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	<title>Ken Mensio, CEBS</title>
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	<link>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog</link>
	<description>Current Topics in Employee Benefits</description>
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		<title>Benefits Barometer</title>
		<link>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/health-insurance/benefits-barometer/#utm_source=feed&#038;utm_medium=feed&#038;utm_campaign=feed</link>
		<comments>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/health-insurance/benefits-barometer/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:21:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ken Mensio</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[401K]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health Care Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health Care Reform]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Surveys: Employee Benefits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[benchmark your benefits costs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[health plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[retirement plans and overall benefits management]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/?p=911</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A barometer measures atmospheric pressure. In the world of employee benefits, the pressures are ever-changing and ever-increasing. Whether dealing with health care reform compliance, meeting fiduciary obligations in your 401(k) plan or launching a wellness initiative, the pressures and demands of your job just keep growing. One pressure that never eases - for benefits pros and CFOs alike - is the demand for data. With that in mind, this year's Benefits Barometer offers you more than a dozen charts designed to help you benchmark your benefits costs, health plans, retirement plans and overall benefits management. Special thanks to the agencies, consulting firms and advocacy groups that contributed to this year's Benefits Barometer: <a href="http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/health-insurance/benefits-barometer/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Women seek women when it comes to business</title>
		<link>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/uncategorized/women-seek-women-when-it-comes-to-business/#utm_source=feed&#038;utm_medium=feed&#038;utm_campaign=feed</link>
		<comments>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/uncategorized/women-seek-women-when-it-comes-to-business/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:49:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ken Mensio</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/?p=906</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[By Lisa Gillespie January 10, 2012 Birds of a feather flock together, and it seems the saying also rings true for small business owners looking for a financial advisor. According to a new study released yesterday by The American College, &#8230; <a href="http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/uncategorized/women-seek-women-when-it-comes-to-business/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/uncategorized/women-seek-women-when-it-comes-to-business/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>9 out of 10 business owners: no gov’t health insurance for us!</title>
		<link>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/health-insurance/9-out-of-10-business-owners-no-gov%e2%80%99t-health-insurance-for-us/#utm_source=feed&#038;utm_medium=feed&#038;utm_campaign=feed</link>
		<comments>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/health-insurance/9-out-of-10-business-owners-no-gov%e2%80%99t-health-insurance-for-us/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:45:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ken Mensio</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health Care Reform]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[independent business owners]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PPACA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sentiment Survey]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Small Business Authority]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/?p=903</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Based on a November poll of more than 1,000 respondents, the Small Business Authority Market Sentiment Survey reveals concerns of independent business owners. Only 9% of respondents believe they will have to purchase health insurance from the government while 53% believe the cost of health care is going to increase in the next two years. <a href="http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/health-insurance/9-out-of-10-business-owners-no-gov%e2%80%99t-health-insurance-for-us/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/health-insurance/9-out-of-10-business-owners-no-gov%e2%80%99t-health-insurance-for-us/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>House Panel Votes to Repeal CLASS Act</title>
		<link>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/health-care-reform-2/house-panel-votes-to-repeal-class-act/#utm_source=feed&#038;utm_medium=feed&#038;utm_campaign=feed</link>
		<comments>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/health-care-reform-2/house-panel-votes-to-repeal-class-act/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 18 Nov 2011 16:20:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ken Mensio</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Reform]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Long-Term Care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CLASS ACT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[long-term care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LTC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PPACA]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/?p=888</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Members of the health subcommittee at the House Energy and Commerce Committee today passed H.R. 1173, a bill that would officially kill a federal voluntary long-term care (LTC) benefits program, by a voice vote.
H.R. 1173, the Fiscal Responsibility and Retirement Security Act bill, would repeal the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) program provisions that were part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (PPACA).
 <a href="http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/health-care-reform-2/house-panel-votes-to-repeal-class-act/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/health-care-reform-2/house-panel-votes-to-repeal-class-act/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
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		<title>Despite confidence, Millennials are the most underinsured</title>
		<link>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/employee-benefits-communication/despite-confidence-millennials-are-the-most-underinsured/#utm_source=feed&#038;utm_medium=feed&#038;utm_campaign=feed</link>
		<comments>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/employee-benefits-communication/despite-confidence-millennials-are-the-most-underinsured/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 15 Nov 2011 14:31:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ken Mensio</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Employee Benefits Communication]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Employee Benefit Communications]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/?p=885</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Benefits &#038; Behavior 2011: Spotlight on Enrollment Trends reveals that only 32% of all employees describe their approach to open enrollment as one where they give a “careful review” to their benefits options and details. Millennials are more likely than their older co-workers to say they carefully enrolled in available benefits options (half vs. 30% of Gen Xers and 31% of baby boomers).
Furthermore, research indicates that although Millennials think they are making the right benefits decisions they may be underinsured. Less than 80% of Millennials are currently enrolled in available benefits as compared to their older colleagues (92%), particularly life (48% vs. 71%) and disability insurance (53% vs. 68 %).
 <a href="http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/employee-benefits-communication/despite-confidence-millennials-are-the-most-underinsured/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/employee-benefits-communication/despite-confidence-millennials-are-the-most-underinsured/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Selling Wellness: New Apps Promote a Healthy, Productive Workplace</title>
		<link>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/wellness/selling-wellness-new-apps-promote-a-healthy-productive-workplace/#utm_source=feed&#038;utm_medium=feed&#038;utm_campaign=feed</link>
		<comments>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/wellness/selling-wellness-new-apps-promote-a-healthy-productive-workplace/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:20:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ken Mensio</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Employee Benefits Communication]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wellness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Employee Benefit Communications]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wellness]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/?p=882</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Customized health-related alerts give employees real-time knowledge to take control of their health and ultimately reduce their own out-of-pocket expenses. One such tool is Just InTime Wellness, available from healthcare solutions provider SCIOinspire. Just InTime Wellness sends personalized, proactive alerts by email, phone or mail to notify users when preventive services are recommended or a “gap-in-care” is identified by analyzing the individual’s healthcare data. Upon logging into their secure benefits management platform, members see alerts displayed prominently on the home page and are encouraged to take action. For instance, an employee who has  <a href="http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/wellness/selling-wellness-new-apps-promote-a-healthy-productive-workplace/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/wellness/selling-wellness-new-apps-promote-a-healthy-productive-workplace/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Employers transition back to matching 401(k) funds</title>
		<link>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/401k/employers-transition-back-to-matching-401k-funds/#utm_source=feed&#038;utm_medium=feed&#038;utm_campaign=feed</link>
		<comments>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/401k/employers-transition-back-to-matching-401k-funds/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 03 Nov 2011 22:26:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ken Mensio</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[401K]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Retirement Plans]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/?p=879</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The good news: Most employers are reinstating 401(k) matches, after suspending or reducing them following the economic collapse in late 2008. The bad news: Not all employers have reinstated yet, and some that have are doing so at a lower percentage, Towers Watson announced yesterday.
According to the analysis, 75% of 260 employers that suspended their 401(k) matching contributions have now restored them. Among those employers, about three in four (74%) reinstated the matching contributions to their previous level, while 23% of employers restored them at a lower rate. Just 3% increased their matching contributions to a higher rate. The most frequent employer match formula before and after the suspension matched 50% of employees' salary deferrals, up to 6% of pay. The median duration for match suspensions was 12 months. 
 <a href="http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/401k/employers-transition-back-to-matching-401k-funds/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/401k/employers-transition-back-to-matching-401k-funds/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>DOL issues final rules on 401(k) investment advice</title>
		<link>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/401k/dol-issues-final-rules-on-401k-investment-advice/#utm_source=feed&#038;utm_medium=feed&#038;utm_campaign=feed</link>
		<comments>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/401k/dol-issues-final-rules-on-401k-investment-advice/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:29:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ken Mensio</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[401K]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Investments]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Retirement Plans]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/?p=876</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[By Lee Barney
October 25, 2011
The Department of Labor on Monday issued final rules on investment advice in 401(k) plans, largely in line with its initial definition of advice.
Defined contribution plans may offer advice from a third-party as long as that entity receives level fees regardless of their recommendations, or through a certified computer model. In both cases, the advice must use generally accepted investment theories based on historical risks and performance of different asset classes over defined periods of time.
 <a href="http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/401k/dol-issues-final-rules-on-401k-investment-advice/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/401k/dol-issues-final-rules-on-401k-investment-advice/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Communication can help company wellness programs succeed</title>
		<link>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/employee-benefits-communication/communication-can-help-company-wellness-programs-succeed/#utm_source=feed&#038;utm_medium=feed&#038;utm_campaign=feed</link>
		<comments>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/employee-benefits-communication/communication-can-help-company-wellness-programs-succeed/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 18 Oct 2011 14:25:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ken Mensio</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Employee Benefits Communication]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/?p=873</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Employers can partner with a benefits carrier that offers face-to-face communication as part of its enrollment services to help spread the word about their wellness benefits. Tools such as benefits statements and salary illustrations can help employees understand the value of the services provided. But a sit-down, face-to-face session with a benefits counselor can help employees develop an even better awareness and appreciation of a company wellness program.
"Don't underestimate the value of personal, individualized benefits communication in today's workplace," says Horn. "The increasing responsibility employees have for making decisions about their benefits makes good communication more important than ever."
 <a href="http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/employee-benefits-communication/communication-can-help-company-wellness-programs-succeed/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Easing stress during open enrollment</title>
		<link>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/employee-benefits-communication/easing-stress-during-open-enrollment/#utm_source=feed&#038;utm_medium=feed&#038;utm_campaign=feed</link>
		<comments>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/employee-benefits-communication/easing-stress-during-open-enrollment/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:20:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ken Mensio</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Employee Benefits Communication]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Employee Benefit Communications]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Open Enrollment]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/?p=864</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Research has shown that the open enrollment period also is a time of added stress for employers seeking to protect their financial health while offering a cost-effective and robust health plan for their employees. Given the static economy, employees are worried about rising insurance premiums and the effect on their livelihood. <a href="http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/employee-benefits-communication/easing-stress-during-open-enrollment/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
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