Tamela Southan, CBCAccording to the U.S. General accounting office, roughly 1 out of every 10 dollars is spent on public Healthcare programs is lost to fraud, waste and abuse. Fraud, Waste and Abuse account for the loss of billions of $$$ each year.
The Deadline for Medicare Drug Coverage Is Approaching.
February 4, 2011 By 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.
Texas Small Business Economy Drivers
February 4, 2011 By 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!
Congressional Face Off
February 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Senate slaps down the vote to repel the Health Care bill. With only 300+pages of the bill written to reform healthcare have you read the other impacts? TAXES? Hot topic, the much debated controversial mandate that will require most Americans to get health insurance starting in 2014.” The Times adds that “Republican leaders…have not indicated what part of the overhaul they will target first,” but “with funding for the federal government set to expire in four weeks, the next battleground could be legislation to keep the government operating from March to September.”
Handy Discount Card Provides Antidote to Rising Health Care Costs
October 25, 2010 By 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.
From KFF.org: Implementation Opportunities and Challenges for Employers and Consumers
September 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (HCERA) made a series of changes that will significantly affect the way employers provide health coverage to their employees, and transform many of the choices and protections consumers have in the marketplace.
Check out the full event briefing here: http://www.kff.org/ahr090810video.cfm
From KHN: Don’t Discount The Value of An Agent, They Discount Your Insurance
September 9, 2010 By 1 Comment
This excellent article by Janet Trautwein, CEO of National Association of Health Underwriters, explains why I do what I do and part of a great trade association helping fight our battles in Washington, DC.
Read the full article here:
http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Columns/2010/September/090910trautwein.aspx
Small Business Health Tax Credit–Is Your Business Eligible?
June 1, 2010 By 1 Comment
Many small businesses and tax-exempt organizations that provide health insurance coverage to their employees now qualify for a special tax credit:
- Maximum credit is 35 percent of premiums paid in 2010 by eligible small business employers
- 25 percent of premiums paid by eligible employers that are tax-exempt organizations
- Targeted to help employees with low & mid income
- Available to employers with < 25 full-time employees paying wages averaging less than $50,000
- Maximum credit goes to those with < 10 employees
More details and tips at http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=220848,00.html
Health Care Reform Timeline 2014
May 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment
The implementation timeline reflects the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which President Obama signed on March 23, 2010, as well as provisions in the Health Care & Education Reconciliation Act, which was signed on March 30, 2010. It includes more than a dozen key provisions scheduled to take effect in 2010, including the creation of a national high-risk pool for people with pre-existing conditions that can’t buy insurance of their own, tax credits for small businesses that obtain health coverage for their workers, and assistance for Medicare beneficiaries with high drug costs.
More details at http://www.kff.org/healthreform/8060.cfm
