Ask a CPA

Staffing is a common problem for businesses and your local CPA is in a excellent position to offer Human Resource consulting. In addition to your local CPA, you may contact The American Staffing Association at 703-253-2020, asa@staffingtoday.net or The Society for Human Resource Management at 703 548-3440, shrm@shrm.org.

Employers with 20 or more employees must offer the same benefits, including health benefits under the same conditions, to current or active employees age 65 and over as they offer to younger employees. If they offer coverage to spouses, they must offer the same coverage to spouses age 65 and over that they offer to spouses under 65. If your employer's or employer group's health coverage does not follow this rule, call your regional office of the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA)

COBRA is the abbreviation for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985.
It is a law that requires employers with 20 or more employees to allow employees and their dependents to keep their group health coverage for a time after they leave that job under certain conditions.
It is called "continuation" coverage. Generally, COBRA allows the ex-worker and their dependents to keep their existing group coverage for 18 months (29 or 36 months in some cases) after termination from the job. Generally, the ex-worker will have to pay both the ex-employee's share and the previously paid employer's share of the premium.
Some state's require employers with less than 20 employees to keep their group health coverage.
Speak to your local CPA or your State's Insurance Department for additional information on your COBRA rights.

Medicare is a national health insurance program for people ages 65+, or younger individuals with certain disabilities. Like most other insurance programs, Original Medicare does not pay for all health care costs. You must pay for deductibles, premiums, coinsurance or copayments. Original Medicare - which includes Parts A and B - does not pay for long term care, extended stays in nursing homes or coverage when outside of the country. Coverage gaps like these are why some people choose to buy additional coverage. You have choices with how you receive Medicare. The first of which is whether to go with Original Medicare or with a Medicare Advantage plan. Once you determine how to receive your primary coverage, you should consider options for prescription drug coverage. Many Medicare Advantage plans include prescription drug coverage - you can also enroll in a Medicare Part D plan as an alternative. The options you choose affect the cost and level of your coverage. Go to http://www.socialsecurity.gov/ssi for more information.

Depending on where you live, you may have three choices:
The original Medicare plan which is available everywhere in the US; A Medicare managed care plan (similar to a HMO)available in many areas of the country; and A Private Fee-for Service plan offered by a private insurance company.
This third option allows the insurance company, rather than the Medicare program, to decide how much you pay for the services you receive.

PACE is the abbreviation for Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. It is a program that combines both inpatient and outpatient medical and long-term care services.
To be eligible, you must be at least 55 years old, live in the service area of the PACE program, and be certified as eligible for nursing home care by the appropriate state agency.
PACE sites get payments directly from Medicare and Medicaid for services that all eligible enrollees get. PACE sites are only in certain communities.
To find a PACE site, call your local CPA or your state, county, or local medical assistance office.
Do not call a Federal office. Pace locations are also listed under the nursing home section of www.medicare.gov.

Hospital indemnity insurance pays a fixed cash amount for each day you are in a hospital, up to a certain number of days. Some policies may have added benefits such as surgical benefits. Some policies have a maximum payment amount or a limitation with a maximum number of days allowed.

Generally not. Medicare only covers medically necessary care under Hospital Insurance Part A, and medical insurance under Part B. Long-term care is custodial care given at home or in a nursing home for people with chronic disabilities or lengthy illnesses. Private insurance companies sell long-term care insurance policies. For more information on long-term care insurance, speak to your local CPA or get a copy of "A Shopper's Guide to Long-Term Care Insurance" from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners at 120 W. 12th Street, Suite 1100, Kansas City, MO 64105-1925

Visit http://www.medicare.gov/Nursing/Overview.asp to get current information from the US Government .

When hiring, it is illegal to discriminate based on age, race, color, sex, disability, or national origin. If you feel you have been discriminated against, contact the US Department of Labor Office at 1 866-487-2365.