Key Provisions of Health Reform that Take Effect Immediately
Monday, 03 May 2010 12:13
1) Small Business Tax Credits
Offers tax credits to small businesses to make employee coverage more affordable. Tax credits of up to 35 percent of premiums will be available to firms that choose to offer coverage. Effective beginning calendar year 2010. (Beginning in 2014, the small business tax credits will cover 50 percent of premiums.)
2) No Discrimination Against Children with Pre-Existing Conditions
Prohibits new health plans in all markets plus grandfathered group health plans from denying coverage to children with pre‐existing conditions. Effective 6 months after enactment. (Beginning in 2014, this prohibition would apply to all persons.)
On March 22nd AT&T sent out an FMLA Operations Memorandum that effective April 19, 2010, AT&T employees will begin receiving FMLA Notifications (FMLA5’s) via company email.
IF YOU ARE ON FMLA, DISABILTIY, VACATION, ETC. .. WILL YOU HAVE ACCESS TO COMPANY EMAIL?
If you have or prefer a different method of notification YOU HAVE UNTIL:
April 16, 2010
to contact HROneStop to be placed on a “Do Not Switch to email” list.
1-888-722-1787
To change enrollment options for FMLA prior to April 16 via the internet: https://www.e-access.sbc.com/intra att/fmla/email/
Last Updated on Monday, 29 March 2010 14:33
Pension Band Increases - FYI
Friday, 02 October 2009 13:20
While no one yet knows what the GATT Interest Rate will be until it is officially announced (around the first week in December); it appears likely that the GATT rate will go up for the 2010 year. If memory serves me right, this will be the first time the GATT Rate actually increases (if it does).
REMEMBER: An increase in the GATT Interest Rate means less dollars on a cash pension distribution (lump-sum). The GATT rate does not impact the monthly pension annuity at all.
In the event the interest rate goes up; those considering retirement will likely want to know this years pension cash value at today's rate (4.0 %) with no pension band increase or next years cash out with a 2% pension band increase, but a higher GATT Interest Rate.
The Fidelity Pension Plan calculator should be updated to reflect the newly negotiated pension band increases mid to late November 2009, but definitely by December 1, according to ATT. The new GATT rate is normally programmed by mid-December.
Important! Vision-Care Benefit Update
Thursday, 19 February 2009 10:41
Effective January 1, 2009 Legacy SBC changed the vision vendor to a company called Eyemed.
Members who began using their Vision Plus benefits saw a huge difference in the amount they were required to pay for many of the lens benefits (previously provided by VSP at little to no cost.) Some examples of these are: progressive lenses, transition, anti-reflective/ant-scratch etc.
Kim Egan, along with other State Benefit Reps, provided the Company with comparative examples and argued the case for diminished benefits. On February 17, the Union was informed by Labor that current claims would be re-processed and paid consistent with prior VSP rates. Future claims will also be paid consistent with past practice.
If you or a family member are enrolled in the Vision Plus Plan (you pay a monthly deductible out of your check for vision) and think you were charged incorrectly, bring a copy of your itemized bill to Kim Egan at the Hall and she will get it straightened out.
FMLA Under Attack
Wednesday, 26 November 2008 14:21
With just two months left in his disastrous administration, President George W. Bush still hasn't tired of making life harder for American workers.
Eight years ago, as one of his first acts in office, Bush killed the brand-new, ergonomics rule that was created by members of both parties to protect workers' safety and health. Last week, Bush signed new rules making it tougher for workers to take Family and Medical Leave.
"Workers will find that they must give more notice, more information, have more medical examinations and respond to employer requirements in shorter time frames," said Debra Ness, president of the National Partnership, a group advocating FMLA. "Employers, on the other hand, would have more time to respond to employees' request for FMLA leave and more ways to delay or deny FMLA leave."
Ness was one of many worker advocates to testify and offer written testimony to the Labor Department regarding the proposed rule change. In the end, the changes were made almost exactly as the Bush administration originally proposed.
President-elect Barack Obama, who supports expanding FMLA, could reverse the changes. But experts say doing so will require a lengthy regulatory process.
Your Benefit Rep. will pass more details as they come in...
Benefits
