Solutions Insurance Services's Blog

White House Touts State Advances in Implementing PPACA as CLASS-Killer Vote Proceeds | LifeHealthPro

solutionsinsuranceservices — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:16:49 +0000

White House Touts State Advances in Implementing PPACA as CLASS-Killer Vote Proceeds | LifeHealthPro.

Will The Health Law’s Future Be Decided By The High Court Or The Election? – Kaiser Health News

solutionsinsuranceservices — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:20:11 +0000

Will The Health Law’s Future Be Decided By The High Court Or The Election? – Kaiser Health News.

Assurant Health positions themselves for expansion with new Aetna Contract – This could result in lower premiums in areas where Assurant was previously not competitive in the market.

solutionsinsuranceservices — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:21:56 +0000

Assurant Health Contracts With Aetna Signature Administrators® to Provide Consumers With Access to Expanded PPO Network and Medical Management Services

By Assurant Health

Published: Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012 – 6:05 am

MILWAUKEE, Jan. 17, 2012 – /PRNewswire/ – Assurant Health, a leading provider of major medical, supplemental and fixed-benefit health plans for individuals, families and small employers, announces an agreement with Aetna Signature Administrators, allowing current and prospective major medical customers of Assurant Health to access the Aetna Signature Administrators national PPO network.

Beginning in March, major medical customers of Assurant Health will be able to access care from more than one million health care providers and 7,500 hospitals nationwide within the Aetna Signature Administrators PPO network. Access to this network will enhance the competitiveness of Assurant Health for individuals, families and small groups. In addition, Aetna will provide utilization and case management services to Assurant members and share risk as part of a reinsurance agreement.

“This partnership with Aetna reaffirms the commitment of Assurant Health to ensuring our customers can access high-quality, affordable health care coverage,” said Adam Lamnin, president and CEO of Assurant Health. “This is great for our customers and exciting for Assurant Health as we strengthen our position as a leading provider of individual and small group major medical insurance in the United States.”

The multi-year agreement provides access to all current and future Assurant Health major medical individual and small group policyholders.

“Through Aetna Signature Administrators, members can gain access to a strong nationwide network of health care providers and important medical management services,” said Ralph Borzillo, President of the Aetna Signature Administrators business. “We are excited to provide these critical services to Assurant Health’s members.”

About Assurant HealthAssurant Health is the brand name for a family of health insurance products focused on providing a variety of affordable plan choices to consumers. The portfolio of health care products includes major medical, supplemental and fixed-benefit plans for individuals, families and small employers. Assurant Health is committed to providing access to convenient health care delivery, easy-to-understand products and value-added services that help customers better manage their health care dollars and get the most out of their coverage—ultimately seeking to protect not only financial security but also the health and well being of its customers. Assurant Health’s products are underwritten and issued by John Alden Life Insurance Company, Union Security Insurance Company and Time Insurance Company, which has been in business since 1892. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Assurant Health employs approximately 2,000 employees.www.assuranthealth.com

Assurant Health is part of Assurant, a premier provider of specialized insurance products and related services in North America and select worldwide markets. Assurant, a Fortune 500 company and a member of the S&P 500, is traded on the New York Stock Exchange and has approximately $27 billion in assets and $8 billion in annual revenue. www.assurant.com

About Aetna Signature AdministratorsAetna Signature Administrators provides access to a national PPO network, medical management services and stop loss or reinsurance coverage to third party administrators and health plans.

SOURCE Assurant Health

New 2013 FSA Maximum Contributions Released

solutionsinsuranceservices — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:14:10 +0000

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) imposed a new $2,500 limit on the contribution or election amount for health care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA). The new requirement applies to all FSA plans whose taxable years begin after Dec. 31, 2012 — even plans grandfathered under other provisions of health care reform.

The “taxable year” refers to the employee’s taxable year –and in most cases this stipulation means a calendar year. Thus, a calendar year limitation of $2,500 in salary reductions for the health care FSA will become effective Jan. 1, 2013.

Changes to Plan Documents
Plans that currently allow a health care FSA election of more than $2,500, must amend plan documents before Jan. 1, 2013, and change employee communications. Non-calendar plans that amend their plans as of Jan. 1, 2013, mid-plan year, may face some unique challenges or situations due to the changes required.

Be Proactive
To simplify administration of this change, sponsors of non-calendar year plans may want to adopt the new limit as of the first day of the plan year rather than waiting until Jan. 1, 2013. For example, if the current plan year begins May 1 and ends April 30, the plan sponsor may:

Communicate the change to employees.
Amend their plan documents to implement the new $2,500 maximum election.
Initiate the changes to the contribution effective May 1, 2012, rather than wait until the mid-plan year in Jan. 1, 2013

IRS Posts W-2 Health Reporting Guidance | LifeHealthPro

solutionsinsuranceservices — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 01:41:55 +0000

IRS Posts W-2 Health Reporting Guidance | LifeHealthPro.

Avoiding the Flu

solutionsinsuranceservices — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:04:47 +0000

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Flu/flu-fighters/story?id=15069948#.TtzL9rIk6nA

Christmas has been CANCELLED!

solutionsinsuranceservices — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:44:03 +0000

Over the summer Santa was doing a little home maintenance and while painting the Toy Shop he slipped and fell off the ladder. When he hit the floor he broke his leg and was rushed to the hospital.

The problem is that Santa’s health insurance has a big deductible and he had to pay thousands of dollars to cover that and his co-insurance cost. Santa is doing better now but he spent all of his savings to cover his out of pocket costs and he didn’t have any money to buy the supplies he needed to make the toys. And this is the reason that Christmas is cancelled!

Accidents happen and that’s why Solutions Insurance Services offers an Accident and Critical Illness coverage to fill in the gaps in your health coverage.

$10,000 of Accident Coverage is only $16.30 per month!

To review our accident policy please go to: http://www.accidentandcriticalillness.com/

Happy Thanksgiving

solutionsinsuranceservices — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 15:46:52 +0000

Solutions Insurance Services would like to wish you a healthy and happy thanksgiving.

7 Ways To Save On Health Insurance

solutionsinsuranceservices — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 22:05:19 +0000

Here is a link to a very good article from the Sun Sentinel. Once you have read the article, you may want to ask yourself, “Is an individual policy better for me?” If the answer is yes, feel free to contact us for assistance at info@solutionsinsuranceservices.com

Beginning Excerpt:

If your paycheck shrinks in 2012, the culprit may be rising health insurance costs. But you can save money by making the right choices this fall. The cost of healthcare coverage is expected to increase 5.9 percent in 2012, according to consultant Towers Watson. That makes it more important than ever to know how to save during “open enrollment,” the time period each year when employees have to sign up for benefits.

In 2012, workers will be faced with higher premium costs, more coverage restrictions, higher deductibles, and, for some, more restricted coverage. Employers are nudging workers toward high-deductible health plans where employees pay some health costs upfront. That’s encourages employees to be more aware of what they’re spending, which saves the company money.

Continue Reading: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/health/fl-health-insurance-worker-costs-20111104,0,1017678.story

House Panel Votes to Repeal CLASS Act | LifeHealthPro

solutionsinsuranceservices — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 16:20:34 +0000

Members of the health subcommittee at the House Energy and Commerce Committee today passed H.R. 1173, a bill that would officially kill a federal voluntary long-term care (LTC) benefits program, by a voice vote.

H.R. 1173, the Fiscal Responsibility and Retirement Security Act bill, would repeal the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) program provisions that were part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (PPACA).

Read full article here:

House Panel Votes to Repeal CLASS Act | LifeHealthPro.