News Bulletins

The Keystone Proactive HMO plans have become very popular but the number one question we get is ” how do I know what tier my doctor is in?” Finding your primary doctor’s tier on the Keystone Proactive HMO is actually fairly easy. This short step by step video will show you how! Need additional help? Call your Total Benefit Solutions Inc account manager at (215)355-2121 and we can do it for you or search a full list of physicians, facilities, hospitals or medications for you or your employees! Total Benefit Solutions, Inc. Where we work for your benefit!

There’s no question the health insurance industry is evolving. New technology is empowering employees’ health decisions. There’s big data. Online enrollment. More choice. And, of course, there’s still the Affordable Care Act. Here are five insurance issues everyone should watch.

MURPHY MOVES NJ TO STATE-BASED HEALTH EXCHANGE TRENTON — New Jersey will move to a state-based health care exchange starting in 2021 as a result of an executive order signed Friday by Gov. Phil Murphy.The Democratic governor made the announcement at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston on the 9th anniversary of the passage of the Affordable Care Act. He said offering access to high quality, affordable health care is one of society’s greatest responsibilities and a “basic right.

Each year, Medicare makes changes to the Part A and B out-of-pocket expenses, monthly premium for Part B, and premium adjustment thresholds for Part B and Part D. Here are the figures for 2020..

It’s easy to loose track of the actual costs associated with smoking. When you look behind the scenes, you will realize why the utilization of Smoker Cessation Programs are important and how Employees and Employers can benefit from this type of Wellness Program . Healthcare $3,400 in excess expenses each year in the form of premium pricing, deductibles or copays/insurance due to conditions associated with one person’s use. Smoke Breaks (Average) 1.25/hrs per day 6.25/hrs per week 291/hrs per year Family Health Parents who smoke have a higher rate of children with Respiratory and ENT issues. They are also more likely to become smokers themselves. Lifetime Costs On average, a… Read More

PEOs & the Philadelphia Area As you may be aware Independence Blue Cross recently introduced a PEO offering into the Pennsylvania market/Greater Philadelphia area through a partnership with Clear PEO. As a leading independent broker in the Northeast, Total Benefit Solutions, Inc.  has experience with PEOs and helping group clients find the best choices to put you in the strongest possible position to shop and compare PEO’s and traditional health benefits. In fact, Total Benefit Solutions, Inc. has already been partnering with established PEO’s for a number of years. THE BASICS OF PEOs PEO is an acronym for Professional Employer Organization and it is a business entity that helps service… Read More

Is your health plan group ERISA compliant? Health plans subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) must make available information about the plan to participants. The plan participants have a right to know about plan rules, financial data, plan operation and plan management. Many small employers fail to realize that they need to meet this requirement. The departments of labor have been coming to more employers and asking for this document more often, but typically the DOL audit is the direct result of an employee ( or former employee) grievance. When a member first becomes covered under an ERISA-covered health plan, the individual must receive an SPD (Summary Plan… Read More

Pharmaceutical Companies spent $5.6 billion in 2015 for advertisements.. and those advertisements seem to work. 1 in about 7 people who take at least one Rx have admitted they specifically asked their Doctor about a medication they heard on the Tv, Radio, online, or in print. 2/3rds of those Doctors wrote the prescription for the drug requested. The problem with advertisements is that you do not know if this more expensive drug works better than a less expensive generic or if you can achieve the same results with simple lifestyle changes.  Consumer Reports has piled tons of research, recommendations and reviews from credible sources to compile what they deem are… Read More

Aliera Healthcare is an innovative healthcare organization offering both traditional healthcare and health sharing plans, which are an alternative to traditional insurance. At the core of Aliera plans is a concentration on the patient using our “Core 4” Patient Centered Medical Home Model of Care. Employer Group plans range from ACA compliant ‘Minimum Essential Coverage” to Self-Funded Minimum Value Plans. Our Individual plans are supported by our Healthcare Sharing Ministry Partner, Trinity HealthShare. Click here to find our more about the benefits, rates and programs available and then call us at (215)355-2121!     

Independence is pleased to partner with CLEAR Employer Services to provide a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) offering to companies looking to outsource many of their HR‑related functions, beginning with 1/1/2019 business. This solution supports primarily small and mid-size businesses by handling a variety of human resources and administrative functions, freeing company leaders to focus on growing their businesses through increased attention on strategy, innovation, and operations. Total Benefit Solutions inc., as one of the area’s leading brokers is excited to offer this  as a potential solution for our clients! Through the establishment of a PEO Master Health Plan, the PEO will be a single Large Group customer with membership consisting of… Read More

Are you going to a new Doctor? Get a recent diagnosis? Or looking into new Hospital Systems? There are tons of important questions to ask when dealing with your health, but most don’t know where to start.  The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has put together the important questions to ask for many health-related issues. Please click here to find out which questions you should be asking!