Cybersecurity and Obamacare
HealthCare.gov website users should know that the issues with the website were not just a result of a very large amount of traffic pinging it in one go. The security flaws in the website were quite primitive. Flaws you don’t really expect someone to have overlooked. For instance, the site relayed personal information without encryption […]
Small Businesses May Be Able to Re-Enroll in Current Coverage
Last week’s announcement the federal government is encouraging states to adopt a transitional rule which would allow insurance carriers to extend individual health insurance plans, which would otherwise be discontinued, into 2014, was only half the story. Only hours after the announcement the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released additional clarification on this […]
How much will that medical procedure cost?
Price transparency in healthcare is all the buzz. More than 85% of all medical services are scheduled in advance, giving the participant time to ask the provider questions prior to receiving services. – But how does an employee access price and quality information? It’s hard to negotiate for yourself. MyHealthCareGenius helps patients shop for the highest […]
Useful Apps – Drugs.com Medication Guide
Need help with medication management and adherence? – Users can lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records. Key Features • My Drug List – Add your medications to assemble medical information in a simple, easy to read personalized format. Access consumer information, FDA alerts, drug interactions, plus […]
The Wild Card That Could Destroy Your Retirement
Here is an excerpt of an outstanding article we read on Yahoo finance: Could you withstand a half million dollar or more hit to your retirement savings? Even for many one percenters that could be the difference between a comfortable retirement and destitution. Yet, the odds that you may someday get this hit are uncomfortably […]
Obamaco$t brings Unpleasant Surprise – Focus, Large Group Renewals
Early 2014 large group renewals have come in for fully-insured and self-insured plans. Many employers are going to have an unpleasant surprise. A surprise to many who have had the belief that the postponement of the mandate postponed everything. Are you ready for this? Example 1: A colleague of mine reports a 400 life group with a […]
Obamaco$t comes with Obamacare
Have you heard federal officials sate “Premiums before tax credits will be more than 16 percent lower than projected?” They are referring to the weighted average of the second lowest cost silver plan for 48 states (including DC) based on the ASPE-derived Congressional Budget Office. Sounds good, until you dig deeper. The key word is […]
Two Court Cases pose significant threat to PPACA
Employee Benefit Advisors has been following two court cases that have been falling under the radar. These cases could dismantle health care reform as we know it. _____________________ Excerpts from Employee Benefit News September 27, 2013 by Serena Yee and Christie Daly The ACA requires the creation of a health insurance exchange in each state […]
PPACA: It’s Oct 2 – Now what?
October 1 was a very significant date for the implementation of PPACA as the individual exchanges went live. However, there were reports from many states with problems with the rollout and not all exchanges were activated on schedule. Both the online small business markets known as SHOP exchanges and the Spanish language exchange are delayed. […]
Reminder: Medicare Part D Creditable Coverage Notice Due by October 15th
With all the attention to the ACA requirements for 2013 and 2014 it’s easy to lose sight of other benefit and human resource requirements. The Medicare Part D Creditable Coverage Law affects all employer-sponsored group health plans. Entities are required to notify Medicare eligible policyholders whether or not their prescription drug coverage is creditable. Creditable […]