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What to Look for With 2020 Group Health Plans

Despite pushes for change in Congress, it looks like the ACA is still at the top of the list for people. With solid medical benefits and cheaper premiums, this controversial program will keep people covered, but with only the basic essentials. More and more, employer health seems to be the way to go if you want both comprehensive coverage while still maintaining a budget.

group health plan money with calculator — *Calculating your savings is easier when you know what to look for.*

The healthcare system seems to bring out a new update every month. It can get confusing to anyone that’s just started. Let’s take a look at what you can expect.

Besides the standard HRA improvements, there are more interesting changes to be aware of for the future. Here’s a couple we’ve found:

Accountable Care Organizations

These networks were created to foster cooperation in the healthcare system. Through building a “team” of sorts, hospitals, doctors, and specialists can provide a smooth transition through the system for the patients.

This is great news to watch for as an employer. Check with your group health plan to see if there’s a network near you to highlight for your employees. The easier you can make it for them to get well again, the better.

Virtual Care

Programs like Teledoc are growing in popularity. It’s no wonder considering their ease of use. Why go to a doctor’s office and deal with their wait times, prices, and discomfort when you can just pick up your phone for the same services? See if the plans you offer your employees include these services.

Of course, this won’t cover every case. However, rising at-home services could lead to improvements in our medical system. If you have something simple like the flu, and just need prescription medication to get well, then virtual care is a great fit. Think of how this can alleviate crowded doctor’s offices. In addition, the spread of germs would decrease as ill people can stay in the comfort of their own homes.

A 6% Premium Rise

Estimated premium increases are about 6% across the board. While some larger companies are implementing cost management adjustments (These tactics reduce their projected cost.), it still will only reduce the overall budget increase to 5%.

rising group health plan charges on tablet — *Unfortunately, there’s no good news overall with health charges. Rates just seem to rise.*

Statistically, the smaller to midsize businesses pay a bit more than their larger counterparts for the same benefits because they simply don’t have the clout to bargain prices down. These businesses do have the option of turning to consumer-directed health plans (CDHPs) to help out.

CDHPs are high-deductible health plans that are linked to either an HSA or an HRA. However, it’s projected that employers will reduce the number of employees covered by these CDHPs because employees have stated they’d rather have a choice for their benefits, meaning they’ll turn to other alternatives like a preferred provider organization (PPO).

With so many changes coming, it can be hard to see where your best choices lie in purchasing a new Group Health plan. While you can see the reasoning for it, the ultimate decision for your business needs to be a tailored fit. That way, you get the best coverage options for your workforce while still meeting your budget.

If you want to get the best coverage for your company, EZ.Insure offers solutions. Your personalized agent will answer any questions you have, compare the plans available to you, and even sign you up when you are ready, free of charge. 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 888-998-2027. EZ.Insure makes the entire process simple, easy, and quick.

The Future of Commercial Insurance

The future is now. We’re researching virtual reality, nanobots for health, and can even talk to coma patients without the use of invasive surgery. With all these advancements, our world is going to change how we interact with the economy, and therefore, insurance.

However, these changes come with some pushback. Not everyone is on board with progress, take Blockbuster for instance. They decided to opt-out of utilizing the internet to disperse their videos and look at them now.

Can the same be said for the insurance world? We as people are shopping differently, working differently, and expecting different results. What does this mean for commercial insurance?

apps on a cell phone changing the way we get insurance — *There’s an app for everything now! Pizza, games, meetups, dating, and now–insurance?*

How Are We Different?

It’s no secret what our demands are now: everything delivered and fast. With the rise of Uber, Shipt, and Doordash, we now can live our lives completely in the comfort of our own home. Why leave? We have Amazon to give us our essentials, and with their rising drone fleet, even that could be delivered on the same day.

We’re changing as a society to having our needs met within the hour they arise. Want a date? Download Tinder. Throwing a party? Order food and play music on your phone. Apps dominate our handheld ecology, further pushing this culture of the world literally at our fingertips.

Why Is This a Problem?

To put it simply, the insurance industry needs to catch up.

Some companies have, like Lemonade (homeowners and renter’s insurance) or Root (car insurance). They are the exception to the rule, however, not the standard. And this isn’t to say companies aren’t creating apps, some are, but the truth is, it only delivers information to people’s fingertips, not the power to change things.

Truthfully, the industry must expand its liability coverage. Not everyone goes to work in an office anymore. With the rise of freelancers comes a need to fit policies to an odd-shaped market. These freelancers are small-business owners, and a whopping 40% are uninsured, barely even looking at liability for their work life. And it makes sense, the policies offered just don’t fit their lifestyle.

Modern insurance contracts are clunky, long, and don’t favor short, bursts of work. For these gig workers, they need a snappy, instant digital certificate to insure them. Who wouldn’t chuck $5 at an insurance company for a BOP-lite policy for a 2 week period?

Small businesses are born online, further widening our technological world. How does an insurance company begin to cover these businesses? Some are fully remote, requiring cyber liability, and while useful, they aren’t optimized.

Designers, writers, software developers, and more use bite-size jobs, but who’s going to cover them?

These business owners can live highly stressful lives, and constant market changes don’t support purchasing a hefty policy. If commercial insurance wants to snag this group of people, it needs to shift its focus to supporting what they need.

What Can Change?

The insurance industry can benefit from the overall interface of companies like Netflix, Doordash, and Amazon, meaning a focus on customer satisfaction and flexibility.

The new generation of small-business owners need policies that they can interact with at the flick of a finger, not another chore to accomplish like a meeting. And further, these policies need to be bite-size enough to not only explain fast but also be able to buy fast. Lowering policy coverage can also make it cheap enough to be a viable option for these small business owners.

Slap on an amazing customer service team with 24-hour availability (with a cute logo), and you’ve got yourself a whole new client base.

How EZ.Insure Beats The Competition Every Time

Competition between insurance companies is fierce. While some offer tempting deals, hooked discounts, or otherwise, others will make unfounded claims that they’re the best in the industry. So, how can the average person choose which company to buy a plan from? This is where EZ.Insure comes in.

We provide you with a special agent and free quotes of plans within your area. You are our priority. To us, you’re more than a customer, you’re a person that needs help. Other companies promise hassle-free quotes, but it comes with a price. They will mislead you in order to gain from you. Some will even sell your information to telemarketers and more.

We’re the only hassle-free quote engine.

We go above and beyond to make sure you’re completely satisfied with choosing the best plan that fits your needs. What sets us apart is our dedication to excellence. In addition to keeping your information secure, we are constantly in search of the best technology and information. If you join our EZ Family, you join a community that puts you on the top of every list.

Our Dedications to You:

You Gain from Our Hard Work

The Internet contains more information than anyone could read in a lifetime–and that’s just the insurance section. We know how exhausting it is, and how easily you can become frustrated. Our hard work removes all that stress from your shoulders.

We work to provide you with the best insurance plan that meets your needs and budgets. All this free of charge, we would rather see you satisfied with the perfect insurance plan.

Change is the only constant. In the insurance world, information changes, rates change, and plans change, especially as the new year begins. Staying up to date with every move is what we do best. Our team keeps an eagle-eye on industry trends to always provide the latest options.

You Get the Best Info from Our Expert Team

Your local agents are our bread and butter. We pair them with state-of-the-art technology, integrating our quote system, to truly provide the best experience for your health plan.

When you visit our site, you’ll leave with complete details and comparisons from dozens of plans, open to you. These come from our team of experts, sifting through the ocean of insurance plans to find the most suitable to your budget

Before you even speak to an agent you will know:

Who they are
The companies they work with
A look into the prices they offer

These agents know their stuff and will explain the best cost-saving options.

All this for free, we work to put money back in your hands.

You Save More Money

Finding a plan on your own can be rough. Why? The main reason is how much work it takes. After searching for hours, you have to compare all the plans you found, and comb through each one entirely. At EZ.Insure, we know time is money, and finding the perfect plan means less time you waste.

You will receive instant quotes, with a comparison of the other top plans. Besides saving you time (and money) by doing it for you, you don’t have to pay us a cent for our services. Let us shoulder the heavy-lifting. We have the technology and network to reduce hours of time spent to seconds. With our help, we both win.

Your Information Is Safe

We do not settle, especially when it comes to security. EZ.Insure constantly researches ways to improve our business, and thus, improving our services.

EZ.Insure provides ou something other agencies do not- your own personal agent. — *Need privacy, accuracy, and all completely free? We’ve got your back.*

We know that privacy is extremely important. With all the scams, cyber breaches, and information leaks, nothing less than the best protection is what we strive for.

Technology evolves every day, and we do too. Scammers find new ways to grab people’s information, and we do whatever it takes to prevent that. With us, you’ll never have to worry about your information getting into the wrong hands.

You Are Our Priority

Unlike other companies, EZ.Insure will provide the best service for free, and we stand behind it. Your satisfaction is our highest goal. With our services, your journey to the best plan will be guided through our supported network.

Our main goal as a company is to help you, not use you to make a profit. We value your trust. If you place it with us, we guarantee a smooth transaction with one of our agents and the highest rate of savings on the market. There is no hassle, no obligation to buy, and no headaches involved. To get started, simply enter your zip code in the bar above for instant quotes, or to speak with one of our agents, call 888-350-1890, or email us at [email protected].

Does Medicare Cover Dental?

Medicare provides seniors with the necessary care they need. However, this is not the case when it comes to dental coverage. People 60 years old, and older often face dental issues. At least 20% of them deal with untreated decay.

Why such a high rate? Medicare does not cover dental examinations, dentures, annual cleanings, crowns, or fillings. This can leave you in a penny-pinch, because these procedures can get expensive. There are a few exceptions though!

Accidents Happen

Medicare Part A can pay for inpatient hospital care if you need to have emergency or complicated dental procedures–even though dental care isn’t covered. This means while they don’t exactly cover “dental” work, if your teeth are involved in an emergency procedure, it can be included in the overall payment.

These covered services have to specifically be “emergency or complicated dental procedures.” Once they are deemed as such by a medical professional, Medicare Part A will assist in payments.

dental care with two toothbrushes in a cup — *Dental health starts at home. Make sure you’re brushing and flossing twice a day, and use mouthwash!*

For example, if you were in an accident and needed to have your jaw reconstructed, then Medicare will cover it because it is within your hospital stay. It’s still dental work but under a different umbrella.

The same goes for if a disease causes issues with your teeth or your entire mouth. As long as it is approved by a hospital or doctor as “medically necessary,” then Medicare Part A will cover the costs. More example services that are covered include:

Oral exams in the hospital before a kidney transplant.
Dental splints and wiring after jaw surgery.
Dental services for radiation treatment for certain jaw-related diseases, such as oral cancer.
Jaw reconstruction when a facial tumor is removed.
Surgery to treat fractures of the jaw or face.
Oral exam in a rural clinic or Federally Qualified Health Care Center before a heart valve replacement.

People don’t take into account how important dental care is. Not only does it play a huge part in your overall digestive health, but it can also lead to serious problems if you don’t brush and floss.

Why Dental Care Is So Necessary

Irreversible diseases are your biggest worry. Not taking care of your teeth can lead to serious illness because bacteria will build up, and find its way into your bloodstream. This includes heart disease, dementia, diabetes, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and respiratory infections.

Worse yet, studies have linked gingivitis to Dementia and Alzheimer’s. The bacteria from the gum disease can enter your brain through nerve channels, or your bloodstream. The brain is then exposed to the bacteria which can lead to nerve cell damage and brain cell loss. When your brain nerves are damaged or die, memory loss and early dementia can occur.

Dental Options To Consider

Just because Medicare does not cover dental work, does not mean you are out of luck or have to suffer. Instead of paying for expensive dental work out of pocket (routine dental exams can cost you anywhere from $400-$500), these are the options you can consider:

dentist performing oral surgery on patient for dental care — *By taking care of your teeth, you can avoid expensive dentistry bills. If you have to pay them though, make sure your coverage can help.*

Medicare Advantage Plan– There are several advantage plans, like Part C, which cover preventative services. This includes cleanings, fillings, extractions, X-rays, root canals, and crowns.
Dental Insurance– There are stand-alone dental insurances that you can purchase. You would pay a monthly premium, and you would have to see an in-network dentist.
Discount Dental Plan– This plan requires a membership fee. It is usually cheaper than insurance and will give you discounted rates at certain dentists. The discounts normally range anywhere from 25-50%.

Your dental health is connected to your mental and physical health. If you do not take care of your teeth and gums, dire issues can arise. Dental issues aren’t given enough attention, and they can be just as bad as other diseases.

You can develop dementia and Alzheimer’s due to bad oral hygiene. It is linked to heart issues, cancer, and more. Make sure you brush and floss every day. Just because Medicare does not cover dental, does not mean you can not seek other options to make sure your oral hygiene is up to par.

HSAs: What They Are, and Why You Should Be Using Them.

Do you know about Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)? According to surveys, about half of Americans have no idea what they are, or what to use them for. This situation isn’t good considering how present medical expenses have a crippling effect on the average person. If your employees are hospitalized from a serious injury, the resulting bill can equal the cost of a family sedan. Help them understand what these are, so they’ll opt into your group health plan.

HSAs are a great solution for these high payments, but not if people don’t know how to use them.

What is an HSA?

blue piggy bank for a health savings account — *Saving money is good just in case something happens, but what if you had an account that was ALSO tax-advantaged?*

HSAs were created to help pay for medical expenses that your health insurance plan doesn’t cover. These savings accounts are only compatible with high deductible health plans that are specifically tagged “HSA-eligible.”HSAs are tax-advantaged, giving you more of a reason to use them. On this note, if you make a withdrawal from the account to pay for a qualified expense, then the amount will not be taxed.

If their deductible is $1500, and your medical expense is $4500, then you will be expected to pay the $1500 deductible, and your insurance company will take care of the rest. For some, $1500 is still a lot of money. With an HSA in place, you can cover that as well.

Either you, or your employee, or both, will put money into the account. While HSAs can be opened by yourself, starting one with an employer will help it grow faster with you both making contributions. These are saved up to pay for things like dental work or prescription drugs to make you feel better.

How Do You Start One?

Before starting an account, your employees have to meet the requirements. This is easier if you have a high-deductible health plan (HDHP). With the HDHP, they often are bundled with an HSA, or at least give you the option.

Besides the basic stuff, you won’t qualify if you:

Have other health coverage
Are considered a dependent
Are enrolled in Medicare

How Do You Use It?

Let’s say an employee started their HSA, saved money with it, but now an urgent medical need arises.

We’ll say this urgent need is the medicine to help their recovery. Thankfully, the IRS approves this for HSA spending. Make sure to double-check though. No one wants to pay a 20% surprise tax when you file your taxes later.

stack of coins for HSAs — *If you open up an HSA with your employer, they can help put money in the account too. That’s twice the contributions!*

That being said, they have options with spending your HSA. They can either get a debit card for it from your bank or insurance company, or you can ask for a reimbursement.

No matter which place they go to, they will have experts to help explain everything. After they use these accounts to save money, they can withdraw from it to pay for qualified medical expenses. In the long run, these expenses will cost less because the HSAs are tax-advantaged.

HSAs seem fairly easy, but most people have no idea how to use them. Many insurance providers will not give HSAs the time of day, just throwing them in like a less useful option. As savings accounts go, they are specific to medical expenses, and those are restricted even more by the IRS.

We can only assume that their extreme restrictions and mystery are a cause for people not using HSAs properly, if at all. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to help your employees pay for hefty medical expenses without going bankrupt. Do some research and ask your insurance company or bank about these benefits.

If you are stuck, don’t know where to start, or have issues, don’t worry. EZ.Insure offers solutions. Your agent will answer any questions you have, compare the plans available to you, and even sign you up when you are ready, free of charge. 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 888-998-2027. EZ.Insure makes the entire process simple, easy, and quick.

New Probe on Group Health Insurance

Governor Charlie Baker of Massachusetts ordered a new probe into the health insurance market. Under executive order 589, the new Merged Market Advisory Council will gather and verify information about insurance rates, producing a helpful report for lawmakers to adjust insurance legislation.

The report is due on April 30, 2020.

council meeting for group health probe — *The first step in any decision is to research, and that’s just what’s happening now.*

The Council

The newly formed council consists of 13 members, 10 of them experts in the health insurance industry. This report’s entire purpose is to give an overview of the merged market based on analysis to “ensure the long-term stability of coverage for individuals and small employers in the merged market and the affordability of insured health benefit plan products offered therein.” (No. 589 Merged Market Advisory Council)

To help balance the report and keep it truthful, the council members will operate by considering:

The general stability of the merged market risk pool
Trends correlating with the risk pool and their impacts on premiums
What drives health care costs to increase
Policies that threaten market stability
Strategies to help keep market costs down

Why It Was Formed

Baker supported his own recommendation for a fact-finding committee by arguing for the complex nature that the market presents. No two people have the same view of it, and it gets even murkier as you talk to both providers and the people purchasing the premiums.

group health probe meeting between two industry professionals — *With better information, we can see some better changes for health insurance in the future.*

Essentially, Massachusetts’ hospitals, physician groups, and insurers will report their spending on primary care and behavioral health to the state agency. The projected spending increase in these areas is 30% over the next three years, an unreal amount considering the state’s cap on spending is 3.1% annually.

Hospitals are already in a losing situation here, with those two healthcare options losing money for them, especially behavioral health. They just don’t provide the same insurance reimbursement as the more sensational options like cancer.

The bill will also touch on drug prices. After review, state representatives can place regulations on predatory prescription drug practices like:

Gag rules, preventing patients from hearing about cheaper drug options
Drugmakers who charge more annually than the 2% inflation can keep up with
Any drug that costs someone $50,000 or more

The Results

If lawmakers are to better understand ways to improve insurance legislation (specifically to help with rapidly increasing healthcare costs), the first step is to compile accurate information for how the market is affected.

The creation of this council instills hope in Massachusetts’ citizens. Informed decisions are how our government should operate. With such a convoluted case like insurance, an advisory council will provide verified facts to create a better healthcare system, with more satisfied individuals.

With all the constant insurance changes occurring, there might be some confusion as to what the rates will be, and if it is affordable. If it is too much, we can help. EZ.Insure will compare plans within your region and assess which fits your needs and budget. You will be connected with your own highly trained agent that will answer any questions you have, compare the plans available to you, and even sign you up when you are ready, free of charge. 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 888-998-2027. EZ.Insure makes the entire process simple, easy, and quick.

Tag: insurance