#healthinsurancephilly – Page 3 – Total Benefit Solutions Inc

What is the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)?

November 23, 2022November 23, 2022Ed MacConnell

Insurance program that provides low-cost health coverage to children in families that earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to buy private insurance. In some states, CHIP covers pregnant women. Each state offers CHIP coverage and works closely with its state Medicaid program. You can apply any time. If you qualify, your coverage can begin immediately, any time of year. As always, please contact your Total Benefit Solutions health insurance specialists today at (215)355-2121.

What is a Medicare Medical Savings Account (MSA) Plan?

November 18, 2022October 14, 2022Ed MacConnell

Medicare works with private insurance companies to offer you ways to get your health care coverage. These companies can choose to offer a consumer-directed Medicare Advantage Plan, called a Medicare MSA Plan. These plans are similar to Health Savings Accounts Plans available outside of Medicare. You can choose your health care services and providers (MSA plans usually don’t have a network of doctors, other health care providers, or hospitals). Medicare MSA Plans combine a high-deductible insurance plan with a medical savings account that you can use to pay for your health care costs. High-deductible health plan: The first part is a special type of high-deductible Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C).… Read More

Blue KC: Enhanced ACA Subsidies to Extend Through 2025

November 17, 2022October 20, 2022Ed MacConnell

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 has provided enhanced ACA premium subsidies for people who purchased a plan through the Marketplace. It did so by removing the income cap, which limited subsidies to households with incomes from 100% to 400% of the federal poverty line. With no income cap, premiums have been limited to just 8.5% of income – for everyone. The Inflation Reduction Act, which was signed into law on August 16, extends these subsidies for three years for millions of Americans who buy individual coverage under the ACA. This bill will “save millions of people an average of $800 a year on health insurance premiums,” said Chiquita… Read More

What are Qualified Medical Expenses?

November 16, 2022October 20, 2022Ed MacConnell

Qualified Medical Expenses are generally the same types of services and products that otherwise could be deducted as medical expenses on your yearly income tax return. Some Qualified Medical Expenses, like doctors’ visits, lab tests, and hospital stays, are also Medicare-covered services. Services like dental and vision care are Qualified Medical Expenses, but aren’t covered by Medicare. Qualified Medical Expenses could count toward your Medicare MSA Plan deductible only if the expenses are for Medicare-covered Part A and Part B services. Each year, you should get a 1099-SA form from your bank that includes all of the withdrawals from your account. You’ll need to show that you’ve had Qualified Medical… Read More

What is the total cost estimate for health coverage?

November 15, 2022September 29, 2022Ed MacConnell

The total amount you may have to pay for health plan coverage, which is estimated before you actually have the coverage and have health expenses under the coverage. Generally, your total cost is your premium + deductible + out-of-pocket costs + any copayments/coinsurance. When you preview plans at Healthcare.gov, you’ll see an estimate of your total costs, but your actual expenses will likely vary. Have any questions regarding this notice? Please contact your Total Benefit Solutions health insurance specialists at (215)355-2121.

Prescription Drug Reporting Reminder

November 12, 2022November 3, 2022Ed MacConnell

As previously reported, plan sponsors of group health plans must submit information annually about prescription drugs and health care spending to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”). The first deadline is December 27, 2022, for reporting on calendar years 2020 and 2021. Additionally: To learn more, click here to download the document. Have any questions regarding this notice? Please call your Total Benefit Solutions health insurance experts today at (215)355-2121.

10 Steps to Use a Medicare MSA Plan

November 11, 2022October 19, 2022Ed MacConnell

Choose and join a high-deductible Medicare MSA Plan. You set up an MSA with a bank the plan selects. Medicare gives the plan an amount of money each year for your health care. The plan deposits some money into your account. You can use the money in your account to pay your health care costs, including health care costs that aren’t covered by Medicare. When you use account money for Medicare-covered Part A and Part B services, it counts towards your plan’s deductible. If you use all of the money in your account and you have additional health care costs, you’ll have to pay for your Medicare-covered services out0of-pocket until… Read More

What is a Qualified Health Plan?

November 10, 2022September 23, 2022Ed MacConnell

An insurance plan that’s certified by the Health Insurance Marketplace®, provides essential health benefits, follows established limits on cost-sharing (like deductibles, copayments, and out-of-pocket maximum amounts), and meets other requirements under the Affordable Care Act. All qualified health plans meet the Affordable Care Act requirement for having health coverage, known as “minimum essential coverage.” As always, please contact your Total Benefit Solutions health insurance specialists today at (215)355-2121.

What is cost sharing?

November 9, 2022September 28, 2022Ed MacConnell

The share of costs covered by your insurance that you out of your own pocket. This term generally includes deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments, or similar charges, but it doesn’t include premiums, balance billing amounts for non-network providers, or the cost of non-covered services. Cost sharing in Medicaid and CHIP also includes premiums. As always, please contact your Total Benefit Solutions health insurance specialists today at (215)355-2121.

What is a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) and what qualifies a consumer for an SEP?

November 8, 2022September 23, 2022Ed MacConnell

A Special Enrollment Period (SEP) is a time outside the annual Open Enrollment period when individuals may enroll in or change qualified health plans (QHPs). Individuals qualify for SEPs based on certain life events. Note that consumers can also qualify for an SEP during Open Enrollment; in certain situations, such as an SEP due to the birth of a child, an SEP during Open Enrollment can allow qualifying consumers’ coverage to start sooner than it would have if they had enrolled during Open Enrollment without the SEP. Events that permit an SEP include: Loss of qualifying health coverage (Note: This SEP does not include loss of coverage due to nonpayment… Read More

Beam Teams with Angle Health to Deliver Dynamic Employee Benefits

November 7, 2022October 14, 2022Ed MacConnell

Beam Dental is partnered with Angle Health, a digital-first healthcare benefits providers for the modern employee. Through the partnership with Beam, Angle can now attach best-in-class dental benefits to their innovative healthcare products, creating a more comprehensive and robust benefits package for employers. “There is tremendous activity and innovation in the small group health space right now. Angle is an exciting addition to this space,” said Andy Hutter, Beam’s Director of Digital Distribution. “Angle’s vision for modernizing healthcare aligns well with Beam’s own vision, and we are very excited to deliver a powerful combination of innovative coverage to the market.” Beam is changing and modernizing the dental insurance industry by… Read More

How does the Marketplace verify immigration status?

November 4, 2022September 26, 2022Ed MacConnell

The Marketplace verifies the citizenship and immigration statuses of consumers applying for Marketplace coverage using several electronic systems. Citizenship and immigration information submitted in the Marketplace eligibility application will be checked against the Marketplace’s trusted data sources, including the Social Security Administration, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Internal Revenue Service. If a consumer’s citizenship or immigration status cannot be verified, the Marketplace will notify the consumer of an inconsistency or data matching issue on their initial eligibility notice and ask them to submit additional information to resolve the inconsistency. As always, please contact your Total Benefit Solutions health insurance specialists with any questions or concerns at (215)355-2121.

What is medical underwriting?

November 3, 2022September 22, 2022Ed MacConnell

A process used by insurance companies to try to figure out your health status when you’re applying for health insurance coverage to determine whether to offer you coverage, at what price, and with what exclusions or limits. As always, please contact your Total Benefit Solutions health insurance specialists today at (215)355-2121.

Can consumers who qualify for COBRA continuation coverage opt out of it and get coverage through the Marketplace instead?

November 2, 2022September 23, 2022Ed MacConnell

Consumers who qualify for COBRA coverage can opt out of it and enroll in Marketplace coverage. However, voluntarily terminating COBRA continuation coverage does not make a consumer eligible for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) based on loss of the COBRA continuation coverage. Note that all qualified enrollees eligible for COBRA continuation coverage can get the Marketplace subsidy, not just the employee who qualifies for the COBRA benefit, as long as they are not actually enrolled in the COBRA continuation coverage. As always, please contact your Total Benefit Solutions health insurance specialists with any questions or concerns at (215)355-2121.

Get connected with the IBX Smartphone App

November 2, 2022November 2, 2022Ed MacConnell

Download the free IBX app for your iPhone or Android to help you make the most of your Independence Blue Cross health plan. With new and improved features, the IBX app gives you easy access to your health care coverage 24/7, wherever you are. As always contact your Total Benefit Solutions, Inc health insurance professionals if you have any questions about this bulletin. Click here to read more.

Open Enrollment Tips from Total Benefit Solutions!

November 1, 2022October 26, 2022Ed MacConnell

As always, please contact your Total Benefit Solutions health insurance specialists today at (215)355-2121.

Inflation Reduction Act: Eliminates Cost Sharing for Adult Vaccines in Medicare Part D and Improves Access to Adult Vaccines in Medicaid & CHIP

October 28, 2022September 14, 2022Ed MacConnell

Medicare Part D: Eliminates cost sharing for adult vaccines covered under Medicare Part D that are recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), such as for shingles Medicaid and CHIP: Requires state Medicaid and CHIP programs to cover all approved vaccines recommended by ACIP and vaccine administration, without cost sharing Have any questions regarding this notice? Don’t hesitate to contact your Total Benefit Solutions health insurance specialists today at (215)355-2121.

What is a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)?

October 27, 2022September 21, 2022Ed MacConnell

A type of health insurance plan that usually limits coverage to care from doctors who work for or contract with the HMO. It generally won’t cover out-of-network care except in an emergency. An HMO may require you to live or work in its service area to be eligible for coverage. HMOs often provide integrated care and focus on prevention and wellness. As always, please contact your Total Benefit Solutions health insurance specialists today at (215)355-2121.

Inflation Reduction Act: Expands Eligibility for Full Benefits Under the Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy Program

October 25, 2022September 9, 2022Ed MacConnell

The Part D Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) Program helps beneficiaries with their Part D premiums, deductibles, and cost sharing. Beneficiaries qualify for full or partial benefits depending on their income and resources. Current law: Beneficiaries qualify for full LIS benefits if they have income up to 135% of poverty and lower resources (up to $9,900 individual, $15,600 couple in 2022) Beneficiaries qualify for partial LIS benefits if they have income between 135-150% of poverty and higher resources (up to $15,510 individual, $30,950 couple in 2022) Inflation Reduction Act: Expands eligibility for full LIS benefits to individuals with incomes between 135% and 150% of poverty and higher resources (at or below the… Read More

Blue KC: Employer/Group Open Enrollment Dates – Mark Your Calendar

October 21, 2022September 28, 2022Ed MacConnell

Blue KC is pleased to offer two open enrollment deadlines – one for physical ID cards and one for digital ID cards – to provide flexibility to new and renewing groups. Benefit information and open enrollment files/eligibility updates must be submitted to Blue KC based on the following schedule to ensure new ID cards are available to members by January 1, 2023: November 1, 2022 – Paperwork Deadline November 21, 2022 – Eligibility File – Physical ID Card December 16, 2022 – Eligibility File – Digital ID Card Please note: Small groups that make plan changes after this timeframe will receive updated ID cards once their plan changes have been… Read More

Inflation Reduction Act: Limits Monthly Copayments for Insulin in Medicare

October 20, 2022September 8, 2022Ed MacConnell

Beginning in 2023, limits copayments to $35 per month per prescription for covered insulin products in Medicare Part D plans and for insulin furnished through durable medical equipment under Medicare Part B, with no deductible. For 2026 and beyond, limits monthly Part D copayments for insulin to the lesser of: $35 25% of the maximum fair price (in cases where the insulin product has been selected for negotiation) 25% of the negotiated price in Part D plans Please call your Total Benefit Solutions Medicare health insurance specialists with any questions or concerns at (215)355-2121.

What is the Marketplace?

October 19, 2022September 21, 2022Ed MacConnell

Shorthand for the “Health Insurance Marketplace®,” a shopping and enrollment service for medical insurance created by the Affordable Care Act in 2010. In most states, the federal government runs the Marketplace (sometimes know as the “exchange”) for individuals and families. On the web, it’s found at HealthCare.gov. Some states run their own Marketplace at different websites. Fill out a Marketplace application and you’ll find out if you qualify for lower monthly premiums or savings on out-of-pocket costs based on your income. You may find out if you qualify for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). You can shop for and enroll in affordable medical insurance online, by phone,… Read More

Additional Guidance on New Prescription Drug Reporting Requirement

October 18, 2022September 20, 2022Ed MacConnell

As previously reported in 2021, Section 204 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (“CAA”) requires plan sponsors of group health plans to submit information annually about prescription drugs and health care spending to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) on behalf of the Departments of Health and Human Services (“HHS”), Labor (“DOL”), and the Treasury (collectively, the “Departments”). The first deadline is December 27, 2022. CMS recently updated guidance related to this reporting requirements that proves some helpful clarification. Have any questions regarding this notice? Please contact your Total Benefit Solutions health insurance specialists today at (215)355-2121.

Inflation Reduction Act: Capping Medicare Part D Out-of-Pocket Spending and Other Part D Benefit Changes

October 17, 2022September 7, 2022Ed MacConnell

Changes would lower beneficiary spending, reduce Medicare’s liability for high drug costs, and increase Part D plan and manufacturer liability for high drug costs. Beneficiaries: Eliminates 5% coinsurance for catastrophic coverage in 2024 Caps out-of-pocket drug spending at $2,000 beginning in 2025 Allows spreading out of out-of-pocket costs over the year Limits premium growth to no more than 6% per year for 2024-2030 Medicare: Lowers share of costs above the out-of-pocket spending cap (“reinsurance”) Part D Plans: Increases share of costs above the out-of-pocket spending cap Modifies share of costs below the out-of-pocket spending cap Drug Companies: Requires a price discount on brand-name drugs above the out-of-pocket spending cap Modifies… Read More

What is a premium?

October 14, 2022September 21, 2022Ed MacConnell

The amount you pay for your health insurance every month. In addition to your premium, you usually have to pay other costs for your health care, including a deductible, copayments, and coinsurance. If you have a Marketplace health plan, you may be able to lower your costs with a premium tax credit. When shopping for a plan, keep in mind that the plan with the lowest monthly premium may not be the best match for you. If you need much health care, a plan with slightly higher premium but a lower deductible may save you a lot of money. After you enroll in a plan, you must pay your first… Read More

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