Blue Cross Medicare Plans – Total Benefit Solutions Inc

New Medicare Part-D Changes Affecting Employers for 2024-25

September 13, 2024September 13, 2024Mirasol Bandong

Dear Valued Client: We wanted to alert you to an upcoming change that could have a significant impact on Medicare-eligible employees and dependents who currently have group health coverage. Starting in 2025, Medicare Part D plans will have a $2,000 out-of-pocket limit. As CMS explains, this change, which is part of the Inflation Reduction Act, also includes measures like a $35 cap on insulin and new authority for Medicare to negotiate prices for certain high-cost drugs. The new $2,000 cap for Part D is particularly important because it could alter the status of many employer group health plans that currently provide drug coverage. Each year, employers must determine whether their prescription drug… Read More

2025 Part D Changes and Employer Sponsored Group Health Plans

September 9, 2024September 5, 2024Mirasol Bandong

Employers must inform the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) and participants and beneficiaries who qualify for Medicare Part D of the creditable or non-creditable status of the group health plan prescription drug plan(s). When prescription medication coverage meets or exceeds Medicare Part D, it is considered creditable. Any coverage that falls short of Medicare Part D’s quality standards is deemed non-creditable As previously reported, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (“IRA”) changed aspects of the Medicare Part D program to enhance and improve Medicare Part D coverage. The changes include: As a result of these changes, some employer sponsored prescription drug coverage may no longer qualify as creditable… Read More

IBC Medicare Members Save money with your IBX Care Card

September 3, 2024September 3, 2024Ed MacConnell

Your IBX Care Card comes preloaded with a quarterly balance. Your card will be automatically reloaded every quarter (every three months). Be sure to spend your allowance each quarter, as any unused balance will not roll over to the next quarter. Please keep your card in a safe location, as you may use the same card for as long as you remain a member of a participating plan. Click here for more information about the IBX Care card for Medicare members or contact us today at (215)355-2121

Wellcare PDP Plans: Contract Termination: Important Change!!

August 25, 2024August 24, 2024Ed MacConnell

Total Benefit Solutions, Inc has been notified by Wellcare PDP plans that our contract is being terminated without cause beginning immediately. Due to the changes in coverage mandated by the Inflation Reduction Act, Wellcare is terminating our agreement for the purposes of not paying bew or renewal business commissions. What does that mean for our clients?Beginning immediately, we will no longer be able to enroll new customers onto Wellcare PDP plans. Further moving forward, we will be unable to provide service to our existing clients already on Wellcare or who choose to renew with a Wellcare PDP plan for 2025. Our experts are standing by to answer your questions or… Read More

Important Changes to Medicare Drug Coverage for 2025

August 24, 2024August 31, 2024Ed MacConnell

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has resulted in significant changes to Part D including: Elimination of the Coverage Gap or “donut hole”A new $2,000 out-of-pocket spending capA shift in cost sharing responsibility in the catastrophic coverage phaseA new cost sharing smoothing option called the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan These changes have an enormous impact on your Medicare coverage in 2025 for nearly all those on Medicare including Medicare beneficiaries who are still choosing their employer plans. Please review your ANOC carefully for your 2025 coverage and contact your Total Benefit Solutions Inc health insurance experts if you have any questions or concerns about how these changes impact you and your… Read More

Disaster Special Election Periods in several states

July 15, 2024July 12, 2024Mirasol Bandong

This is an important announcement for customers in Arizona, California, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas and West Virginia and for those with business in these states. The counties below are under a federal or state designated SEP due to an emergency. Applications for disaster SEP are only accepted as long as the SEP declaration is in place. For the most recent information, if a deadline is not specified below, please use Producers’ University’s Ongoing SEP tracker. Applications for SEPs submitted after the declaration date of that SEP will not be accepted. IMPORTANT : Please be aware The SEP begins on the date of the incident’s start, if that occurs earlier, or on… Read More

Medicare Part D’s new $2,000 annual cap on out-of-pocket prescription costs.

July 3, 2024July 2, 2024Mirasol Bandong

There are significant changes coming to Medicare Part D plans in 2025. In 2024 once your out-of-pocket spending on prescriptions tops about $3,300, you qualify for Medicare’s “catastrophic coverage” and pay nothing for your covered Part D drugs for the rest of the year. (In 2023, once you hit catastrophic coverage, you still owed 5% of your drug costs.) But come 2025, people with Part D plans won’t have to pay more than $2,000 in out-of-pocket costs, thanks to a provision in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. This new rule applies only to medications covered by your Part D plan, though, and does not apply to out-of-pocket spending on… Read More

Special Enrollment Period Extended: Florida Emergency Declaration – Hurricane Idalia

June 28, 2024June 28, 2024Mirasol Bandong

Please be advised that a state of emergency was extended for certain Florida counties. This declaration allows for a one-time Special Enrollment Period (SEP), in the event beneficiaries were unable to make an election during another qualifying election period. Please reference the following guidelines for the incident period. This DST-SEP applies to the Florida counties listed below. Important Compliance Information Who is eligible: This SEP opportunity is ONLY available to beneficiaries who: Details : Impacted Counties: Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Nassau, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas,… Read More

Medicare Supplement plan closure

April 15, 2024April 15, 2024Mirasol Bandong

AmeriHealth will stop accepting new enrollments for any Medicare Supplement plans as of April 1, 2024, the date the plans go into effect. Medicare Supplement Plans A, C, D, F, G, G-HD, and N were provided by AmeriHealth. Members who are presently enrolled in these plans will continue to receive services from AmeriHealth, guaranteeing that their coverage will not be stopped. To read more about the article click HERE We are dedicated to providing exceptional service, so please do not hesitate to contact our dedicated Total Benefit Solutions health insurance specialists at (215)-355-2121 or fill out the contact form below. We are available to answer any questions or address any… Read More

2025 Medicare Advantage and Part D Rate Announcement

April 11, 2024Mirasol Bandong

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Announcement of Calendar Year (CY) 2025 Medicare Advantage (MA) Capitation Rates and Part C and Part D Payment Policies (the Rate Announcement). The objectives set forth by CMS for Medicare and Part D align with our overall program vision for the agency, which includes advancing health justice, promoting affordability and the Medicare program’s sustainability, and driving comprehensive, person-centered care. Medicare Advantage and Part D Rate Announcement We are dedicated to providing exceptional service, so please do not hesitate to contact our dedicated Total Benefit Solutions health insurance specialists at (215)-355-2121 or fill out the contact form below. We are available to… Read More

Update on Legislation – EmblemHealth

March 29, 2024March 28, 2024Mirasol Bandong

President Joe Biden presented his budget proposal on March 11th, 2024, for the federal fiscal year that would start on October 1st. Along with raising taxes on people earning more than $400,000 annually, the budget would also help extend talks with pharmaceutical corporations to prolong the Medicare program’s financial viability. click HERE to read the whole article. We are dedicated to providing exceptional service, so please do not hesitate to contact our dedicated Total Benefit Solutions health insurance specialists at (215)-355-2121 or fill out the contact form below. We are available to answer any questions or address any concerns you may have.

United Healthcare and Mount Sinai Renew Relationship

March 28, 2024March 27, 2024Mirasol Bandong

In accordance with a new multi-year agreement between UnitedHealthcare and Mount Sinai Health System, individuals participating in employer-sponsored and individual plans, such as the Oxford Health Plan, will once again have network access to the system’s hospitals. Additionally, the agreement guarantees continuous, uninterrupted access to the doctors at Mount Sinai. for more information click HERE We are dedicated to providing exceptional service, so please do not hesitate to contact our dedicated Total Benefit Solutions health insurance specialists at (215)-355-2121 or fill out the contact form below. We are available to answer any questions or address any concerns you may have.

Claim Processing Delays and Invoice Updates

March 27, 2024March 26, 2024Mirasol Bandong

On February 21, 2024, MVP stopped doing business with Change Healthcare and its subsidiaries, as well as all digital interactions. This was due to a cyber security breach. In compliance with national and state regulations, MVP is implementing innovative business solutions and restoring affected service functionality as needed. Processing Delays for Provider Claims : New York State Department of Financial Services encourage issuers and pharmaceutical benefit managers (PBMs) to take into account granting provider requests to halt or reverse specific administrative processes. MVP is assessing each provider’s request for suspension and tolling individually and determining whether a certification is necessary. To read more click HERE We are dedicated to providing… Read More

FTC to send nearly $100 million in refunds to consumers of Benefytt’s fraudulent health plans

March 19, 2024March 19, 2024Mirasol Bandong

Refunds are being sent by the Federal Trade Commission to customers it claims purchased fraudulent health plans that Benefytt Technologies misrepresented as Obamacare plans or Affordable Care Act. Benefytt, which operated under several identities, including Health Insurance Innovations, used deceptive websites and aggressive marketing to trick people looking for health insurance into purchasing fake policies that came with expensive monthly premiums, according to the FTC’s August 2022 complaint. “Benefytt pocketed millions selling sham insurance to seniors and other consumers looking for health coverage,” Samuel Levine, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in a statement at the time the original complaint was filed. Qualified for the refund: Click HERE to… Read More

Is The Covid 19 vaccine covered by Medicare in 2024?

February 24, 2024February 23, 2024Ed MacConnell

I s The Covid 19 vaccine covered by Medicare? Medicare does cover the updated (2023–2024 formula) Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for people 5 and older. If you’re immunocompromised (like people who have had an organ transplant and are at risk for infections and other diseases), you can get a 3-dose series of updated (2023–2024 formula. Have more Medicare questions? For more information contact your Total Benefit Solutions, Inc health insurance professionals at (215)355-2121

2024 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles

February 22, 2024February 22, 2024Ed MacConnell

On October 12, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2024 premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance amounts for the Medicare Part A and Part B programs, and the 2024 Medicare Part D income-related monthly adjustment amounts. The Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) help more than 10 million people with coverage of Medicare premiums and, in most cases, other cost sharing. In their continued efforts to improve access to health care and lower costs for millions of Americans, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through CMS, recently finalized a rule to streamline enrollment in MSPs, making coverage more affordable for an estimated 860,000 people. In addition, the… Read More

2023 RxDC Reporting Instructions Released

February 16, 2024Mirasol Bandong

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) recently updated its Prescription Drugs Data Collection (“RxDC”) reporting instructions for 2023 data. There are some noticeable differences. As previously reported, group health plan sponsors (typically employers) are required to submit information to CMS on prescription drugs and health care spending on an annual basis (“RxDC reporting”). The first reporting deadline for calendar years 2020 and 2021 was December 27, 2022 (extended to January 31, 2023). The next deadline for reporting on calendar year 2023 is June 1, 2024, which, despite being a Saturday, is a firm date. It should be noted that carriers, pharmacy benefit managers (“PBMs”), and third-party administrators (“TPAs”)… Read More

IBC’s Latest Updates: Weight Loss Drug Policy

January 5, 2024January 5, 2024Ed MacConnell

The International Benefits Consortium (IBC) has recently revamped its weight management medication coverage, responding to the FDA’s approval of Zepbound—a potent combination of GIP and GLP-1 receptors. This aligns Zepbound with existing options like Wegovy® and Saxenda® under IBC’s coverage criteria. Key Points: Weight Loss Drug Policy Update: IBC’s weight loss drug policy now includes Zepbound, showcasing their commitment to staying current with pharmaceutical advancements and ensuring robust coverage options for members. CAA Gag Clause Attestation: Addressing transparency concerns, IBC acknowledges the CAA’s impact on healthcare communication by eliminating “gag clauses” that restrict information exchange between providers and patients. Healthy You Program Options: IBC introduces new program options for self-funded… Read More

Decisions for someone who is nearing age 65

December 12, 2023December 12, 2023Ed MacConnell

As you near age 65, you need to learn about Medicare coverage choices and make several important enrollment decisions. This fact sheet will give you a list of the steps you shouldtake and tell you about resources to help you make your Medicare enrollment decisions. There can be penalties if you do not enroll on time, so it is best to complete these tasksat least 3 months BEFORE you turn 65. Please note you can enroll on Medicare Parts A & B with Medicare about 90 days before your 65th birthday. IF YOU ARE STILL WORKING and your company has less than 20 employees you still MUST enroll on Medicare… Read More

Medicare Supplement Insights: Protecting Your Wallet

October 9, 2023October 9, 2023Ed MacConnell

In a world where healthcare costs are a growing concern for many, Medicare Supplement coverage has emerged as a reliable solution to bridge the gaps in original Medicare. As we delve into the latest data from 2021, including insights from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), the California Department of Managed Health Care, and the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) from 2020, a compelling narrative about the significance of Medicare Supplement plans unfolds. Key Takeaways: 1. A Majority Embrace Medicare Supplement: In 2020, a staggering 54% of original Medicare enrollees without additional insurance coverage, such as Medicaid or employer-provided insurance, turned to Medicare Supplement policies for added peace of… Read More

Medicaid & CHIP Enrollment Extension!

October 3, 2023October 3, 2023Ed MacConnell

In a recent development, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Departments of Labor (DOL) and the Treasury have issued a letter urging employers, plan sponsors, and carriers to consider extending the enrollment period for employer-sponsored health plans. This extension is aimed at helping individuals who have lost their Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage due to the resumption of normal eligibility and enrollment procedures. Traditionally, Medicaid coverage requires annual renewal of eligibility. However, during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, these renewal requirements were temporarily halted to prevent members from losing their coverage. Unfortunately, this pause in eligibility rules came to an end on March… Read More

What is your Medicare Part D ANOC?

September 30, 2023September 30, 2023Ed MacConnell

The Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) is a document that Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans are required to send to their members every year. The ANOC outlines any changes in coverage, costs, and more that will be effective in January 1. If you’re enrolled in a Medicare plan, your plan will send you an ANOC each fall. The ANOC includes information about any changes to your plan’s coverage, costs, and service area that will be effective in January 1. It’s important to review the ANOC carefully to understand how your plan’s coverage and costs may change in the upcoming year. If you have any questions or concerns about the changes, you can contact… Read More

Employer’s Guide to Medicare Compliance

September 25, 2023September 26, 2023Ed MacConnell

Medicare is a critical healthcare program in the US, covering seniors and certain disabled individuals. Employers offering group health insurance to Medicare-eligible individuals must meet specific requirements. In this blog, we’ll discuss three key Medicare requirements for employers: Employers must ensure compliance with these Medicare regulations to provide necessary healthcare information and process claims correctly. This ensures employees receive the coverage they’re entitled to. For comprehensive information and resources, refer to our PDF document below. Meeting these obligations supports employee well-being and eases healthcare coverage complexities. As always, if you have any questions or concerns about this bulletin, please contact your Medicare health insurance experts at Total Benefit Solutions, Inc.… Read More

COBRA and Medicare: Complementary Health Insurance Explained

September 21, 2023September 21, 2023Ed MacConnell

In today’s rapidly changing job landscape, it’s not uncommon for individuals to find themselves eligible for both Medicare and COBRA simultaneously. This dual eligibility can be a bit bewildering, but understanding how these two crucial insurance options interact is vital to making informed decisions that could impact your finances and peace of mind. Let’s delve into the intricacies of how COBRA works with Medicare and explore the options available to you. COBRA Unveiled First, let’s demystify COBRA. The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) is a federal program designed to provide a safety net for workers and their families. It allows you to maintain the health coverage provided by your… Read More

Unlocking Medicare’s Potential: Top 3 Broker Benefits

September 13, 2023September 13, 2023Ed MacConnell

It’s that time of year again – the Annual Open Enrollment period for Medicare is almost here, and it’s a crucial opportunity you won’t want to miss. If you’re eligible for Medicare, this is your chance to make important decisions about your healthcare coverage. Here are some compelling reasons why you should take advantage of this opportunity: Expert Guidance: Navigating the world of Medicare can be a complex and overwhelming task. Fortunately, during the Annual Open Enrollment period, you can access personalized advice and guidance from experienced brokers who understand the ins and outs of Medicare. These professionals can help you make informed decisions tailored to your unique healthcare needs.… Read More

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