Aetna Funding Advantage (AFA) is a self-funded option that provides all of the financial and plan design flexibility of a traditional arrangement with special features designed to help companies with as few as 2 employees achieve even greater savings on their health insurance. Ask us today if self funding could be a good fit for your organization! Call your Total Benefit Solutions Inc. account manager at (215)355-2121 for more information! Learn more here: AFA-Customer-Flyer New! Minute Clinic Benefit! $0 Copay Minute Clinic Visits Flyer More Documents for downloading: Springboard Marketplace Your Online Administration and Enrollment Portal AFA AppleWatch Wellness Flyer AFA Sample Usage Reports Aetna & Teledoc for AFA AETNA… Read More
Continue ReadingIRS Releases 2018 Inflation Adjustments to Tax Provisions
The Internal Revenue Service released the annual inflation adjustments that will apply to certain benefit plan tax provisions in 2018. Revenue Procedure 2017-58, which can be accessed by clicking here, identifies inflation-adjusted items for different provisions of the tax code. From an employee benefits standpoint, the following limits may be of interest to employers: The dollar limit on voluntary employee salary reduction contributions to health flexible spending accounts is increased to $2,650 for plan years beginning in 2018. The monthly exclusion amount for transportation and transit passes is increased to $260. The monthly limit for the qualified parking exclusion is increased to $260. The dollar amount used to determine the penalty… Read More
Continue ReadingCongress Passes Tax Reform Bill
On December 20, 2017, the House and Senate sent President Trump the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act for signature. The House of Representatives passed their version of the bill on November 16, 2017 while the Senate passed their version on December 2, 2017. Because the versions were not identical, a Tax-Bill Conference Committee was formed from members of the Senate and the House of Representatives to negotiate the text of the combined bill. After the finalized text was approved and released by the committee, the House and Senate each passed the combined bill (which happened on December 20th in the House and December 19th in the Senate) before… Read More
Continue ReadingExtension of Deadline for 2017 Forms 1095-C
On December 22, 2017, the IRS issued Notice 2018-06, which provides a limited extension of time for employers to provide 2017 Forms 1095-C to individuals. It also extends good-faith transition relief from certain penalties for the 2017 reporting year. The deadlines to provide Forms 1094-C and 1095-C to the IRS was not extended. Should you have any questions, please contact your Total Benefit Solutions account manager at (215)355-2121. Click to Download Extension of Deadline for 2017 Forms 1095-C
Continue ReadingReceived Letter 226J – Now What?
The IRS issued Letter 226J to certain Applicable Large Employers (“ALEs”). This letter describes the proposed Employer Shared Responsibility Payment (“ESRP”) owed for calendar year 2015. Download this bulletin
Continue ReadingSearching for Keystone HMO Proactive Providers by Tier?
Please note you must select the proactive plans from the list. Go to this link: Choose a health plan: From the drop down select, Medical then Keystone Proactive: Now your search will return physicians with Tier listings showing:
Continue ReadingFind Your Keystone Proactive HMO Providers by Tier
Searching for providers by tier? Please note you must select the proactive plans from the list. Go to this link: Choose a health plan: From the drop down select, Medical then Keystone Proactive: Now your search will return physicians with Tier listings: Simple hospital listing by tier: Click here Download “Talk to your doctor about the Keystone Proactive plans” Keystone HMO Proactive provider Quality Standards Questions? Contact your Total Benefit Solutions account manager at(215)355-2121.
Continue ReadingCHIP RENEWAL SIGNED INTO LAW
On December 15, Governor Wolf signed House Bill 1388 (Irvin-R-Mifflin/Centre/Huntington) into law. CHIP was re-authorized through December 31, 2019 or 90 days after Federal funding for CHIP ceases. The amendment allows for an extension if the Federal Government authorizes funding beyond December 31, 2019.
Continue ReadingWhat is Benefits CheckUp?
There are benefits you may be missing! BenefitsCheckUp helps you find and enroll in public and private benefits programs. You can also find information on Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage including an online application for the Extra Help. It’s simple and free and always includes the most up-to-date information. Click here to visit Benefits Checkup
Continue ReadingAetna Funding Advantage for Small Businesses
Aetna Funding Advantage (AFA) is a new self-funded option that provides all of the financial and plan design flexibility of a traditional arrangement with special features designed to help companies with as few as 2 employees achieve even greater savings on their health insurance. The benefits of self-funding have traditionally been considered by larger companies. But Aetna Funding Advantage has changed that. It is specifically designed to be attractive and affordable for small businesses like yours. Watch this short video and download the documents below for some information. As always please contact your Total Benefit Solutions dedicated account manager at (215)355-2121 if you have any questions, concerns or would like to learn… Read More
Continue ReadingGuidance Issued on QSEHRAs
Under the Affordable Care Act, a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) must be integrated with a group health plan (as it could not meet the market reform provisions on its own) and was not able to reimburse employees for individual premiums. However, on December 13, 2016, President Obama signed into law the “21st Century Cures Act” which established QSEHRAs (a special standalone HRA). Click to Download Guidance Issued on QSEHRAs This guidance is big news for small groups who would prefer to provide a reimbursement as opposed to a group health plan. Please contact your Total Benefit Solutions account manager at (215)355-2121 if you have any questions or concerns.
Continue Reading2018 Individual Health Insurance Open Enrollment: PA Independence Individual Consumer Plans and Rates
Individual Health Insurance Open Enrollment 2018! Don’t do it yourself! Our dedicated professionals are here to help you take the fits out of the benefit planning process! One mistake and you could be stuck with a bad plan all year! We work with all available plans both on the healthcare.gov marketplace and off! Have your own expert help you! Our experts are trained to help you Choose between on and off exchange options Maximize any subsidy eligibility. Help you understand the cost sharing subsidies Help you choose the plan that is the best fit for you Explain the differences between the plan design and your out of pocket expectations Fill… Read More
Continue ReadingTrump Halts Cost-Sharing Reductions
On Thursday, October 12, 2017, the White House indicated that President Trump will end ACA cost-sharing reduction (“CSR”) payments to insurance companies effective immediately. Click Here to Download Trump Halts Cost-Sharing Reductions
Continue ReadingNew Executive Order and Insight on the Employer Mandate
New Executive Order and Insight on the Employer Mandate President Trump signed an Executive Order (“EO”) on October 12, 2017, directing various federal agencies to take regulatory action that will “increase health care choices for millions of Americans.” Along with the EO, the Administration issued a press release and some internal talking points that provide helpful insight into what the agencies are directed to review. Click to download this bulletin
Continue ReadingThe Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act
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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