Small Business — Benefit Solutions By Design

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

Congressional Face Off

February 3, 2011 By Tamela Southan 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.”

Filed Under: Employee Interest, Health Care Reform, Medicare, 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

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

Small Business Health Tax Credit–Is Your Business Eligible?

June 1, 2010 By Tamela Southan 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

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

IRS.gov: Details on New Small Business Health Care Tax Credit

May 17, 2010 By Tamela Southan Leave a Comment

The Small Business Health Care Tax Credit helps small businesses and small tax-exempt organizations afford the cost of covering their employees. What does this mean to you? If you’re a small business owner it could prove significant: The credit could be worth up to 35 percent of your premium costs in 2010, and this rate increases to as much as 50 percent in 2014. Let’s talk and see if you’re eligible.

Learn more at http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=223577,00.html

Filed Under: Health Care Reform, Small Business

Health Care Reform Timeline 2014

May 15, 2010 By Tamela Southan 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