The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) created the Community Living Assistance Services and Support (CLASS ACT) program as a way to provide better long-term care insurance options.

However, after 19 months of analysis, HHS has determined that they are not able to implement a financially sustainable, voluntary, self-financed long-term care insurance program.
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The October 14, 2011 letter from HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to Congress discussing the findings is posted on the HHS website.

We are pleased to announce that four consultants from Horizon Actuarial will be presenting at the 57th Annual Conference of the International Foundation of Employee Benefits Plans (IFEBP).  The Annual Conference will be held from Sunday, October 30 through Wednesday, November 2, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Cary Franklin

Trustees Masters Program“
The Trustees Masters Program is the pinnacle event for advanced level trustee networking and education. It is designed to build on trustees’ existing knowledge base and experience through peer exchange and group exercises over an intensive two days.” Cary will be leading the following sessions during the Program:

• Using Fund Professionals Wisely (Saturday 9:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)
• Pension Breakout: Case Studies (Sunday 9:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)
• Open Issues Forum (Sunday 1:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.)

Annual Conference
Session 314-1: Workshop – New FASB Rules and Their Impact (Panelist)
The content for this session is designed to meet intermediate level audience needs. Hear the latest disclosure requirements for participating employers of multiemployer plans. • What do they mean to administrators? • How will timeliness of information be handled? • What information will be disclosed, and what does it mean to creditors? • Explaining it to employers
1 Monday, 1:30 – 2:45 p.m.
2 Tuesday, 1:15 – 2:30 p.m.

Session 503: Can You Make Your Return Assumption? (Co-Speaker)
The content for this session is designed to meet advanced level audience needs. • Are return assumptions too optimistic now? • What comes first: your investment policy or your return assumption? • Why remain at or change a 7.5% return assumption? • What is the risk in attaining these goals? • How do you measure risk? • What risk is appropriate for a benefit fund?
2 Tuesday, 10:30 – 11:45 a.m.
Session P-ACCT2: Dealing with New Disclosures for Multiemployer Plans (Panelist)
(Joint Session With Accountants/Attorneys) • Accounting and auditing pronouncements • FASB update • Withdrawal liability disclosure • Timing and data
1 Tuesday, 7:30 – 8:45 a.m.

Stan Goldfarb

​Session 307: Workshop – Unwinding a Plan (Co-Speaker)
The content for this session is designed to meet advanced level audience needs. • Steps to ending a plan • Impact on participating employers; i.e., withdrawal liability or excise tax • Determining whether the plan is subject to partitioning • How to negotiate with PBGC • Mitigating potential lawsuits • Ongoing trustee responsibilities and obligations
1 Monday, 10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
2 Tuesday, 9:00 – 10:45 a.m.

Jason Russell

Session 503: Can You Make Your Return Assumption? (Co-Speaker)
The content for this session is designed to meet advanced level audience needs. • Are return assumptions too optimistic now? • What comes first: your investment policy or your return assumption? • Why remain at or change a 7.5% return assumption? • What is the risk in attaining these goals? • How do you measure risk? • What risk is appropriate for a benefit fund?
1 Monday, 1:30 – 2:45 p.m.

Session 315: Correcting Funding Shortfalls (Speaker)
The content for this session is designed to meet advanced level audience needs. Whether you are green and potentially headed to yellow or are currently yellow, this session is for you. • Understand the difference between a rehab plan and a funding improvement plan. • Determine your contribution and benefit reduction strategies. • Track your plan’s progress or make modifications. • Explore the results of various approaches through modeling.
1 Monday, 3:00 – 4:15 p.m.
2 Tuesday, 7:30 – 8:45 a.m.

Aruna Vohra

Session 207: Plan Design and Administration Trends in a World Shaped by Health Care Reform (Panelist)
The content for this session is designed to meet basic level audience needs. Hear a panel discuss changes and approaches they have seen in the last year. • What is most prevalent? • What provisions and benefit levels are getting the most attention? • What changes to plan rules, eligibility and access are being made? • What is the status of grandfathering plans? • Learn from others on what they are considering.
1 Tuesday, 2:45 – 4:00 p.m.
2 Wednesday, 7:30 – 8:45 a.m.