The White House Office of Management and Budget estimates that the tax exemption that helped create the employer-based health care system during World War II will cost the federal government $174 billion in lost tax receipts in 2009, making it a policy target for health care reform.

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Labels: law

San Francisco, CA March 18, 2008 - Earlier today, the WCIRB Governing Committee directed the WCIRB to submit a filing to the California Department of Insurance (CDI) recommending an approximate 24.4% increase in pure premium rates (or "claims cost benchmark") effective July 1, 2009. The Governing Committee made its decision based on a recommendation made by the WCIRB Actuarial Committee at its March 16, 2009 meeting.

The recommendation is based on two principal components. First, the WCIRB's evaluation of December 31, 2008 loss experience produces an indicated increase in the claims cost benchmark of 17.6%. This indicated increase is primarily the result of increased medical costs. Second, the WCIRB's analysis of anticipated cost increases stemming from three recent Workers' Compensation Appeals Board decisions (Ogilvie v. City and County of San Francisco, Almaraz v. Environmental Recovery Services and Guzman v. Milpitas Unified School District) indicates an additional increase of 5.8%. Throughout its discussion, there was a general consensus among Governing Committee members that 5.8% is a "minimum estimate" of the potential additional costs arising from these decisions inasmuch as no cost data is yet available. It is quite likely that the actual additional costs arising from these decisions could be significantly higher.

If the full 24.4% increase is approved by the Insurance Commissioner, the July 1, 2009 pure premium rates will still be, on average, 54% lower than the approved pure premium rates in effect July 1, 2003.

Labels: law, regulations

In recent years, concerns about mold and fungi growing in indoor environments have caused major upheavals among various building-related trades and businesses, as well as insurance companies and different levels of governmental agencies. T

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Labels: Safety

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (COBRA Subsidy) provides a government funded subsidy to eligible individuals for the purchase of most COBRA coverage. The subsidy is equal to 65% of the monthly COBRA premium charge and is available for up to 9 months. The subsidy must be available by employers to individuals involuntarily terminated on or after September 1, 2008 and before January 10, 2010. The subsidy is limited to individuals who have a modified adjusted gross income of less than $145,000 ($290,000 for joint filers).

Labels: Employers, law