The Handbook of Employee Benefits

In-Depth Analysis on Virtually Every Aspect of Employee Benefit Programs--From Designing and Evaluating Effective Plans to Controlling Ongoing Plan Costs

For nearly two decades, through four previous editions, benefits professionals--and "anyone looking for a comprehensive overview of the subject--have depended on Jerry Rosenbloom's encyclopedic "The Handbook of Employee Benefits for updated, authoritative answers to questions concerning objectives, costs, and implementation of employee benefit plans. Now, the classic reference for understanding and designing benefit plans to serve both companies and their employees has once again been updated for today's transformed, new-economy workplace.

Turn to this invaluable handbook for current, easy-to-access information on: The Environment of Employee Benefit Plans Medical and Other Health Benefits Life Insurance Work/Life Benefits Social Insurance Programs Retirement Planning Employee Benefit Plan Administration, Financial Management, and Special Issues

Benefits are a costly and controversial--but nevertheless an integral--component of any employee's compensation package, and a properly designed and administered plan is both important for your employees' well-being and essential for your company's bottom- line success. "The Handbook of Employee Benefits remains today's most comprehensive book on employee benefits--and the required reference for benefits professionals everywhere, regardless of industry.

Employee benefits have gone beyond simple health insurance to become a major part of virtually every working individual's financial and economicsecurity. Today's most sought-after employees expect and generally receive benefits packages that can constitute about 40 percent of their total compensation--and individuals responsible for designing and administering these packages must know how to design effective benefit plans, administer and communicate them using the latest technology, and continually improve these plans to further their firms' strategic resources objectives.

"The Handbook of Employee Benefits, Fifth Edition, assembles over 70 top benefits experts to explain every nuance of today's rapidly changing benefits picture. Whether clarifying latest revisions to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) or discussing new benefits technology applications and employee self-service through the Internet, this updated reference is essential for understanding and designing benefits plans in today's competitive global economy.

New material in this updated edition includes: In-depth coverage of The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 and the Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998 Expanded coverage of the evolving Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Small Business Job Protection Act (SBJPA) requirements Information on innovative benefits technology applications and employee self-service through the Internet

What will a company's administrative responsibilities be under the final HIPAA rules on privacy? How will the growing trend toward alternative medicines and behavioral healthcare impact traditional benefit plans? How can a stock option plan be designed to benefit the greatest number of employees while maintaining financial integrity?

The cost--andcomplexity--of the typical employee benefits plan continues to spiral upward. When questions arise concerning employee benefits--questions that must be answered on the spot--keep "The Handbook of Employee Benefits, Fifth Edition, on your professional bookshelf for accepted, authoritative information.