News/Events
December 28, 2009
COBRA Subsidy Extension and Expansion
Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), the federal government pays 65 percent of COBRA premiums for up to 9 months for Assistance Eligible Individuals (AEIs) who were involuntarily terminated between September 1, 2008, and December 31, 2009. An extension was signed into law by President Obama on Saturday, December 19, 2009 as part of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2010 (H.R.3326).
As a result:
AEIs can now receive the COBRA subsidy for 15 months instead of the 9 months under ARRA. This will be cumulative, meaning that any months which have already been subsidized will be part of and count toward the 15 months.
Eligibility of the subsidy will end on February 28, 2010 instead of December 31, 2009. This means that any COBRA-eligible individual that has been involuntarily terminated from their job before February 28, 2010 shall have the right to the subsidy.
This legislation also allows those Assistance Eligible Individuals who exhausted their full 9-month COBRA subsidy period prior to the date of enactment (i.e. December 19, 2009), and who failed to make a timely premium payment during the transition period, to reinstate coverage upon payment of all applicable premiums within 60 days of the date of the enactment or, if later, 30 days after notice is provided.
Employer Responsibility
Employers will be required to provide notice describing the extension to anyone who was an AEI on or after October 31, 2009 and all individuals who have experienced a COBRA qualifying event of termination of employment (voluntary or involuntary) on or after October 31, 2009.
Please contact Meridian Group of New York with any questions at (315) 368-4040 or visit the following sites for more information:
COBRA Continuation Coverage Assistance Under ARRA
or
COBRA Premium Reduction Extension Provision
November 08, 2009
Billions in Medicare fraud raises questions about public plan
(Click link to read announcement)
October 15, 2009
Meridian announces partnership with American Institute for Preventive Medicine (AIPM)
Meridian Group of New York, Inc. is pleased to announce a partnership with the American Institute for Preventive Medicine (AIPM), one of the nation’s leading providers of health education programs. The Institute was one of the first five companies to be URAC accredited for comprehensive wellness. AIPM has been helping companies educate their employees to live healthier, make wiser medical decisions, and reduce overall healthcare expenditures for 27 years. Due to our agreement with AIPM, we are happy to extend a 10% discount to our clients on all AIPM products and services.
AIPM specializes in offering comprehensive wellness programs, self-care guides, wellness newsletters, brochures, calendars, tobacco cessation, weight loss/nutrition, and stress management programs.
Feel free to visit AIPM’s website at www.healthylife.com to see their complete suite of products. You may download their Wellness Catalog at http://www.healthylife.com/info.asp?request=catalog, and please mention Meridian in the “how did you hear about us” box.
If you would like to place an order utilizing your 10% discount please contact Brett Powell at 800.345.2476 ext. 231 and mention that you are a Meridian client.
For more information please contact Meridian Group of New York, Inc., toll free at 877-368-0404.
October 12, 2009
Meridian featured in Central New York Business Journal in article on benefit enrollment trends
(Click link to read announcement)
October 5, 2009
Meridian's "7 Simple Ways to Cure America's Health-Care Ills" featured in the Mohawk Valley Business Journal
(Click link to read announcement)
September 9, 2009
Meridian Group contributes to opinion page in Albany's Times Union: Fix Health Care? Cut Taxes.
(Click link to read announcement)
May 18, 2009
Meridian featured in Mohawk Valley Business Journal article on promoting wellness programs
(Click link to read announcement)
February 26, 2009
Information on the new COBRA Provisions
(Click link to read announcement)
February 06, 2009
Ross Kraft and Andrew Biernat assume industry leadership roles for the New York State Association of Health Underwriters
(Click link to read announcement)
June 16, 2008
Comptroller wants new trust for future health-care costs
(Click link to read announcement)
April 10, 2008
Greater Central New York Association of Health Underwriters (GCNYAHU) Welcomes Assemblyman Joseph Morelle
(Click link to read announcement)
April 10, 2008
Andy and Ross present Dr. Mark Hillman with a certificate of appreciation
(Click link to read announcement)
February 19, 2008
Local company goes to Capitol Hill for client advocacy on health insurance
(Click link to read announcement)
November 19 , 2007
Meridian Group of New York, Inc. Receives State Association Award
(Click link to read announcement)
September 10, 2007
Auto-enroll retirement
plans grow in popularity - Mohawk Valley Business Journal
(Click link to read announcement)
August 6, 2007
Andrew Biernat
announced as president of the Greater Central New York
Association of Health Underwriters
(Click link to read announcement)
June 6, 2007
"The fast Track 50 award is given by The Mohawk Valley Business Journal to recognize 50 of the fastest-growing companies in Central New York. Meridian Group of New York, Inc. is honored to have been recognized and plans to continue providing the most comprehensive employee benefits, financial planning and investment services to ensure further growth for their company, their clients and their community".
October 13, 2006
Meridian Group of
New York Announces Key Strategic
Partnership with
NCACOMP
(Click link to read announcement)
October 10, 2006
CEO of NAHU Speaks to Local Chapter
(Click link to read announcement)
May 10, 2006
Voluntary
benefits are the best way to offer employees the additional
benefits they want, without incurring even more costs for the
company.
(Click link to read announcement)
April 4, 2006
Ross Kraft (left) and Andrew F. Biernat (right) with Tina
Mufford, Legislative Director for Congressman Thomas M. Reynolds (Click link to read announcement)
December 4, 2005
Superintendent of the New York State Insurance Department
Attends Inaugural Health Underwriters Meeting (Click link to view .pdf)
September 29, 2005
Kraft
and Biernat help form Greater Central New York Association of
Health Underwriters Chapter. (Click link to view .pdf)
Navigate Newsletter Volume 2
