Newsroom — Benefit Solutions By Design

The Texas Jobs Juggernaut – Nature vs Nuture!

July 20, 2011 By Tamela Southan Leave a Comment

“Texas has become the job creating capital of the country and some people don’t like it — or maybe they’re just jealous.

Governor Perry has aggressively encouraged businesses to move to Texas, and provided them with tax credits.

They complain that factors such as the climate, abundant natural resources and a steady supply of low cost labor have made a big difference. While those are helpful, California has all of the above, and yet its businesses are packing up and moving to Texas. Read more of on Texas Conservative leadership style has brought over 1.1 jobs to Texas.

Thank you Dr. Merrill Matthews “Nature vs. Nurture” Updated July 17, 2011, 07:00 PM Merrill Matthews is a resident scholar with the Institute for Policy Innovation in Dallas [Read more...]

Filed Under: Dependents, Employee Interest, Smarter Consumer, Uncategorized, state laws Tagged With: Employment, growth Texas, income, jobs, politics, Taxes

Check Out Consumerism, Cost Saving $$$

June 14, 2011 By Tamela Southan Leave a Comment

Knowledge is Power

All healthcare accounts are not created equal. That’s why you need an experienced, trusted advisor to help you when it comes to your healthcare finances. Benefit Solutions by Design is here to help youunderstand the sometimes complex and confusing world of healthcare account acronyms (HSA, HRA, FSA, MSA, Oh my…). Are you a Smart Healthc Care Consumer?

Consumer-driven health plans are the latest response to soaring costs. They teach and empower consumers to take financial control of their health care spending; Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are the centerpiece of this new approach.

With the HSA/HDHP, consumers have significant power and responsibility for their health care decisions. The consumer (or the employer, or both) sets aside a pool of money to spend on health care before HDHP coverage kicks in. Policymakers hope that, by having such a financial incentive, participants will become better and more prudent health care consumers; healthcare nest egg or smart spender.

Filed Under: Affiliations, Dental, Dependents, Employee Interest, Events, Health Care Reform, Health Plans, High deductibles, IRS, Low cost, Medical plans, No Copays, PPO - Preferred Provider Organization, Partners, Pharmacy, Pre-X, Recognition, Roll over funds, Savings, Section 125 of IRS Code, Small Business, Smarter Consumer, Smarter Consumer, Tax Savings, You own the funds, compliance, continuation of benefits, coverage, federal laws, state laws

Texas Quietly Planning For Health Insurance Exchange

June 14, 2011 By Tamela Southan Leave a Comment

Texas State Capitol

The New York Times /Texas Tribune (6/10, A19A, Ramshaw, Subscription Publication) reports that despite Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s (R) “stated opposition to a federally-mandated health insurance exchange and the state’s participation in lawsuits aimed at overturning federal health reform, officials at the Texas Department of Insurance acknowledge that since last fall, with the help of a $1 million grant from the United States Department of Health and Human Services, they have been working quietly to plan for a health insurance exchange.” The article quotes John Greeley, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Insurance, as saying, “We’ve been going full speed ahead on implementation, doing the due diligence so that we can be on time with what the law says.” Meanwhile, “Lucy Nashed, a spokeswoman for Mr. Perry, said the governor is aware of the grant, which she said is exploratory and does not require Texas to set up an exchange.” http://mailview.custombriefings.com/mailview.aspx?m=2011061001nahu&r=4958615-5c23

Filed Under: Affiliations, Dependents, Employee Interest, Events, Health Care Reform, Health Plans, High deductibles, Low cost, Medical plans, Partners, Pharmacy, Pre-X, Recognition, Savings, Small Business, Smarter Consumer, Smarter Consumer, Tax Savings, compliance, continuation of benefits, coverage, federal laws, state laws

Dr. Oz Grocery Shopping Tips

June 14, 2011 By Tamela Southan Leave a Comment

Shop Safe at the Grocery Store

Some of the foods at the grocery store may be making you sick. This month’s video clip from The Dr. Oz Show provides simple ways to protect yourself as you shop. The video messages are available on UHC.com, myuhc.com, and Source4Women.com for six months.

Each month UnitedHealthcare posts a video clip featuring Dr. Mehmet Oz, a renowned physician, bestselling author and host of The Dr. Oz Show, which airs daily on TV stations across the United States.

The messages focus on achieving or maintaining a healthy weight, heart health, exercise, and healthy eating. These clips can be shared simply by copying and pasting the web link from the sites above into an email or your web browser.

These video clips are a part of UnitedHealthcare’s commitment to work with renowned doctor and nationally recognized author Dr. Mehmet Oz to share health and wellness topics on his talk show, The Dr. Oz Show, and his website, DoctorOz.com. You can find out when and where The Dr. Oz Show airs in your area by going to DoctorOz.com and clicking on “Local Listings.”Shop Safe at the Grocery Store

Filed Under: Affiliations, Dependents, Employee Interest, Events, Health Care Reform, Health Plans, Healthy Eating, Medical plans, Nutrition, Partners, Pharmacy, Pre-X, Recognition, Savings, Small Business, Smarter Consumer, Smarter Consumer, Testimonials, Wellness, continuation of benefits, coverage

Lower Cost Higher Deductible Tax Saving Plans

June 13, 2011 By Tamela Southan Leave a Comment

It's Yours or Uncle Sam's?

ALPHA BET Soup of Health Care

Managing your healthcare dollars, including choosing the right provider, the right care, at the right time, for the right price is more complicated – and potentially much more important – than managing your retirement accounts. But where is the budding industry of healthcare financial advisors to help people better make these critical decisions? (Benefit Solutions by Design)

Consumer-driven healthcare will fail unless consumers are educated, empowered and supported with the knowledge they need to make good decisions. Just like during the rise of 401Ks and IRAs, there is a need for a higher, not a lower level of service, that was provided in the old world. Without the mission critical healthcare financial services, CDH will not create careful consumers that decrease spending, but may be, as the critics claim, just another cost shift. What are you? A super spender or super saver? This is a solution for you if your open to change and becoming a smarter consumer than those addicted to the copay.

Filed Under: Dental, Dependents, Employee Interest, Events, HSA - Health Savings Account, Health Care Reform, Health Plans, High deductibles, IRS, Low cost, Medical plans, No Copays, Partners, Pharmacy, Pre-X, Roll over funds, Savings, Section 125 of IRS Code, Small Business, Smarter Consumer, Smarter Consumer, Tax Savings, You own the funds, compliance, coverage, federal laws, state laws Tagged With: health premiums federal government enroll reduce easy reduced cost, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4mpct4hRSs, Money

COBRA? State Continuation? What to do!

June 13, 2011 By Tamela Southan Leave a Comment

What is it and How Does it Work?

: Checked Your Compliance List Lately?

Confused about what compliance rules apply when an employee terminates employment triggering a loss of their benefits. What are your obligations as an employer to keep in compliance with the state / federal regulations in offering the terminated employee & their covered dependents continuation rights. Rules and regulations, who is responsible, what are the requirements and time lines? Great questions that I can help you resolve. Since groups subject to Texas State Continuation (TSC) are almost 100% fully insured groups, “the employer or the group policyholder” are one and the same! Required to provide the terminated members their right to continuation of group coverage. As an industry professional, your hiring me to provide solutions driven support to meet these compliance needs. Let’s close your compliance gaps.

Filed Under: 9 months, Affiliations, Dependents, Employee Interest, HMO - Health Maintenance Organization, HSA - Health Savings Account, Health Care Reform, Health Plans, Medical plans, PPO - Preferred Provider Organization, Pre-X, Small Business, compliance, continuation of benefits, coverage, federal laws, state laws Tagged With: health premiums federal government enroll reduce easy reduced cost, Money, pre existing

Are you concerned about Indentity Theft?

June 12, 2011 By Tamela Southan Leave a Comment

Reviewing your credit file on a regular basis is essential for safeguarding your identity. Unexpected changes or evidence of suspicious activity may be the first sign of identity theft.

With Identity Theft Shield, you will experience the following benefits:

Enables your identification of inaccuracies in your credit files
Opportunity for early detection of suspicious activity in your credit files
Access to Credit Specialists to answer questions about your credit file
Access to Licensed Investigators to answer your questions and concerns about identity theft and fraud. Should you become a victim of identity theft, your investigator will work with you to help restore your name and credit to pre-theft status

I can help you with the best protection in the industry. Let’s shield your personal identity today before it’s too late.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: credit report, Identity, PHI, protection, safeguard, security, suspicious activity, theft

HHS to Reduce Premiums, Make it Easier for Americans with Pre-Existing Conditions to Get Health Insurance

June 8, 2011 By Tamela Southan Leave a Comment

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced new steps to reduce premiums and make it easier for Americans to enroll in the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan. Premiums for the Federally-administered Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) will drop as much as 40 percent in 18 States, and eligibility standards will be eased in 23 States and the District of Columbia to ensure more Americans with pre-existing conditions have access to affordable health insurance. The Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan was created under the Affordable Care Act and serves as a bridge to 2014 when insurers will no longer be allowed to deny coverage to people with any pre-existing condition, like cancer, diabetes, and asthma.

“The Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan changes lives, and in many cases, literally saves lives,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “These changes will decrease costs and help insure more Americans.”

In 23 States and the District of Columbia, the PCIP program is Federally-administered. The remaining States operate their own PCIP programs using Federal funds provided by the Affordable Care Act.

http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/05/20110531b.html

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: health premiums federal government enroll reduce easy reduced cost, pre existing

Theft? Yes, Health Care Identity Theft?

March 21, 2011 By Tamela Southan Leave a Comment

What Are Your Best Practices For Preventing HC Identity Theft?

Theft of a patient’s identity to acquire health care hurts patients, providers, payers & plan sponsors and employers that fund benefits. Patients are hurt if incorrect information in the patient record undermines care and when their available benefits are decreased when paid to someone else. Providers risk legal and financial exposures from malpractice, HIPAA, health care fraud, uncollectable or recouped fees, malpractice, and other issues. Plans and plan sponsors loose because they pay for benefits received by ineligible individuals. What are your best praactices & ideas about how patients, health care providers, health plans and insurers and employers and other plan sponsors can prevent and manage health care identity theft and its associated risks?

Thanks You! Cynthia Stamer.

Started by Cynthia Marcotte Stamer, Executive Director/Founder at Project COPE Coalition For Patient Empowerment

http://www.linkedin.com/groups/What-Are-Your-Best-Practices-135585.S.47525146?view=&gid=135585&type=member&item=47525146&trk=eml-anet_dig-b_nd-pmr-cn

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Get the BUZZ – Medical Group Bridge Plans

March 21, 2011 By Tamela Southan Leave a Comment

What’s the BUZZ about Group Medical Bridge -GMB?
Employers are struggling with managing health care costs while still providing a competitive benefits program. Employees are struggling with increasing financial exposure from out-of-pocket costs.
New Group Medical Bridge 1.0 can help employers and employees with these top concerns. And it’s guaranteed issue – no health questions asked – and includes the ability to waive pre-ex on all covered insureds (employee, spouse, dependents) when participation is met. It’s also available situs state, which makes your job even easier!
Find out when you can begin offering this innovative new solution to rising health care costs to your clients. Continue…

The new Group Medical Bridge 1.0 provides a one-page state-specific GMB 1.0 that shows your savings by pairing GMB 1.0 with a high-deductible health plan. What are you waiting for? Let’s talk about your options as a smart minded business owner.

Filed Under: Affiliations, Employee Interest, Events, HSA - Health Savings Account, Health Care Reform, Health Plans, PPO - Preferred Provider Organization, Partners, Recognition, Small Business

The Texas Jobs Juggernaut – Nature vs Nuture!

Check Out Consumerism, Cost Saving $$$

Texas Quietly Planning For Health Insurance Exchange

Dr. Oz Grocery Shopping Tips

Lower Cost Higher Deductible Tax Saving Plans

COBRA? State Continuation? What to do!

Are you concerned about Indentity Theft?

HHS to Reduce Premiums, Make it Easier for Americans with Pre-Existing Conditions to Get Health Insurance

Theft? Yes, Health Care Identity Theft?

What Are Your Best Practices For Preventing HC Identity Theft?

Get the BUZZ – Medical Group Bridge Plans

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