Cowden Associates, Consultants and Actuaries

Healthcare Reform Legislative Update as of June 24, 2009

Activity in the US Senate and House of Representatives regarding National Health Care Reform is developing fast. Proposals have been introduced by the SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE, the SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, EDUCATION, LABOR, & PENSIONS (HELP) and the HOUSE TRI-COMMITTEE (House Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce and Education and Labor Committees).

Cowden Associates is committed to providing you with current summaries regarding the proposals. We have formatted our summary by major policy provisions that we expect will impact employers. Source web sites are listed at the end of this summary. This summary includes information that is current as of June 24, 2009.

Click here to read the update

5 Steps to Developing a Total Compensation Plan

During our current economic recession companies are looking to cut costs. Companies need a strategy to maintain their top performers in order to emerge strong once the economy rebounds.

Executive Vice President, Elliot Dinkin, presents a five-step approach to developing a valuable total compensation plan in the May 2009 issue of Employee Benefit News.

Click here to read the article

Cowden Associates, Inc. unveils its 8th Annual Tri-State Area Employee Benefit Survey

Cowden Associates’ Executive Vice President Vince Wolf spearheads this annual endeavor, and presented the results. His presentation addressed influences on trends. He anticipates a downward pressure on trends revealed in this year’s findings resulting from the push for reform. Legislative activity surrounding the economy is providing upward pressure on employer sponsored plan costs. Compliance with COBRA changes and mandated benefit changes, such as mental health parity, are expected to contribute to costs.

This much anticipated survey report attracted the interest of local media. To read more, click on the following links.

Locally, employers' health costs are on the rise
Click here to read the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article

Regional survey finds employers' health costs up 7.2%
Click here to read the Pittsburgh Tribune Review article

We welcome the opportunity to customize and conduct and an employee benefits survey specific to your organization.

If you did not fill out this year's survey, you may purchase a copy at the cost of $250. To purchase the 2008/2009 Survey Report, please e-mail us, call us at (412) 394-9330, or fax your request to (412) 394-9324.

The 2007/2008 survey report is also available for download.

Cowden Associates 2009 Tri-State Area Defined Contribution Plan Sponsor Survey

We would like to thank everyone who participated in the Cowden Associates 2009 Tri-State Area Defined Contribution Plan Sponsor Survey. All participants will receive a complimentary detailed report and will be invited to the survey results presentation.

The results are a valuable tool that captures credible and dependable data on basic plan and contribution information, plan features and employer insight components.

Cowden’s final survey report will be available in late summer.

The Journal
Names Cowden Associates National Top Small Workplace

The Wall Street Journal and Winning Workplaces named Cowden Associates, Inc. one of North America’s Top Small Workplaces. The rankings recognize... Read more

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