“More people are surviving cancer than ever before. The 5-year relative survival rate for all cancers diagnosed in 2004-2010 was 68%.The improvement in survival reflects both earlier diagnosis of certain cancers and improvements in treatment.” “Cancer prevention and early detection are vital to promoting optimal health. Every year we cover more than 13 million cancer…
DetailsBlue Shield “recently launched a redesigned Mobile experience. Guests and members (Individual & Family Plan, Core Market, Small Business, Premier Account, and some Administrative Services Only health plan members) now have access to the latest enhancements. This phase of the mobile platform redesign will give members improved navigation and easier access to their health plan…
Details“The Kaiser Family Foundation did a little investigation into the accuracy of income estimates, and found that only 5 percent of those who applied for the subsidy don’t have to repay part of it or will receive a refund.” This is why Bestefits worked closely with clients to help explain subsidy eligibility, how to best…
DetailsSome individuals are exempt from the tax but this can be complicated to figure out. “IRS officials noted, near the bottom of their notice, that taxpayers can get some exemptions simply by filling out special tax forms, or even by checking boxes on the tax forms they usually file, but that a taxpayer has to…
DetailsAs employee benefits increase in cost, particularly medical insurance, companies innovate to bring new strategies to the employer marketplace. This can create exciting new opportunities but it also attracts those who are not always looking out for your company’s best interest or, perhaps worse, are not highly educated and experienced with the risks each strategy…
Details“In addition to forcing employers to grapple with potential increases in healthcare costs and tax penalties, the Employer Mandate poses additional risks if you are not careful in how you implement (and document) your compliance strategies.”
“The Association of American Medical Colleges has produced a study designed to quantify this shortage. And the number they’re projecting is a big one: a 90,400-physician shortfall by 2025. That’s the high-end number. AAMC says the shortfall could be as low as 46,100 — still a serious gap between providers and patients.” Patients were experiencing…
DetailsIt was not long ago that self-funding medical insurance was considered a large employer concept. For understandable reasons, smaller and smaller employers have been considering and adopting this option in recent years. If you’ve had questions and ideas like these pop into your head… “There is no way medical insurance should cost this much!”, “Why…
DetailsEmployers that reimburse employees, whether pre- or post-tax, for individual medical insurance through an HRA or direct payment, please be aware that the IRS has posted several notices indicating that this is not an allowed strategy! In general terms, the IRS is granting reprieve for a number of employers through June 30, 2015 to make…
DetailsMost employers with 50 – 99 employees have become accustomed to ‘composite rating’. This means, there is generally an EE Only, EE+Spouse, EE+Child(ren), EE+Family rate, independent of employee or dependent ages. Be prepared that, very soon, this will no longer be the case and your rates will become more complex. Employers of this size will need…
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