was so unpopular that Congress voted twice to delay implementation, which was originally set to start in 2018. The latest start date had been pushed until 2022. The Cadillac tax, an enacted but not yet implemented part of the ACA, is a…
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Feb
10
2020

Employer Guide for Dealing with the Coronavirus

by CoreMark | posted in Blog, Newsletter

As the outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus gains momentum and potentially begins to spread in North America, employers will have to start considering what steps they can take to protect their workers while fulfilling their legal obligations. Employers are in a difficult position because it is likely that the workplace would be a significant source of transmission among people. And if you have employees in occupations that may be of higher risk of contracting the virus, you could be required to take certain measures to comply with OSHA’s General Duty Clause. On top of that, if you have workers…
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Feb
06
2020

Trends Shaping Health Insurance and Health Care in 2020

by CoreMark | posted in Blog, Newsletter

As a new decade begins, the health insurance industry is on the cusp of making a leap towards improved, higher-tech management of health plan participants. A recent paper by Capgemini, an insurance technology and consulting firm, predicts the following health insurance trends will be taking shape in the industry and how they may affect businesses that are paying for their employees’ coverage. Health Insurance Trends 1. Realigned relationships Insurers are trying to shift risk between themselves and pharmaceutical companies in an effort to reduce drug outlays. The report says insurers are also working more closely with health care providers for early intervention…
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Feb
06
2020

Coverage Gap Concerns as Cyber Threat Grows

by CoreMark | posted in Blog, Uncategorized

Small and mid-sized businesses are increasingly bearing the burden of cyber threats, as criminals consider them low-hanging fruits that often do not have the resources in place to mount a strong defense. Having a solid cyber insurance policy in place is key, along with understanding what exactly your policy covers. A severe attack on a small company can incapacitate its ability to do business, and the expenses of getting operations back on track ― coupled with loss of goodwill ― can easily force many firms into bankruptcy. That’s why it’s important to not only have safeguards in place to avoid…
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Jan
08
2020

Car Crashes a Leading Cause of High-Severity Claims, Safe Driving Rules Can Help

by CoreMark | posted in Blog, Newsletter

Traffic accidents continue to be one of the leading causes of high-severity workers’ comp claims, according to research. The National Council on Compensation Insurance found in a study that the cost of workers’ comp claims for accidents involving motor vehicles was 250% more than the average for all workplace accidents. The study also found large differences between the cost of claims involving large trucks and passenger cars, as well as a reduction in the number of accidents during economic recessions. Besides a threat to other drivers on the road, any injuries your employees suffer while on driving for you on…
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Jan
08
2020

Don’t Fall Victim to the Business E-mail Compromise Scam

by CoreMark | posted in Blog, Newsletter

West African organized-crime rings have been targeting U.S. businesses with “business e-mail compromise” scams that are costing firms millions of dollars every year. Losses to businesses that are targeted by these scams hit an all-time high in the first quarter of 2018, with $685 million in losses reported by 4,081 victims. That’s more than the amount lost for all of 2017 in such scams: $675 million. The gangs send fake messages to businesses’ finance departments purporting to be a vendor for the company with an invoice requiring payment. These criminals do research before targeting companies, meaning they go to company…
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Jan
08
2020

More Employers Expand Mental Health Benefits

by CoreMark | posted in Blog, Newsletter

American workers are more stressed than ever, and an increasing number of people are also struggling with mental health issues. Sadly, the number of people dying from drugs, alcohol and suicide hit record levels in 2019. When someone is battling addiction or has mental health issues, it affects all aspects of their life, including work. Stress can have a significant adverse impact on business. It costs employers an average of $300 billion a year in stress-related health care and missed work, according to a Harris Poll conducted for Purchasing Power. That’s why more employers are stepping up to provide their…
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Jan
08
2020

Top 10 Laws and Regulations for 2020

by CoreMark | posted in Blog, Newsletter

The new decade is starting off with a massive swell of important new laws and regulations that will affect California businesses. There are so many new laws and regulations that companies have to be on their toes especially at the start of 2020 to get their bearings. If you are operating a business in California, here’s what you need to know coming into the new year. 1. AB 5 Probably the most earth-shattering new law to hit the books in California is the highly controversial AB 5, which creates a new and more stringent test for determining who is an…
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Dec
12
2019

Generic Drug Makers Sued over Pricing Practices

by CoreMark | posted in Blog, Newsletter

One of the country’s largest health insurers has sued a number of pharmaceutical companies, accusing them of running a price-fixing cartel of common generic drugs. Humana Inc. has accused the companies of colluding on the prices of generics to the detriment of health insurers that have to pay for these drugs. Humana said in its lawsuit that this collusion prevented fair competition among insurers that could have reduced the cost of many of these drugs. The Background The lawsuit comes after 45 states signed onto a suit last year over an alleged scheme among generic drug manufacturers to fix the…
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Dec
12
2019

New Booklet Helps Employers Set Up Safe Driving Programs

by CoreMark | posted in Blog, Newsletter

OSHA has published a set of guidelines to help employers reduce accidents among their driving employees. The document is not a set of new regulations or a new standard. It is only advisory ― the federal agency describes it as “informational in content” ― and is intended to assist employers in providing a safe and healthful workplace.”  Nonetheless, the guidelines are an excellent way to establish a system that can reduce the likelihood of crashes involving your driving workers. What should your safe driving program include? OSHA recommends implementing a safe driving program that includes the following: Management commitment and employee…
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