Holiday Greetings from Stan Harris, LRA President/CEO

It's hard to believe we are approaching the end of another year, with the holiday season approaching quickly. This time of year brings many end-of-the-year business deadlines and also provides the time for giving thanks for our families, friends, employees and customers. As a business owner, what's on your holiday to-do list? You may be shopping for competitive workers' compensation, health care options for you and your employees, or just feel like you could be doing more to support positive changes in our industry.

If you are not taking advantage of the LRA Self Insurer's Fund for your workers' compensation needs, you are missing our competitive rates, in-house claims handling, complimentary safety services and potential safety dividends. The LRA SIF is governed by a Board of Trustees, your fellow LRA members, who along with our management team, are focused on efficiency and timely handling of claims.Members of the LRA SIF should be on the lookout for renewal packets and safety dividends for eligible members in the coming weeks. We thank you for allowing us to be your solution provider for your workers' compensation needs.

The Trustees have declared a dividend to be distributed in 2015 of $2.2 million, which is the 27th consecutive year our fund has returned this to its members. Since 1988, the LRA SIF has returned $103.9 million in unused premium and safety dividends to its eligible members. In addition to lowering our rates three times in past four years, your SIF fund continues to grow topline revenue while using best practices for efficiently processing member claims. 

We know that navigating the Affordable Care Act appears daunting and effective January 1, 2015, penalties for some large employers will take effect. The LRA, along with the National Restaurant Association, have partnered with United Healthcare to offer special pricing for association members. If you have questions about the Affordable Care Act, or its implementation, please give us a call.

As you make your resolutions for the New Year, I hope that you would consider staying connected with the LRA and your fellow members. If your schedule doesn't allow you to attend every Chapter meeting in your area, please consider joining us in the first quarter of 2015 for your LRA Chapter's Legislative Night. At the LRA. we are dedicated to protecting and enhancing this industry every day of the year. It's at the holiday time especially that we are grateful for the opportunity to serve our diverse membership across Louisiana. 

Our industry has been barraged with an attack on its reputation. Our message must be strong and consistent when countering these attacks. No industry offers opportunity to those with limited skills or experience like ours. And for those willing to put forth the effort, there are pathways to prosperity and financial opportunities that are immeasurable. The restaurant and foodservice industry is a job creator and it is critical that we remind customers, our elected officials and our team members of its value to the state and national economy. Don't be afraid to share why you chose this industry or career path. We should be proud of the entrepreneurial spirit that drives our industry's growth and success.

It is our privilege to serve you as a member of the Louisiana Restaurant Association. We hope that you have a wonderful holiday season. 

LRA Health Care Session video now live

If you missed the Louisiana Restaurant Association’s (LRA) June 17-19 five-city tour, “The 411 on Health Care Reform for the Hospitality Industry,” you can watch the session from the comfort and convenience of your home or office.  Featuring National Restaurant Association VP of Health & Insurance Services Randy Spicer, you’ll learn what the Affordable Care Act means, what the law does, what you should do and when you need to do it.

During the sessions, there were some common misconceptions revealed through the questions asked by LRA members, such as common ownership and employer notification responsibility, among others. Read about the misconceptions here.

Now is the perfect time to learn more about the Affordable Care Act and what you need to do.

The LRA has partnered with UnitedHealthcare to introduce the Restaurant Health Care Alliance in Louisiana. The Alliance will offer a suite of health benefit products that will help nearly 200,000 Louisiana restaurant and hospitality employees gain easier access to cost-effective health care coverage and related products and services.

The LRA will be taking appointments at the Louisiana Foodservice and Hospitality EXPO, August 3-5, during which time, members can meet and discuss their specific situations with Kimberlee Vandervoorn, Sr. Director of Strategic Growth Initiatives with UnitedHealthcare.

If you would like to schedule an appointment, please contact the LRA at (504) 454-2277 or email healthcare@lra.org today.

 

Presenting sponsor for the LRA's five-city Health Care tour was BancorpSouth Insurance Services/Wright & Percy Insurance and also UnitedHealthcare.

LRA Health Care Road Show reveals common misconceptions with the Affordable Care Act

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is upon us and now is the best time to begin to prepare for the changes ahead. The LRA traveled to five Louisiana cities in two and half days in June to break down the Affordable Care Act, what it means, what it does, what to do and when to do it.  

During the Health Care Road Show, the Louisiana Restaurant Association (LRA) and UnitedHealthcare introduced the Restaurant Health Care Alliance in Louisiana, which offers a suite of health benefit products that will help nearly 200,000 Louisiana restaurant and hospitality employees gain easier access to cost-effective health care coverage and related products and Services. 

 

National Restaurant Association VP of Health and Insurance Services Randy Spicer, UnitedHealthcare Strategic Initiatives Sr. Director Kimberlee Vandervoorn and LRA VP of Communications Wendy Waren found that there were several important areas of the ACA that members needed a little more assistance with in terms of understanding the spirit of the law.

 

Here are the top 6 misconceptions with the ACA. 

I don’t have 50 Full Time Employees so ACA doesn’t apply to me.

False. Every employer and every individual has a responsible under the Affordable Care Act. Whether or not you meet the large employer threshold (50 Full Time Equivalent [FTE] employees), you have a responsibility to notify your employees of the Louisiana state exchange, also known as the Health Insurance Marketplace. By October, these exchanges will be operational and your employees will be looking to you for information and at the very least you will need to notify, in writing (and get a signature for your legal protection), where employees can access health insurance coverage information. 

The NRA and the LRA have developed an online solution to help restaurateurs comply. Get Ready today: Register for the online solution and learn more about how to meet the October 1, 2013 deadline notification at healthcareadvice.com  

I own several small businesses.  I don’t have to combine all the employees together to determine whether I am a large employer, do I?

Yes, you may need to combine employees for businesses under “common control.” Consult with your tax adviser or attorney about your particular circumstances, but you may need to consider your employees as one group for the purposes of the requirements of the health care law, regardless of whether you own a transportation company, a restaurant, a hotel, a timber business and a bar.  

I have ownership in several businesses with partners and/or family members. How does common ownership factor into the ACA?

The IRS will apply its longstanding common control standard of who is the employer—found at Internal Revenue Code 414(b), (c), (m) and (o)—in these situations. Under this standard, companies that have common ownership or are otherwise related sometimes must be considered as one employer. In the past, common control has been considered by the IRS as the same five or fewer people owning/controlling at least 80 percent of the companies.

My company offers a health care plan for managers. Will that still be allowed under the ACA?

The health care law applies non-discrimination rules to insured group health plans. However, regulations have not been issued to explain how this would work. Any employer that offers management only or tiered health benefit plans should especially be on the lookout for the new non-discrimination rules, which could be issued in 2013.

It is unclear how these types of plans may be affected by the law, but until the regulations are issued, some professionals suggest offering a 60 percent actuarial value plan and the higher valued plan, but offer both plans to all employees. By doing so,  you are allowing your line level employees the ability to buy up to the higher plan that they otherwise didn’t have access to, thus offsetting some possible negatives until more is known. 

Is there a website that tells you all the loop holes?

No, there are no loop holes.  This the law so please visit www.healthcare.restaurant.org for the NRA’s Health Care Primer and get started today learning what you need to do to comply with the law.

LRA hosts the 411 on Health Care Reform Series across Louisiana

Health care and the Affordable Care Act are the most important challenges facing the restaurant and hospitality industries right now. Louisiana Restaurant Association members are searching for answers and information as the requirements of the Affordable Care Act are still being determined.

Some changes are already underway, including a mandate due to take effect in early fall requiring employers to give employees notice about new government "Health Insurance Marketplaces," that are supposed to begin signing people up for 2014 health coverage starting this October.

The LRA will be heading to five Chapter areas with a panel of experts to share insight and information necessary in helping members understand what these changes will mean for their restaurant and business operations. The Presenting Sponsor of the sessions is BancorpSouth Insurance Services/Percy & Wright Insurance. UnitedHealthcare is also a sponsor of the sessions.

Monroe & NE Region
Monday, June 17, 9.-10:30 a.m.
Monroe Civic Center, Bayou Room
Co-hosted by: Monroe-West Monroe-CVB, Monroe Chamber of Commerce and Ruston Lincoln CVB.

Shreveport & Bossier City
Monday, June 17, 3-4:30 p.m.
Eldorado Casino Resort, Ballroom
Co-hosted by: Shreveport Bossier Tourist Commission, Bossier Chamber of Commerce and Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce.

Lafayette & Lake Charles area
Tuesday, June 18, 9-10:30 a.m.
City Club at River Ranch, Ballroom
Co-hosted by: Lake Charles-SW La CVB, Lafayette CVB and Jeff Davis Tourist Commission.

Baton Rouge
Tues., June 18, 2-3:30 p.m.
Hilton Capitol Center, Riverview B
Co-hosted by: Visit Baton Rouge

New Orleans, Northshore & Bayou
Wed., June 19, 10-11:30 a.m.
Crowne Plaza, Kenner, Salons 4-6
Co-hosted by: New Orleans CVB, Jefferson CVB and Greater New Orleans Hotel & Lodging Association.

Randy Spicer
VP of Health & Insurance
Services, NRA

The panelists for the sessions are: National Restaurant Association VP of Health and Insurance Services Randy Spicer, UnitedHealthcare's Senior Director of Strategic Growth Initiatives Kimberlee Vandervoorn and BancorpSouth Insurances Services/Percy & Wright Insurance VP Scott McKnight.

Kimberlee Vandervoorn
Sr. Dir. of Strategic Growth
Initiatives, UHC

Spicer is an insurance veteran and he brings an extensive background in health care and financial management, product development, underwriting and service integrations strategies within the insurance, Medicare and health care industries. He'll lead the sessions informing attendees about what the Affordable Care Act means, what it does, what you need to do and when you need to do it.

Scott McKnight, VP,
BancorpSouth Insurance
Services/Percy & Wright.

Vandervoorn leads UHC's partnership with the National Restaurant Association and the LRA and multiple other state restaurant and lodging associations. She works with the LRA to make health and wellness more affordable to Louisiana's hospitality industry and craft solutions to help business owners comply with the Affordable Care Act.

Finally, McKnight will provide answers to specific questions from attendees and be on hand following the session to speak directly with attendees on their needs regarding health coverage.

To RSVP, please contact Denise Schmidt at (504) 454-2277 or email healthcare@lra.org.