Health Insurance Archives - Page 39 of 52

Trump’s New Plan To Strengthen Medicare

With all of the recent talk and debates about “Medicare For All”, President Trump has decided to take action. In October, Trump signed an executive order while visiting Florida, pertaining to the Medicare health program. His goal is to improve Medicare by giving seniors the ability to choose from more affordable plans.

Protecting and Improving Medicare for our Nation’s Seniors

Because Democrats are pushing to expand Medicare to everyone, Trump proposed this plan in response. He stated that he will do whatever it takes to prevent the “socialist” proposal of Medicare For All. Trump’s order is aimed to reduce regulations, curb fraud, and provide quicker access to therapies and medical devices.

trump and new medicare plan book on shelf — *Every president we have tries to improve our healthcare system. Let’s see how these changes work in the long run.*

The order wants Medicare to offer and use more medical telehealth services, in order to reduce costs to seniors. The more that seniors have access to their doctors through telehealth, then the fewer emergency room visits would occur. And in order to accomplish this, Trump proposes to get rid of regulatory requirements that prevent medical professionals from practicing at the top of their licenses.

This means that the focus will move from doing clerical tasks that don’t require a physician’s level of training to the patient’s care. For example, instead of filling out forms, faxing paperwork, and requesting medical records, the tasks can be alleviated by an assistant, freeing up the medical staff’s time to give more attention to the sick.

Allowing nurse practitioners and medical assistants to practice at the top of their license would “really enhance access to care, enhance provider availability for all Medicare beneficiaries, including in fee-for-service, and really help, especially with the rural healthcare crisis,” HHS Secretary Alex Azar said in the media call.

More Money Back To Seniors

The order directs Medicare to create a new payment model that adjusts Medicare Advantage supplemental benefits. The purpose is to allow seniors to directly be a part of any cost savings that Advantage plans generate. This will include any monetary rebates, and lowered prescription drug prices.

Azar stated, “The executive order commissions us to examine all practices, regulations, and guidance to just make sure that we are not steering people into fee-for-service as opposed to giving them a genuine choice of Medicare Advantage or fee-for-service.”

“We’re lowering the cost of prescription drugs, taking on the pharmaceutical companies. And you think that’s easy? It’s not easy… I wouldn’t be surprised if the hoax didn’t come from some of the people that we’re taking on,” Trump said. He was referring to drug companies that were backing the impeachment efforts in Washington. He believes they were doing this as a way to sabotage his efforts of making prescriptions more affordable to medicare recipients.

seniors with medicare holding their grandchildren — *As we age, we need healthcare. So, any insurance system that focuses on helping us as we mature should be improved.*

What Trump Is Pushing For

The order is undoubtedly a way to pushback against Bernie Sanders’ Medicare For All proposal, which would open the Medicare gates to everyone in America. Trump sees it as socialism, with the administrator of the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Seema Verma backing it up, calling it a “pipe dream” that would just lead to higher taxes.

Trump hopes that his proposal will be more beneficial to seniors, making Medicare a little more affordable, while at the same time condemning Medicare for All proposals.

Pete Buttigieg’s Plan To Expand Health Coverage

Following the recent democratic debates, Mayor of South Bend, IN, Pete Buttigieg has sparked conversations lately. The democratic debate found disagreements and controversy revolving around healthcare.

drawing of a person walking down a road with 3 paths in arrows — *Pete Buttigieg wants to create healthcare that provides people with the option of choosing private health insurance or government healthcare.*

Very few wanted Medicare For All, while the majority thought it should be up to the people whether they wanted private or government health insurance. Buttigieg introduced a middle-ground approach, allowing people to opt into the government health insurance while allowing them to keep private plans. The main point was to give people an option.

Options

Buttigieg’s proposal would not force people into a government health plan. He prefers that it be an option for the public to enroll or not. The idea behind the options is that it would force private insurance companies to compete with the government plan on price and coverage, hopefully bringing down the costs. He puts a lot of emphasis on giving Americans their right to choose and trusting them to make the right choice for themselves.

“For years, Washington politicians have allowed the pharmaceutical industry, giant insurance companies, and powerful hospital systems to profit off of people when they are at their sickest and most vulnerable,” he said. “My ‘Medicare for All Who Want It’ plan will create a health care system that puts power in the hands of each American.”

Promoting His Proposal

The mayor sponsored this proposal on Facebook saying, “Medicare for All Who Want It will create a public alternative, but unlike the Sanders-Elizabeth Warren vision, it doesn’t dictate to the American people and risk further polarizing them.” Another ad simply states, “I trust the American people to make their health care decisions for themselves.”

The Operation

The uninsured and low-income Americans who live in states without expanded Medicaid would be automatically enrolled in the government plan. Also, people with access to an employer’s plan would be able to join if that offered coverage is too expensive.

Buttigieg’s government’s plan would cover all of the 10 essential health benefits, including emergency services, hospitalization, and maternity care, which are currently mandated by the ACA. The mayor also wants to boost federal subsidies by capping premiums at 8.5% of income, and the base of subsidies would be on the Gold Plan’s cost, rather than the Silver Plans.

A slver key with a green tag on it that says "health" — *“Hospitals, not patients, should bear the responsibility of verifying that their providers are included in their insurance networks, whether for private plans or public programs.”*

One last thing that Buttigieg would like to include in his plan, is to get rid of “surprise” medical billing. This occurs often when patients visit a doctor or hospital only to receive a hefty bill in the mail because they were out of network.

His game plan is to ensure that in-network hospitals be billed as just that–in-network. This is to be done even if the doctors and labs are out of network. “Hospitals, not patients, should bear the responsibility of verifying that their providers are included in their insurance networks, whether for private plans or public programs,” reads Buttigieg’s plan.

The mayor’s plan will cost about $1.5 trillion over 10 years, but he is hopeful that the American people will be happy with his proposal. The reason being that they will not be forced into government healthcare. The candidacy is still in its early stages, so only time will tell the future of America’s healthcare, under Buttigieg’s plan or another.

Get Ready For The 2020 Health Insurance Tax

Insurers were given a pass in 2019 by Congress regarding their annual health insurance tax. The reason was that the government was concerned about consumers’ out-of-pocket costs. However, if the ACA’s health insurance tax resumes as planned, this ‘free pass’ might be over and insurers will face a $15.5 billion tax bill in 2020. The health insurance tax

Silhouette of a man holding another man upside down with money falling out. — *Insurers might face a $15.5 billion tax bill in 2020, meaning health insurance premium costs will go up at least 2% next year.*

was created to fund the implementation of the ACA’s marketplace exchanges. For consumers, this means that insurers will raise premiums by more than 2% if the tax is implemented by the IRS.

Health Insurance Tax Over The Years

Oliver Wyman Actuarial Consulting recently analyzed the projected impact of the health insurance tax on health insurer premiums over the next 10 years. They found that premiums are likely to increase by 2.2% in 2020.

The tax started at $8 billion in 2014, increased to $11.3 billion for 2015-2016, and had a suspension in 2017. The tax was then reinstated at $14.3 billion in 2018, and then given another suspension for the year of 2019.

Who It Applies To

A fully-insured health plan is the more traditional way to structure an employer-sponsored health plan. With a fully-insured health plan: The company pays a premium to the insurance carrier. The health insurance tax applies to all insurers offering fully-insured coverage. This goes for :

on-exchange and off-exchange individual markets
large and small group markets
insured public programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.

The Rise In Premiums

Premium increases will vary by state. However, premiums are expected to increase annually anywhere from $154 to $479. A person in the individual market can face a $196 increase. A person in the small group market can expect a $154 increase, while a family of 4 faces a $479 increase. As for families in the large group market, the increase for an individual will be about $158, while a family faces a $458 increase.

Two arrow signs in yellow. The top one says health and points right, the bottom one says illness and points left. — *The rise in premium costs might cause a lot of people to opt out of insurance, throwing off the risk pool.*

The Outcome Following The Tax

If the tax is implemented and is as high as almost $16 billion, then increased tax burdens on small employers will follow. Fully-insured small employers will face the repercussions, while private and self-insured public employers will not. Employers are not the only ones who will have to pay for the tax increase. State taxes will go up for everyone in order to cover the increased tax on Medicaid.

More importantly, many people might opt out of insurance due to the increase in premium costs. Healthier individuals opting-out will cause an imbalance in the risk pool, meaning higher premiums for the (less healthy) people who are insured.

As of now, there is no definitive answer if the tax will be implemented in 2020. Congress is considering bipartisan legislation that would suspend the tax through 2021, but it is not a guarantee. If the health insurance tax is implemented, insurance rates and premiums will be more expensive than it already is.

What Senate Bill 86 Means For Your Group Health Policy

Are you satisfied with your current group health policy? Whether you are or not, Senate Bill 86 is going to shake things up. As a business owner, you need to stay up to date with what new legislation will do for your bottom line. Our representatives in Washington are always working on something new.

senator looking at senate bill 86 on a clipboard — *Here are some great changes to look forward to! Get ready for new AHP rules.*

In this case, we have some great news. Besides the new HRA changes, small business owners will benefit greatly from this new Senate bill. It’s a change in group health insurance policies affecting Association Health Plans (AHPs).

What is an AHP?

An association health plan is a health insurance option requiring a group of employers to purchase. For small businesses, options for purchasing coverage can seem expensive and limiting. Most simply do not have the capital for group health insurance that the larger corporations do. However, with AHPs, small businesses, sole proprietors, and similar employers can form an association to purchase coverage together. As a group, the businesses have more capital to work with, providing a more attractive offer for insurance companies.

What Will Senate Bill 86 Do?

Senate Bill 86 is “an act to establish standards for Association Health Plans and multiple employer welfare arrangements.” Springboarding off similar previous legislation, the bill provides an easy way to group closely-related employers and give them access to AHPs.

The bill enhances AHPs, and small businesses of at least 50 employees are eligible to join. Because of changes by the Trump administration last June, this bill reduces the stringent requirements put in place with North Carolina’s AHPs specifically. However, there are still requirements for gaining one:

An AHP must be offered by a non-profit organization.
The non-profit must have been in business for two years beyond selling insurance.
500 employees are the minimum for a qualifying non-profit.

If you meet these requirements, you are eligible for joining with other businesses in your area. Enrollment will be on a case-by-case basis. Checking with specific associations in your area is your next step should you choose to enroll.

What Does This Mean For You?

government building at night with an orange moon — *With this bill set, what new legislation can the Senate give us to make group health easier?*

As a small business owner, you can use this legislation to acquire group health plans that before you did not have access to before. Besides access, this bill gives more security to the benefits you receive. There were rumors before of “junk” health plans or scams that preyed upon employers seeking coverage. Through this new legislation, not only does it save you money, but you also can look forward to coverage of:

Mental health care
Emergency care
Hospitalization
Maternity
Doctor visits
Prescription drugs
Maternity

If you think these are good policies, consider looking into AHPs in your area. This is a great time with the new Senate legislation.

EZ.Insure will help your business succeed. Your agent will answer any questions you have, compare different plans for you, and even sign you up when you’re ready, free of charge and without having to worry about being hounded by endless calls. To get started simply enter your zip code in the bar above, or you can speak to an agent by emailing [email protected], or calling 888-615-4893. EZ.Insure makes the entire process easy, and quick.

ATTN Small Business Owners: 6 Reasons You Should Give Your Employees Insurance

Not convinced small business coverage is worth it? Find out why we think it is.

1. It’s Cake.

As a business owner, your greatest currency is time. So the last thing you want is to waste that on looking for the right group plan.

When you hire an agent, you hire a full-time tour guide committed to navigating you through the selection process. With demographics, health concerns, and company size to consider, there are plenty of factors that must be included in your final decision. An agent can explain the nitty-gritty details of selecting a plan that fits your company’s needs, instead of you spending an unbelievable amount of time trying to digest the vast sea of information. Consider them

Cartoon of a man in a suit sitting on a chair with papers in his hand, with another hand in the picture giving paperwork to man sitting down. — *An agent can explain the nitty-gritty details of selecting a plan that fits your company’s needs, instead of you spending a large amount of time trying to figure it all out*

your “sparknotes” of insurance plans.

This connection is 1-to-1, because trust us – we hate spam calls as much as you do.

Connect With a Personal Agent Now

2. Less Money (From You), Less Problems.

One of the biggest misconceptions about purchasing insurance is the hefty price tag that comes along with it. And that can be true, if you go about the process in the wrong way. So we’re here to dispel that myth.

Compared to individual health insurance, high costs of one insured person have a smaller effect in a larger pool – in other words, more people are paying to support the few who use the benefits of being covered to their full extent.

With comparison shopping, you avoid that. You are guaranteed to find the right plan at an affordable price. You can contribute nothing to a plan – and it will still be beneficial for your employees. No risk is necessary.

It is important to keep in mind that you are not only the owner of your company; you are the owner of the plan selection.

Checking out your options is a great place to start.

3. “I Want YOU To Buy Health Insurance!”

Little figurines of people passing money to each other from a pile down a line towrds a yellow piggy bank. — *You end up saving money by offering employees group insurance. Employer contributions are tax-deductible, employer payroll taxes are reduced by 7.65% of employee contributions, and more!*

If you still don’t believe in the affordability of group health coverage, consider this – it’s on Uncle Sam. Two words for you: Tax. Benefits.

Here are the tax savings you get by offering group health insurance:

Employer contributions are tax-deductible
Employer payroll taxes are reduced by 7.65% of employee contributions
Employer workers compensation premiums are reduced
No payroll taxes and workers compensation premiums on money used towards health benefits.

And here are the tax savings your employees get by receiving group health insurance:

When employees buy health insurance on their own, they have to use post-tax dollars to buy it. They make money, the government taxes that money, and then they take the remaining amount to buy what they need.
When employees buy health insurance through a group plan, they pay for the insurance with pre-tax dollars. That can save them up to 30 to 45% on their health insurance premiums.

4. Healthy Employees = Happy Employees

You might not be able to buy the Beatles’ love, but you can buy your employees’.

Studies show that small business health insurance plans increase employee loyalty and decrease turnover. There’s scientific proof that purchasing insurance for your employees can increase retention and aid in recruitment. Mic drop.

In all seriousness, health insurance is a big deal for both employees and job seekers. For some, it’s even the deciding

factor between job offers.

A group of employees standing in a circle with their hands on top of one another. Camera view is looking up at their palms. — *Healthy employees means less visits, less appointments, and less sick days. What this means is more productivity in the workplace.*

Providing health insurance, despite not being a large corporate powerhouse, shows how much you value your potential and current employees. Which – if you’re a good boss – is a lot.

5. And Happy Employees = Happy Boss

You can imagine that an employee with a burst appendix or an inflamed wisdom tooth might be a little distracted when calculating the day’s revenue. But only a little.

Employees who aren’t provided health insurance have an increased likelihood of avoiding doctor appointments or hospital visits. In short, they have an increased likelihood of being unhealthy.

Additionally, healthy employees means less visits, less appointments, and less sick days. If you focus on “saving money” at the cost of your employees’ health, we’re tellin’ ya, it’s just going to come back and bite you in the bottom.

Or your bottom line.

6. The Gift That Keeps on Giving

Cobra isn’t just a snake.

The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) is a health insurance program that allows an eligible employee and his or her dependents the continued benefits of health insurance coverage in the case that employee loses his or her job or experiences a reduction of work hours.

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Turning 26? Your Guide To Getting Health Insurance

The time has come. You made it to 26 with health insurance coverage through your parents. But now your birthday is approaching and are getting kicked off your parent’s health insurance plan. You may be wondering if you can stay on your parents’ health insurance longer. The answer to this is, unfortunately, no. You will get kicked off the plan at

Birthday cake with canles "26" on it lit. — When you turn 26 years old, tjere is a deadline for your hralth insurance. You will have to get your own plan.

either the end of the month that you turn 26, or at the end of the year. Its inevitable, but where do you start?

The Options

If you are employed, then you can join your company’s health insurance plan if they have one. Another option is to hop on your spouse’s health plan if you are married. If none of these options apply to you, then your only choice is to get your own health insurance plan. Those options are:

Long-term Plans

When you turn 26, you qualify for a special enrollment period for Obamacare, also known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA). You also have the option of getting private insurance in which licensed health insurance agents are able to create a policy that is unique to your specific needs using a full spectrum of different insurance companies. It is important to shop around because these plans are sometimes cheaper than the marketplace insurance plans. Long-term plans offer more comprehensive coverage. These plans help manage day to day expenses and are convenient for those that require routine medical work, such as medication, lab work, and inpatient/outpatient services. Major medical health insurance complies with the ACA requirements which means it provides the ten essential health benefits.

Essentially, when you are over 26 years old and are no longer on your parent’s plan, then a major medical plan is best if you are looking for coverage of pre-existing conditions, and need routine medical work , such as medication,

Two signs that say short-term and long-term on them pointing in different directions. — *The two options for health insurance are short-term and long-term. Short term plans do not cover pre-existing conditions, only the basics. If you need comprehensive coverage, long-term is best.*

lab work, and inpatient and outpatient services. Major medical health insurance complies with the ACA requirements which means it provides the ten essential health benefits. These ten essential benefits are: ambulatory patient services, prescription drugs, emergency care, mental health services, hospitalization, rehabilitative services, preventative and wellness services, laboratory services, pediatric care, and maternity and newborn care.

Short-Term Plans

Unlike long-term plans, their short-term counterparts do not need a qualifying life event to enroll. Short term health insurance provides fast, flexible insurance with many benefits. These plans can be extended up to 3 years, and you can pick your deductible amount from many options. You are also able to drop coverage without a penalty if you want to change to a long term insurance option. Premiums are lower than ACA health insurance plans, and you get coverage as soon as a day after applying.

It is important to understand that short-term insurance is temporary and not ideal for those who require more comprehensive coverage or have health conditions. Short term plans are not guaranteed issue, meaning they do not cover pre-existing conditions. They only cover the basics.

When you consider purchasing health insurance, you have to think about how much you want to pay, the coverage provided, and which term length is best for you. It can be quite overwhelming when you embark on this new journey. EZ.Insure can help. We will provide you with a highly trained agent within your area that can provide you quotes and plans from all the different health insurance companies in your region. To get started, enter your zip code in the bar above. Or to speak to an agent call 888-350-1890, or email [email protected]. We will go over everything with you and help you decide if this plan best suits your needs. If it does not, then we will direct you to other plans.

Tag: Health Insurance

Trump’s New Plan To Strengthen Medicare

Pete Buttigieg’s Plan To Expand Health Coverage

Options

Promoting His Proposal

The Operation

Get Ready For The 2020 Health Insurance Tax

Health Insurance Tax Over The Years

Who It Applies To

The Rise In Premiums

The Outcome Following The Tax

Turning 26? Your Guide To Getting Health Insurance

The Options

Long-term Plans

Short-Term Plans

Business

About Us

Individual

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