Employer group health plans should already be complying with:

• Coverage for young adults to age 26 and Deletion of lifetime & annual dollar limits
• Limits on pre-existing condition exclusions, Summary of benefits/coverage provided to participants and W-2 reporting of cost of coverage
In addition, plans that do not have “grandfathered” status under ACA, are subject to:
• Modified claims and appeals rules and no cost preventative care
• Non-discrimination rules for insured plans

What happens in 2014

Effective in 2014, employers that are treated as “applicable large employers” will have to comply with on the Act and offer employees health plan coverage that complies with ACA or be subject to penalties under the IRC, referred to as “assessable payments.”

There are two types of assessable payments under ACA.

Under one type of assessable payment, if an “applicable large employer” offers health coverage to all employees who work 30+ hours a week and their dependents but the coverage does not qualify as “minimum essential coverage” or the employer offers coverage that is not “affordable” and at least one employee enrolls in the state health insurance exchange for which a premium tax credit or cost sharing reduction is allowed, then the employer subject to “assessable payment” of up to $3,000 for each affected employee per year.

Another type of payment applies if the large employer fails to offer minimum essential coverage to 95 percent of its full-time employees and their dependents, regardless of whether it is “affordable” or provides “minimum value” and at least one employee goes to a state health insurance exchange. Under these rules, the employer can be assessed a penalty equal to $2,000 per year, per full-time employee but the first 30 are free.

Who is an “applicable large employer?”

It will be very important for each employer to determine if it is an “applicable large employer.” For this purpose, an employer is an “applicable large employer” if the employer employed an average of at least 50 full-time employees on business days during the preceding calendar year. The controlled group rules of the IRS apply in making this determination.

There is an exception to the definition of “applicable large employer” for employers whose work force exceeded 50 full-time employees only because of “seasonal workers” employed for 120 or fewer days during calendar year.

The determination for a particular calendar year is based on the employer’s average number of employees during the prior year. However, for 2014 there is a special transitional rule that allows an employer to determine if it is an applicable large employer using any period of six consecutive calendar months during calendar year 2013 rather than using the entire year.

What is affordable coverage

For a large employer, it will also be necessary to determine if the coverage is “affordable.” If the coverage is not affordable, and an employee obtains coverage on an exchange, the employer will be liable for an assessable payment.

Coverage is affordable if the employee’s required contribution does not exceed 9.5 percent of the as set forth in box 1 of the W-2. The coverage to which this rule applies is the employee portion of the self-only premium for the employer’s lowest cost coverage that provides minimum value.

Conclusion

Employers who wish to avoid liability under the assessable payment rules should be analyzing their health plans and employee populations to determine if they already comply with the new rules and, if not, what changes they will have to make before January 1, 2014.

Mick Sibbel provides Group Benefit and Insurance Plans via UNICO MIDLANDS which is jointly owned by UNICO Group Inc and Midlands Financial Benefits. These guidelines should not be the only source a business owner uses to make a decision and should not be considered legal or tax advice.

Many people use spring as a prep time for swimsuit season.   Gyms have more people in them, boot camps see more enrollments, and kickboxing and martial arts classes are packed with people getting tuned up for summer.  Now that summer is here, it’s time to enjoy it!  One of the best ways to enjoy summer is to continue training and adding in competitions to the mix.

There are plenty of adventure races, challenge courses, fun runs and more that will be going on this summer.  One of the ideas that many athletes and even weekend warriors are having is to SUPPORT LOCAL!  In other words, there are some of the big national races.   You know the same ones that charge $20+ to park after already charging a huge fee for the entry and a bunch of other expenses throughout the event itself.  I don’t begrudge these organizations the right to run a profitable company….but here’s the catch…..where does all that money go?  It’s not staying in Nebraska.  It’s not supporting local vendors.  It’s not supporting local businesses.

So many around Nebraska are realizing that while it’s good to jump into some of these mega races, it’s even better to support some of the LOCAL challenge races and adventure type courses here in Nebraska.  A quick check on the internet reveals quite a few races going on this year that are in fact local.  And by doing just a little bit of checking, you can find out how to support the local businesses and economies that support YOU!  “Buying local” is always a great idea.

Also, be sure to check out events that offer more than day care for the kids—many of the local events offer activities and mini-races for the kids to have fun and enjoy!  It can be a whole family outing.  You don’t have to be an Olympic athlete to enter most of these races.   You will see everything from the supper fit to the “I’ve been sitting on a couch for 10 years”  competitors.  And that’s what  makes these events fun!   Everyone can be a part of it and push themselves.  At the end of the day YOU are your own biggest competition and as long as you keep pushing yourself to be active and healthy—then you win!

Three keys for getting ready for challenges:
1.    Up your exercise routine prior to the challenge—even if it’s just walking a little more to stretch out those legs!

2.    Drink tons of water!  Hydrating days ahead of the event helps reduce chance of injury or fatigue.

3.    The day of the event, warm up a little before the race and stretch—your body will thank you!

One of the local organizations that will be running several courses this year is WAYMO Challenge.   WAYMO stands for “What Are You Made Of?”   And in addition to supporting the local organization and businesses, a portion of all WAYMO Challenge proceeds go to local veterans charities.  To find out when the next WAYMO Challenge is, simply go to www.WAYMOchallenge.com  and be sure to check out other events going on this summer all over Nebraska!

For more information on health, safety and fitness, contact Jeff Dousharm at Jeff@paradigmimpactgroup.com

June 5 – Peter Bouffard Jazz Quartet (jazz)
June 12 – The Resonators (roots rock and blues)
June 19 – The Upstairs Blues Band (blues)
June 26 – Jackie Allen Trio (vocal jazz)
July 3 – Midwest Dilemma (American folk rock)
July 10 – Josh Hoyer (soul/R&B/blues)
July 17 – Jazzocracy (jazz)
July 24 – Melody Wranglers (classic/retro C&W swing)
July 31 – Grassfire (bluegrass, folk, country)
August 7 – 2 Gals & a Guitar (adult contemporary rock)
August 14 – The Usual Suspects (blues/classic rock)
August 21 – Oasis Bluegrass Band (bluegrass)
August 28 – We Be 3 (jazz)

The series will be held every Wednesday, May 1 through August 28, 2013, from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. at the beautiful Lincoln Community Foundation Garden at 1415 N Street. These free public concerts are a 28-year old tradition and bring hundreds of audience members each week to enjoy their lunch hour in the sunshine.

The Haymarket Farmers’ Market Season Begins!

The Haymarket Farmers’ Market officially blows the whistle to open the 2013 season on Saturday, May 4th. This year promises to be greater than ever. The market is a family-friendly experience that offers local, regional and international flavors for everyone to enjoy. More than 150 vendors setup shop in the Haymarket between 7th, 8th and Q Streets to sell their goods from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., no matter what weather Mother Nature sends their way. The market, which is the largest in Lincoln, offers a huge selection of standard market fare including seasonal produce, baked goods and innovative arts and crafts for patrons to choose from.  Market goers can delight in knowing that the items they purchase are locally grown and harvested and support small farmers, business owners and our local economy.

For more information about the Haymarket Farmers’ Market, and to view a complete listing of weekly entertainment, visit LincolnHaymarket.org/Events/Farmers-Market.

Founded in 1967, the Downtown Lincoln Association provides services and champions initiatives for maintaining and enhancing our vibrant downtown. Our vision is to create an energetic downtown environment where we live, learn, work, invest and play. DLA has evolved into a multi-faceted organization supporting a wide range of programs and activities including maintenance, economic development and advocacy.

For a complete listing of downtown businesses, events and residences visit downtownlincoln.org. ‘Like’ us on Facebook at  facebook.com/downtownlincoln.

During the recent elections, a city council member, Gene Carroll, ran radio ads attacking the Lincoln Independent Business Association. In these ads Carroll resorted to name calling, scare tactics and over-the-top rhetoric.

These ads implied that LIBA advocated closing parks, pools, libraries, fire stations, and cutting Lincoln police officers. I am writing today to provide facts to the community. To keep this letter current and relevant to today’s situation we looked back at the positions LIBA has taken during the past four years that Councilman Carroll has been in office.

• Parks -
LIBA has not proposed closing any Lincoln city park. In 2011 LIBA specifically praised the Mayor and City Council for allocating an additional $352,000 to maintain public parks. LIBA recognized that poorly maintained parks are community eyesores.

• Pools -
Contrary to Carroll’s claim, LIBA has taken no position on public pools. However, Councilman Carroll voted to close Meadow Heights public pool in 2009.

• Police -
LIBA does not want to cut police. In 2012, LIBA testified before the City Council saying that Lincoln should consider increasing the Lincoln police force.

• Libraries -
LIBA has not proposed, or supported closing any Lincoln library. In 2009-10 the community discussed closing libraries and cutting their hours. LIBA suggested that instead of cutting library hours the City review the management structure of city libraries to find efficiencies.

• Fire Stations -
LIBA has not proposed closing fire stations. In 2011 LIBA did support the city’s proposal to close Station 11 in Air Park. Before supporting this proposal, LIBA members researched and deliberated. Members voted to support the proposal based on assurances from Lincoln’s Public Safety Director that Air Park would continue to receive high quality emergency services.

We hope this column clarifies any lingering questions about LIBA and the policies we advocate.

LIBA studies and promotes these types of issues that are important to businesses and our community. If you have an interest in joining LIBA, please call me at 466-3419. LIBA membership is not restricted to just businesses.  We also have “individual” memberships for those who want to help influence our local government decisions.

Each year, the national publication selects the organizations that have established and consistently executed the best practices in the economic development industry, bringing measurable success in the targeted economic development locations they represent. According to the publication, the awards are earned by the overall performance of an economic development organization on behalf of the location they represent.

We were the only recipient in our population category.

Needless to say, we are thrilled to receive such a prestigious award from the nation’s leading site selection organization. Moreover, this award is hardly ours to claim alone. The success of Lincoln as a whole to welcome economic development projects is a major factor in our success. We do a lot here in Lincoln with far fewer resources when compared to other cities our size and other communities we routinely compete with for projects. Again, it’s a tribute to our partner organizations and our volunteer leaders.

It also doesn’t hurt that we get to work in and represent the greatest city in the nation.

This is the second significant program award we’ve received in the past 12 months. The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) recognized us with a Gold Medal for our business retention and expansion program. We also won an award from IEDC for our marketing materials used to promote Lincoln nationally and globally.

Third-party validation goes a long way toward maintaining the trust and confidence of Lincoln’s citizens and business leaders. I appreciate your continued investment in both the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development. Together, there is no limit to what we can accomplish for Lincoln.

I also want to say “Thank you” to all of the men and women who ran in the local elections last month.  Public service is often a thankless job and politics in general have become more cynical.  Not just in the nation’s capital, but here at home as well.  In my view, all those who put their name on the ballot are winners because they said – “I want to make a difference in Lincoln.”

We need all of our citizens engaged and educated about local, state and national issues and casting a ballot.  I have faith in the people of Lincoln and our elected leaders to come together now and make Lincoln a better place to live, work, and play.

The Chamber’s mission is to improve the lives of Lincoln residents by providing increased economic opportunity and can only be accomplished together.  Networking opportunities, business advocacy, and creating economic viability are critical to our success.  We encourage you to become a member and help us achieve these goals for Lincoln.  For more information, please contact Paul 436-2350.

LIBA is adamantly opposed to the Nebraska’s adoption of the Electronics Extended Producer Responsibility and Job Creation Act.  The act has the potential to impose huge costs on Nebraska businesses including many electronics retailers.

The Act imposes costs on what it deems “manufactures” of electronics.   However, its definition of “manufacturer” will include many smaller local businesses who are not your traditional idea of manufacturers. Under the definition of “manufacturer” found in §(3)(11)(e) of this act any person who “imports” more than 1,000 units of electronic equipment for sale in  Nebraska is subject to the requirements of this act.

Under this definition, local retailers such as Schaefer’s electronics would be considered a manufacturer.  Schaefer’s store sells appliances such as refrigerators, stoves, and washing machines as well as electronics covered under this act such as Televisions, DVD and Blu Ray players and audio equipment.    Schaefer’s employs more than 70 people and sells well over 1,000 units a year which it obtains from out of state distributors.

Not only are the subject to this act but they are treated the same as giant manufacturers such as Dell or HP.  The following requirements would be in place if the bill passes:

• Accept a minimum amount of electronics for recycling each year.  Statute sets this amount and if the company does not reach it they must pay a penalty
• Provide a public education program about recycling electronics including a web site, toll free phone number, and public service announcements
• Pay a registration fee to the State of Nebraska of up to $5,000
• Pay a reporting Fee to the state of Nebraska of $2,750 every year
• Keep detailed records  which include
o Sales of electronics by weight
o Quantity by weight of electronics collected
o Electronics received for recycling from Nebraska consumers and from out of state consumers

That is not to mention the actual cost of recycling the product which they would be statutorily prohibited from charging to the consumer.
These high costs will force local retailers to alter the way they do business to cut employees or strictly limit their sales of electronics. These high costs could encourage our local manufacturers to relocate.  It could cause potential manufacturers, retailers, and employers who were considering locating in Nebraska to reconsider.

This is all to deal with a problem that the industry seems to be making great strides toward resolving on its own.  Many local businesses such as Schaefer’s, Schrock Innovations and Level Seven Computers already recycle electronics of any brand brought in by customers.  On the national level large manufacturers have partnered with brick and mortar stores such as Staples and the Goodwill to accept any electronics for recycling.  It is true that there may be situations, such as in western Nebraska, where there is no partner store.  To provide for this eventuality of these manufacturers have mail back recycling programs which allow consumers to mail their used electronics to the manufacturer for recycling at no cost.  In fact Apple will even send consumers an Apple gift card for Apple devices returned.

The Electronics Extended Producer Responsibility and Job Creation Act aspire to high ideals but in the end it worse than falls short.

LIBA studies and promotes these types of issues that are important to businesses and our community. If you have an interest in joining LIBA, please call me at 466-3419. LIBA membership is not restricted to just businesses.  We also have “individual” memberships for those who want to help influence our local government decisions.

by Coby Mach, President & CEO
Lincoln Independent Business Association
402-466-3419

Contribution Tax Benefits
If your employer offers a payroll deduction through a Section 125 Cafeteria Plan, you can make contributions to your HSA on a pre-tax basis. The deduction is removed from your paycheck prior to taxes being applied and deposited into your HSA. Ask your employer if they facilitate pre-tax deductions.

Contributions can also be made post-tax as an “above-the-line” deduction. This means you can reduce your taxable income by the amount you contribute to your HSA.

Tax Deduction for Contributions
Health Savings Account (HSA) contributions made by an eligible individual (or by a family member of the eligible individual) are an “above-the-line” tax deduction in determining the gross income of the eligible individual.

HSA contributions are deductible whether or not the individual is itemizing deductions. You cannot deduct HSA contributions as medical expense deductions. For purposes of recognizing your HSA deposits and distributions on your personal tax return, the IRS requires you to complete Form 8889.

Earnings Tax Benefits
The interest on HSA funds grows on a tax-deferred basis. And, unlike most savings accounts, interest earned on an HSA is not considered taxable income when the funds are used for eligible medical expenses.

When do you Pay Taxes on your HSA?
The only time you may pay taxes or penalties on your HSA funds is if you make a non-eligible purchase, or if you contribute more than the yearly maximum contribution limit. However, both misuses can be corrected free of tax penalties by April 15th of the following calendar year.

HSA Contribution Limits
The maximum you may contribute to a Health Savings Account (HSA) is:

Catch-up Contributions
Individuals age 55 and over can make catch-up contributions.

Contribution Frequency
How often you make HSA contributions is completely up to you. You can make an annual lump sum contribution, you can make regular monthly deposits, or you can make multiple deposits in no particular order. Your bank or HSA administrator will always be pleased to accept your money.

A common mistaken impression is that HSA contributions must coincide with your health insurance premium payments (typically monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly). Not so.

HSA Contribution Deadlines
If you want to claim the HSA contribution tax deduction for a particular year, your HSA contributions must be made on or before that year’s tax filing date. For example, 2012 HSA contributions must be made on or before the April 2013 filing deadline.

HSA Contributions must be Cash
Health Savings Account (HSA) contributions must be in cash. Contributions cannot be made in stock or in other property.

Please note: these guidelines should not be the only source you use to make a decision and should not be considered legal or tax advice as that can only be provided by an attorney, CPA or other professional tax advisor.

If you would like to discuss potential health care insurance coverage and requirements it would be best to secure an appointment with one of the health insurance producers in UNICO Midlands who can provide additional help in the area of health care reform. For more information, give us a call today at 402-434-7200.

by Kipp Kissinger
UNICO Group, Inc. | www.UnicoGroup.com
402-434-7200

The event gives Lincoln great national exposure because runners know our course is world class, the atmosphere is fun, and it serves as a qualifying race for even bigger venues like the New York City and Boston marathons.

It’s also a huge economic driver for the community.  Race organizers estimate 66 percent of the runners are from outside of Lancaster County and 14 percent of those runners come from outside of Nebraska.  Most of the runners who travel from outside of the area come in the night before and patronize our hotels, restaurants, and retail locations.  In many cases they stay for the entire weekend.

For year, race organizers have had plans to expand the race.  Today, the size of the course requires that registrations are capped at 10,000 entries.  The race sells-out in days, if not hours.  Race organizers tell us they would like to grow the race to 15,000 runners or more in the next ten years.  The problem is that parts of the course are simply not big enough to handle that many runners.

That’s why I want to thank the Lancaster County Visitor’s Promotion Committee and the Lancaster County Board of Commissioners for having the vision to invest $300,000 of county lodging tax dollars into growing the marathon.  With the donation, the Helen Boosalis trail can be widened to allow more runners to participate in the race.

The funds would come from lodging taxes paid by people who stay in hotels and motels in Lancaster County.  The Lancaster County Visitor’s Promotion Committee (members are from the hotel, retail, and attraction industry) makes recommendations to the county board on how to spend the money and ultimately, the board of commissioners makes the final decision on where the money goes.

The county board gave initial approval during an informal presentation on the project in February.  We expect them to give formal approval during a board of commissioners meeting this summer.

Clearly it’s an investment that will more than pay for itself over time and a wise move to grow one of the city, county, and state’s signature events.

The Chamber’s mission is to improve the lives of Lincoln residents by providing increased economic opportunity and can only be accomplished together.  Networking opportunities, business advocacy, and creating economic viability are critical to our success.  We encourage you to become a member and help us achieve these goals for Lincoln.  For more information, please contact Paul 436-2350.

by Wendy Birdsall, President
Lincoln Chamber of Commerce
402-436-2350
www.lcoc.com

Summer is no different, and it’s just around the corner….so are you ready for the competition?

Most people know they will be wearing less in the summer and so they have to compete to look their best. Sometimes it’s competing to look better than others, but most importantly it’s a competition with themselves….just to look our personal best. This is a healthy thing when done right. Even Olympic athletes aren’t at their peak 365 days a year. So, if we set goals for ourselves to hit our peak at times of the year such as summer or getting ready for a beach vacation, we can give ourselves the incentive we need to workout more and eat better.

What about kids? Is summer competitive for them? It is becoming more so with every year. Smart parents realize that no matter what age their kids are, they should be preparing. One day they will want to get into college, get scholarships, and get jobs. All of these things are absolute competition. So, smart parents take advantage of the opportunities presented each summer. This is a chance to get additional cross training for sports and just to stay healthy (and not become another statistic on childhood obesity). It’s also an opportunity for kids to engage in activities that provide more personal development. There are great things that kids can take part in that build their focus and other skills that will lead to success in school when they go back at summer’s end. Are you taking advantage of these opportunities for your children? Each summer you do not, someone else does….and that means they will be better prepared for winning the competition.

Kids need to have fun–that’s kind of their job, and they won’t have a second chance at a great childhood. Along with having fun, they can do something worthwhile. That’s where parents can help pick out great opportunities to really have it all. Kids rely on their parents to make the best decisions for them. Some parents are more worried about being their children’s friend than a parent. This turns to disaster because then the parents allow the children to quit anything that doesn’t fit their mood for the day. And allowing them to quit just leads to a habit for the future.

So, look for activities for kids to do on their own, and also don’t forget to make time to do things as a family! More and more today, kids growing up with so much technology and media overload are lacking in socialization and communication skills. Extra family time can help overcome these challenges. This isn’t about being their friend like I mentioned, this is good old fashioned “family time”. So take the video games away and spend time together because like their childhood—we might not get a second chance to spend this time together.

Summer Time is Competition Time! Compete to Win!

For more information on health, safety and fitness, contact Jeff Dousharm at Jeff@paradigmimpactgroup.com

by Jeff Dousharm, President
Tiger Rock
402-570-1166

May 1 – The Lightning Bugs (swing vocals)
May 8 – Honeyboy Turner Band (Chicago blues)
May 15 – Harris Academy of the Arts (string quartet)
May 16 – PANgea and PANgea Prep (steel drum band)
May 22 – Tupelo Springfield (rocking Americana)
May 29 – The Rockerfellers (classic rock with brass)
June 5 – Peter Bouffard Jazz Quartet (jazz)
June 12 – The Resonators (roots rock and blues)
June 19 – The Upstairs Blues Band (blues)
June 26 – Jackie Allen Trio (vocal jazz)
July 3 – Midwest Dilemma (American folk rock)
July 10 – Josh Hoyer (soul/R&B/blues)
July 17 – Jazzocracy (jazz)
July 24 – Melody Wranglers (classic/retro C&W swing)
July 31 – Grassfire (bluegrass, folk, country)
August 7 – 2 Gals & a Guitar (adult contemporary rock)
August 14 – The Usual Suspects (blues/classic rock)
August 21 – Oasis Bluegrass Band (bluegrass)
August 28 – We Be 3 (jazz)

The series will be held every Wednesday, May 1 through August 28, 2013, from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. at the beautiful Lincoln Community Foundation Garden at 1415 N Street. These free public concerts are a 28-year old tradition and bring hundreds of audience members each week to enjoy their lunch hour in the sunshine.

An additional performance by PANgea will be held Thursday, 16 at 11:45 a.m. in celebration of Give to Lincoln Day.

The Haymarket Farmers’ Market Season Begins!

The Haymarket Farmers’ Market officially blows the whistle to open the 2013 season on Saturday, May 4th. This year promises to be greater than ever. The market is a family-friendly experience that offers local, regional and international flavors for everyone to enjoy. More than 150 vendors setup shop in the Haymarket between 7th, 8th and Q Streets to sell their goods from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., no matter what weather mother nature sends their way. The market, which is the largest in Lincoln, offers a huge selection of standard market fare including seasonal produce, baked goods and innovative arts and crafts  for patrons to choose from.  Market goers can delight in knowing that the items they purchase are locally grown and harvested and support small farmers, business owners and our local economy.

For more information about the Haymarket Farmers’ Market, and to view a complete listing of weekly entertainment, visit LincolnHaymarket.org/Events/Farmers-Market.

Founded in 1967, the Downtown Lincoln Association provides services and champions initiatives for maintaining and enhancing our vibrant downtown. Our vision is to create an energetic downtown environment where we live, learn, work, invest and play. DLA has evolved into a multi-faceted organization supporting a wide range of programs and activities including maintenance, economic development and advocacy.

For a complete listing of downtown businesses, events and residences visit downtownlincoln.org. ‘Like’ us on Facebook at facebook.com/downtownlincoln.

by Terry Uland, President
Downtown Lincoln Association
402-434-6900
www.downtownlincoln.org