Generally, an employer can ask employees for a doctor’s note when they take time off because of an illness. But it’s important to consider the laws governing doctors’ notes before making them a requirement. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Privacy Rule Under HIPAA’s Privacy Rule, an employer can ask employees for a doctor’s […]
20
Aug
Aug
We’ll show you how with a Medicare Plan. Like the people they cover, Medicare plans can change each year. Whether this is your first time enrolling or you already have a plan and are thinking about renewing it, be sure to explore your options! 1. Fall Open Enrollment occurs each year from October 15 through […]
10
Jul
Jul
Here are a few highlights of the defined standard Medicare Part D plan changes from 2019 to 2020. The CMS “Part D Benefit Parameters for Defined Standard Benefit” is the minimum allowable Medicare Part D plan coverage. However, CMS does allow Medicare Part D plans to offer a variation on the defined standard benefits (for […]
07
Jun
Jun
Does Medicare make sense for seniors with employer health coverage? Large Group health insurance premiums are calculated on risk factors: Size and the health of the group Current utilized prescription benefits Average age of the group Employer’s claims history Type of Occupation Cost management strategies like those listed below are common approaches, but it’s also […]
28
May
May
2019 changes to Blue Shield of CA health and wellness programs All Blue Shield of California members can now take advantage of Fitness Your Way, available through Tivity HealthTM. This new program provides flexibility for members to work out at any network fitness location, encouraging them to adopt a healthy lifestyle and remain committed to […]
23
May
May
Employers: Tell Congress that 40 Hours is Full Time In May 2019, Senators Todd Young (R-IN) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) introduced S. 1510 and Representatives Jackie Walorski (R-IN) and Dan Lipinski (D-IL) introduced H.R. 2782, theEmployee Flexibility Act. These bipartisan bills will provide much needed relief for both employers that must comply with tracking employee hours and employees […]
07
May
May
California’s new retirement savings program opens for registration on July 1, 2019 California will launch a pilot retirement savings program that will begin the process of offering an estimated 7 million workers in California the opportunity to con- tribute to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) and get on track for the future. The Act requires certain […]
22
Apr
Apr
In its current state, the Medicare health benefits of Part A and Part B are phenomenal if you pair it properly with a Medicare supplemental insurance policy or a Medicare advantage plan. When it comes to Part D, the prescription drug plan portion of the program, it can be a cruel awakening if you are […]
14
Apr
Apr
Limited-time promotion for small groups Give your employees the option of high-quality Kaiser Permanente coverage with this new, limited time promotion. Here’s what you need to know. What’s the promotion? New small groups with effective dates 5/1/2019-1/1/2020, will only need 50% health plan participation instead of 70%. *This means only 50% of a small group’s […]
05
Apr
Apr
Like any other federal program, Medicare is confusing. Medicare.gov offers hundreds of pages of explanation but learning the basics can be like learning a new language at first glance! This article discusses Medigap vs. Medicare Advantage. Medicare has four basic parts: A, B, C, and D. Part A (Hospital Insurance) covers inpatient hospital stays, care […]