• Could Using a Broker Help Your Business Get Lower Insurance Premiums?

    As health insurance agents, it is a somewhat nerve-wracking time for us and our industry.  With the implementation of Health Care Reform and the entrance of navigators and other consumer assistance personnel into the world of health insurance, what will our role be? Lower Insurance Premiums and Increased Health Coverage An article out today by Employee…

  • How Can Small Businesses Prepare For Health Care Reform?

    Health Care Reform Guidelines for Small Business If you do not currently offer benefits to employees and don’t want to start, under the new Health Care Reform guidelines you are not required to offer health insurance if you have less than 50 employees. If you have more than 50 employees, you do not face any…

  • Uninsured? What You Should Be Doing To Prepare For Health Care Reform

    First you want to figure out if you will be eligible for tax subsidies (based on income) if you get coverage through the Exchange/Marketplace in January.  You will get assistance paying for health coverage if your household income is between 100% and 400% of the Federal Poverty Level.  Calculate your expected health insurance expense with…

  • Will Health Care Reform Close the Medicare Donut Hole Coverage Gap?

    Right now, Medicare Part D coverage applies to the first $2,970 of retail prescription drug costs for a Medicare recipient with a Part D plan.  This included the portion paid by the recipient in the form of deductibles and coinsurance/copays as well as the portion covered by the insurance company.  Once the recipient hits $2,970…

  • Will Health Insurance Premiums Skyrocket In 2014?

    If you do not get health insurance through an employer (and nobody in your family does either), you will likely be getting health insurance on the Exchange.  In Pennsylvania, there is no state exchange, so you would use the Federal Exchange.  In getting coverage on the Exchange, you could be eligible for a tax subsidy…

  • Why is the Employer Mandate being delayed?

    The Employer Mandate is the portion of Health Care Reform that penalizes large employers for not offering affordable health-coverage to its full-time employees.  The penalties apply to employers with 50 or more full-time equivalent employees. On July 2nd, President Obama announced that the Employer Mandate would be delayed until 2015.  The reason given was to…

  • What Is Going To Happen With UPMC And Highmark?

    Currently, UPMC and Highmark have an agreement through December 31, 2014. This means that any Highmark member (except those with Community Blue) will be able to use all UPMC facilities and doctors at in-network rates through the end of 2014. In June, UPMC announced that, because of Highmark’s recent acquisition of the Allegheny General/West Penn…