May 16, 2023
Agency5 ways to increase employee understanding and adoption of benefits
The need for more impactful benefit communication and education is substantial and readily acknowledged by employees. Here are five ways employees and their benefits advisors can increase employee understanding and adoption of benefits. By David MacLean | May 10, 2023 at 07:27 AM most cases, employees have one to two weeks to make important decisions […]
May 16, 2023
AgencyMore companies try to lure workers with benefits
Over a year of rapid wage growth has U.S. companies turning to enhanced benefits to attract and retain workers. Mentions of employee benefits in job postings on ZipRecruiter soared to the highest rates on record, according to an analysis by the jobs site. A greater share of positions offered benefits like health insurance, paid time off and […]
April 24, 2023
AgencyMedicare special needs plans
What You Need to Know SNPs are specialized Medicare Advantage plans. They serve people with designated financial, health or living situations. About 4.6 million of the 30 million Medicare Advantage enrollees have SNP coverage. When it comes to individual health, there is no one-size-fits-all. Many Medicare beneficiaries are managing multiple issues or have other circumstances […]
April 24, 2023
AgencyMedicaid Coverage in Washington
CMS Approves of State of Washington Medicaid Section 1115 Demonstration April 14: CMS approved an amendment to the State of Washington’s Medicaid section 1115(a) demonstration, titled “Medicaid Transformation Project.” Approval of this demonstration amendment includes several improvements, like historic continuous eligibility for Medicaid children from the point they become eligible until they reach age six, […]
April 24, 2023
AgencyMedicaid Coverage in Oregon
Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is providing an at-a-glance summary of news from around the agency: CMS Administrator Brooks-LaSure Covers Medicare Basics in Part Two of Guest Blog April 13: Social Security Matters published the second of a two-part guest blog by CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure covering the basics of Medicare […]
April 11, 2023
AgencyMedicaid health plans try to protect members and profits during unwinding
The federal COVID-19 pandemic protections that have largely prohibited states from dropping anyone from Medicaid since 2020 helped millions of low-income Americans retain health insurance coverage—even if they no longer qualified—and brought the U.S. uninsured rate to a record low. It also led to a windfall for the health plans that states pay to oversee […]
March 15, 2023
AgencyCovid End Of Emergency
Public Health Emergency The Federal Government recently announced that the COVID Public Health Emergency and the COVID National Emergency will end on May 11, 2023. The end of the COVID Public Health Emergency (PHE) means that all required Health Plan mandates related to COVID will also end; the one exception is that all plans will […]
March 8, 2023
AgencyAffordable Care Act
Employer Coverage Affordability In 2023, a job-based health plan is considered “affordable” if your share of the monthly premium in the lowest-cost plan offered by the employer is less than 9.12% of your household income. The lowest-cost plan must also meet the minimum value standard. If you’re the employee, affordability is based on only the premium […]
March 2, 2023
AgencyHow to work with a SHOP-registered insurance agent or broker
You can work with a Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP)-registered agent or broker to enroll in SHOP insurance. SHOP-registered agents and brokers can provide help with SHOP insurance — from comparing plans to helping you enroll. Specifically, they can help you: Determine if your business is eligible for SHOP insurance Understand the Small Business Health Care […]
February 28, 2023
AgencyInsurers, Republicans square off with Biden on Medicare ‘cuts’
The insurance industry and Republicans are using the debt ceiling fight and President Biden’s vows not to cut Medicare to fend off changes to private Medicare Advantage plans, which are popular among the public but have faced criticism about their costs to the government. So far this year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services […]