Re: Collin update & ideas needed:)

[Guest guest]

Rhonda,

I am not really sure what she means. I know companies have to abide

by ERISA guidelines, never heard of it in the context of an employee

abiding by them. " ERISA requires plans to provide participants with

plan information including important information about plan features

and funding; provides fiduciary responsibilities for those who manage

and control plan assets; requires plans to establish a grievance and

appeals process for participants to get benefits from their plans;

and gives participants the right to sue for benefits and breaches of

fiduciary duty. " (from http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-

plans/erisa.htm)

More info:

" The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) requires plan

administrators — the people who run plans — to give plan participants

in writing the most important facts they need to know about their

retirement and health benefit plans including plan rules, financial

information, and documents on the operation and management of the

plan. Some of these facts must be provided to participants regularly

and automatically by the plan administrator. Others are available

upon request, free-of-charge or for copying fees. The request should

be made in writing.

One of the most important documents participants are entitled to

receive automatically when becoming a participant of an ERISA-covered

retirement or health benefit plan or a beneficiary receiving benefits

under such a plan, is a summary of the plan, called the summary plan

description or SPD. The plan administrator is legally obligated to

provide to participants, free of charge, the SPD. The summary plan

description is an important document that tells participants what the

plan provides and how it operates. It provides information on when an

employee can begin to participate in the plan, how service and

benefits are calculated, when benefits becomes vested, when and in

what form benefits are paid, and how to file a claim for benefits. If

a plan is changed, participants must be informed, either through a

revised summary plan description, or in a separate document, called a

summary of material modifications, which also must be given to

participants free of charge. "

I never heard of it as being a burden on the employee. For instance,

if a company does not follow ERISA guidelines can be fined. I do not

think it's something for you to worry about.

Anne

Central NJ

> > Hi everyone!

> >

> > Sorry I have been " away " for so long. We have all been busy,

> Collin has

> > been sick, and I've been working a lot (being an accountant at

> month end is

> > NOT fun...). Not too much new to report about Collin other than

my

> battle

> > with insurance and Sony continues. I have attached my letter to

my

> employer

> > (Sony) to fight for some cash from them, but I am not being too

> optimistic

> > about it. I have resorted to money raising projects to help

with

> the cost

> > of Collin's band, in anticipation of a second band as well (that

> also is not

> > covered). I'm not saying he will need it, but I am preparing

> myself for

> > it... We've been trying so hard to get ahead and it is soooo

> frustrating

> > that my insurance covers the band, and Sony doesn't have DME

> coverage!!!

> > I'll stop whining now, but take a look at my letter to Sony and

let

> me know

> > what you think. It's kind of a different approach (appealing to

> Human

> > Resources), but maybe I'll get some response.

> >

> > I've also been working hard on launching my new home business (a

> web-store

> > with fun t-shirts, rompers, mugs, mousepads, etc.) As part of the

> > 'collection' I was thinking of dedicating some items to

> Plagio/cranial

> > banding, both for the parents and the kids. That's where I was

> hoping you

> > guys could give me a few ideas!

> >

> > I am going to design some items (t-shirts/rompers,hats etc.)

> with " Cranial

> > Band Graduate - 2003 " , (2002, etc.) on it. Obviously I cannot

use

> the words

> > DOC or STARBand on the items because they are copyrighted. Other

> sayings I

> > was thinking of:

> >

> > " Helmet laws stink "

> > " I'm a Plagio Parent "

> > " I Love My Plagio Kid "

> > " I Love My Plagio Girl " Boy, etc.

> > " And what are you looking at? "

> > " Yes, I'm making a fashion statement! "

> >

> > I attached a " SAMPLE " shirt that I designed, but obviously I need

> to fix the

> > graphic so it reads, " I love my plagio girl " ... I was up late

last

> night and

> > that's what happened! OOps! So, please, let me know what you

think

> and what

> > you would like to see on some items such as t-shirts

> (adult/child),infant

> > romper, bibs, mugs, mousepads, teddy bears, picture frames,

> baseball caps,

> > bumper stickers and other stickers, etc.

> >

> >

> > Rhonda

> > Mom to Collin - DOC Banded 4/30/03 (at 7 mos.)

> > http://www.geocities.com/imaplagiokid/index.html

> <http://www.geocities.com/imaplagiokid/index.html>

> > < http://www.geocities.com/imaplagiokid/index.html

> <http://www.geocities.com/imaplagiokid/index.html> >

>

>

>

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