What are the trends driving change in the healthcare industry? Here is an excerpt from BenefitsPro author REID RASMUSSEN commenting on the trends he identifies as the most impactful factors in this year's healthcare environment: All around the country, brokers ask where the industry is going? They want to know if other states are seeing the same [...]
Our business clients can keep their current benefit plans even longer Earlier this year, guidance from the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) brought news related to non-ACA (Affordable Care Act) benefit plans. This guidance means that certain employer groups (up to and including 50) can keep their current medical benefit plans and continue to be [...]
Healthcare Reform and the quest to reduce waste is back in the news today. The ACA has produced some tumultuous results in the healthcare industry as reported by Insurance Business America in the following report by Jill Gregorie. Our analysis follows the report. "Anthem Inc has agreed to purchase Cigna Corp for $54.2 billion in a [...]
News for patients using Humana networks: Last October we had to notify our Humana clients that Florida Hospital had not continued their contract with Humana, but now we are happy to report that Florida Hospital and Humana are working together again. Central Floridians who have Humana health insurance can once again pay in-network fees at [...]
Aetna and Humana Inc. announced on July 3 that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Aetna will acquire all outstanding shares of Humana for a combination of cash and stock valued at $37 billion or approximately $230 per Humana share based on the closing price of Aetna common shares on July 2, 2015. In a [...]
A delayed, but inevitable, result of the The Affordable Care Act is a provision which requires employers to make reports to the IRS regarding the health care situation for each of their employees. The reporting begins in 2016, but employers should begin now to prepare for their compliance. The instructions portions of the reporting requirement have been anticipated [...]
If you have coverage from a job (or a family member’s job): You will not owe a fee because you have met the Shared Responsibility Provision. With job-based insurance, you are considered covered and won’t have to pay the fee that uninsured people must pay. You may also purchase your own healthcare insurance. You [...]
Glossary of Health Insurance Terms actuary - a mathematician in the insurance field. Responsible for calculating premiums, developing plans and defining underwriting risk. Affordable Care Act - The comprehensive health care reform law enacted in March 2010. The law was enacted in two parts: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was signed into law [...]
Next week's public session is sponsored by our host, Legal One. You are invited to bring guests to these informative sessions updating the latest provisions of Healthcare Reform. Our informational session is presented regularly at community events, business groups and at workplaces throughout Florida. Contact us if you would like to schedule a presentation: 407-937-2900. See Craig Rodrigue's [...]
The latest updates on Healthcare Reform are presented at our "Affordable Care Act 101" presentations. Join us this week when we are hosted by accounting and tax expert ATI Professional Services Inc. We will present valuable information regarding mandates, subsidies, and new updates on the deadlines for 2014 and beyond. Learn how to choose your [...]
AFL-CIO Convention. Photo credit Getty Images Whenever a new discussion erupts about Healthcare Reform, it is important to look at basic intent of the law to understand both the actions and the consequences of lawmakers. This week’s news stories regarding the rejection of Union requests for exceptions to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) [...]
How your Insurance Plan will look in 2014 The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires that non-grandfathered health insurance plans offered in the individual and small group markets (both inside and outside of the Exchanges) provide a package of health care services, known as “Essential Health Benefits” (EHB). More specifically, we use the term "10 Essential Health [...]
Questions about Healthcare Reform Note: See Important Update at the End of this Article! “You can keep your insurance if you like it” became a popular phrase during the political season leading up to the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010. The phrase became so tied to healthcare reform that we are [...]