Horizon has worked to address coverage matters and adjust business practices to help our members and customers during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Many of the accommodations we made are described in the COVID-19 Resource Guide. Recent key updates include the reinstatement of actively at work and waiting period requirements. As always, please contact your Total Benefit Solutions Inc health insurance specialists with any questions or concerns at (215)355-2121.
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Group health plans and tax-favored accounts—including health savings accounts (HSAs), health flexible spending arrangements (health FSAs), and health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs)—are subject to numerous nondiscrimination provisions under federal law. The most common nondiscrimination provisions are described. Please download the entire bulletin for details. As always please contact your Total Benefit Solutions, Inc group account manager at (215)355-2121 with any questions or concerns. This bulletin covers the following topics: Overview General Rules Section 125 Nondiscrimination Rules for Cafeteria Plans Section 105 Nondiscrimination Rules for Self-Insured Plans HIPAA Nondiscrimination Rules Nondiscrimination Rules Related to Medicare-Eligible Individuals Other Nondiscrimination Rules Additional Information
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The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (PCOR) fee filing deadline is August 1, 2022, for all self-funded medical plansand HRAs for plan years ending in 2021. The IRS issued Notice 2022-04 announcing the adjusted fee amount for this year. please download the bulleting below for more details and contact your Total Benefit Solutions, Inc. health insurance specialist at (215)355-2121.
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COBRA can be confusing for small and larger employees alike. Our quick guide to COBRA is here to make it easier. it’s simple and free to download! COBRA is not only an employer mandate but can also effect people on the health insurance marketplace! Take a look and then ask your Total Benefit Solutions, Inc health insurance specialists how COBRA effects you or your group.
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It’s easier to get pet insurance plans now that UnitedHealthcare has teamed up with FIGO. You can choose a plan with the deductible and reimbursement levels that best meet your needs, and you can add optional powerups like dental and wellness coverage. Plus, you’ll have the freedom to see any veterinarian for your pet’s care. Plan benefits include 24/7 access to Live Vet for virtual visits, a simpler claim process and direct deposit reimbursements. And there’s more. The FIGO Pet Cloud app gives you tools designed to help manage your pet’s care and help make pet parenting a breeze. Contact your Total Benefit Solutions, Inc health insurance specialist today at… Read More
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COVID-19 vaccines are an important step in helping to lessen the spread of the disease. While many adult New Yorkers have been vaccinated, vaccination rates among children remain relatively low. To encourage pediatric vaccination, we are offering New York-situs subscribers whose dependents are enrolled in a fully insured UnitedHealthcare or Oxford plan a $100 pre-paid Target Gift Card. The New York Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccination Reward program is in effect May 5, 2022 through October 1, 2022. Criteria for the New York UnitedHealthcare and Oxford Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccination Reward program Dependent child(ren) must be enrolled on an active subscriber’s New York UnitedHealthcare or Oxford fully insured plan. Dependent must be eligible for the… Read More
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The Part B give back benefit helps those on Medicare lower their monthly health care spending by reducing the amount of their Medicare Part B premium. When you enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan that offers this benefit, the carrier pays either a part of or the entire premium for your outpatient coverage each month
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2022 Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund (“PCORTF”) Fees May 23, 2022 This Allied Update serves as a reminder that the annual Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund (“PCORTF”) fees are due by July 31, 2022. By way of background, at the end of 2019, the Federal Government reauthorized the annual payment of fees by health insurers and group health plans into the PCORTF until 2029. (Such payments were previously set to expire for plan years ending on or after October 1, 2018 and before October 1, 2019, and beyond.) The fee is due by July 31 of the calendar year immediately following the last day of the plan year in which… Read More
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ERISA requires plan administrators to give plan participants in writing the most important facts they need to know about their group health plans, including plan rules, financial information, and documents on the operation and management of the plan. Some of these facts must be provided to participants regularly and automatically by the plan administrator. Others must be made available upon request, free-of-charge or for copying fees.
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With fully insured plans, premiums are paid directly to the insurer. Claims accountA claims account is exactly what it sounds like. A portion of the monthly payment is used to pay for claims submitted by plan members. Stop-loss InsuranceStop-loss is an employer’s safety net. This protects the employer against higher-than-expected claims. With level-funding, employers will never have to pay more than the amount they are responsible for funding the claims account each year. After that, stop-loss insurance kicks in. Administrative costsAdministrative services are provided to the employer so they can spend their time focusing on their business while a third-party administrator handles plan management such as paying claims, customer service,… Read More
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Virtual care visits from MDLIVE® IBC members pay $0 cost-share* You have access to care from therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists who can help with concerns likeanxiety, depression, and panic disorders. With telebehavioral health from MDLIVE, you pay $0 costshare* for a confidential visit in the comfort of yourhome, or wherever you are. Choose to have your virtual care visit by video chat, using the MDLIVE website or mobile app, or by phone.
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The IRS released the inflation adjustments for health savings accounts (“HSAs”) and their accompanying high deductiblehealth plans (“HDHPs”) effective for calendar year 2023, and the maximum amount that may be made newly available forexcepted benefit health reimbursement arrangements (“HRAs”). All limits have increased from the 2022 amounts, somesignificantly.
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individuals are not eligible for premium tax credits in the Marketplace
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Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental condition that can develop after someone directly or indirectly experiences a traumatic event. It doesn’t always occur immediately following the event and may not be caused by an event some would traditionally consider traumatic. This can make identifying or diagnosing PTSD difficult. But, if PTSD isn’t identified and treated, it can be a part of the sufferer’s life for potentially the rest of their life. To Learn more Click Here, or for more information on how Medicare can help with coverages call Total Benefits Solutions at (215) 355-2121
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hCare.gov managers are signaling that they think individual coverage health reimbursement arrangements matter. The regulators in charge of the federal Affordable Care Act public exchange system today gave ICHRAs official attention, by adding an ICHRA use reporting requirements for the insurers that sell coverage through HealthCare.gov. Click here for the full story on Think Advisor.com
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Many people enroll in Medicare as soon as they can, unless they have creditable coverage from an employer or other source. Why? Often, it’s because they’re looking to avoid Medicare late enrollment penalties. This year, due to ongoing issues at the Social Security Administration, Medicare has decided to extend a grace period for anyone who isn’t enrolled in Parts A and B but is eligible to do so. This will assist a number of people who would have otherwise been hit with a late enrollment penalty.Click Here For more info on this Article! Or call into Total Benefits Solutions at (215) 355-2121
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On December 28, 2021, the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) published the “payment parameters” portion of its Annual Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2023 (“the Notice”). HHS historically publishes the Notice as a proposed rule and then finalizes the rule. The guidance clarifies that, beginning with the 2023 calendar year, the payment parameters portion of the Notice will be published by January of the year preceding the applicable calendar year. This guidance is considered a final rule that addresses certain provisions of the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”). For more information contact your friends at Total Benefits Solutions! Reach out to us at (215)355-2121
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On April 12, 2022, the Secretary of Health and Human Services renewed the COVID-19 pandemic Public Health Emergency, effective April 16, 2022. This will once again extend the Public Health Emergency period for an additional 90 days and as a result, numerous temporary benefit plan changes will remain in effect. Please download the bulletin below and contact your health insurance experts at Total Benefit Solutions, Inc at (215)355-2121 Download Bulletin
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The new Expanded Access Special Enrollment Period allows qualifying consumers with an annual household income of up to 200% of the federal poverty level to enroll in a health plan throughout the year. New Jersey’s Governor Phil Murphy and Department of Banking and Insurance Commissioner Marlene Caride have introduced a new “Expanded Access” initiative, which allows residents at certain income levels to continue to enroll in free or nearly free health coverage through Get Covered New Jersey. The new Expanded Access Special Enrollment Period allows qualifying consumers with an annual household income of up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) to enroll in a health plan throughout the year. This population will… Read More
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On March 15, 2022, the President signed government funding legislation, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (“CAA-22”), into law. The legislation includes a prospective extension of relief that allows first dollar coverage of telehealth servicesfrom April 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022. This relief allows individuals with High Deductible Health Plans (“HDHPs”)to receive free telehealth services prior to the satisfaction of their minimum deductible and remain eligible to make HealthSavings Account (“HSA”) contributions….
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Depending on a customer’s household income, they may qualify to enroll in coverage through a new Special Enrollment Period and receive financial assistance offered through Pennie! If a customer’s income is equal to or below 150% Federal Poverty Level (see table below), they can enroll in coverage through Pennie at any time of the year. New enrollees will need to take these steps to enroll in coverage under this qualifying life event: Submit a new Pennie application If they meet the criteria in the table below, a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) will automatically open! Once the SEP opens, they will have 60-days to enroll in a plan through Pennie. Once enrolled, coverage will begin the start of… Read More
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Employers in Philadelphia, PA with 25 or more employees must provide up to 40 hours of additional paid sick leave to eligible employees when they are unable to work for certain COVID-19 related reasons. The new measure became effective on March 9, 2022 and will extend through the end of 2023. It covers employees who are unable to work for the following reasons: To care for self or a family member showing symptoms of COVID-19 To care for self or a family member exposed to COVID-19, in order to self-isolate As a result of childcare or school closures To obtain a COVID-19 test or vaccine, or to recover from injury,… Read More
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