Self-Insurance Institute of America takes aim at Michigan law that would establish a new Medicare tax

The Self-Insurance Institute of America (SIIA) is challenging a new law in Michigan that would impose a 1% tax on paid health insurance claims beginning January, 2012. According to the law, the money collected from the tax will go to the state’s Medicaid program. The program would use part of the money to help cover the cost of claims and administrative fees stemming from participating insurance companies. The tax would generate $400 million in annual revenue for the state, but the Self-Insurance Institute claims that it violates federal law. According…

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Pregnancy disability insurance in California has been extended

New legislation in California will mean that employers will be required to extend their pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical condition, disability insurance coverage for workers for up to up to 16 weeks. Senate Bill 299 was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown and will become effective on January 1, 2012. It will require employers to provide continuous health insurance coverage for up to 16 weeks for workers that are disabled due to pregnancy on the same grounds as they would before a they had taken any leave of disability.…

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