Association Health Plans | 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

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

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

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”).

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?

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

Return to Work Checklist

May 18, 2021May 18, 2021Ed MacConnell

Thankfully it seems things are coming to and end of the pandemic and your employees will be returning to the workplace! Download our handy return to work checklist to make certain you have all your bases covered! Compliments of our partners at Think HR! As always contact your Total Benefit Solutions, Inc health insurance specialist at (215)355-2121 for more information or to get your complimentary subscription to Think HR! Click here to download the return to work checklist

IBC: MLR Additional Rebates

May 7, 2021May 10, 2021Ed MacConnell

Notice from Independence Blue Cross: Health insurance premium rebates for 2017 Small Group policyholders and 2018 Consumer policyholders As a result of a United States Supreme Court decision last year, Independence received additional payment from the Federal Government that impacted our Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) for 2017 and 2018. Beginning the week of May 17, Small Group policyholders from 2017 and Consumer policyholders from 2018 will receive checks that are a rebate for a portion of their health insurance premiums for that year. What is MLR? The Affordable Care Act requires that all health insurers spend a percentage of each premium dollar received towards paying claims, clinical services, and activities that improve health care quality for… Read More

Update on COVID-19 Vaccine and Vaccine Administration Cost

April 23, 2021April 23, 2021Ed MacConnell

Update on COVID-19 Vaccine and Vaccine Administration Cost Medicare has increased and simplified its payment rate for administration of the COVID-19 vaccine to $40 per dose. This change may impact group health plans with respect to their payment rate to providers. Non-grandfathered group health plans are required to cover, without cost sharing, the COVID-19 vaccine. This obligation extended to coverage associated with administering the vaccine. The federal government continues to pay for the vaccine itself through funding authorized by the CARES Act.For vaccines administered in-network, plans will pay the rate negotiated with in-network providers, and that continues to be true. For vaccines administered out-of-network, however, group health plans must reimburse… Read More

COVID-19 PPE Now a Qualified Medical Expense

April 13, 2021April 13, 2021Ed MacConnell

On March 26, 2021, the IRS issued IRS Announcement 2021-7, which clarifies that amounts paid for certain personal protective equipment (“COVID-19 PPE”) used to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including masks, hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes can be treated as amounts paid for medical care under § 213(d) of the Internal Revenue Code. Accordingly, because these amounts are expenses for medical care under § 213(d) of the Internal Revenue Code, these amounts can also be eligible expenses under a health flexible spending account (health FSA), health savings accounts (HSAs), health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) and Archer medical savings accounts (Archer MSAs). Note, that if the amount is paid or reimbursed under… Read More

Heard of Reference Based Pricing Health Insurance?

April 12, 2021April 13, 2021Ed MacConnell

Reference-based pricing is a payment system that replaces or enhances a health plan’s traditional “usual and customary” pricing for contracted claims. Rather than calculating the average charge of providers in a geographic area or a pre-contracted cost, a health plan utilizing reference-based pricing instead arbitrates its allowable amount for medical claims based on its chosen method (most commonly Medicare rates, or a certain percentage above those rates), which is a price that the payor deems reasonable. In other words the employer, the payor brings their rates with them into the health care agreement, not the other way around. This represents a much more independent framework for determining sensible health care… Read More

Impact of Key Provisions of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 COVID-19 Relief on Marketplace Premiums

April 3, 2021April 2, 2021Ed MacConnell

there are millions of uninsured people who could be getting subsidized coverage on the ACA Marketplaces, but have not taken advantage of this financial help. In many cases, it may be that the financial help available to them is not sufficient to make the premium or the deductible affordable

Health Insurance: What Do You Pay for?

March 23, 2021March 26, 2021Ed MacConnell

What Is a Monthly Premium? Your monthly premium is the set amount you pay each month to have your plan. You pay it even if you don’t receive any medical care that month. Like other bills, this premium can rise when it’s time to renew your plan for the next year. For individual ACA compliant plans, premiums are based on a pre-approved age based grid. When you enter a age on the grid, your premium will increase on your bill. What Are Out-of-Pocket Costs? Out-of-pocket costs are what you must pay when you get care. These costs depend on how much care you actually get and if you have a… Read More

Departments Issue Guidance Re: FFCRA and CARES Act

March 16, 2021March 16, 2021Ed MacConnell

On February 26, 2021, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury (together, the “Departments”) issued FAQ 44 addressing health coverage issues related to COVID-19. Briefly, the new FAQs focus on diagnostic testing and coverage for testing and clarify previous guidance in FAQs.Background Section 6001 of the FFCRA requires group health plans (including grandfathered health plans) and health insurance issuers to provide coverage for certain items and services related to testing or the diagnosis of COVID-19 without any cost-sharing requirements, prior authorization or othermedical requirements. Section 3201 of the CARES Act amended Section 6001 of the FFCRA to include a broader range of diagnostic items and services… Read More

COBRA Subsidy in the works

March 9, 2021March 9, 2021Ed MacConnell

Photo by AllGo – An App For Plus Size People on Unsplash A COBRA subsidy is included in early drafts of the proposed fiscal year 2021 budget reconciliation package. If finalized, the COBRA subsidy would apply to workers who have lost group coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic due to involuntary termination or reduction in hours of employment. Download this bulletin below for more information and as always contact your Total Benefit Solutions, Inc health insurance specialist with any questions at (215)355-2121. Download COBRA Subsidy in the Works

Onboarding Employees with Total Benefit Solutions

February 10, 2021February 25, 2021Ed MacConnell

This quick and simple video shows you how easy it is to enroll your employees onto your group health insurance and benefits when you are working with Total Benefit Solutions, Inc! Make it easier for you call us today at (215)355-2121

Reminders for Medicare CMS Notice and 1094-1095 filing

February 9, 2021February 25, 2021Ed MacConnell

Medicare Part D – CMS Notification ReminderEmployers sponsoring a group health plan are required by federal law to inform the Centers for Medicare and MedicaidServices within 60 days after the beginning of the plan year about the creditable status of the plan’s prescription drugcoverage. Final 2020 Forms 1094-C and 1095-C IssuedApplicable large employers must furnish the 2020 Forms 1095-C to its full-time employees by no later than Tuesday, March 2, 2021. Download Reminders for Medicare CMS Notice and 1094-1095 filing

Review us on Google

January 16, 2021February 25, 2021Ed MacConnell

At Total Benefit Solutions we strive to provide our clients with the best service and support when shopping, enrolling and servicing their health insurance all year long. We appreciate having the opportunity and as always “We Work for Your Benefit”. If you have worked with us, please help us get some feedback by reviewing us on Google. You’ll need to be logged in to your Google account to do so. Click here to rate us!

CMS Recognizes Total Benefit Solutions, Inc

October 8, 2019October 8, 2019Kimberly Leonardi

Video: Court Strikes Down Association Health Plan Rule

April 17, 2019April 17, 2019Ed MacConnell

Court Strikes Down Association Health Plan Rules

April 17, 2019April 17, 2019Ed MacConnell

On March 28th, 2019, a Federal District Court in the District of Columbia struck down significant portions of the Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) Association Health Plan (AHP) Final Rule. Specifically, the Court found the DOL “failed to reasonably interpret” ERISA when issuing these rules: • expanding the definition of “employers” to include disparate groups of employers with no other commonality of interest other than geographic location; and • bringing working owners without employees within ERISA’s framework. This ruling effectively eliminates the expansion of AHPs to certain employers and working owners who do not meet the original parameters to be a part of an AHP. Click below to download the complete… Read More

New Jersey Small Employer Stop Loss Bill

March 13, 2019March 13, 2019Ed MacConnell

A bill has been introduced in New Jersey in both the Senate and Assembly that, if passed, would prohibit insurance carriers or other insurers subject to the insurance laws of New Jersey or any other state from offering, issuing or renewing any stop loss insurance policy of any kind to small employers. Stop loss insurance provides reimbursement for catastrophic, excess or unexpected expenses and is used by small employers to self-insure part of the health insurance coverage they provide for employees. Under New Jersey law, in connection with a group health plan, a small employer means an employer with 2-50 eligible employees on business days during the preceding calendar year. If passed,… Read More

Change of Income? When and How to Notify the Marketplace.

November 9, 2018March 20, 2019Kimberly Leonardi

One of the benefits of getting your Health Insurance through the Marketplace is the tax credit applied to your premium, which makes your costs much more affordable. However, when determining how much your tax credit will be, you use an estimate on your income for the following year. Life is always changing, so if your income changes, if your Family size changes or even being offered Healthcare in some other way it is IMPORTANT to alert the Marketplace of these changes or you may end up owing money back to the Government when you file your taxes at the end of the year. Here we will talk about which types… Read More

How To Find a Doctor You Trust

November 9, 2018November 8, 2018Kimberly Leonardi

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

Category: Association Health Plans

MHPNJ : Important Plan Cancellation Status Information

Independence: Using the e-bill feature

Alternatives to Health Insurance Benefits

Top 10 Questions to Ask Your Benefits Broker

IRS Guidance Clarifies DCAP Relief

Can Employers Ask for Proof of Vaccination?

What is a Qualified High Deductible Health Plan?

Return to Work Checklist

IBC: MLR Additional Rebates

Update on COVID-19 Vaccine and Vaccine Administration Cost

COVID-19 PPE Now a Qualified Medical Expense

Heard of Reference Based Pricing Health Insurance?

Impact of Key Provisions of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 COVID-19 Relief on Marketplace Premiums

Health Insurance: What Do You Pay for?

Departments Issue Guidance Re: FFCRA and CARES Act

COBRA Subsidy in the works

Onboarding Employees with Total Benefit Solutions

Reminders for Medicare CMS Notice and 1094-1095 filing

Review us on Google

CMS Recognizes Total Benefit Solutions, Inc

Video: Court Strikes Down Association Health Plan Rule

Court Strikes Down Association Health Plan Rules

New Jersey Small Employer Stop Loss Bill

Change of Income? When and How to Notify the Marketplace.

How To Find a Doctor You Trust