News You Can't Use: EBRI turns 30

The Employee Benefit Research Institute is all too modest. Not wanting to toot their own horn, we'll do it for them! This week, EBRI, dedicated to the development of sound employee benefit programs and public policy through nonpartisan research and education, celebrated its 30th anniversary.

Although you'll find only a brief mention of it on the group's Web site, EBRI celebrated in style with a Washington, D.C. reception and tribute program that featured the likes of Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), who called the group "one of the most valuable resources we have to help us understand what is happening" in employee benefits. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) said EBRI has "won respect among members on both sides of the aisle."

EBN congratulates EBRI and its president and CEO Dallas Salisbury on this milestone and wishes the organization continued success in the future.

Tip of the Day

Hold off on buying an AARP mini-med plan.

AARP has hired an independent investigator to probe the sales and marketing of mini-medical plans aimed at workers age 50-64, after Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) called the plans misleading, the New York Times reports. AARP will stop marketing and selling the plans until the investigation is complete.

The plans, offered by AARP via UnitedHealthcare, cover about 1 million members, the Times reports. Grassley takes issue with the plans' marketing mainly because they do not provide catastrophic coverage, but give the impression that the plans are comprehensive. "The products may leave consumers seriously in debt if they need intensive medical care," Grassley said, and asked AARP to disclose its profits from the plans.