Are you curious how much your medical provider is being paid by drug and device companies for things including but not limited to research, meals, travel, gifts or speaking fees? You can do a search here on the CMS.gov website… Program Overview | OpenPayments (cms.gov)

Federal officials have announced a new platform to report denied emergency care directly to the U.S. government.

All Americans are entitled to emergency medical care under a federal law called the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act or EMTALA. The law states hospitals that receive federal funds must stabilize or transfer patients needing emergency care, regardless of whether they can pay or have mental illness. It means that hospitals cannot turn patients away and any patients who believe they were wrongly turned away can file an EMTALA complaint.

File an EMTALA complaint | CMS

Did your health insurance carrier deny your health claim? Did you know that you can request a report with the information the carrier used to determine whether or not to pay your claim? ProPublica is a site where you can file a claim request for that information. Find the site and how to file your claim request here… Claim File Helper — ProPublica

It’s almost time to get away for your spring vacation! Will you be traveling domestically or internationally? If so, you will need medical and trip insurance. Please contact me for more information. Click here to view the different products.

Have you recently lost health insurance for you in your family? If so, you may be eligible for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). You will qualify for a SEP if you’ve currently lost coverage, moved to a different county or state, recently married, are having a baby or adopting a child. You have 60 days before or after the event to enroll in a plan on the individual marketplace. If your income is below Medicaid limits, you can enroll at any time during the year.

If you are experiencing an SEP, please contact me at [email protected]. I can help you enroll on www.coverme.gov.

I can also help you get signed up with dental and vision insurance for you and your family.

If you were ever curious, here’s the lowdown, in Maine, businesses with fewer than 50 employees (full time equivalents or FTEs) can get a small group health insurance plan to provide coverage to their employees (and their dependents). These plans are regulated by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) rules for individuals and small groups.

Businesses can buy these plans any month during the year. Brokers, like me, help you sign up for your plan and are paid monthly commissions by the carrier who the plan is with. There is no cost to have a broker work with you, but there are many benefits such as experience and knowledge of the products offered.

Many small employers offer health, dental and vision coverage to attract and retain good employees. Offering these benefits also contributes to a healthier workplace.

Are you interested in learning more about what a small group health, dental or vision plan would look like for your business? Contact me today! #healthinsurance #healthinsurancebroker #healthinsuranceagent

Did You know that employees value health insurance over any other benefit? If you’re not currently offering health, dental or vision insurance, let’s have a conversation. I can get you started in the right direction and help you design a benefit plan that works for you and your employees. Contact me today. 

Offering employee benefits for the first time can be challenging if you’re not sure where to start.  An employee benefits package can be as limited or as grand as you like.

Employee Benefits to Consider Offering

· Health Insurance – Small group health insurance plans come in a variety of options including PPO, HMO, and POS networks. HSA options are also available. Most employers who offer health insurance contribute a percentage to each employee’s premium. As the employer, the contribution amount is up to you.

· Dental and Vision Insurance – Dental and vision options can be offered as a voluntary benefit where the employee pays or contributory where the employer pays a share of the premium. These are lower cost benefits that are usually voluntary.

· Life and Disability Insurance – Life and disability options are usually something an employer offers after health and dental/vision benefits are established. These benefits are less expensive if they are contributory or paid by the employer. They can also be offered as voluntary benefits.

· Alternative Health Benefit Options – Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) or Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRAs) are all great options to help employees control their medical costs. These options can be added along with your health insurance options.

· Supplemental Insurance – Such as Accident, Critical Illness and Hospital Indemnity plans are great lower cost options to offer to protect employees at work or at home. Some employers contribute to these plans if they cannot afford to offer traditional health insurance.

· Health Sharing Accounts – Health Sharing Accounts have been around since the 1990s. They are just now becoming very popular. They are not insurance, but offer similar benefits. 

· Section 125 POP Plans – With a Section 125 Premium Only IRS Plan, many benefits are available to an employee as pre-tax options, lowering an employee’s overall taxable income. Their benefit deductions are subtracted before tax withholdings are calculated on the employee’s paycheck (this can also lower your payroll tax liability).

Ready to Get Started?

If you’re ready to start offering employee benefits, you will need to complete small group forms, and in many cases provide tax forms to the carrier you choose. Once forms are completed, I will work with you to get your employees enrolled. It’s as easy as that! Offering employee benefits will help you retain and recruit employees and contribute to a healthier workplace.

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