As employers continue to look for ways to control the cost of group medical insurance, the topic of spousal coverage is coming up more frequently. Each company views the issue differently and will implement different strategies. Some strategies include: eliminating spousal coverage offering spousal coverage but requiring spouses with access to medical insurance through their…
DetailsThe answer to this question depends, as it always does, on the needs of your employees’ families. Certainly, an employee may save money on a monthly premium basis by covering children only under the dental and vision coverage through the medical insurance plan. However, there can still be gaps in coverage and the children will…
DetailsSmall employers with group medical renewals later this 2014 year, mostly Q4, will have the option to keep their current plan for another 12 month period. Prior to the recent passage of SB 1446, the ‘grandmothering’ bill signed by Governor Jerry Brown, small employers renewing in 2014 were required to change to new ACA compliant…
DetailsThe American Medical Association (AMA), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and multiple other involved entities are spending a great amount of time addressing our access to care issues as well as the cost of care. Telemedicine allows patients to connect with physicians over the phone, email and Skype to provide care faster, cheaper…
DetailsAlthough Health Care Reform has meant a lot of struggle, confusion and rising costs for employers, there are some positive cost implications of Obamacare that may be increasingly realized over time. For employers who don’t offer health insurance to employees, there is a higher frequency of reporting a work-related medical situation under Workers’ Compensation so…
DetailsBestefits helps employers to better serve their executive team by providing individualized time to examine their financial security. Most group benefit plans offer a standard level of life and disability insurance. However, standard life insurance amounts and disability maximums provide little financial protection to high earners. It is common to see basic group life insurance…
DetailsSenate Bill 1446 may be signed by Governor Jerry Brown in October of 2014. As it currently stands, the bill would allow a small group employer policy that was in effect on October 1, 2013, or early renewed in December of 2013, to be renewed until January 1, 2015 through the plan year ending December…
DetailsIt is a very simple thing to do. Just think of us if you or any of your employees will travel outside of the U.S. Your domestic medical insurance policy can do very little to help you if you need medical care while abroad. Travel insurance policies are inexpensive and connect you with a network…
DetailsA number of group medical insurance carriers are reducing their participation requirements from the normal 75-65% down to as low as 25%. Insurance carriers are responding to increased demand for group health insurance and understand that some employers were not able to meet the traditional participation requirements as a result of budget constraints and employee…
DetailsMany employers made changes to their group medical insurance waiting period to conform to Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) requirements. The Federal requirement is that the group medical insurance waiting period not exceed 90 days with coverage to be effective on the 91st day. A ‘first of the month following 90 days’ strategy…
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