This document discusses upcoming changes to healthcare under the Affordable Care Act and provides advice for employers. It notes that several changes are imminent or have already taken effect, including coverage of preventive services for women without cost sharing and reporting of healthcare costs on W-2 forms. The document advises that employers should continue preparing for reforms and lists dos and don'ts for establishing a social media policy, such as clearly outlining appropriate and inappropriate content while avoiding overreach.

1. DID YOU KNOW
According to the Department of Health
and Human Services, almost 50,000
adults die each year from diseases that
Benefits and HR tips brought to you by could have been prevented with a
vaccine.
The Centennial Group
August is National Immunization
Awareness Month and a perfect time to
educate your employees about the
importance of immunizations.
Consider offering educational materials
that dispel the myth that vaccinations are
only important to children. And when flu
season comes around, you may wish to
host a company flu shot clinic to promote
employee health and avoid a drop in
productivity.
The Supreme Court Ruling: Social Media Policies:
Employer FAQs Dos and Don’ts
On June 28, 2012 the U.S. Supreme Court  beginning before Jan. 1, 2014. With the advent of social networking, it is
essentially upheld the entire Affordable  For plan years beginning on or after absolutely critical that your organization has
Care Act (ACA) as constitutional. Since Aug. 1, 2012, specific health a solid social media policy. Here are a few
the ruling, employers have had many services for women must be covered things your policy should and shouldn’t do.
questions about how this decision will at no cost to the individual.
affect them. Read on for the answers to a Dos
few of these FAQs.  Employers may receive medical loss
 Your policy should plainly state what is
ratio rebates in August 2012.
appropriate social networking behavior,
What does this mean for ACA changes  Plans and issuers must provide a what can and can’t be shared and why.
that have already been implemented? Summary of Benefits and Coverage
All of the ACA changes that have already  The policy should also explicitly lay out
to participants who enroll during the
been enacted, such as the requirement to the consequences of violating the
first open enrollment period that
cover adult children until age 26, will policy. Different degrees of violation
begins on or after Sept. 23, 2012.
remain in effect. Additionally, all future require different punishments.
 Many employers will be required to
changes will be implemented as planned. Don’ts
report the aggregate cost of
Will ACA change in the future? employer-sponsored group health  Your policy shouldn’t be over intrusive.
While it is possible that changes will be coverage on employees’ W-2 Forms. This could be a huge turnoff for
made to ACA, it is currently in effect and This requirement will affect the 2012 employees, and possibly cause legal
employers should continue to prepare for W-2 Forms, which are due in concerns if personal information is
the coming ACA reforms. January 2013. used when making a hiring decision.
For a full health care reform timetable or  Don’t prohibit your employees from
What are the most immediate changes more information on health care reform discussing your organization. As long
and how will they affect me? contact The Centennial Group as they know what topics are
There are several upcoming changes to appropriate, your employees can serve
health care that employers should be as great ambassadors of your brand.
aware of, including:
 Various restricted annual limits are, or
will be, in effect for plan years
Not intended as legal advice.
© 2012 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved