The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) applies to employers with at least 51 employees offering a group health plan that includes any mental health and substance use disorder (MH/SUD) benefits. MHPAEA also applies to non-grandfathered insured plans in the small group market. Download the bulletin below for more information. As always please contact your Total Benefit Solutions account manager at (215)355-2121 if you have any questions or concerns. Download Mental Health Parity
Continue Reading2018 Inflation Adjusted Amounts for HSAs
The IRS released the inflation adjustments for health savings accounts (HSAs) and their accompanying high deductible health plans (HDHPs) effective for calendar year 2018. All limits increased from 2017 amounts. Click to download the bulletin below and as always contact your Total Benefit Solutions account manager at (215)355-2121 if you have any questions or concerns regarding this notice. Click Here to Download 2018 Inflation Adjusted Amounts for HSAs
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Recent Developments Regarding the Employer Mandate
Applicable large employers (ALEs) may be resting easy, having had no notification from the IRS of 2015 or 2016 assessments under the Employer Mandate of the Affordable Care Act (the ACA) and having reasonably expected that the Republican-led administration would limit or choose not to enforce this mandate. With the status of health care reform uncertain, the IRS has taken additional steps regarding the mandate, once again updating its website with FAQs on Employer Mandate penalties that build on information released in January (before the change in administration). Briefly, the guidance is included in the bulletin. Download the bulletin here
Continue ReadingIndependence speaks out on PA Premium Tax, Treat No Transport, and recently introduced bills
Independence speaks out on PA Premium Tax, Treat No Transport, and recently introduced bills Updates from IBX Government Affairs including the proposed PA premium tax changes, Treat No Transport reimbursement, scope of practice for nurse practitioners, and proposed bills on drug transparency and prior authorization… Download the Bulletin See IBC’s breakdown of the proposed budget impact here. As always please contact your Total Benefit Solutions account manager at (215)355-2121 if you have any questions or concerns.
Continue ReadingVideo: Our New Online Enrollment System
Watch this short video to get a quick overview of our new employee enrollment system with Ease Central! As always please contact your Total Benefit Solutions account manager at (215)355-2121 if you have any questions about our new enrollment system with Ease Central!
Continue ReadingVideo: New Premium Saver Gap Coverage
Want more information? Call your Total Benefit Solutions account manager today at (215)355-2121.
Continue ReadingVideo: New Individual Dental & Vision Choices
Click here to shop, compare and enroll!
Continue ReadingDeNovo HR Consulting: Pet Friendly Workplaces
Companion dogs have been found to lower stress in the workplace. So sometimes, if we’re very lucky, we’ll arrive at work in the morning to discover that someone has brought their pups into the office for the day. In fact, the International Journal of Workplace Health Management published its findings on “the effect of the presence at work of employees’ dogs on stress and organizational perceptions.” They found that “over the course of the day, stress declined for the DOG group with their dogs present and increased for the NO-DOG and NO-PET groups… On dog absent days, owners’ stress increased through the day, mirroring the pattern of the NO-DOG group.”…… Read More
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GOP Pulls AHCA Before Vote
On Friday, March 24, 2017, the U.S. House of Representatives pulled the American Health Care Act (“AHCA”) from consideration after not receiving enough Republican support to pass the bill. The AHCA was President Trump’s first attempt to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (the “ACA”). The AHCA, among other things, would have eradicated the penalties associated with the individual and employer mandates, and replaced the ACA subsidies with refundable tax credits. Download GOP Pulls AHCA Before Vote
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Small Businesses May Be Able to Keep Existing Health Coverage Through Calendar Year 2018
Small Businesses May Be Able to Keep Existing Health Coverage Through Calendar Year 2018 A previously extended transitional policy which allows health insurance issuers, at their option, to continue group coverage that would otherwise be terminated or cancelled has been extended further—to policy years beginning on or before October 1, 2018, provided that all policies end by December 31, 2018. Health insurance issuers that renew coverage under the extended policy are required to provide standard notices to affected small businesses for each policy year. Extended Transitional Policy At the option of the states, issuers that have renewed policies under the transitional policy continually since 2014 may be permitted to… Read More
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Compliance Bulletin & Reform Center
Health Care Compliance and Reform Education Center A fundamental change in the way the United States handles health care has arrived. Benefit rules and coverage change faster today than they used to in ten years! Our Compliance and Health Reform Education Center is where we will keep a copy of our health care reform bulletins throughout the year, in an easy to view format where you can download a brief summary or watch a short informative video. Click here to visit totalbenefitscomply.com Please contact your Total Benefit Solutions account manager at (215)355-2121 if you have any further questions.
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MEDICARE PART D: CMS NOTIFICATION REMINDER
Employers sponsoring a group health plan need to report information on the creditable status of the plan’s prescription drug coverage to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Watch a video overview Download a bulletin
Continue ReadingHuman Resources: Tours of Duty
Human Resources: Tours of Duty From our friends at DeNovo HR Consulting: In September of 2016, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released updated employee tenure stats. I think we all predicted what they would reveal: the median number of years that the average employee stays with a company is 4.2, which is down from 4.6 years when last published in 2014. Employees in professional occupations and management roles have the highest median tenure of 5.1 years. On the other side of the coin, workers in service occupations have the lowest median tenure of 2.9 years, with those specifically in the food service industry coming in at only 1.9 years.… Read More
Continue ReadingHSA / FSA / HRA Comparison of Key Features for 2017
HR360: HSA / FSA / HRA Comparison of Key Features for 2017 This guide brought to you by our partners at HR360. As us today how your organization can benefit from personalized HR services designed to fit your company’s legal compliance needs! Your Total Benefit Solutions Inc Account Manager is available at (215)355-2121. Click here to download the complimentary guide
Continue ReadingA Quick Look At The GOP Plan To Repeal & Replace Obamacare
Kelly Phillips Erb, a former client of ours and a friend to our clients is a tax attorney and a columnist for Forbes.com. Her story today is a great overview of the proposed plan changes currently being discussed and we highly recommend it! A Quick Look At The GOP Plan To Repeal & Replace Obamacare
Continue ReadingIntroducing the New 50-State Employee Handbook Builder
Introducing the New 50-State Employee Handbook Builder Our new 50-State Handbook Builder is available to all registered users. The new builder is a unique tool for your clients and gives you another advantage over your competition, all brought to you by ThinkHR. 50-State Handbook Builder Features: Covers policy at both the federal and state level for every state where clients have employees. Fully editable and customizable to each company’s unique policies, philosophy and culture. Supported by ThinkHR’s team of HR Advisors who can provide guidance and best practice advice for creating an employee handbook. Included as part of the client’s ThinkHR service at no additional charge. Read our FAQ to get more… Read More
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Stand-Alone HRAs for Small Employers are Back!
Stand-Alone HRAs for Small Employers are Back! The 21st Century Cures Act, signed by President Obama on December 13, 2016, gave small employers a means of providing employees help with their individual insurance premiums and other out-of-pocket qualified medical expenses without violating the provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Small employers can now provide a specific kind of Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) to help employees with the costs of individual health coverage. According to the statutory language under “Title XVIII – Other Provisions” of the Act, qualified small employer health reimbursement arrangements (QSEHRAs) are not considered “group health plans” and do not have to adhere to ACA market reforms,… Read More
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Think HR’s Employee Handbook Builder
Employee Handbooks. Each employer group should have one. The question is, if so, how current is it? With ThinkHR’s 50-State Handbook Builder, building handbooks and keeping them updated becomes a simple process. Use the Handbook Builder to: Minimize your clients’ risk of employment liability with clear, regulatory-compliant policies. Help clients ease the burden of compliance with pre-developed content, step-by-step instructions, expert commentary and online support. Reinforce your value as a partner and provider of essential HR resources. Differentiate your agency and deliver cost savings to your clients with a robust handbook builder at no additional cost. Employee Handbook Builder Features: Compiled in collaboration with one of the country’s leading employment… Read More
Continue ReadingIntroducing Ease Central
In an effort to enhance our client experience even further, Total Benefit Solutions would like to announce that we have entered into a partnership agreement with Ease Central. Ask us today how your organization can benefit from Ease Central! Download an EaseCentral Employer Overview Click here to visit our Ease Central web portal. Employee Onboarding with Ease Central HRIS with Ease Central Benefits-Simple employee benefits quoting, enrollment and management in one place. “Bring your own carrier” HRIS-Powerful PTO tracking, performance reviews and goal setting for managers. Payroll-Robust payroll integrations to cut administrative work.” Bring your own payroll” Benefits-Easy employee insurance rate quoting, enrollment and management in one place.… Read More
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Update on the Status of the ACA
Update on the Status of the ACA With the impending inauguration, recent actions by the Senate and some confusing media reports, we wanted to provide a short Q&A to help you understand current events and what to expect as we head down the health care reform road in 2017… What’s the latest news? Download the bulletin for an update: Download Update on the Status of the ACA As always please contact your Total Benefit Solutions, Inc. account manager at (215)355-2121 if you have any questions or concerns.
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Health4Me Mobile Application
UnitedHealthcare’s Health4Me provides instant access to you and your family’s critical health information — anytime/anywhere. Whether you want to find physicians near you, check the status of a claim or speak directly with a nurse, Health4Me is your go-to resource for everything related to your health. Learn more by watching the video below. As always if you have any questions please contact your Total Benefit Solutions Inc account manager at (215)355-2121.
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2016 Compliance Year In Review Digest
2016 Compliance Year In Review Digest A complete digest of all our compliance bulletins for the entire year of 2016 from our business partners at Emerson Reid. A handy guide to all of the year’s updates and changes all in one place. Download your copy now and keep it for future reference. Click to Download Compliance Digest 2016 Year in Review As always please contact your Total Benefit Solutions Account Manager at (215)355-2121 if you have any questions or concerns.
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United Concordia Enrollment Forms 2017
United Concordia small group enrollment forms for 2017 To enroll you on United Concordia they will require the following: The rate sheet with the benefit plan circled and the sheet signed at the bottom by the business manager or owner The completed employee applications for each employee enrolling. The form needs to be complete with each dependent’s name, date of birth, etc. A company check for the first month’s premium payable to United Concordia Companies Inc. or UCCI A completed employer application form. Complete what you can and we’ll finish the rest together. Download The New Group Enrollment Kit for 2017 You can fax everything to our… Read More
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Relief for Small Employers with HRAs
On December 13, 2016, President Obama signed into law the “21st Century Cures Act” which allows small employers without group medical plans to reimburse individual premiums and other medical expenses of employees under health reimbursement arrangements (“HRAs”), effective with the 2017 plan year, and provides relief from penalties to all small employers reimbursing individual premiums of employees for earlier plan years. In addition, the Cures Act provides a medical innovation package that funds medical research, accelerates cutting-edge treatments for rare diseases, and makes significant reforms to the mental health system. The Issue An employer cannot offer employees cash to reimburse the purchase of an individual policy, without regard to whether… Read More
Continue ReadingHealth Reform: 4th Quarter 2016 Compliance Compilation
Download a digest of our fourth quarter compliance bulletins. This digest includes the following bulletins: Transitional Reinsurance Fee Form Now Available 10/14/2016 Final 2016 Forms 1094-C and 1095-C Available 10/25/2016 November 2017 Cost of Living Adjustments 11/01/2016 Relief Extended for Premium Reimbursement Programs for Student Employees 11/02/2016 Updates Regarding the NJ Small Employer Health Benefits Program 11/07/2016 Election Results and the ACA: Preliminary Thoughts 11/10/2016 16 Extension of Deadline for 2016 Forms 1095-C 11/21/2016 Adjusted PCOR Fee for Fifth Filing Year Released 11/22/2016 December Beware of Phishing Email Disguised as HIPAA Privacy Audit Letter 12/13/2016 Click here to download the 4th quarter compliance compilation
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