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The benefits of getting back to business

Of all the challenges confronting today's businesses, benefits administration doesn't have to be one of them. But the fact is, those kinds of activities alone often can account for as much as 40 percent of an HR department's workload.

Whether your company is ready to adopt a global benefits strategy or to partner with a single provider to centralize benefits management or to outsource employee benefits for the first time, Ceridian provides an opportunity to get back to business ... your business!

Plus, our services are designed to provide strategic rationales to drive desired change within your business, so managers can tackle head-on those core issues that loom larger with every annual report: growth, cost-containment, quality improvement, increased efficiency and talent retention.

"For Ceridian, outsourcing is about service," said Christian Sherwood, Ceridian solutions consultant. "We create an environment where clients can proactively involve Ceridian in business decisions regarding their benefits and the health and welfare processes. We engage and coach our clients in each applicable interaction, providing repeatable, reliable service every step of the way."

What your HR department gains is the ability to offer a streamlined, seamless, user-friendly benefits program without the burden of administering it or the fears of falling into noncompliance.

Ceridian Benefits Services also give you more control over your human resources in the future, because you now have an experienced partner your company can hold accountable.

Comprehensive suite of benefits services
When you partner with Ceridian, you choose from a comprehensive suite of employee benefits administration and compliance services, including COBRA continuation, Pre-tax Reimbursement, and Health and Welfare administration.

These services are designed to cover the entire employee life cycle while improving employee satisfaction, reducing compliance burdens and cutting administrative costs.

They are also designed to help you link your employee benefits strategies to your business and financial goals.

Health & Welfare Administration
Health & Welfare -- not to be confused with Ceridian's Health and Wellness services -- is an enrollment system that allows your company to perform annual enrollments and new hire and life status events updates through the Web. As an HR administrator, you have the ability to view, print or download any enrollment, premium and deduction data that is in the system.

The strength of our system is in the "back end" processing. The system provides clients with automated retroactivity management for their premium payments with their carriers. This process eliminates the monthly reconciliation activities most companies work through each month.

Other Ceridian service advantages include:

• Edit at entry capabilities to manage employee data
• Vendor-neutral payroll and carrier feeds
• Ad hoc reports available for all fields
• Employee self-service
• Manager self-service
• Web-based enrollment
• Online forms
• Real-time election changes
• Summary plan descriptions
• Life event reporting and processing
• Printable communications via the Web
• QDRO and QMCSO services

COBRA and HIPAA Administration
Ceridian Benefits Services manages the compliance with COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) and HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). As the nation's largest COBRA service provider, we provide comprehensive administrative services that cover every step -- from initial (general) notices and qualifying event notices to issuance of HIPAA certificates of credible coverage.

Our service includes:

• Strong compliance expertise
• Data integrity and tightly managed eligibility
• Ability to manage complex rate subsidies

Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Administration
Ceridian Benefits Services' FSA administration includes cost-effective programs that allow participants to set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for out-of-pocket expenses.

Health Care FSA - An easy-to-use benefit that reimburses your employees for health care-related expenses not covered by their health insurance.

Dependent Care FSA - A valuable benefit that allows employees to pay for day care to take care of their children or elderly parents while they work.

Limited Purpose FSA - A useful benefit as more employers are offering High Deductible Health Plans coupled with Health Savings Accounts to offset rising health care costs.

FSA participants typically save up to an average of 30 percent in taxes on eligible expenses. Each dollar an employee sets aside reduces the employer's tax liability, saving the company money. Plan options include reimbursement from an FSA card, via auto claims or direct deposit.

Our service includes:

• Large take-over and auto claims expertise
• Extensive network of carrier relationships
• Quick reimbursement
• No pre-funding required

Tuition Reimbursement Services
Ceridian provides a full range of administrative services for Internal Revenue Code Section 127 corporate educational reimbursement programs. We manage the reimbursement process from start to finish, including toll-free customer service support, issuance of acceptance and denial letters, participant reimbursement, and monthly management reports.

Our service advantages include:

• Experienced and proven tuition reimbursement provider
• High client satisfaction
• Manual and Web based solutions

Commuter Administration
We offer a complete reimbursement and voucher fare media service that includes employee enrollment, education, documentation and reporting. We manage:

• Full administration and compliance with IRS regulations
• Online account access
• Voucher and fare media fulfillment
• Employee enrollment and communications
• Comprehensive reporting

Premium Only Plan (POP)
You can help reduce your company's costs by allowing employees to pay for qualified health care premiums with pretax dollars. Participants typically save an average of up to 30 percent in taxes on the money set aside for health insurance premiums. Your company can also reduce its tax liability through pretax deductions.

Benefits Billing Services
This service provides employers with an administrative resource to cost-effectively bill, collect, account and report premiums for specific groups of current and former employees and dependents. Services include retiree billing and surviving spouse billing, as well as managing billing for independent contractors, long-term disability, and those laid off or on leaves of absence.

While Ceridian offers some of the best benefits programs in the industry, we never forget our clients must balance the demands of their businesses with the needs of their employees. That's why we tailor your company's benefits to help you balance the real need to offer them with the actual cost of offering them.

Contact your Ceridian representative to learn more about Ceridian's benefits solutions.