Supplemental Plans Research Articles

Long-Term Disability Protection for Executives

Employer-provided group long-term disability insurance typically falls short in covering higher paid executives for several reasons. First, although group plans cover a percentage of salary, they often exclude bonus and other nonsalary compensation. Second, group plans impose maximum benefit limits. Sadly, employers and employees often fail to realize how devastatingly inadequate executive coverage is until disability strikes. Employers can help executives close this gap by sponsoring an optional supplemental long-term disability insurance plan. Under these plans, executives pay for individual supplemental policies that cover nonsalary compensation and have higher dollar limits. The individual policies are noncancelable, include premium discounts unavailable outside of the plan and are portable. Sponsoring a supplemental plan is an increasingly popular way for employers to provide a crucial executive benefit at little or no cost to companies and with little continuing effort required by HR departments.

Insurance Coverage of Prescription Drugs and the Rural Elderly

Rural impacts of a Medicare drug benefit will ultimately depend on the number of elderly who are currently without drug coverage, new demand by those currently without coverage, the nature of the new benefit relative to current benefits, and benefit design. To enhance understanding of drug coverage among rural elderly Medicare beneficiaries and their expenditures for pharmaceuticals. Estimates of the extent of coverage, expenditures, and sources of drugs were obtained using data are from the 1997 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey and the Pharmacy Verification and Household Components of the 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Three-quarters of the urban elderly had some type of drug coverage in 1997 versus 59% of the elderly in rural areas. Urban residents were more likely to have obtained their drug coverage from an employer-sponsored supplemental plan, and rural residents were more likely to have self-purchased Medigap drug coverage. Expenditures and use of drugs by Medicare beneficiaries are greater for those with than without coverage, and differences are invariant with respect to geographic location. Coverage under self-purchased supplemental plans appears less generous than under employer-sponsored plans in both rural and urban areas. Rural and urban elderly are more than twice as likely to receive at least 1 prescribed medication through the mail than the general population. A well-designed Medicare drug benefit would be especially beneficial to the rural elderly because relatively more rural elderly currently lack coverage or have less generous coverage than urban beneficiaries. Mail-order distribution may help contain future program expenditures.

Legal Update: Social Security Disability Insurance

Abstract The US Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) system does not use the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, but examinees who are evaluated for permanent impairment frequently also are receiving SSDI benefits. The latter are restricted to workers who have long-term impairments that are so severe they preclude any type of gainful compensable activity, and the impairment must be medically determinable and expected to last at least a year or result in death. Both SSDI and the Supplemental Security Income plan (primarily for workers who have insufficient past work contributions) require the examining physician to provide specific medical information such as the medical history, physical examination, laboratory findings, and impairment, often using standardized forms. Examiners should know that the observations of the treating physician have legal significance, especially in areas of controversy. Social Security may approve additional diagnostic testing in order to conclusively establish the extent and severity of an illness. Based on the patient's history and observations during the examination, physicians also are asked to report any impairments in daily functioning, but examiners are advised not to address work-relatedness and are discouraged from discussing ability to work, which is determined by the state disability agency. Infrequent follow-up reports may be requested because most accepted claims are reviewed on a periodic (yearly) basis.

Wisconsin Blues conversion model.

Wisconsin Blues conversion model.

How to pay the bank CEO

Explores a US bank CEO’s ideal compensation package as a way of attracting and retaining talented individuals. States that there must be a competitive base salary but that total compensation should include car, housing, retirement and health benefits., and stock options. Notes that the federal tax package has placed a limit on eligible compensation and mentions supplemental executive retirement plans (SERPS) as a way of compensating for this. Links pay with bank performance; the CEO’s cash bonuses are tied to the bank’s performance to ensure that the CEO acts in the best interests of the bank and its shareholders. Observes fluctuations in total compensation packages due to tenure, returns on average assets, bank revenues and net incomes or profits of the bank.

A Fifth Jurisdiction without Montreal Additional Protocol No. 3, and Full Compensation without the Supplemental Compensation Plan

A Fifth Jurisdiction without Montreal Additional Protocol No. 3, and Full Compensation without the Supplemental Compensation Plan

The Medicare Reform Debate: What Is the Next Step?

Medicare costs are rising faster than projected revenues. Action to close the emerging deficit is inescapable. We propose converting Medicare from a "service reimbursement" system to a "premium support" system. These changes would resemble many that are now reshaping private employer-based insurance. Our reform would encompass not just the "public" Medicare program but also the "real" Medicare, which includes the supplemental plans to which most Medicare beneficiaries have access. Approved plans would have to offer stipulated services. We review numerous technical issues in moving to a new system that cannot be solved quickly and that preclude quick budget savings.

Medicare Supplement Plan Can Close “Gap” Between Medicare Benefits and Actual Expenses

Anthropology NewsVolume 32, Issue 5 p. 44-44 Token Access Medicare Supplement Plan Can Close “Gap” Between Medicare Benefits and Actual Expenses First published: May 1991 https://doi.org/10.1111/an.1991.32.5.44.2AboutPDF ToolsExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume32, Issue5May 1991Pages 44-44 RelatedInformation

Compensating the executive: Supplemental executive retirement plans

Compensating the executive: Supplemental executive retirement plans

Impact Monitoring and Mitigation: The Case of Ontario Hydro's Atikokan Generating Station

Before construction began on the Ontario Hydro generating station at Atikokan in Northwestern Ontario, a Community Impact Agreement between the Township and Ontario Hydro was signed. This agreement provides for: a) the prediction and monitoring of the effects of the construction program; b) the arbitration of disputes over the source and responsibility for undesirable community changes occurring; and, c) the advancing of services and provision of compensation for effects for which Ontario Hydro is responsible. An impact prediction, monitoring and mitigation program was required as part of the impact agreement to plan for and manage the social changes expected during construction. To date, this program has provided funds to assist crisis housing facilities, monitor alcohol and drug abuse, supplement library facilities and plan for changes in housing demand and municipal finance. In effect, this monitoring program facilitates preventive planning for communities hosting resource development projects.

WASHINGTON NEWS

<h3>Medicare Responses Lag.—</h3> The Social Security Administration is considering a new publicity campaign in an attempt to sign up more persons 65 years of age or older for the medical benefit part of the medicare law. The supplemental plan, under which the elderly would pay $3 a month matched by the government for insurance for physician's and surgeon's fees, has a March 31 deadline for enlistment. Otherwise, eligible persons will have to wait for another two years before qualifying for the supplemental plan. Some 7.5 million persons have elected the supplementary plan in replying to enrollment cards mailed to 14.5 million social security beneficiaries in September and October. Of those replying, some 90% have chosen the supplemental plan. However, the government is concerned that many of those not replying did not understand the benefits of the supplemental plan, mistakenly discarded the letter, or were not aware of the need for

WASHINGTON NEWS

<h3>Medicare.—</h3> House-Senate conferees met to iron out differences in the medicare measures approved by both Houses. The Senate passed a $7.5 billion medicare and social security liberalization bill. First year cost of the House measure was $6 billion. Both bills contained a social security financed program of hospital benefits for the elderly, and a supplemental, voluntary plan of medical insurance subsidized by the federal government. House and Senate conferees will decide whether medical specialists—pathologists, radiologists, anesthesiologists, and physiatrists—will be included in the medicare hospital plan or under the supplemental plan. The House bill placed these specialists in the optional medical insurance program. The Senate moved them into the basic program despite warnings from the specialists' organizations and the American Medical Association that this could lead to hospital domination of these physicians. Another difference is the Senate's decision to include chiropractors' services as benefits. The conferees are ranking members of the

Forage Preference and Grazing Habits of Cattle at the Eastern Colorado Range Station

The purpose of this study was to determine what native forage species and parts of these species were selected and consumed by cattle grazing upon sandhill ranges. In addition, grazing habits of the animals were studied. It is an established fact that the chemical composition of range forage undergoes seasonal changes which may affect the nutrition of grazing animals (Hart, 1932; Stanley, 1938a and 1938b). Cook and Harris (1950) pointed out that preference for certain forage species was an important factor affecting the nutritive value of ingested forage. The need has been stressed for determination of botanical and nutritive composition of a grazing animal’s diet so that grazing and range supplementation plans can be made (Cook and Harris, 1950; Harris et al., 1952). The many studies initiated by researchers to determine the botanical and nutritive content of the diet of grazing animals follow three general lines of methodology similar to those recognized by Lucas (1950) : (1) nutritional methods, (2) observational methods, and (3) sampling before and after grazing. The work reported herein was ac-

Supplemental Unemployment Benefit Plans, Their Economic and Industrial Relations Implications

Supplemental Unemployment Benefit Plans, Their Economic and Industrial Relations Implications

Supplemental Unemployment Benefit Plans: Their Economic and Industrial Relations Implications.

Supplemental Unemployment Benefit Plans: Their Economic and Industrial Relations Implications.

Book Note and Review: Social Insurance and Employee Welfare: Note: Supplemental Unemployment Benefit Plans: Their Economic and Industrial Relations Implications

Book Note and Review: Social Insurance and Employee Welfare: Note: Supplemental Unemployment Benefit Plans: Their Economic and Industrial Relations Implications

Analysis of a Cumulative Results Sampling Plan for Use with Sampling Tables using Zero Acceptance Numbers

The Western Electric Company has proposed a Cumulative Results Sampling Plan to supplement plans using zero acceptance numbers. The proposed plan makes use of the cumulative results of a number of previous inspection lots to determine the disposition of a subsequent lot when a sampling plan with zero acceptance number is used and only one (1) defect is found in the sample. The proposed plan has the effect of decreasing the producer's risk in the area of relatively good quality while increasing the consumer's risk only slightly at Pa (.50) over that obtained by the MIL-STD plan with zero acceptance number. At Pa (.1) the CC curve for the plan practically coincides with the corresponding MIL-STD plan with zero acceptance number. The use of the proposed plan should overcome much of the reluctance of suppliers to the application of statistical sampling to product that is submitted in small lots and may, in some instances, permit the use of sampling when 100% inspection was heretofore necessary. It is recommended that consideration be given to the general use of Cumulative Results Sampling Plans where the continued use of sampling plans with zero acceptance numbers becomes necessary.