How To Find a Doctor You Trust

How to Find a Doctor You Trust Get a list of in-network providers: Call your insurance company or look at their plan materials for a list of doctors in their network. You’ll usually pay less to see a doctor in your network than a doctor who’s out-of-network. You can also call your Broker and they can help assist you in getting the names of Doctors near you that accept your plan. Do your research: Ask friends and family if they recommend their doctors. You may even be able to read online reviews for doctors in your area. Online reviews are a great way to gauge things such as bedside manner and wait… Read More

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Ways to Save Money on Your Prescription Drugs

Prescriptions costs are skyrocketing. We all know that. But did you know that there are several ways for people to save money on their monthly medications? As health insurance plans are becoming more catastrophic in nature, that means that people will need to become better health care consumers. Sometimes that means using the tools that the insurance company offers at no charge. Sometimes it means using discounts and other resources that are available outside the health plan. Here are a few ways, some already widely known and others not so much, to help drop down your costs at the Pharmacy. While this is not a comprehensive list of money-saving ideas, it is… Read More

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Important Info! HSA Limits for 2019

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Confused by Medicare? Learn How Our Approach Leaves You Feeling Confident About Your Choices!

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Critically Important: Insurance for Serious Illness

Good news: You’ve got health insurance (at least, all Americans are required to or pay a penalty). Bad news: It doesn’t cover everything. Especially if something really bad happens, like a heart attack or stroke. Yes, a decent major medical plan will cover many of the health-related expenses related to a serious illness. But you’d likely still be left with significant out-of-pocket costs for deductibles and copayments. Medical insurance also doesn’t usually cover other related costs, such as travel to treatment centers, child care during absences or recovery, home modifications or rehabilitation charges. And if you lose income while you’re unable to work, you could have a tough time paying… Read More

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2015 Compliance Compilation

The attached resource file is a compilation of all of our compliance bulletins for 2015 provided by our business partners at Emerson Reid and your benefits support team. Click the link below to download the entire 2015 compilation: 2015 Compliance Compilation    

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Health reform: CMS releases SHOP HOW-TO video for employees

 CMS releases SHOP video for employees   The SHOP enrollment for employees video has been posted by CMS. Please keep in mind that the employer group needs to be set up on the SHOP first. Please contact your Total Benefit Solutions, Inc account manager if you have any questions about setting your organization up as a SHOP employer. Total Benefit Solutions, Inc is a certified SHOP independent broker. Click the video below to watch the video.      

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Download our Mid-Year Compliance Bulletin Compilation

Our Mid-year Compliance Bulletin Compilation is now available, featuring all of our released compliance bulletins for January through June. This document acts a resource for you to have all of the latest health reform information and updates in one place. You can click on a bulletin title in the table of contents and it will bring directly to the corresponding page. Click the link below to download the document.   2015_Compliance_Compilation_mid_year

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Lost your health coverage?

  Losing other health coverage, including losing a job-based plan, aging off a parent’s coverage at 26, losing coverage through divorce, losing eligibility for Medicaid or CHIP, and similar events. Coverage can take effect: The first day of the month after you enroll and after the loss of coverage Enrollment window: From 60 days before to 60 days after losing your other coverage Important: If you leave your job for any reason and lose your job-based health coverage, you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. But you don’t get an SEP if you voluntarily drop: a job-based plan without leaving your job; an individual insurance plan; unexpired COBRA coverage; or… Read More

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Relief for Small Employers Reimbursing Individual Policies

An employer cannot offer employees cash to reimburse the purchase of an individual policy, whether or not the employer treats the money as pre-tax or post-tax to the employee. Such arrangements (called “employer payment plans”) are subject to the market reform provisions of the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”), including prohibition on annual limits and the requirement to provide certain preventive services without cost sharing with which it cannot comply. These arrangements may be subject to a $100/day excise tax per applicable employee (which is $36,500 per year, per employee). Click the link below to read the bulletin: Relief for Small Employers Reimbursing Individual Policies – 031915R  

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IRS Penalties for Small Employers Reimbursing Individual Health Insurance Premiums Will Not Apply Until July 2015

IRS Penalties for Small Employers Reimbursing Individual Health Insurance Premiums Will Not Apply Until July 2015 IRS Notice 2015-17 provides limited transition relief from the assessment of excise taxes for small employers who reimburse, or directly pay, the premium for an employee’s individual health insurance policy. Prohibited Plans An “employer payment plan” is an arrangement under which an employer reimburses an employee for some or all of the premium expenses incurred for an individual health insurance policy, or an arrangement under which the employer uses its funds to directly pay the premium for an individual health insurance policy covering the employee. Pursuant to prior agency guidance, employer payment plans are… Read More

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How do Tiered Network plans like the Keystone HMO Proactive and Horizon Omnia plans work?

Tiered or Narrow Network Plans: Under the Affordable Care Act, insurance carriers have introduced “tiered network”, or narrowed network plans. Keystone Proactive HMO Plans from Independence Blue Cross  have a unique  ” 3 tiered” network of providers. Although each carrier has different types of networks and benefit levels, the plans have the same general concept, steering the members by giving them a choice of providers that offer medical services at a lower out of pocket expense. Choosing a more expensive provider or facility may cost the member more out of pocket costs. United Healthcare offers 2 tiers in their “Navigate” plans, and Aetna uses “Savings Plus” designated providers to split… Read More

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Updated Healthcare Reform Calculators

Total Benefit Solutions Inc. has updated our healthcare reform calculators on our website, http://www.totalbenefits.net Calculators include: How much tax credit is my small group eligible for? What are the conditions required to get the tax credit? Pay or Play Mandate penalty-What is my risk as a group? Individual Subsidy Calculator Click here to get to our healthcare reform calculators.

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2014 Compliance Bulletin Compilation

Download our 2014 Compliance Bulletin Compilation, featuring all of our released compliance bulletins for the entire year!  Topics include, Health Savings Accounts, The Individual Mandate, Employer “pay or play” mandate, exemptions, FSA carryovers and much, much more. All of the bulletins are in an easy to search format for your convenience. 2014 Compliance Compilation – Download As always please contact your Total Benefit Solutions account manager at (215)355-02121 if you have any further questions or concerns.

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Plan cost inaccuracies found on HealthCare.gov

Consumers who have complex medical diagnoses that require specialty drugs should carefully examine the health insurance plans offered through the public exchange system to avoid incurring high costs for those drugs. But that task will be complicated by inaccuracies on the public exchange website. That’s the conclusion of an analysis of public exchange plans by Avalere Health. The study, in which researchers went through all available plans looking for “hidden” drug costs, found that silver plans in particular tend to place such drugs in specialty tiers in their 2015 formularies. Avalere said that 17 percent of silver plans contain two or more specialty drug tiers that will drive up out-of-pocket… Read More

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Total Benefits Introduces New Compliance and Health Reform Education Center

Total Benefits Comply is our new Compliance and Health Reform Education Center where we will keep a copy of our health care reform bulletins throughout the year, in an easy  to view format, along with short informative videos. This new resource makes it easier to quickly find the answers to your reform questions and download a short, to the point bulletin. At Total Benefit Solutions Inc., we are dedicated to providing the information and advice that our clients need to remain compliant and make informed healthcare decisions. If you have any further questions please contact you Total Benefit Solutions account manager  at (215)355-2121 Click here for Total Benefits Comply.

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Health Reform: Healthcare.Gov Sneak Preview

Healthcare.Gov Sneak Preview Announced Yesterday, Affordable Care Act customers can peek at 2015 prices for the program’s health plans today after the government released a “window-shopping” feature overnight Here is a direct link to the 2015 “sneak preview”: https://www.healthcare.gov/see-plans/ If you have any questions or concerns about your 2015 enrollment, please contact Total Benefit Solutions at (215)355-2121

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2015 Health Reform: Prepare for Health Insurance Open Enrollment

Preparing for 2015 Open Enrollment Getting prepared for open enrollment 2015 has been a major challenge. Total Benefit Solutions is dedicated to serving all of our clients throughout this second annual open enrollment period. With that in mind our offices will be open on the weekend of November 15th 2014 to help you get enrolled. Open enrollment for individual plans begins November 15th, 2014 and ends February 15th 2015. Anyone who enrolls prior to the 15th of the month will be effective the 1st of the next month. This is important because you must enroll by December 15th in order for your plan to be effective on January 1st, 2015… Read More

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Health Reform: CMS finalizes auto-enrollment process for current Marketplace consumers

CMS finalizes auto-enrollment process for current Marketplace consumers CMS finalized its policy regarding how current Health Insurance Marketplace individual customers will renew their plans in 2015. Individuals who do not make an active 2015 plan selection will be auto-enrolled in the same plan with the same premium tax credit and other financial assistance, if applicable, as the 2014 plan year. Individuals are encouraged to return to the Marketplace to determine their current and accurate 2015 premium tax credit or cost-share reduction financial assistance.   Click here to read the entire release.   As always if you have any questions, concerns or need assistance enrolling, contact your Total Benefit Solutions ACA… Read More

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Health Reform: Eligibility for the SHOP Marketplace

Eligibility Requirements for the SHOP Marketplaces In 2015, small businesses that offer coverage through the Federally-facilitated SHOP (FF-SHOP) may be able to offer employees a choice of QHPs and qualified dental plans (QDP) within a given metal level or issuer, or a single QHP or QDP. To qualify for an FF-SHOP, a business must: Be located in an FF-SHOP’s service area (generally a state) Have at least one eligible employee on payroll Have 25 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees on payroll This methodology includes part-time employees, but not seasonal employees (those working fewer than 120 days per year). While the FF-SHOP must determine eligibility using the definitions above, State-based SHOP… Read More

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Health Reform: Eligibility Programs

Medicaid, CHIP, and the Affordable Care Act The Affordable Care Act significantly streamlines the eligibility standards and enrollment processes for Medicaid. It also offers a new opportunity for states to expand Medicaid to all adults ages 19 – 64 with household MAGI at or below 138% of the FPL. States have the option to expand Medicaid eligibility to this new eligibility group. This is known as “Medicaid expansion.” Through Medicaid expansion, the Affordable Care Act provides new opportunities for adults in some states to be covered by Medicaid. However, some states have chosen not to expand Medicaid eligibility to these income levels. Even if a state did not expand Medicaid,… Read More

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Health Reform: Guaranteed Renewability

Guaranteed Issue and Guaranteed Renewability The Affordable Care Act requires health insurance issuers to offer all of their individual market and group market plans to any applicant in the state. It also requires health insurance issuers to accept any individual who applies for those policies, as long as the applicant agrees to the terms and conditions of the policy, including the payment of premiums. This provision is called “guaranteed issue.” Coverage offered through and outside the Marketplaces may restrict guaranteed issue coverage to certain enrollment periods. Additionally, the Affordable Care Act requires health insurance issuers to offer to renew or continue in force coverage at the option of the policyholder. This… Read More

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Heath Reform: 5 States Will Have Early Access to Online Functions of the Federally-Facilitated SHOP Marketplace

‘SHOP Early Access’ Available in Delaware, Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio, and Missouri Starting in late October, small employers, agents, and brokers in Delaware, Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio, and Missouri will be able to experience some of the key new online functions of the federally-facilitated Small Business Health Options Program (FF-SHOP), according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The online SHOP Marketplace is expected to be available nationwide on November 15, 2014. SHOP Early Access During the “SHOP Early Access,” small employers in the five selected states will be able to use HealthCare.gov to take several initial steps in the enrollment process, including: Establishing a Marketplace SHOP account; Assigning an agent or… Read More

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Health Reform: Small Business Health Care Tax Credit

Small Business Health Care Tax Credit Many small businesses are eligible for the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit to assist with the cost of health insurance coverage. To qualify, businesses must: Have an average of fewer than 25 FTE employees (based on a 40 hour work week and excluding owners, owners’ family members, and seasonal employees) Have average annual employee wages below $50,000 (augmented to reflect cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) as of 2014) (business owner salaries are not included in this calculation) Pay a uniform percentage or amount (at least 50%) of the cost of single coverage of each employee’s health insurance The tax credit is generally available only for… Read More

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Dental Plans: United Concordia Will Now Offer one of the Country’s Largest Networks

United Concordia Will Now Offer one of the Country’s Largest Dental Networks   United Concordia, Dental Network of America®, LLC and DenteMax®, LLC have entered into a network sharing agreement to provide greater access and deeper discounts to our members and clients. This agreement will take effect for United Concordia for 2015 business.   Click here to read more…

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