Health Plans — Benefit Solutions By Design

HSA administrator, HealthEquity agree to ‘marriage of expertise’

August 18, 2011 By Tamela Southan Leave a Comment

Salt Lake City, Utah-based HealthEquity acquired health savings account (HSA) administrator First Horizon Msaver from First Tennessee Bank National Association for an undisclosed amount.

The combined company is the nation’s largest non-bank HSA custodian, with more than $600 million in assets under management and 17,000 employer customers.

“I am very excited about the benefits of this acquisition for our customers,” said Msaver President E. Craig Keohan in a statement. “They will continue to enjoy Msaver’s concierge-level customer service and gain access to additional capabilities and product features.” http://ifawebnews.com/2011/08/15/hsa-administrator-healthequity-agree-to-marriage-of-expertise/

Filed Under: HSA - Health Savings Account, High deductibles, IRS, Smarter Consumer, compliance Tagged With: health care, 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

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

Get Set! Ready! Health Care Reform 2014

March 6, 2011 By Tamela Southan Leave a Comment

The health care systems were complex as we know them, now the old rules are gone, with new ones here and more to be added as a work in progress. Politics and legislation will continue to shape specific elements and timing, but the trajectory of health reform is unlikely to change and the momentum is not likely to disappear.

An environment of change means more than planning; It calls for agility. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) is only part of a larger wave as regulatory mandates change how and with whom you do business. New endeavors and new operating models can create strategic advantages while operational changes may generate streamlining opportunities and drive growth in new areas. Reform has far-reaching effects on employers and organizations of almost every type as they face each of these challenges and more.

Leaders both inside and outside the traditionally defined health care industry have hard choices to make. No matter where your organization is on the emerging landscape, the potential impacts on your business are as real as they are serious. Benefit Solutions by Design can assist in your efforts to navigate these challenges and more.

Filed Under: Employee Interest, HSA - Health Savings Account, Health Care Reform, Health Plans, Medicare, Partners, Recognition, Small Business, Uncategorized

From KFF.org: Implementation Opportunities and Challenges for Employers and Consumers

September 11, 2010 By Tamela Southan 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

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

From KHN: Don’t Discount The Value of An Agent, They Discount Your Insurance

September 9, 2010 By Tamela Southan 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

Filed Under: Employee Interest, Health Care Reform, Health Plans, Medicare, Small Business

HSA administrator, HealthEquity agree to ‘marriage of expertise’

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!

Get the BUZZ – Medical Group Bridge Plans

Get Set! Ready! Health Care Reform 2014

From KFF.org: Implementation Opportunities and Challenges for Employers and Consumers

From KHN: Don’t Discount The Value of An Agent, They Discount Your Insurance

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News from Dr. John Goodman

From KaiserHealthNews.org