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Q&A Obama Care
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I received an employment question [if you're interested in Employment Law as it pertains to employers you may want to sign up for the K&K Employment Law newsletter - goes out weekly I think, sign up here: https://www.kirschenbaumesq.com/page/newsletter-sign-up
I asked an insurance expert to answer the questions below. If you need more information or want to get health insurance coverage contact Diane Santonino of Monarch Insurance Brokerage phone 516-873-8801 ; email dsantonino@monarchib.com www.monarchib.com
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Ken,
Q- Under Obama Care are employers in NYS required to provide Medical Care to their full time workers ?
A- No they are not required. However, if they are over 50 lives there is penalty.
Q- If so are they required to reimburse their workers who don't take the coverage, at the same rate as it costs them to provide it to the ones that take it ?
A- No, under or over 50 lives
Q- If so is it done at the single rate ?
A- N/A
Q- What about family plan for those who qualify can you make a higher contribution for them ?
A- Yes you can, if you want you can contribute more to a family plan then a single plan. The key is to do the same for everyone. You cannot discriminate (Ex: two families in group you cannot give one family more than the other family)
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Follow up to money for nothing June 6, 2014 article
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Ken:
In regards to the Comcast case mentioned in the 06-06-14 newsletter, would programming the alarm panel to transmit a test signal affect the decision or increase the potential liability for the alarm company?
If the alarm company programs the alarm to send a test signal and it is never received by the central station couldn’t that be used against them? I don’t know if that was the case in the Comcast example or the other case you cited but we always program our systems to send a test to the central station and then follow up on any missed test signals. Is this not the standard in the industry? (I’m referencing alarm systems other than commercial fire systems that are required to send a daily test signal)
I understand that ultimately the communication path and testing the system are the obligations of the subscriber but it seems to me that this could have easily been avoided by simply supervising a weekly or monthly test from the alarm system.
Bob Gamble, Manager, Central Systems Operations
SECURITY INSTRUMENT CORPORATION
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Ken,
I always suggest Alarm Dealers require Client to initial a clause that states the Client declines wireless monitoring that is provided by the Dealer. Over the years, I have had Clients call me angry that they received no dispatch on an alarm activation. Clients are usually angry that the system didn't transmit and are looking to place blame on the Alarm Dealer. The initialed clause is very helpful in reminding the Client that the Client had refused to purchase wireless monitoring.
Roger D. Score (President)
Arizona Alarm Dealers Association
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Response
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In all cases where monitoring charges were received while no monitoring was possible that I am aware the alarm installer and central station were unaware that no monitoring was taking place. So error occured at the very beginning of the installation. While you would think that a test signal at the central station would be necessary to get the central to start billing the installer, that hasn't been the case in the handful of instances where this has been a problem. It's a comedy of errors that isn't so funny once there is a loss.
The whatever precautionary measures are in place the chance of missing them all remains possible, which is what happens in these situations. I suppose an alarm company could know that no comunication is possible from the premises and yet the contract calls for RMR charges. The alarm company should notify the subscriber that communication is the subscriber's obligation. If the subscriber notifies the alarm company that service is required and there is Service Contract in place that covers the repair, then RMR could not be collected until the repair is made
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TO SUBMIT QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REPLY TO THIS EMAIL OR EMAIL Ken@Kirschenbaumesq.com. Most comments and questions get circulated.
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Speaking Engagements
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Quick Response Dealer and Integrator Information and Technical Conference. July 15 -16, 2014 at Holiday Inn - Independence Ohio. All alarm dealers are invited. For more information, schedule and to RSVP contact Margie or Renee at reneet@quickresponse.net or call Margie/Renee at 800 462 5353 www.quickresponse.net
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Alarm Association of Greater St. Louis. September 16, 2014. at Tech Electronics HQs office at 6437 Manchester Ave, St. Louis, MO 63139. Meeting is from 11:45 – 1:30 Video conference presentation starting at 12:15 CST. For more information or to register contact Tony Drago adrago@tyco.com www.alarmstl.org
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NYSESA - September 17, 2014 at Honor's Haven Resort, Ellenville, NY. This is the NYS Electronic Security Assoc annual meeting. Presentation on updated contracts and current legal issues will be at 10:30 AM. For more information or reservations contact Dale R. Eller, Executive Director (814) 838-0301 dalereller@itzsolutions.com
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Alabama Alarm Association. AAA's Fall Meeting and Trade Show - October 21, 2014 from 3 to 5 PM at DoubleTree Hotel 808 South 20th Street Birmingham, AL 35205 for more info contact AAA Executive Director: director@alabamaalarm.org (205) 933-9000
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Electronic Security Summit for 2014. October 22-24, 2014 at the landmark Broadmoor Hotel. Colorado Springs, CO. For more information contact Alexander J. Quirin, CEO & Managing Partner, Advisory Summit Providers, LLC., (786) 999-9738 alex.quirin@aspsummits.com www.aspsummits.com
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