Get health insurance for your employees The Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) is a new way to buy high-quality health insurance for your employees. It opens for business October 1, 2013. Get ready now by answering a few quick questions to learn what you need to know. Remember, your independent brokers at Total Benefit Solutions can guide you through the process and help you make the best decision for your company AND your employees!
Continue ReadingIn June 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) as unconstitutional. This opened the door for federal recognition of same-sex marriages in states that recognize such unions. The Obama administration has pledged a thorough and expedited review of federal laws, including federal benefit laws. We expect the agencies to release guidance soon with regard to various health and welfare compliance requirements associated with the tax guidance, potentially including, but not limited to, COBRA qualified beneficiary determinations, Form W-2 reporting changes, plan document, SPD and cafeteria plan document amendments, open enrollment and new hire packet language changes, etc. Click here to download… Read More
Continue Reading
We have good news for women who care about their health! You have new rights and protections in the Health Insurance Marketplace starting in 2014. Click here to read this update on healthcare.gov
Continue Reading
HARRISBURG – Gov. Corbett will announce his plan Monday to expand health coverage for the poor by using public dollars to finance commercial insurance for 500,000 uninsured Pennsylvanians… Corbett, ending months of speculation about whether the state would take advantage of billions in Medicaid dollars, will seek approval from the federal government to provide private health coverage rather than expand the state’s Medicaid rolls, say several people who were briefed on the plan. Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20130914_Corbett_to_propose_big_Medicaid_changes.html#iRGhs84yyBMXqMVm.99
Continue ReadingThere have been many questions regarding whether employers can be penalized for failing to provide employees with the Exchange Notice, due by October 1, 2013. On September 11, 2013, the U.S. Department of Labor issued an FAQ regarding the Exchange Notice. The DOL has provided that while employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act should provide the Exchange Notice by October 1, there is no fine or penalty under the law for failing to provide the notice. Click here to download today’s exchange notice
Continue ReadingWhat is a HRA / defined contribution plan? Total Benefit Solutions has partnered with Zane Benefits to offer our clients an affordable, state of the art, compliant HRA/Defined Contribution plan. With reform fast approaching, many employers large and small will consider this arrangement to offer their employees a quality, flexible, easy to use and competitive benefit package. Click here to learn more.
Continue ReadingMost employers must provide their employees with written notice that includes information regarding the Exchange (now called the Health Insurance Marketplace). The deadline to provide the notice is approaching; the notice must be provided to each employee not later than October 1, 2013. Employers are free to move forward with providing this notice, but may want to wait until closer to the deadline (perhaps early-mid September) in the event additional guidance is issued or the Exchanges are further delayed. Click the link below to download the notice. Exchange Notice Reminder – 82113R
Continue ReadingWondering how the new Health Insurance Exchange or Marketplace is going to work? the SHOP Marketplace is for small businesses with 2 to 49 employees. This simple graphic should help. Contact Total Benefit Solutions at (215)355-2121 or www.totalbenefits.net for professional assistance!
Continue ReadingWondering how the new Health Insurance Exchange or Marketplace is going to work? This simple graphic should help. Contact Total Benefit Solutions at (215)355-2121 or www.totalbenefits.net for professional assistance!
Continue Reading
A new interactive “wizard tool” is available online from BusinessUSA to help employers understand the changes that may affect their companies under Health Care Reform. The tool is simple to use. Business owners can input information regarding company size, location, and whether they currently offer insurance to their employees. Based on the employer’s responses, the tool generates guidance on Health Care Reform changes and other health care-related resources relevant to the employer’s business. Other useful information and services for business owners can be found on theBusinessUSA website.
Continue Reading
Free Series for Small Business Owners to Help Understand the Law The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), together with the Small Business Majority (a national nonprofit advocacy organization), has launched theAffordable Care Act 101 Weekly Webinar Series. The webinars feature guidance on key pieces of the law for small business owners provided by SBA representatives, followed by a question and answer period. Topics being discussed in the webinars include: Small business tax credits—who is eligible and how to claim the credit; Shared responsibility (also known as “pay or play”); Cost containment; and Tools and resources available for small businesses to learn more about the law. The… Read More
Continue ReadingThe Affordable Care Act requires non-grandfathered group health plans to cover certain preventive services without cost-sharing. Effective for the first plan year that began on or after August 1, 2012, this requirement includes coverage of all FDA-approved contraceptive methods, sterilization procedures and patient education and counseling for all women with reproductive capacity, as prescribed by a health care provider. The Departments of Labor, Treasury and Health and Human Services issued a final rule addressing the contraceptives mandate for religious employers and nonprofit religious organizations, discussed briefly below. Generally speaking, the final rule follows the proposed rule, with a few modifications. Click here to download the final details on Contraceptive… Read More
Continue ReadingWASHINGTON — In another setback for President Obama’s health care initiative, the administration has delayed until 2015 a significant consumer protection in the law that limits how much people may have to spend on their own health care. The limit on out-of-pocket costs, including deductibles and co-payments, was not supposed to exceed $6,350 for an individual and $12,700 for a family. But under a little-noticed ruling, federal officials have granted a one-year grace period to some insurers, allowing them to set higher limits, or no limit at all on some costs, in 2014. The grace period has been outlined on the Labor Department’s Web site since February, but was obscured… Read More
Continue ReadingNew Tool Provides Guidance on Health Care Changes A new interactive “wizard tool” is available online from BusinessUSA to help employers understand the changes that may affect their companies under Health Care Reform. The tool is simple to use. Business owners can input information regarding company size, location, and whether they currently offer insurance to their employees. Based on the employer’s responses, the tool generates guidance on Health Care Reform changes and other health care-related resources relevant to the employer’s business. Other useful information and services for business owners can be found on the BusinessUSA website.
Continue ReadingLet’s face it, even though Medicare provides health coverage for 49 million Americans, the program itself isn’t all that easy to understand. That’s why AARP Illinois State President Merri Dee and AARP Illinois staff member and Medicare expert Courtney Hedderman got together this week for a question-and-answer session with about 1,500 of our members through a tele-town hall. Here are some of the questions asked during the call and the answers. Q: I’ve heard that the new health care law makes changes to Medicare, can you explain those changes? Click here for the story on the AARP Medicare Blog
Continue Reading
The employer penalty provisions and two reporting requirements under the Affordable Care Act have been delayed until 2015. Although Notice 2013-45 was released, it does little to expand on the earlier announcement of the delay. The Notice does provide further guidance on the transition relief that operates to delay these provisions. It is important to note that the employer penalties and applicable reporting requirements will be fully effective in 2015. The Notice confirms the following: Click to download and read
Continue ReadingAs an employer, there’s a lot you need to know in order to decide whether or not to offer health care through a health insurance exchange. But before you make a decision….click to read the story
Continue Reading
The Affordable Care Act, which was passed in 2010 and upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2012, includes numerous provisions that impact people with disabilities through expansions of Medicaid, private health insurance reforms, new care coordination programs and efforts to transition elderly and disabled populations from institutional to home and community settings. The ACA: Click here for the story on Medicare News Group
Continue Reading(Bloomberg) — As a central part of President Barack Obama’s health-care law, Americans will soon be able to obtain insurance through federal exchanges. But how, exactly, will people apply for coverage? Click here for the story…
Continue ReadingThe Small Business Health Options Program’s (SHOP) place along the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) timeline. It’s now being packaged for mass consumption and soon will be stocked on store shelves across all 50 states. Click here to read more…
Continue Reading
Empire State approves plans to be sold by 17 insurers and lower expected premiums may ease fears that next year’s implementation of the biggest parts of the Affordable Care Act would send prices soaring… Click here to read the story
Continue ReadingThe Research Fee filing deadline is July 31, 2013 for self-funded medical plans and HRAs Insurance carriers will report and pay the Fee for fully insured plans. If an employer has several self-insured arrangements with the same plan year, they are subject to a single fee. An HRA integrated with a self-funded plan providing major medical coverage will not incur a separate fee specific to the HRA if the HRA and plan are established or maintained by the same plan sponsor. Click below to download the bulletin Research Fees Due Interested in our free Health Care Reform Checklist? send an email
Continue Reading
By August 1st, Aetna is scheduled to mail rebate notices and checks to policyholders and subscribers whose plans are due a rebate under the Minimum Medical Loss Ratio provision of the Affordable Care Act. For group plans, rebate checks will be sent to the policyholder, with few exceptions. Please click the link below to download the bulletin. Click to download
Continue ReadingNJDOBI Issues Amendments to IHC and SEH Rating Rules under PPACA For rates applicable to all rating periods beginning on or after January 1, 2014, carriers are directed to: Formulate rates in the IHC market to achieve a required 300 percent maximum ratio between premiums for the highest rated individual policyholder and the lowest rated individual policyholder in the State. Age factor categories should be in the following increments: children ages 0 through 20, one-year age bands for adults ages 21 through 63, and a single age band for adults ages 64 and over; Formulate rates in the SEH market without regard to gender. Age factor categories should be in… Read More
Continue Reading
Beginning in 2014, individuals and small businesses with up to 50 employees can purchase insurance through online exchanges, also called “health insurance marketplaces.” Each exchange will offer a choice of health plans that meet certain benefit and cost standards. In 2016, businesses with up to 100 employees will be able to participate. Coventry Health/Aetna recently released this easy to understand video that may help you understand the new exchange or” marketplace” system of buying health insurance. Click here to watch the six minute long video.
Continue Reading
You must be logged in to post a comment.