Ed MacConnell | Total Benefit Solutions Inc

MHPNJ : Important Plan Cancellation Status Information

July 13, 2021July 13, 2021Ed MacConnell

Affiliated Physicians and Employers Master Trust (“APEMT”) and Members Health Plan New Jersey (“MHPNJ”) want to take the time to let you know they value the support that you have provided them over the years. APEMT/MHPNJ (the “Plan”) is ceasing to write business and is beginning an orderly wind down of the Plan. The financial deficiency the Plan has been facing for the past several months has not been sufficiently cured in the time period prescribed by New Jersey law. Therefore, the Board of Trustees on behalf of the Plan is implementing an orderly wind down of the plan. Please be advised that you must terminate their coverage with the Plan and seek new… Read More

Amerihealth New Jersey: Using the E-Bill feature VIDEO

July 10, 2021July 9, 2021Ed MacConnell

Watch this short video to learn how to pay for your Amerhealth NJ health insurance online quickly and securely! Click here

Group Business: Independence Blue Cross and AmeriHealth NJ COBRA and Mini-COBRA Premium Assistance

July 9, 2021July 9, 2021Ed MacConnell

COBRA Premium Assistance Available to Eligible Group Members Through September 2021 Under the recently passed American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), eligible group members who elect COBRA (including state‑based “Mini‑COBRA”) continuation coverage due to an involuntary job loss or a reduction in hours within the past year may be eligible for 100 percent coverage of their monthly health insurance premiums. This temporary premium assistance will be provided at no cost to the employer or to the group member through September 30, 2021. Employers should consult the U.S. Department of Labor and IRS websites for more information. Obtaining Mini-COBRA Premium Assistance For groups subject to state continuation plans (referred to as Mini‑COBRA typically for those with 19 or fewer… Read More

2021 Second Quarter Compliance Bulletins Compilation

July 7, 2021July 7, 2021Ed MacConnell

This document is a valuable resource, putting all of the latest health care reform news and updates in one location!

Independence: Using the e-bill feature

July 6, 2021June 30, 2021Ed MacConnell

From Independence Blue Cross: There’s an easy way to simplify your administration and reduce costs —make secure eBill payments through our employer portal at ibx.com, anytime and anywhere… Download ebill bulletin

Achieve Well-being Rewards

July 1, 2021June 30, 2021Ed MacConnell

Independence Blue Cross (Independence) offers a new way to help your employees achieve their health goals. Reward employees for completing activitiesNothing helps motivate action like the promise of rewards!*Achieve Well-being tools available on ibx.com and on the IBX mobile app create personalized action plans that make it easy for your employees to earn tokens and badges for completing their well-being goals.New for 2021, your employees can now receive a $150 gift card by completing the following required activities: Annual check-up with PCPFlu shotGet digitally engagedMember portal registrationMDLIVE.com registrationWell-being profileOpt-in to digital messaging at ibx.com Once your employees complete all six activities through the Achieve Well-being tool they can redeem a… Read More

Independence: Small Group Forms

June 30, 2021June 30, 2021Ed MacConnell

Independence Blue Cross keeps most of the forms small business health insurance customers need on a regular basis online and easy to access. Click here to get the latest forms from ibx.com Please contact Total Benefit Solutions, Inc. if the form you need is not available or you have any questions or concerns!

Supreme Court Dismisses Latest Challenge to the ACA

June 29, 2021June 29, 2021Ed MacConnell

The “individual mandate” provision of the ACA as originally enacted in 2010 required most U.S. residents to obtain minimum essential health insurance coverage or pay a monetary penalty. The individual mandate penalty withstood a legal challenge in 2012 when the Supreme Court ruled itwas a valid exercise of Congress’ taxing power. However, Congress effectively eliminated the individual mandate penalty by reducing it to zero effective January 1, 2019. Download Supreme Court Dismisses Latest Challenge to the ACA

What does the health insurance term “Play or Pay” mean?

June 24, 2021June 23, 2021Ed MacConnell

Play or Pay is a two-prong test that applies to Applicable Large Employers (ALEs) with 50 or more full-time employees (including full-time-equivalents): First, does the employer offer basic health coverage to most full-time employees and their children? If not, the employer is at risk for a large penalty.For employers that pass the ﬁrst prong without a penalty, the second test is whether the employer offers all full-time employees and their children affordable coverage providing minimum value. If not, the employer is at risk for a different (smaller) penalty. The two penalty types — called “A” and “B” for the sections in the law — are designed in tandem so that… Read More

What is your SBC? Understanding Your Health Insurance Plan.

June 23, 2021June 22, 2021Ed MacConnell

Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) An SBC covers the basics of your health plan. It’s an easy-to-read summary that lets you make comparisons of costs and coverage between health plans. You can compare options based on price, benefits, and other features that may be important to you. Your health insurance experts at Total Benefit Solutions, Inc can show you how to use your SBC to compare plans before making any decisions! Contact us at (215)355-2121.

SCOTUS Upholds Affordable Care Act Ruling

June 22, 2021June 22, 2021Ed MacConnell

The Supreme Court has dismissed a challenge to ObamaCare, leaving the industry as is for employers and individuals. By a 7-2 vote on Thursday, the justices left the entire law intact in ruling that Texas and two individuals had no right to bring their lawsuit in federal court. The Supreme Court of the United States heard oral arguments on November 10, 2020, as to the question of whether the Affordable Care Act’s Individual Mandate provision is constitutional. This case, California vs. Texas is the latest challenge against the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the second time the Justices addressed the constitutionality of the Individual Mandate portion of that law.… Read More

New Mandatory Preventive Items and Services

June 21, 2021June 21, 2021Ed MacConnell

Most plans will be required to cover new preventive items and services beginning later this year, or in 2022 or 2023 (depending on the plan year), including ones related to Hepatitis B virus infection screenings and colon cancer screenings. Non-grandfathered group health plans must provide coverage for in-network preventive items and services and may not impose any cost-sharing requirements (such as a copayment, coinsurance, or deductible) with respect to those items or services. Click to Download New Mandatory Preventive Items and Services – 2021 Update

Tax Advantaged Benefit Documents

June 18, 2021June 18, 2021Ed MacConnell

This site is dedicated to providing employers with the tools they need to successfully establish these written plans with SPDs at the lowest cost possible.

Alternatives to Health Insurance Benefits

June 13, 2021June 18, 2021Ed MacConnell

Sometimes clients offer other alternative benefits to their employees. The reasons for doing this are many but depending on the earnings of their workforce, offering a group medical plan will eliminate any health insurance subsidy. In those cases offering a group health insurance benefit can come off as a penalty for the employees. By offering alternative benefits our experts can help the employees enrolled on a subsidized health insurance plan and still get good if not great benefits from their employer! ICHRA: with an ICHRA the employer can give the employees money towards their health insurance purchase. The ICHRA allows the employer to do so with untaxed dollars and the… Read More

What is Blue Card PPO?

June 11, 2021June 18, 2021Ed MacConnell

Many clients ask us about Blue Card PPO and how it works. Blue Card PPO is typically attached to our clients policies who are enrolled on an IBC Personal Choice PPO or National Network PPO or a Horizon Blue Cross plan with National Access. You can tell if you have this on your plan if your card has the PPO Traveling Briefcase ppo logo. It’s important to note that members who have a Keystone HMO, Amerihealth or Horizon HMO or local EPO do NOT have Blue Card PPO. How Does the BlueCard Program Work? BlueCard® PPO Medical Plan The BlueCard Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) medical plan gives you the freedom to… Read More

IRS Guidance Clarifies DCAP Relief

June 9, 2021June 10, 2021Ed MacConnell

The IRS released Notice 2021-26 to address taxation of Dependent Care Assistance Programs (“DCAPs”) as it relates to the relief afforded under Section 214 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (“CAA”) and the increased DCAP limit under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARPA”).

CMS Announces Medicare Plan Finder Improvements

June 8, 2021June 10, 2021Ed MacConnell

Source: medicare.gov This week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced plans to improve and update the Medicare Plan Finder (MPF) and the Health Plan Management System (HPMS). HPMS is the system that Medicare Advantage and Part D plans use to provide data about their plan offerings to Medicare, and the MPF is the online tool that allows beneficiaries to evaluate, compare, and enroll in those plans. The changes will be in place for the start of the Medicare Open Enrollment Period starting on October 15 for 2022 plans. Many of the forthcoming MPF changes reflect suggestions that Medicare Rights and other advocates have made over the years to increase the tool’s… Read More

Can Employers Ask for Proof of Vaccination?

June 8, 2021June 10, 2021Ed MacConnell

From our partners at TOTAL HIPAA: As states reopen and companies invite employees back into the workplace, an employee’s vaccination status will become an important factor in minimizing workplace health risks and returning business to normal operations. Can employers implement a mandatory vaccination program? What do laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and federal agencies like the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) have to say about this? Click the link below to read the rest at Total HIPAA… Can Employers Ask for Proof of Vaccination?

Family Dental & Vision Plans

June 3, 2021June 3, 2021Ed MacConnell

We have a number of stand-alone dental and vision plans from Davis Vision, VSP and Delta Dental. You can review, compare and enroll on plans in minutes! https://brokers.dentalforeveryone.com/?id=B3F52EA5-F0E3-40B4-B1DB-0F060AE09478

What is Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI)?

June 3, 2021June 3, 2021Ed MacConnell

The figure used to determine eligibility for premium tax credits and other savings for Marketplace health insurance plans and for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). MAGI is adjusted gross income (AGI) plus these, if any: untaxed foreign income, non-taxable Social Security benefits, and tax-exempt interest. Contact you Total Benefit Solutions health insurance specialist for assistance with calculating your MAGI. For many people, MAGI is identical or very close to adjusted gross income. MAGI doesn’t include Supplemental Security Income (SSI). MAGI does not appear as a line on your tax return.

What is Balance Billing?

June 2, 2021June 3, 2021Ed MacConnell

When a provider bills you for the difference between the provider’s charge and the allowed amount. For example, if the provider’s charge is $100 and the allowed amount is $70, the provider may bill you for the remaining $30. A preferred provider may not balance bill you for covered services. Ask your health insurance experts at Total Benefit Solutions today how to avoid balance billing charges!

PEOPLE RISK MANAGEMENT

June 1, 2021June 3, 2021Ed MacConnell

Employees are usually a business’s biggest asset. Conversely, those same employees are also the biggest risk. If you have employees,you have employee-centric exposures, also known as people risks. These risks are rapidly increasing and evolving, and what were onceconsidered minor problems are now potentially disastrous for businesses. Download HR Solutions

What is a Qualified High Deductible Health Plan?

May 25, 2021May 25, 2021Ed MacConnell

Qualified HDHPs Enrollment in a qualified HDHP is a requirement for establishing and maintaining a health savings account. The chassis for a qualified HDHP is the same as described in Chapter 1, but it must also conform to certain federal guidelines: A qualified HDHP must specify both a minimum annual deductible and a maximum annual out-of-pocket (OOP) expense limit, as set every year by the IRS. The minimum annual deductible is just that—the minimum amount that the insured must pay before the plan pays any benefit. The maximum annual OOP expense limit is the cap on the sum of the annual deductible and all out-of-pocket expenses the insured must pay for covered expenses under the… Read More

What Is a Health Savings Account?

May 21, 2021May 21, 2021Ed MacConnell

A health savings account is a special purpose financial account that allows a consumer to save and pay for medical expenses on a tax-favored basis. Funds deposited into an HSA are not taxed; the funds in the account grow tax free; and the money accumulated in the account can be withdrawn tax free to pay for qualifying medical expenses. In effect, an HSA owner uses the account in a manner similar to a checking account to cover his or her (or his or her family’s) medical expenses. There are no income restrictions or requirements on who may or may not open and contribute to an HSA. The HSA—the account and its funds—belongs… Read More

Author: Ed MacConnell