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ISCEBS 18700 W. Bluemound Rd P.O. Box 209 Brookfield, WI 53008-0209 Phone: (262) 786-8771 Fax: (262) 786-8650 iscebs@iscebs.org |
Welcome to the International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists
| 2009 Symposium
August 9-12 The annual Symposium is rapidly approaching, and the Society is gearing up for another great year of powerful speakers and presentations, networking opportunities and continuing education. Register now for this valuable event! Hotel rooms at the Mandalay Bay are still available at the discounted Society rate, but the room block is filling quickly. This year the Society is offering several special registration rates. Please click here to watch a video with more information about these offers and receive an overview about what to expect at this year’s Symposium from Society President, Scott Boring, CEBS. Please note: Windows Media Player is required to view the video. The health care and retirement landscapes in the US and Canada appear to be heading for major change in 2009. This means that benefit professionals need to be better prepared and ready to respond quicker than ever before. How do you keep up with these constantly changing rules and regulations? A reliable way for many over the years has been by attending the Annual Symposium, the industry’s definitive source of timely, unbiased information. Valuable Takeaways for attendees include:
Click here for additional program information and sessions and speakers information. Sponsorship opportunities are available. What's New?
Highlights & Happenings Impact of the Financial Crisis on Health Care and Retirement Plans-- Two Survey Findings Use Your CEBS to earn a master's degree from Boston University Get Your CE Credits with E-Learning Courses |
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As more and more employees become eligible for COBRA continuing health coverage due to layoffs, a smaller and smaller percentage of them are actually signing up for it, due to its high cost. That is the finding of a survey this spring by ISCEBS and Spencer's Benefits Reports , a leading research service for employee benefits plan administrators at organizations across the U.S . The responses for 2009 were notable in that they continued at least one trend started in 2002. More responses than ever viewed the cost of COBRA as too high from the employee's perspective. This concern hardly registered among employers until 2002 but in the last two surveys ranked 1 and 2. Read the press release for additional details. Full survey results are available to Society members. Health Care Plans: Impact of the Financial Crisis As Employers Cut Health Care Costs, Employees Increase Utilization A recent survey by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans shows the recession is forcing employers to increase cost-sharing approaches. Plan participants are using their benefits—while they still have them. Survey responses indicate that while few plan sponsors are cutting or considering cutting health care benefits altogether, many are ramping up their cost-sharing approaches. Plan sponsors aren't the only ones reacting to the recession. Survey respondents are reporting that plan participants, perhaps fearing an impending layoff, are increasing utilization of their benefits. Even those who are hanging onto their jobs are struggling with health care costs. About one-fifth of survey respondents report plan participants are delaying medical care and skimping on prescription drugs because of financial problems. The upside of today's climate is a heightened focus on wellness programs. Eighteen percent of the respondents have introduced or are considering introducing wellness initiatives due to the economy. Society members can download a free copy of this survey through the ISCEBS/International Foundation Bookstore. Six Months Later: Effects of the Financial Crisis Shake Employers into ActionFollow-Up Survey Shows Employers Altering Retirement Offerings While Employees Struggle To Save The survey found that the financial crisis has prompted 42% of DB plan sponsors to make changes to their strategic asset allocation—more than double the 20% who reported having changed allocations six months earlier. Of the DB plan sponsors who changed asset allocations as a result of the crisis, the most common changes are increasing fixed income assets (37%), reducing U.S. equity allocations (17%) and increasing alternative fund investments (13%). More results are available here. Society members can access a free copy of the survey from the ISCEBS/International Founcation Bookstore.
Group health plan sponsors are facing reduced budgets and downturns in employment, at the same time program costs are continuing to rise. Many plans are also facing increased enrollment of dependents, more former employees and dependents electing COBRA coverage and increased patterns of delaying retirement in the current tough economic times. Now more than ever, plan sponsors need to identify strategies and alternative for better managing the health benefits their plans offer. This session will provide
The 2nd Quarter 2009 issue explores voluntary and worksite benefits, as well as different aspects of retirement plans. Browse the executive summaries or read the full issue in Members Only. Members will receive their copy in the mail later this month. If you are not currently receiving Benefits Quarterly, subscribe now. CD-ROMs with issues of BenefitsQuarterly dating from 1996-2008 are now available. If you requested a copy of this CD on your membership application, the CD will be sent to you. If you would like to get a copy please email the Society and we will be happy to send you one. The April/May 2009 issue examines the role of ERISA in health care reform, as well as a checklist of issues for a globally mobile workforce, along with a preview of the Symposium and recent chapter activities. Members can read it now in members only, or wait for their copy in the mail. |
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Get Your Continuing Education (CE) With E-learning Courses E-learning courses are a great way to get quick, timely updates on the topics you need to know about. In addition to the text-based courses covering various introductory and specialized topics, more than 30 one hour audio/visual e-learning courses are now available in a range of health, pension, compensation and general benefit topics. Most of the courses have been approved in many states for CE credit for insurance producers and other professions. HRCI recertification credit is also available. Visit the e-learning Web site to learn more or send your question to elearning@ifebp.org. ISCEBS members qualify for the member rate! Use this registration form to receive the reduced rates. For more information about course topics, registration and CE credit, click here. Also available: Canadian Training Courses These introductory courses are designed to provide a general introduction/overview, describe the scope and impact, introduce key stakeholders and terminology and provide an overview of basic design principles, programs, and regulatory framework of these business lines. Those looking for a basic understanding or refresher in group benefits or retirement would benefit from these courses. Remember, ISCEBS members and CEBS registrants qualify for the member fee. You must use this registration form to receive the reduced rates. |
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Advanced Degree Opportunity for CEBS Graduates Fellow Listing - These Society members completed the ISCEBS Continuing Education examination, the CMS designation or the Personal Financial Planning courses and achieved Fellow status. See the complete updated listing of Fellows online. CEBS Designation Opportunities
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Society Affiliate Membership Open to CMS, GBA and RPA designation holders. New for 2009, Active CEBS students with at least one CEBS exam passed are welcome to join the Society.