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Zane Benefits Publishes New Information on Businesses and Employee Retention

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Employers are feeling the pressure to retain key employees with the recovering economy.

Park City, UT (PRWEB) September 12, 2013

Today, Zane Benefits, the number one online small business health benefits solution, published new information on businesses and employee retention.

According to Zane Benefits’ website, in many parts of the country, unemployment has decreased over the past few years. Currently, national unemployment is at a four-year low, at 7.4% - down from 10% in 2009 - and even lower than 5% in some big cities, such as Seattle.

This growth of the economy is good for employees in terms of having a steady income to support themselves and their families and benefits. Now that each individual is more competitive in the workforce, employers are feeling the pressure to offer perks and benefits to retain key employees and keep them from looking for jobs elsewhere.

These days, there’s less preventing disengaged workers from finding a new job that makes them feel more fulfilled.

Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor show that the number of workers voluntarily leaving their job is up more than 10% in the last two years. HR professionals are even calling 2013 “the year of retention”.

A study by SHMR suggests that it costs an employer 6 to 9 months in salary each time they have to replace a salaried employee. So, the incentive to keep key employees is obvious from a personnel, morale, and budget standpoint.

In 2010, worker’s pay fell as much as 2%, but began to rebound in 2011. Since then, workers have reported pay increases as high as 3.9%, compared to a national maximum increase of 2.9%.

It’s more difficult to hire right now because unemployment rate has dropped and demand is up. As a result, companies are offering better employee benefits and rewards. They are also searching for hires using methods they’ve never used before.

Some tips for employee retention include:

Benchmark your employee retention rate;

Use proven retention strategies, not guesswork;

Don't assume employees are happy (create a high-feedback environment);

Implement a health benefits program such as a traditional health plan or defined contribution health benefits;

Provide different benefits for different employees (focusing on the high-value, expensive to replace employees);

Conduct exit interviews.

Click here to read the full article.
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About Zane Benefits
Zane Benefits was founded in 2006 to provide a revolutionized SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) administration platform ("ZaneHRA") for Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) and defined contribution health care. The flagship software provides a 100% paperless administration experience to small businesses and insurance professionals that want to offer better health benefits without a traditional group health insurance plan at lower costs. For more information about ZaneHRA, visit http://www.zanebenefits.com. Reported by PRWeb 2 minutes ago.

BlueKC to offer health insurance on Obamacare exchanges

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Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City will offer health insurance plans for individuals on the online marketplaces that are due to open on Oct. 1. Reported by KansasCity.com 19 hours ago.

CaliforniaChoice’s 2014 Private Health Insurance Exchange to Include Many of the State’s Most Sought-After Health Plans

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CaliforniaChoice’s 2014 Private Health Insurance Exchange to Include Many of the State’s Most Sought-After Health Plans ORANGE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CaliforniaChoice’s 2014 Private Health Insurance Exchange to Include Many of the State’s Most Sought-After Health Plans Reported by Business Wire 15 hours ago.

Sioux Falls Bishop Won't Endorse Liberal Nun's Remarks at Catholic College

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Sioux Falls Bishop Won't Endorse Liberal Nun's Remarks at Catholic College The Catholic bishop of the diocese of Sioux Falls, South Dakota has not approved an address at a Catholic college presented by a nun who has embraced the HHS mandate.

According to the Associated Press, Bishop Paul Swain informed his clergy in a letter that he would not endorse a speech at Mount Marty College on the topic of “Health Care and the Poor” by Sister Simone Campbell on Thursday because of her views on ObamaCare and the HHS mandate.

Campbell, the executive director of NETWORK, a Catholic social justice education and lobbying group, is also a leader of the “Nuns on the Bus” tours that support liberal social activist causes. She appeared at the Democrat National Convention last year and has been a guest on The Colbert Report.

In his letter, Swain said the new health reform law does not protect religious liberty and that the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) opposes it. The HHS mandate, which is part of ObamaCare, requires most employers, including religious-affiliated hospitals, schools, and other groups to provide free contraceptives, sterilization, and abortion-inducing drugs to their workers through health insurance plans.

“I am aware that Sister Campbell supports the law in its fullness despite the critique of the bishops,” Swain said. “She has also indicated that she does not believe that there is a threat to religious liberty, contrary to the bishops’ clear warning.”

According to the Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan, Campbell believes many Catholics have misunderstood the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) contraception mandate. She has criticized the Catholic bishops for not accepting the Obama administration’s “accommodation,” which many have considered a mere financial maneuver that will only give the appearance that religious employers are not paying directly for contraception and abortifacients.

“The Obama administration basically accepted all of the requests of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and made modifications,” Campbell told the Press & Dakotan. “And yet, the bishops persist in saying it isn’t sufficient. They keep moving the goal post. It’s a question of giving people true information and not just fear.”

Swain, however, asserted, “In remarks published in the Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan, Sister Campbell erroneously claims that full accommodation to the HHS mandate has been made in response to objections raised by the Bishops’ Conference.”

Stating that Campbell’s views should not be seen as equivalent to those of the bishops, Swain said:



Those who seek to know what the Church really teaches should look to the statements of the Bishops. Her position is both personal and wrong.

Neither Sister Campbell’s remarks nor the content of her message are endorsed by me or the diocese. Given the moral gravity of the concerns, care must be taken to insure the faithful are taught on this issue with clarity.



Mount Marty president Joseph Benoit told AP that Swain had approved of Campbell as a speaker last spring, and that he is disappointed at the disagreement between the two.

“We have to be open and take into account that everyone is entitled to a viewpoint,” Benoit said.

 
 
 
  Reported by Breitbart 12 hours ago.

Oct. 1 deadline looms for EM to change city retirees' health care

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As implementation of the federal health care law looms, Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr's office is urgently working to impose significant changes to retiree health insurance benefits before Oct. 1, his spokesman said Thursday. Reported by detnews.com 9 hours ago.

N.J. legislative panel to play role in health exchange

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When New Jersey residents begin buying health insurance in a few weeks through the new federal marketplace, or exchange, federal officials will be deciding which plans are available in the state. Reported by philly.com 7 hours ago.

Politics Aside, Is ObamaCare Secure?

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It's the biggest change in health care in nearly half a century, and perhaps unsurprisingly it's already become a tool for scammers. Though open enrollment under the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) doesn't begin until Oct. 1, scam artists - masquerading as government representatives -- have tricked a number of consumers into coughing up personal information over the phone. That's just the opening shot. Once millions of consumers begin providing unprecedented amounts of personal data to various health exchanges through countless state and federal networks, the real assault will begin.

Hackers of all stripes are licking their chops in anticipation of a treasure trove of high value information ripe for the picking. The burning question: Are the data conduits secure? And what's at stake if your information is stolen? Best case: your financial well-being, if new accounts are opened in your name. Worst case: your life, if medical treatment is obtained in your name and your medical files are co-mingled -- leading to incorrect diagnosis and treatment. (If you're worried that someone has fraudulently opened accounts in your name, you should request copies of your medical records and look for errors. You can also use a free tool like Credit.com's Credit Report Card to monitor your credit for unexplained changes - which could stem from unpaid bills for fraudulently obtained healthcare. If something doesn't seem right, you can dig deeper and get your three credit reports for free once a year.)

The politics of the Affordable Care Act are irrelevant. The issue for me is privacy and data security and whether you're for Obamacare or against it, there are two ways the program's rollout could put your personal information at risk:

*A Potentially Insecure Data Collection Process*

When it comes to keeping our information safe, the government appears to be playing a dangerous game of chicken.

An August report from the Inspector General revealed that the chief information officer for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, (which will run the data hub responsible for verifying applicants' personally identifying information with various federal agencies including the IRS and the Social Security Administration), won't sign off on data security until Sept. 30, one day before health insurance marketplaces are scheduled to open. That seems too close for comfort to me.

The Inspector General reported that such a tight deadline means the information chief "may not have a full assessment of system risks and security controls needed" to collect our data safely. Bottom line: The marketplaces are going live whether the data they gather is protected or not.

Optimists can take some comfort in the fact that, as CMS administrator Marilyn Tavener told Congress in July, the data hubs--the focus of much partisan huffing and puffing--are simply conduits. They are not databases, and will not retain any personal information.

Frankly, it's not as though the institutions currently gathering our data do a bang-up job protecting privacy, either.

"I don't want to say it will be better privacy-wise, but it can't be any worse," says my colleague Eduard Goodman, chief privacy officer of Identity Theft 911. "At least with a government program you will have some accountability."

That said, there is absolutely no room for trial and error when dealing with information so vital to our health and valuable to those who would steal and exploit it for their personal gain.

*Lack of Proper Screening and Training*

The federal government spent $67 million to hire "navigators" to help people enroll in Obamacare. As Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told USA Today, navigators are needed to help consumers traverse the complicated world of private insurance, and dispel myths about the new program.

Many in the public and private sectors have expressed concern that navigators will have access to extremely sensitive personal information, including Social Security numbers, without proper screening, training and oversight required to prevent data loss or theft.

In a letter sent to the HHS Secretary less than one month ago, 13 attorneys general warned, "As it now stands, it is inevitable that HHS's vague 'standards' will result in improperly screened or inadequately trained personnel."

The administration counters that strong privacy measures exist already. The final rule implementing the program requires navigator agencies to be pre-screened and closely monitored. It argues that navigators will receive up to 30 hours of initial training that includes preparation on privacy and security; will be tested before starting work; will not have access to applicants' online accounts; and their work will be monitored by CMS.

The back and forth has continued, but the concerns expressed by congressional critics aren't entirely unfounded. No matter how much training and oversight they receive, navigators will have access to lots information about lots of Americans, and it is not unlikely that some may steal that data for their own profit.

We can do better. As the ID Theft Resource Center points out, all navigator applicants should undergo criminal background and fingerprint checks. Georgia, Utah and Nevada enacted tougher requirements on navigator certification and licensure. As long as such efforts don't devolve into obstructionism, states have broad power to protect Americans from fraud and, as the administration points out, should use that power.

Inevitably, some identity thieves will try to pose as navigators to scam consumers into handing over private information. Reports of scams have already surfaced. If you receive a call from anyone claiming to be a navigator, ask for their contact information, independently confirm their authenticity and then return the call. Search the CMS Center for Consumer Information & Insurance Oversight to locate those organizations in your state that are serving as navigators.

The Affordable Care Act represents a huge step forward in our drive to give all Americans access to health care. Unfortunately, if we fail to properly secure health information and protect patient privacy, the door will be open to identity thieves, hackers and scam artists thereby creating an environment of distrust and insecurity which will ultimately jeopardize the health of the program. Reported by Huffington Post 3 hours ago.

Politics Aside, Is Obamacare Secure?

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It's the biggest change in health care in nearly half a century, and perhaps unsurprisingly it's already become a tool for scammers. Though open enrollment under the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) doesn't begin until Oct. 1, scam artists - masquerading as government representatives -- have tricked a number of consumers into coughing up personal information over the phone. That's just the opening shot. Once millions of consumers begin providing unprecedented amounts of personal data to various health exchanges through countless state and federal networks, the real assault will begin.

Hackers of all stripes are licking their chops in anticipation of a treasure trove of high value information ripe for the picking. The burning question: Are the data conduits secure? And what's at stake if your information is stolen? Best case: your financial well-being, if new accounts are opened in your name. Worst case: your life, if medical treatment is obtained in your name and your medical files are co-mingled -- leading to incorrect diagnosis and treatment. (If you're worried that someone has fraudulently opened accounts in your name, you should request copies of your medical records and look for errors. You can also use a free tool like Credit.com's Credit Report Card to monitor your credit for unexplained changes -- which could stem from unpaid bills for fraudulently obtained healthcare. If something doesn't seem right, you can dig deeper and get your three credit reports for free once a year.)

The politics of the Affordable Care Act are irrelevant. The issue for me is privacy and data security and whether you're for Obamacare or against it, there are two ways the program's rollout could put your personal information at risk:

*A Potentially Insecure Data Collection Process*

When it comes to keeping our information safe, the government appears to be playing a dangerous game of chicken.

An August report from the Inspector General revealed that the chief information officer for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS (which will run the data hub responsible for verifying applicants' personally identifying information with various federal agencies including the IRS and the Social Security Administration), won't sign off on data security until Sept. 30, one day before health insurance marketplaces are scheduled to open. That seems too close for comfort to me.

The Inspector General reported that such a tight deadline means the information chief "may not have a full assessment of system risks and security controls needed" to collect our data safely. Bottom line: The marketplaces are going live whether the data they gather is protected or not.

Optimists can take some comfort in the fact that, as CMS administrator Marilyn Tavener told Congress in July, the data hubs -- the focus of much partisan huffing and puffing -- are simply conduits. They are not databases, and will not retain any personal information.

Frankly, it's not as though the institutions currently gathering our data do a bang-up job protecting privacy, either.

"I don't want to say it will be better privacy-wise, but it can't be any worse," says my colleague Eduard Goodman, chief privacy officer of Identity Theft 911. "At least with a government program you will have some accountability."

That said, there is absolutely no room for trial and error when dealing with information so vital to our health and valuable to those who would steal and exploit it for their personal gain.

*Lack of Proper Screening and Training*

The federal government spent $67 million to hire "navigators" to help people enroll in Obamacare. As Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told USA Today, navigators are needed to help consumers traverse the complicated world of private insurance, and dispel myths about the new program.

Many in the public and private sectors have expressed concern that navigators will have access to extremely sensitive personal information, including Social Security numbers, without proper screening, training and oversight required to prevent data loss or theft.

In a letter sent to the HHS Secretary less than one month ago, 13 attorneys general warned, "As it now stands, it is inevitable that HHS's vague 'standards' will result in improperly screened or inadequately trained personnel."

The administration counters that strong privacy measures exist already. The final rule implementing the program requires navigator agencies to be pre-screened and closely monitored. It argues that navigators will receive up to 30 hours of initial training that includes preparation on privacy and security; will be tested before starting work; will not have access to applicants' online accounts; and their work will be monitored by CMS.

The back and forth has continued, but the concerns expressed by congressional critics aren't entirely unfounded. No matter how much training and oversight they receive, navigators will have access to lots information about lots of Americans, and it is not unlikely that some may steal that data for their own profit.

We can do better. As the ID Theft Resource Center points out, all navigator applicants should undergo criminal background and fingerprint checks. Georgia, Utah and Nevada enacted tougher requirements on navigator certification and licensure. As long as such efforts don't devolve into obstructionism, states have broad power to protect Americans from fraud and, as the administration points out, should use that power.

Inevitably, some identity thieves will try to pose as navigators to scam consumers into handing over private information. Reports of scams have already surfaced. If you receive a call from anyone claiming to be a navigator, ask for their contact information, independently confirm their authenticity and then return the call. Search the CMS Center for Consumer Information & Insurance Oversight to locate those organizations in your state that are serving as navigators.

The Affordable Care Act represents a huge step forward in our drive to give all Americans access to health care. Unfortunately, if we fail to properly secure health information and protect patient privacy, the door will be open to identity thieves, hackers and scam artists thereby creating an environment of distrust and insecurity which will ultimately jeopardize the health of the program. Reported by Huffington Post 2 hours ago.

Health care reform: What's it mean for Triad employers

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Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010, all eyes have been trained on Jan. 1, 2014, when the health reform law’s major provisions fall into place, and individuals and large employers come under mandates requiring health insurance coverage. What’s different for small businesses — those with fewer than 50 employees — is they won’t be required to do anything at all when it comes to providing health insurance. Those not offering coverage won’t have to, and those currently providing… Reported by bizjournals 2 hours ago.

No Employer Penalty for Lack of Health Exchange Notice: DOL

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Notifying employees of health insurance exchanges is now optional; UBA provides PPACA decision support.

Indianapolis, Indiana (PRWEB) September 13, 2013

On Sept. 11, 2013, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced it will not penalize employers who do not provide notice to employees about the upcoming public health insurance exchanges, a requirement that previously faced an October 1, 2013 deadline. As a practical matter, this means that providing the notice is now optional.

Although it is still advised by the DOL that employers notify employees by October 1, there is no fine to face if they do not.

“Employers who haven’t yet provided the notice may either distribute the notice or not, as they prefer,” says Linda Rowings, Chief Compliance Officer for UBA. “Employers who want to increase awareness of the exchange marketplace (perhaps because they expect some of their employees will need or want to purchase from the marketplace) may still want to provide the notice. Employers with complicated distribution situations, or that are concerned that the notices may generate questions the employer is not staffed to answer, may prefer to not distribute the notice.”

UBA recently updated their complementary PPACA Decision Guide Executive Summary to reflect the all of the new requirements for employers. The updated summary, "Preparing for 2015: A Snapshot for Employers," helps employers answer the questions:· Should you continue to offer health care benefits?
· If you don't, what are the penalties?
· What do you have to do to comply with the law?

And provides:· A PPACA Overview
· Pay or Play - decisions and consequences
· Compliance obligations between now and 2015

The PPACA Decision Guide Executive Summary provides basic information on Pay or Play decisions, but UBA Partners can offer intensive decision support customized to small (under 50) or large (50+) employers. Utilizing the 2013 UBA Health Plan Survey, the nation’s largest independent employee benefits benchmarking survey based on responses from nearly 11,000 employers, UBA Partner Firms can offer unprecedented insight into the employee benefits market.

Download a copy of the basic PPACA Decision Guide here, or click here to contact a UBA Partner Firm and get your copy of the PPACA Decisions Expanded Support Guides today.

About United Benefit Advisors
United Benefit Advisors is the nation’s leading independent employee benefits organization with more than 200 offices throughout the U.S., Canada and the U.K. Visit http://www.UBAbenefits.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Carina Sammartino
FisherVista
csammartino (at) fishervista (dot) com
(650) 477-4839 Reported by PRWeb 2 hours ago.

Officials Worry Fake Health Exchange Websites Could Defraud, Confuse Consumers

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This KHN story was produced in collaboration with Government Computer News

As states are setting up their online health insurance marketplaces, officials are watching for look-alike websites that can lead consumers to be the victims of fraud or simply, confusion.

States are on the lookout for websites created by interest groups, private insurance companies and sometimes scammers that have similar web addresses and the appearances of the official state exchange websites. Officials are intervening in some cases and trying to make sure consumers are able to spot a fake site before they give out private information.

"These exchanges could range from deceptive but relatively benign marketing devices for legitimate insurance companies to malicious devices that are designed to steal your identity or insurance information," said James Quiggle, communications director for the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud.

In California, for example, typing in Coveredcalifornia.com takes a user to an informational website, with a fine print disclaimer that it is not the state-run site Coveredca.com. State insurance officials monitor the website -- run by the Health Exchange Consulting group as a source of information on the state exchange -- because consumers may easily type in the wrong web address. Because the site is not being used for commercial purposes, however, the state has not interfered.

"We have been monitoring various sites to make sure they are not doing anything illegal or misrepresenting themselves as an agent of Covered California," said Larry Hicks, spokesperson for the state’s exchange. "We do periodic searches and domain searches to see what pops up."

Pennsylvania insurance officials intervened in July when a private insurance company welcomed consumers to the "Pennsylvania Health Exchange" with the state seal in the corner. The company took the website down immediately and apologized.

"We believe it was not done in a malicious manner," said Melissa Fox, spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Insurance Department. "We do have an enforcement bureau to make sure that the folks that are selling, soliciting and negotiating insurance are complying with regulations."

But the agency does take tips from consumers on top of their own monitoring.

The new state marketplaces, also called exchanges, were mandated by the federal health law and will open in every state on Oct. 1. They will allow consumers to compare insurance options available to them and choose a policy, akin to purchasing a plane ticket online. The application process, however, will be intensive, and ask for personal information such as Social Security numbers, employment information and tax records.

Sixteen states and the District of Columbia are creating their own marketplaces while the remaining states are defaulting to the federal government to run their exchange. Healthcare.gov is the administration’s main hub for information and purchasing options for the federal exchanges.

Experts suggest that to avoid confusion, consumers first head to Healthcare.gov. On that site, they can find out if they will be using the federal exchange or they can get the link to their individual state’s exchange.

Consumers should look out for sites with little information or graphics or those that appear to have the sole purpose of getting individuals to sign up, said Quiggle. They should also be wary of providing information that seems unlikely to be needed to connect with the buying an insurance plan.

If they see something odd, consumers should notify their state insurance departments.

"Consumers have a responsibility to pay very close attention to the communications and alerts by the exchanges so they are certain of the identity of their site, whether it’s a federal or state exchange," Quiggle said. "Know just what your exchange site is supposed to ask and what information you need in order to complete the transaction."

Shortly after the law was enacted in 2010, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius sent a letter to state insurance commissioners and attorneys general warning of scam artists who "may be using the passage of these historic reforms as an opportunity to confuse and defraud the public."

"The potential for fake exchanges to rear up is very serious and real," said Quiggle.

He said scam artists could prey on consumers’ lack of experience in purchasing insurance and on the confusion accompanying the inauguration of the exchanges to lure people to a website that looks like the real thing.

"Deceptive websites have enrollment engines that ask for your personal information including credit card and other health identifiers that form the core of identity theft," Quiggle said. "They also might try to install malware on your website to steal sensitive information on the fly."

Eight percent of medical identity theft occurs because consumers give their personal health information, such as blood type or medical history, to a fake or "spoofed" website, according to Bill Barr, development coordinator for the Medical Identity Fraud Alliance.

Scammers can take this information, pair it with a false license number, and sell your identity on the black market, Barr said. It is often difficult to tell which websites are fake, he added.

"These spoofed websites can be very convincing, scammers often copy from the real website," Barr said.

Provided by Kaiser Health News. Reported by Huffington Post 2 hours ago.

Senate Dems: No Health Benefits For Senators Who Hire Prostitutes

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Senate Dems: No Health Benefits For Senators Who Hire Prostitutes Senate Democrats are playing the "hookers" card.

Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) has been tying up the Senate this week as he pushes an amendment that would bar the federal government from making payments toward health insurance that members of Congress buy in the Obamacare exchanges. Vitter has been trying to attach the proposal to an unrelated bill on energy efficiency.

Politico reports that Democrats have a response: If Vitter keeps pushing his amendment, they might advance one that strips the government contribution toward health benefits for any senator or congressman if the Ethics Committee has  "probable cause to determine" that he (or, I suppose, she) hired a prostitute.

Vitter faced a scandal in 2007 when his phone number was found among the records of the so-called "D.C. Madam," Deborah Jeane Palfrey, who ran a high-end prostitution service. Vitter admitted that he committed a "very serious sin." He was never prosecuted.

Vitter's amendment pertains to the interpretation of the Grassley Amendment to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which forces members of Congress and their staff to buy health insurance through the Obamacare exchanges rather than receiving health plans directly from their employer. Grassley offered this amendment as an exercise in political point-scoring and then Democrats unexpectedly agreed to incorporate it into the bill.

The problem arising from the Grassley amendment is that it was unclear whether the government could continue to make a tax-free contribution toward the cost of congressional employee health benefits even if they were bought through the exchange. If such a contribution were disallowed, the Grassley Amendment would be tantamount to a large reduction in compensation for members of Congress and their staff. Earlier this year, the Office of Personnel Managment controversially ruled that such a contribution is legal.

Democrats should be careful what they wish for with the hookers amendment. Like the Grassley Amendment, Republicans could end up agreeing to make it law, triggering a wave of Ethics Committee investigations of members of both parties, and adding one further silly wrinkle of complication to Obamacare.

Join the conversation about this story »

 
 
 
  Reported by Business Insider 1 hour ago.

CVS Caremark Showcases Program to Inform Customers About Health Insurance Options

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CVS Caremark Showcases Program to Inform Customers About Health Insurance Options WOONSOCKET, R.I., Sept. 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- CVS Caremark (NYSE: CVS) today showcased the details of a company-wide information and outreach program to help customers make informed decisions about their insurance options under the new health care law during a store visit... Reported by PR Newswire 40 minutes ago.

Zane Benefits Publishes New Information on the Employer Notice of Health Coverage

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The ACA employer notification of coverage options due October 1.

Park City, Utah (PRWEB) September 13, 2013

Today, Zane Benefits, the number one online small business health benefits solution, published new information on the employer notice of health coverage.

According to Zane Benefits’ website, October 1st is right around the corner, and that means that the deadline for employers to provide notification to employees about their health coverage options and the health insurance marketplaces is as well.

3 Things For Employers to Know About the Notices:

If you have not yet provided notice to employees, here are three things to know.

(1) All employers subject to FLSA must provide a written notice to all current employees by October 1, 2013. For employees hired after this date, the information must be provided at time of hire.

(2) The notice needs to include the following information:

a) A description of the health insurance marketplace including a description of the services provided by the Marketplace.

b) Notification that the employee may be eligible for premium tax subsidies through the marketplace if their company's health insurance plan does not offer affordable, minimum essential coverage.

c) If the employee purchases a qualified health plan through the Marketplace, the employee may lose the employer contribution to any health insurance plan offered by the employer and that all or a portion of such contribution may be excludable from income for Federal income tax purposes.

(3) The Department of Labor (DOL) has provided two sample notices employers can use, or employers can create their own with the standards provided.

Click here to read the full article.

About Zane Benefits

Zane Benefits was founded in 2006 to provide a revolutionized SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) administration platform ("ZaneHRA") for Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) and defined contribution health care. The flagship software provides a 100% paperless administration experience to small businesses and insurance professionals that want to offer better health benefits without a traditional group health insurance plan at lower costs. For more information about ZaneHRA, visit http://www.zanebenefits.com. Reported by PRWeb 20 minutes ago.

Florida Criticized For Blocking Health Care Reform Effort

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By Tom Brown
MIAMI, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Florida was strongly criticized by the federal government on Thursday for barring outreach workers, known as "navigators," from county health departments when they start enrolling people next month for insurance under President Barack Obama's healthcare reform law.
"This is another blatant and shameful attempt to intimidate groups who will be working to inform Americans about their new health insurance options and help them enroll in coverage," said U.S. Health and Human Services Department spokesman Fabien Levy.
He was referring to a directive from the Florida Department of Health, issued to local health department directors across the state earlier this week. "Navigators will not conduct activities on the grounds of the health departments," it said.
The directive comes against the backdrop of an aggressive effort by Florida Governor Rick Scott and other Republican leaders in the state to undermine the Affordable Care Act, which is popularly known as Obamacare.
Republicans say the healthcare law will hurt job creation, while supporters view it as a landmark initiative that will extend health insurance coverage to millions of Americans.
The enrollment stakes are huge in Florida, where the U.S. Census Bureau says there are about 3.8 million people without health insurance. That amounts to roughly a quarter of Florida's population, giving it the third-highest rate in the country.
In a statement clarifying the navigators directive on Wednesday, the state health department said the counselors trained to help people sign up for health insurance have been barred, at least in part, in the interest of consumer protection.
"This (Navigator) program has raised privacy concerns due to the consumer information that will be gathered for use in a federal database," the statement said.
Similar concerns have been raised by Scott and Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, amid allegations that navigators might steal personal information, but they have been rejected out of hand by the U.S. Health and Human Services Department.
U.S. Representative Kathy Castor, a Florida Democrat, said hampering the work of navigators was a "plain absurdity" in a harshly worded letter she fired off to Scott on Thursday.
"The continued obstruction by you and many state leaders of the Affordable Care Act is contrary to the best interests of the citizens and businesses of Florida," Castor said.
"To deny access to Navigators to health departments is another obstructionist measure that elevates ideology over the interests of Floridians who simply need to see a doctor or nurse and take personal responsibility through enrolling in affordable insurance," she said.
U.S. Health and Human Services Department officials say the Florida restrictions will not impede the program. "Despite the state's attempts, we are confident that Navigators will still be able to help Floridians enroll in quality, affordable health coverage when open enrollment begins on October 1," Levy said. (Reporting by Tom Brown; Editing by David Adams and Eric Beech) Reported by Huffington Post 3 days ago.

GetNCHealthInsurance Offers Affordable Individual Health Insurance in NC

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GetNCHealthInsurance.com is the best insurance service provider with over 70 years of health insurance experience in North Carolina.GetNCHealthInsurance.com is the best insurance service provider with over 70 years of health insurance experience in North Carolina. This health insurance agency has good health insurance agent that serves as your expert advisor with regards to all things focused entirely on your health plan.

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News and Press Release Distribution From I-Newswire.com Reported by i-Newswire.com 3 days ago.

5 Reasons Republicans Should Embrace Obamacare... and Take Credit for It

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The 5 Reasons:

1. Obamacare is primarily insurance reform, and avoids a government takeover;

2. Politics aside, because of scientific progress, the insurance industry as it existed was doomed to collapse anyhow;

3. Obamacare is, essentially, the Ryan Plan (aka, VoucherCare) for Medicare, but only for those under 65;

4. Because Obamacare is basically the Heritage Foundation proposal, Republicans have no alternative (or, at least, nothing that could withstand a CBO analysis to provide equivalent coverage);

5. Every time Republicans vote to repeal Obamacare, they are voting to cause Medicare to go insolvent in 2 years (2016).

Had Republicans not been so consumed by hatred, they may not have opposed Obamacare. It was, after all, their own plan, created by the radical right-wing Heritage Foundation, and proposed in the 1990s by such liberal firebrands as Chuck Grassley (R-IA). Had the president proposed "Medicare-for-all", Republicans may have counter-proposed "GrassleyCare" (ghastly as that sounds!), and pointed to the great success of Romneycare in Massachusetts. They could have waxed eloquent marveling at the wonders of free market competition.

Chastened by the demise of "Hillarycare" in the 1990s that had emerged from a top-down proposal from the White House and that was opposed by big-money interests without a counterweight, President Obama decided to press for health care reform, but allow Congress to develop it so long as certain key principles were fulfilled. Although big-money interests were still opposed, the legislative process created big-money allies who, regrettably for health care but positively for the bill, benefited and thus either remained silent or actually countered the opposing big-money.

What emerged was "Grassleycare, aka, Romneycare, aka, Obamacare."

But, like the first scene in "Django, Unchained", the image of a "black man on a horse" (i.e, in the White House), has been a bridge too far for some on the Right. When, for example, bin Laden was found, captured and killed, and the country celebrated together, the House of Representatives rejected honoring the president, his team and the SEAL team 6, reserving their muted praise for the intelligence community. And, no, I am not kidding.

There are 5 good reasons that Republicans should embrace Obamacare, and take credit for it:

*1. Obamacare is primarily insurance reform, and avoids a government takeover. * That should be an extraordinary outcome for Republicans and their ideology. Yes, I know that Frank Luntz, their wordmeister, told them to campaign against "government-run healthcare" because it scored best on his dial-a-thons. But, any congruity between Frank Luntz's words and reality has never been more than pure coincidence.

The core of Obamacare is ending the egregious practices of the insurance industry: denying coverage for pre-existing conditions, kicking people off coverage on technicalities when they become ill, imposing lifetime caps on coverage, charging women more than men, and so forth.

Almost everyone agrees with those reforms. But, those reforms cost the insurance companies money, real money. The actuarial calculations would compel a dramatic rise in rates.

To lower premiums, therefore, and to ensure that we are accountable citizens, taking responsibility for our own lives, it is critical that everyone participate. Hence, the individual mandate. With hordes of healthy people who will not cost the companies out-of-pocket expenses as part of the program, rates not only do not rise, but evidence suggests that they are falling.

IEven the young and healthy have accidents, and those formerly healthy become ill. [Ron Wyden (D-OR) relates the story of a healthy young man without insurance who, when asked by the Senator how he would pay if he were in a skiing accident, replied, "I will buy insurance then"!].

Nonetheless, it is unfortunate that the mandate was not called a "tax". People are accustomed to paying taxes for programs that benefit society as a whole, or that will benefit themselves in the future, but they are not accustomed to paying out-of-pocket expenses that they might not otherwise purchase, even if it is the same amount as they would have paid in taxes or even if it is less.

Now that the exchanges are publishing their lower rates, Republicans can tout the wonders free market competition to bring that about.

*2. Politics aside, because of scientific progress, the insurance industry as it existed was doomed to collapse anyhow. * Republicans' aversion to science notwithstanding, we are rapidly gaining knowledge of genes and proteins in cells that are associated with disease. This means that we will be able to predict what illnesses individuals may suffer, and determine strategies to halt progression to overt disease.

This extraordinary brave-new-world, however, undermines the very premise of insurance that depends on pooled risk. Insurance makes the most sense when actuaries know that X number of people in a population will develop a certain illness, but not which individuals. If they knew who was going to become ill, they would exclude that person from their pool. Premiums would be lower because payouts would be projected to be lower, and profits and market value of the insurance companies would soar.

More and more people, however, would be priced out of that market, defeating the primary purpose of health insurance.

Laws prohibiting genetic or proteomic discrimination would not be sustainable. Conceptually, they are just more sensitive and sophisticated versions of what we do today in taking a patient and family history, measuring blood levels of a variety of markers, and other tests that companies already use to deny insurance or boost premiums. In a future that is nearly upon us, those predictions will cover a wider range of illnesses, with greater and more sensitive predictive power.

Had Obamacare not been passed now, therefore, it would have had to be passed in the future anyhow... or, "medicare-for-all" that Republicans would like even less.

Republicans' embracing Obamacare now is just political insurance against the inevitable collapse of heath insurance as we know it due to the inexorable progress in science.

*3. Obamacare is, essentially, the Ryan Plan (aka, VoucherCare) for Medicare, but only for those under 65. * Republicans love the Ryan plan so much they anointed Paul Ryan (R-WI) with the vice-presidential nomination. They did not consider Ryan's plan socialism.

Democrats opposed the Ryan plan because it provided the elderly less support than Medicare, and threatened to price those who needed coverage the most out of any coverage at all. It changed a guaranteed benefit (Medicare) into a guaranteed (and declining) contribution (VoucherCare). But, Republicans loved it, extolling the virtues of the free market working its will to lower healthcare costs, exactly what happened in Massachusetts under Romneycare, and is occurring now in many places as Obamacare is approaching implementation.

It is, therefore, hardly a leap of faith for Republicans to endorse a system for under 65 year olds that they would love to impose on the Medicare population.

*4. Because Obamacare is basically the Heritage Foundation proposal, Republicans have no alternative (or, at least, nothing that could withstand a CBO analysis to provide equivalent coverage). * Hence, Republicans have nothing to offer, forcing them to invent ridiculous suggestions such as receiving chronic cancer treatments in emergency rooms and quickly going bankrupt (or not paying at all, driving up others' premiums). Does anyone believe that Jim DeMint, who suggested ERs instead of insurance, actually does not have insurance himself? In the Nevada Republican senate primary, "chickens-for-checkups" was proposed by the *sane* one in that race. [I kid you not].

With nothing to replace Obamacare, Republicans put themselves in the untenable position of literally denying people affordable health care as the only alternative. If they had something to replace Obamacare, one would think they would have attached it to one of the 41 repeal bills, let the Congressional Budget Office analyze it, and then vote on it.

Moreover, as Obamacare is implemented, millions of people will enjoy its benefits, in many cases without even knowing it is due to the Affordable Healthcare Act. By falsely labeling it government-run healthcare, which it is not, Republicans run the very high risk of convincing people who are enjoying its benefits that government is their friend, precisely the opposite message they have been trying to convey for a century. The irony of this is so thick one could cut it with a knife.

Republicans would be far better served embracing Obamacare, labeling it correctly, taking credit for it, and using it to "prove" the virtues of free market competition.

*5. Every time Republicans vote to repeal Obamacare, they are voting to cause Medicare to go insolvent in 2 years. * Everyone appears to forget that one of the results of the cost-savings in the plan is that Medicare's solvency was extended by 10 years, and, it now appears, two years longer. Repeal it, and Medicare no longer takes in more in taxes than it pays out, starting in 2016.

Precipitating a Medicare crisis is not likely to help Republicans win the '14 or '16 elections. The Ryan Plan would not help save it -- it is so wonderful, one recalls, that it is not to be implemented for 10 years.

On the other hand, Republicans see themselves as cost-cutters in a bloated system. [Bloated, that is, unless it impacts them, such as airport lines that were instantaneously refunded].

Congress asked the Congressional Budget Office for every cost-saving mechanism it knew that could be included in Obamacare, and they were. For example, there is an incentive to establish accountable care organizations (ACOs) that get to split 50/50 with Medicare any savings in their treated population that they are able to achieve, but penalize hospitals if discharged patients have to be re-admitted in less than 30 days. This has spurred a modern version of the old "house calls" that ensure compliance with medications and early-warnings if a patient is becoming ill so treatment can be instituted then to avoid hospitalization.

By embracing Obamacare, therefore, and claiming credit for it as their idea, Republicans could showcase how cost-cutting works while also improving quality outcomes.

Instead, other than spreading lies and painting nightmarish visions, what does the right-wing offer instead?

"Freedom." If by that they mean that we are all "free" to find our own health solutions, Obamacare imposes no behavioral changes on anyone, only that they have health insurance. If by "freedom" they mean that we are all "free" to find our own insurance, as indicated above, that is only a theory, as profit-driven insurers will increasingly exclude potentially expensive subscribers and drive up the price for those genetically predisposed to disease.

Thus, freedom really comes down to this: Freedom to die of otherwise preventable colon cancer (colonscopy can find pre-cancerous lesions and remove them)? Freedom to suffer repeated attacks of asthma (that could be reduced in severity if properly assessed and treated)? Freedom to suffer from shingles (because one could not afford the vaccine) and the post-shingles pain for the remainder of one's life)? Freedom to become pregnant with your rapist's child (unwanted pregnancy could have been prevented by free contraception offered under Obamacare)?

That is not freedom.

Disease is among the worst forms of bondage, unnecessary disease among the cruelest. Reported by Huffington Post 3 days ago.

Trader Joe’s Gets Rid Of Health Insurance Benefit For Part-Timers

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Trader Joe’s Gets Rid Of Health Insurance Benefit For Part-Timers At first glance, this story has a scary headline: Trader Joe’s is yanking health insurance away from many employees because of Obamacare. That is what’s happening, but leaves out that yes, workers are losing their coverage…because the Affordable Care Act means that adults whose jobs don’t provide health insurance but who are well above the poverty line will have access … [More] Reported by The Consumerist 3 days ago.

Agent University: A ‘Post-Graduate College’ for Achievers

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Agent University℠ is a premier educational event for agents determined to expand their business and reach ultimate success in all venues of the insurance industry. The event will be hosted on October 4, 2013 at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort in Clearwater Beach, FL.

Clearwater, FL (PRWEB) September 13, 2013

Agent University℠ is the perfect “post-graduate honors college” for life and health insurance agents from California to the Carolinas, especially when considering its sea-side campus.

Offering advanced classes on a variety of industry-related subjects, Agent University is a free, one-day seminar hosted by AmeriLife®, the nation’s largest life and health insurance marketing organization. The Friday, October 4 seminar is at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort in Clearwater, FL, and registration is free.

Agent U’s instructors are industry leaders with hands-on experience in all parts of the insurance and health care industries. Instructors will discuss, dissect and explain health care reform; reveal techniques for improving insurance sales; and detail the scope and application of the Health Insurance Marketplace, the primary facet of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), commonly known as “Obamacare.”

Agent University was designed specifically for life and health insurance sales representatives who face monumental changes in a far-reaching and inter-connected industry. Health care reform, new laws (state and federal) and changes in the way insurance is bought and sold have challenged the very foundation of the industry. Agent University will illustrate, elaborate and help you to “rise to the top” of your profession.

The uneclipsed knowledge and experience of Agent U’s faculty is the strength of the curricula, which is intended to help you become one of the best in your profession: insurance sales. Agent University will provide attendees with a new foundation of familiarity and understanding, and will elevate graduates’ abilities and effectiveness.

From face-to-face meetings with insurance leaders in an expo hall setting and sharing tips and techniques with your peers to novel module sessions on the coming changes in the insurance industry, this inaugural day-long semester of Agent University is an opportunity that is as space-limited as it is attractive. With topics ranging from sales techniques to the 2014 Exchanges, Agent University's agenda includes an expo showcasing hot products and novel solutions to help you reach your goals and increase your sales. Available spaces will fill up soon.

Tuition, breakfast and lunch are free; your only obligation is travel and lodging. Attendance at Agency University is limited; visit Agent University’s home page for more information, and enroll today.

Agent University is sponsored by AmeriLife, the premier annuity, life and health insurance marketing group in America.

Agent University is a sales, training and industry trends seminar and does not offer college degrees or credits. Reported by PRWeb 3 days ago.

Union Boss Rips Obamacare: 'We'll Be Damned if We're Going to Lose Our Health Insurance!'

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A leading labor union boss delivered an impassioned rebuke of Obamacare at the AFL-CIO convention Thursday, telling attendees, "we'll be damned if we're going to lose our health insurance because of unintended consequences in the law!" 

Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA) President Terry O'Sullivan said, "if the Affordable Care Act is not fixed, and it destroys the health and welfare funds that we have all fought for and stand for, then I believe it needs to be repealed. We don't want it repealed. We want it fixed, fixed, fixed." 

O'Sullivan added: "We can't have the unintended consequences for the proud men and women that we represent to be collateral damage in the healthcare fight in this country." 

Big Labor strongly backed Obamacare before its passage. Now unions say the law threatens to destroy union workers' health insurance plans if changes are not made soon. 

Last week, the AFL-CIO passed a strongly-worded resolution blasting Obamacare despite the Obama Administration's attempts to quell union opposition to aspects of the government healthcare overhaul.

*O'Sullivan, borrowing from Vice President Joe Biden's vulgar words whispered to President Barack Obama upon signing the bill, told the audience, "It's going to be a big frickin' deal if our members lose our health insurance!" *

Republicans say union members should not be granted special breaks for the Obamacare law they fought to see pass. Sen. John Thune (R-SD) introduced a bill Monday called the Union Bailout Prevention Act to stop the White House from granting unions Obamacare waivers or special taxpayer-funded premium tax subsidies.

“Despite championing ObamaCare’s passage in 2010, union leaders are now awaking to the ugly reality of ObamaCare that most Americans have predicted all along, including higher health care costs,” said Thune. “Now that the full consequences of the Democrats’ law are nearing, these same union leaders are seeking a special backroom deal from the White House." Obamacare's government healthcare exchanges open in 17 days. 

 
 
 
  Reported by Breitbart 3 days ago.
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