Medicare – Page 14 – Total Benefit Solutions Inc

Total Benefit Solutions New Individual Dental & Vision Choices

May 27, 2015Ed MacConnell

As always at Total Benefit Solutions Inc, we are looking for ways to help our clients get the coverages they need. With our new dental and vision enrollment portal we can now offer individual dental and vision plans from top notch insurers like Delta Dental and Davis Vision. Easy to quote and easy to enroll! Try it today and see for yourself by clicking here

If an employee turns age 65 this month and enrolls in Medicare Part A, can he still receive/contribute funds into an HSA?

April 12, 2015April 12, 2015Ed MacConnell

Question: If an employee turns age 65 this month and enrolls in Medicare Part A, can he still receive/contribute funds into an HSA until the end of the year or must he enroll in a different plan now? Answer: If an employee is enrolled in Medicare, then beginning with the first month the employee is enrolled in Medicare, he can no longer contribute to the health savings account (HSA). However, the money that is already there is still his. Note that whether or not the employee is eligible to make new HSA contributions, existing HSA account funds are not affected. Even if the employee is no longer HSA-eligible, he or… Read More

Group Health Plan Notices 2015 CALENDAR

April 10, 2015Ed MacConnell

Group Health Plan Notices 2015 CALENDAR From our partners at HR360: This calendar/checklist is designed to help companies review the key reporting and notice requirements that may apply to their employer-sponsored group health plans under ERISA , the Affordable cxare Act, Medicare and more. Please note that this list is for general reference purposes only and is not all-inclusive. Note: ERISA and benefit requirements are complex, and your plan’s responsibilities may vary depending on the individual circumstances surrounding your company’s plan. Employers who have questions are encouraged to consult with their plan administrators, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, or a knowledgeable employment law attorney… Read More

2014 Compliance Bulletin Compilation

January 19, 2015Ed MacConnell

Download our 2014 Compliance Bulletin Compilation, featuring all of our released compliance bulletins for the entire year! Topics include, Health Savings Accounts, The Individual Mandate, Employer “pay or play” mandate, exemptions, FSA carryovers and much, much more. All of the bulletins are in an easy to search format for your convenience. 2014 Compliance Compilation – Download As always please contact your Total Benefit Solutions account manager at (215)355-02121 if you have any further questions or concerns.

Gilead makes exclusive deal with CVS for hepatitis C drugs

January 7, 2015Ed MacConnell

(Bloomberg) — Gilead Sciences Inc. agreed to make its hepatitis C medicines the exclusive treatments for CVS Health Corp. customers, intensifying a drug-industry rivalry to win patients for the $1,000-a-day medicines. Read the news story by clicking here.

Total Benefit Solutions is your Marketplace Navigator

November 9, 2014November 8, 2014Ed MacConnell

What do you get with Total Benefit Solutions as your Marketplace Navigator? A broker who is Unbiased and objective Trained Local Certified Licensed Insured Up to date Representing you Part of a team of dedicated professionals Click here for more information and to see our “Marketplace Navigator” brochure: Individual Enrollment Navigator Brochure

2015 Medicare Part B premiums and deductibles to remain the same as last two years

October 10, 2014October 10, 2014Ed MacConnell

Premiums, copays and deductibles for other Medicare programs for 2015 also announced Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Burwell announced today that next year’s standard Medicare Part B monthly premium and deductible will remain the same as the last two years. Medicare Part B covers physicians’ services, outpatient hospital services, certain home health services, durable medical equipment, and other items. For the approximately 49 million Americans enrolled in Medicare Part B, premiums and deductibles will remain unchanged in 2015 at $104.90 and $147, respectively. This leaves more of seniors’ cost of living adjustment from Social Security in their pockets.

Medicare: Medicare & You Online

October 3, 2014October 2, 2014Ed MacConnell

Did you know? You can go paperless and get your Medicare and You Handbook Online! As always, if you have any questions about Medicare health plans, please contact your Total Benefit Solutions account manager at (800)924-6718 or (215)355-2121.

Amerihealth: Medicare PDP RX Plans Going Away

October 2, 2014October 2, 2014Ed MacConnell

AmeriHealth® Medicare Rx PDP Non-Renewal This week, AmeriHealth Medicare Rx PDP members will receive a non-renewal notice in the mail. Coverage will end for these members on December 31, 2014. This non-renewal applies only to AmeriHealth Option I and II stand-alone prescription drug plans. Members will need to enroll in another Medicare drug plan in order to get prescription drug coverage for 2015. AmeriHealth Rx PDP members will be given a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to enroll in a new prescription drug plan. Members can enroll in a new plan anytime from October 15, 2014 through February 28, 2015. If members do not choose a new plan during this time, they… Read More

Medicare: Video-Parts of Medicare

October 2, 2014Ed MacConnell

CMSHHSgov has uploaded Medicare & You: Different Parts Of Medicare : As always, if you have any questions about Medicare health plans, please contact your Total Benefit Solutions account manager at (800)924-6718 or (215)355-2121.

Medicare Part D: Reminder to Distribute Creditable Coverage Notice

September 19, 2014Ed MacConnell

Medicare Part D: Reminder to Distribute Creditable Coverage Notice Employers who sponsor a group health plan with prescription drug benefits are required to notify their Medicare-eligible participants and beneficiaries as to whether the drug coverage provided under the plan is “creditable” or “non-creditable.” This notification must be provided prior to October 15th each year. Please click the link below to read the detailed bulletin. Medicare Part D Reminder-091914R

Medicare: What are the STAR ratings?

September 15, 2014September 15, 2014Ed MacConnell

Many of our clients ask us what the STAR ratings for each health plan really mean. Medicare.gov gives us the answer as: The Overall Star Rating combines scores for the types of services each plan offers: What is being measured? For plans covering health services, the overall score for quality of those services covers 36 different topics in 5 categories: Staying healthy: screenings, tests, and vaccines: Includes whether members got various screening tests, a yearly flu shot, and other check-ups that help them stay healthy. Managing chronic (long-term) conditions: Includes how often members with different conditions got certain tests and treatments that help them manage their condition. Member experience with the health plan: Includes… Read More

United Healthcare: National Medicare Education Week

September 15, 2014October 2, 2014Ed MacConnell

Do you find Medicare confusing? If so, you’re not alone. We recently conducted a survey1 that found that nearly 60 percent of Medicare beneficiaries described their understanding of Medicare as either “excellent” or “good,” but most were not able to correctly identify the health care expenses that each “part” of Medicare covers. And many said they found certain aspects of Medicare confusing. But, there’s some good news: Anyone can master Medicare with some help and education. That’s exactly why UnitedHealthcare created National Medicare Education Week (Sept. 15 – 21), an official week dedicated to Medicare education. National Medicare Education Week is meant to encourage people to spend time learning about… Read More

Third Annual National Medicare Education Week Offers Help Before Open Enrollment Period

September 12, 2014Ed MacConnell

Educational events and online resources to help baby boomers, Medicare beneficiaries and caregivers learn more about Medicare MINNETONKA, Minn. (Sep. 08, 2014) — The third annual National Medicare Education Week begins Monday, Sept. 15, exactly one month before the start of Medicare’s annual Open Enrollment Period (Oct. 15-Dec. 7). The observance was created to help people learn more about Medicare. Since National Medicare Education Week began in 2012, thousands of people have participated in educational events during the week in more than 60 cities across the country. This year, National Medicare Education Week events will be held for the first time in Boston, Salt Lake City and Richmond, Virginia; a… Read More

Medicare Update: Medicare is no longer prevented from recognizing same-sex marriages

August 26, 2014Ed MacConnell

Medicare is no longer prevented from recognizing same-sex marriages Special Update: As a result of the June 2013 U.S. Supreme Court ruling invalidating part of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which denied federal benefits to legally married same-sex couples,Medicare is no longer prevented from recognizing same-sex marriages for determining entitlement to, or eligibility for, Medicare. The Social Security Administration is now processing requests for Medicare Part A and Part B Special Enrollment Periods, as well as reductions in late enrollment penalties, for certain eligible individuals in same-sex marriages. Click here for more information.

Total Benefit Solutions to partner with ThinkHR

August 22, 2014August 22, 2014Ed MacConnell

In another effort to enhance our client experience and bring value to our small business clients, Total Benefit Solutions is proud to announce that we have entered into an agreement to provide Think HR. Soon our clients will get an introductory e-mail with instructions on how to access their complimentary ThinkHR account. We expect to have this resource available to our clients in September 2014, just in time for this year’s open enrollment period! Think HR will help our clients: Stay up to date with the latest news and resources Remain compliant with best practices from HR professionals Build tools like job… Read More

UnitedHealthcare is introducing a new wellness initiative

July 3, 2014Ed MacConnell

UnitedHealthcare is introducing a new wellness initiative called ‘At Your Best’ as a pilot program to New Jersey consumers who are enrolled in an AARP® Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan, insured by UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company. This new pilot program, which was introduced in mid-June, is a personalized health and wellness solution designed to help AARP Medicare Supplement insured members improve their overall health and wellness. Please note: All ‘At Your Best’ program communications will take place after the member is enrolled. About the ‘At Your Best’ program The ‘At Your Best’ program is for insured members of an AARP Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan. The program offers support through online health resources,… Read More

What is Critical Illness Insurance?

June 30, 2014February 8, 2015Ed MacConnell

Why Critical Illness as a “wrap” plan Because: They’re more affordable than you might think. They’re available for employer groups, individuals and seniors. They make selecting a health plan easier. They provide peace of mind against a catastrophic event and large out of pocket expenses. They’re person and portable, it doesn’t matter where you get your health insurance from, having your own critical illness plan makes it better. Many clients have asked how they can supplement their employees coverage when they get enrolled through the affordable care act healthcare.gov marketplace. Employers are permitted to offer wrap plans that consist of “excepted benefits”, meaning they are not regulated by the affordable… Read More

HR4302 Bill Passes: Repeals limitation on deductibles for employer-sponsored health plans

April 1, 2014Ed MacConnell

On March 31, 2014 President Obama signed into law Bill HR4302 – Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014, sometimes called the “Doc Fix” bill. While the primary purpose of this bill was to prevent the automatic cuts to physician Medicare payments, this bill also included a significant modification to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This bill included a section that ends the limitations on deductibles that were set at $2,000/individual and $4,000/family within the ACA on small group employer sponsored health plans, and made the effective date retroactive to the original enactment of the ACA. The act states: SEC. 213. ELIMINATION OF LIMITATION ON DEDUCTIBLES FOR EMPLOYER-SPONSORED HEALTH PLANS.… Read More

Crozer-Keystone Health System No Longer In Network with Cigna-Healthspring MAPD Plans

March 24, 2014Ed MacConnell

Please be advised of a change in the Cigna-HealthSpring provider network which may impact some of your customers. Starting May 1, 2014, Crozer-Keystone Health System will no longer be available to Cigna-HealthSpring members for hospital, home health or ancillary (surgery and other similar treatments) services. In a few days, we will mail the attached letter to the affected membership to advise them of this change. Please note that Crozer-Keystone health system primary care and specialty group doctors are still part of the Cigna-HealthSpring network. Only hospital, home health and ancillary services are leaving the network beginning May 1, 2014. Cigna-HealthSpring members currently under an active treatment plan may continue to… Read More

Humana: My Medicare Answers

March 19, 2014March 18, 2014Ed MacConnell

Humana introduces mymedicareanswers.com MyMedicareAnswers.com is an unbiased online community intended to educate, engage and capture conversations around the Medicare decision making process, ultimately offering clear, concise guidance to users – See more at: https://www.mymedicareanswers.com

2014 Updated Medicare Deductibles & Official Medigap Handbook

March 18, 2014Ed MacConnell

Click the link below to download an updated sheet with the Medicare deductibles for 2014. Download also includes the official CMS Handbook Choosing a Medigap Policy: A Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare. Click this link to download: BA9917ST (04-13)_lo res

IBC: Important Changes Regarding Medicare Part B Exclusion

March 18, 2014September 9, 2014Ed MacConnell

From IBC November 2013: We are writing to let you know that we will be contacting your group customers to communicate the Medicare Exclusion and application of this exclusion to their benefit plan. What is the Medicare Exclusion? The Medicare Exclusion applies to members for whom Medicare would be the primary payer but they have not elected to enroll. These members will be responsible for paying their doctor, hospital, or other medical professional the amount Medicare would have paid and any applicable copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles. In turn, their group health benefit plan will only pay the remaining balance on claims submitted as if the member had enrolled in Medicare… Read More

IBC: Medicare as Secondary Payer

March 17, 2014Ed MacConnell

Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) requirements determine when Medicare is the primary insurance payer. If your company has 19 or fewer full- and part-time employees, Medicare is almost always primary. If your company is larger, various rules apply to determine whether your group plan is the primary or secondary payer. MSP requirements also apply for Medicare-eligible employees who are disabled or have endstage renal disease. The following information provides a summary of the MSP requirements. This information may help you to correctly target benefits for your Medicare-eligible participants and avoid potentially costly penalties and litigation. You should, of course, also refer to the actual laws and regulations with the assistance of your own legal counsel. Click… Read More

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