Affiliations — Benefit Solutions By Design

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

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

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

NAHU Capitol Hill Visits 2/15/2011

February 16, 2011 By Tamela Southan Leave a Comment

watch?v=22d96xsYvyA&feature=player_embedded

: Our Nations Capitol

Attending Washington, DC as part of our annual Capitol Hill Conference visiting with our elected officials discussing the upcoming reform: health care exchange, what it means to our states, how will the states build their model to suit the residence and how do we fund and pay for the plan. We know MA Connector has been a huge negative impact with only a slight shift in enrollment and negative impact to small business owners. What’s your state doing? 2014 is only a few years away.

Filed Under: Affiliations, Employee Interest, Health Care Reform, Medicare, Partners, Recognition, Small Business

The Deadline for Medicare Drug Coverage Is Approaching.

February 4, 2011 By Tamela Southan Leave a Comment

Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Centers has extended the Special Election Period for those people who have lost their Medicare Advantage Plan or Preferred Drug Plan. CMS will be sending a letter to all of those still eligible who have not made their SEP selection.

They will have until FEBRUARY 28, 2011 to choose a plan
Anyone who had a non-renewing plan and did not make a decision by 12/31/10 is currently on original Medicare
Anyone who has already enrolled in a MAPD or PDP will not be able to change plans
Anyone who has an SEP but doesn’t make their selection before February 28, 2011 will remain in original Medicare
A copy of the CMS letter must be sent with the application

The plan effective date for a February enrollment will be March 1, 2011. We are in the count down. Let me know if I can assist.

Filed Under: Affiliations, Employee Interest, Events, Medicare, Partners, Recognition, Small Business

Texas Small Business Economy Drivers

February 4, 2011 By Tamela Southan Leave a Comment

HealthyTexas is a program developed by the Texas Department of Insurance to make insurance available for small businesses that are not yet offering coverage to their employees. Affordable, easy enrollment and great Texas rates 15% -25% below market, want to know more, contact me today. Addressing the needs of the working uninsured today!

Filed Under: Affiliations, Employee Interest, Health Care Reform, Partners, Recognition, Small Business

Handy Discount Card Provides Antidote to Rising Health Care Costs

October 25, 2010 By Tamela Southan 3 Comments

Higher deductibles and reduced benefits, check out The PeoplePlusCard! 25% -50% Discounts on prescriptions, vision, dental and more. Contact me or visit the website for info.

Filed Under: Affiliations, Employee Interest, Health Care Reform, Small Business

Check Out Consumerism, Cost Saving $$$

Texas Quietly Planning For Health Insurance Exchange

Dr. Oz Grocery Shopping Tips

COBRA? State Continuation? What to do!

Get the BUZZ – Medical Group Bridge Plans

NAHU Capitol Hill Visits 2/15/2011

The Deadline for Medicare Drug Coverage Is Approaching.

Texas Small Business Economy Drivers

Handy Discount Card Provides Antidote to Rising Health Care Costs

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