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Sec. Kathleen Sebelius: 4 Ways to Stay Healthy on the Fourth of July

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As we celebrate Independence Day, it is important to remember that the health care law gives you independence to choose a plan that meets your needs in the Health Insurance Marketplace, protects you from being locked out of coverage due to a pre-existing condition, and frees you from being locked into a job because of employer-sponsored coverage.

The law also provides you and your family with access to free screenings, vaccines, counseling, and other preventive services to keep you healthy.

All health plans in the Marketplace and many other plans must cover the preventive services below without charging you a copayment or coinsurance. This applies even if you haven't met your yearly deductible.

Learn more about prevention and find care when you need it:

1. Preventive services for all adults: 15 preventive services
2. Preventive care for women: 22 preventive services
3. Preventive care for children: 25 preventive services
4. Medicare preventive care for seniors: 23 preventive services

And try these easy-to-use prevention and wellness tools:

Health Topics A to Z: Browse topics and use interactive tools to help you and your family stay healthy.

MyHealthFinder: Get personalized prevention and wellness recommendations.

Health Insurance Marketplace: Starting in October, all individuals without insurance or looking to make a change can shop for quality, affordable insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplaces.

And most importantly, stay safe and healthy this summer and have a happy Fourth of July. Reported by Huffington Post 8 hours ago.

Major Obamacare Provision Delayed by a Year; Businesses Won't Be Fined for Not Providing Health Insurance

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A major provision of President Barack Obama's sweeping health care law requiring businesses to provide their workers with health insurance or face fines has been delayed by one year, the Treasury Department announced on Tuesday. Reported by Christian Post 7 hours ago.

Obamacare Delay Means No Insurance For Many Workers

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A one-year delay in penalties for employers that don't provide health insurance to workers is likely to keep things the way they are as covered workers retain benefits while companies opt against extending them to more workers, according to experts and business owners.

The law requires companies with at least 50 full-time workers to offer qualifying, affordable health insurance or face financial penalties up to $3,000 per employee -- provisions that led companies including Olive Garden parent Darden Restaurants and sandwich chain Jimmy John's to considering cutting worker hours or freezing hiring. Other companies, including convenience store and gas station chain Cumberland Gulf Group, planned to extend benefits to more workers.

Absent the Obamacare penalties, workers at retail and restaurant chains probably won't see any change next year -- for better or worse, experts said. Freeing companies from financial penalties and paperwork requirements eliminates the need to transform their workforces to avoid providing health benefits or paying penalties by shifting more employees to part time or keeping their staffs below 50 people. At the same time, companies that may have considered covering more workers now have one fewer big reason to do so.

"They will sort of keep the status quo," said Sandy Ageloff, health and group benefits leader at human resources consulting firm Towers Watson in Los Angeles. "Most employers, as long as they have not communicated it yet to employees and perhaps even some who have, will defer the changes they were going to make," she said.

That status quo can take several forms. Workers who may have faced cuts in their hours to keep them below the 30 hours that would define them as full time under the law could get a reprieve. Workers whose employers don't cover them today may not extend benefits because the penalties won't be enforced next year. Employers also aren't likely to drop coverage they already provide and divert workers into Obamacare's health insurance exchanges.

This may result in some workers not gaining health coverage the law was supposed to encourage. Although experts said that number couldn't immediately be estimated, it probably won't be many because most companies of this size already offer health benefits.

Workers who aren't offered health benefits by their employers can shop for coverage on Obamacare's health insurance exchanges and may qualify for financial assistance. Tax credits are available for people who earn between the federal poverty level, which is $11, 490 this year for a single person, and four times that amount. People who earn up to 133 percent of poverty, $15,282 for a individual this year, qualify for Medicaid in states that opt to expand the program under Obamacare next year.

The Cumberland Gulf Group, which operates almost 600 Cumberland Farms convenience stores and more than 2,000 Gulf Oil gas stations, announced last month that it would convert more of its workers to full-time status and provide them with health benefits. The Framingham, Mass.-based company isn't altering course because of the delayed regulations, said John McMahon, chief human resources officer.

"When the news came out yesterday about this delay, we were like, 'Okay, so what does that mean?' And the answer was absolutely nothing. We're moving forward," McMahon said. "We were moving in this direction strategically overall anyway." By Oct. 1, the company expects to convert 1,500 workers to full-time status, giving it a workforce of 4,500 full-time employees and 2,700 part-timers. McMahon expects at least 70 percent of workers to join the company's health plan next year.

The Cumberland Gulf Group is shifting its labor force to full-time status in order to attract and retain better employees. Providing health benefits is one component of that approach, McMahon said. If the administration's delay in the employer penalties influences other retailers not to expand coverage, that's better for his company, he said.

"We think this is an additional competitive advantage for us," McMahon said. "We're looking at this as decision from the government as a positive for us."

The 2010 health care reform law includes provisions requiring companies with at least 50 full-time employees to offer qualifying health benefits or face financial penalties. On Tuesday, the Treasury Department announced it wouldn't enforce rules that companies report employee health benefits to the federal government or the penalties for not complying with the law. The individual mandate that most U.S. residents obtain some form of health coverage will still be in force next year.

These provisions, known as the "employer mandate" or "play-or-pay" rules, were designed to discourage companies from dropping workers' health insurance and to encourage them to add some uncovered employees to health plans. The Congressional Budget Office predicted the law would have a modest effect on employer-sponsored health insurance.

Jobs are the most common sources for health care coverage in the U.S. A majority of Americans -- about 170 million people -- were enrolled in company health plans in 2011, according to census data. Among companies that have at least 50 employees, 94 percent offer health benefits, a Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation survey shows. Employer health coverage is offered on a completely voluntary basis in almost all states.

Like Cumberland Gulf Group, the Santa Clarita, Calif.-based landscaping company Stay Green Inc., intends to follow through with its plan to offer health insurance to workers next year, said CEO Chris Angelo. "For us, no, it doesn't change anything. It doesn't impact us," said Angelo. Angelo told The Wall Street Journal last month he doubts his employees will opt to buy the coverage he will provide, partly because of cost.

Chain store and franchise owners from a variety of retail and restaurant companies have publicly speculated that Obamacare's employer rules would lead them to cap workers' weekly hours at 30 to avoid the law or to refrain from hiring more workers to remain below the 50-employee threshold under the regulations.

The Huffington Post sought comment from several of these executives, including Zane Tankel, CEO of Apple-Metro, which owns 40 Applebee's restaurants in the New York area; Jon Metz of West Palm Beach, Fla., who owns Denny's, Dairy Queen, and Hurricane Grill & Wings locations; and Dean Hodges, an Omaha, Neb.-based owner of Jimmy John's sandwich shops. None replied.

In emails to The Huffington Post, retailers and fast-food chains were muted in their reaction, mainly saying they were reviewing their options and preparing to comply with the health law known as the Affordable Care Act. "As we currently evaluate affordable health care options for our full-time employees, the benefit to the government’s delay of new mandates will allow us more time to properly abide by any changes as a result of new legislation," Denny's Corp. said in a statement.

Capping employee hours or taking similar steps now that the penalties are off the table for a year probably won't be appealing to many companies, Ageloff said. "The challenge of cutting hours, changing their work structure, given this delay, has the potential to draw additional, unwanted P.R.," she said.

Kevin Short and David Winograd contributed reporting Reported by Huffington Post 7 hours ago.

U.S. to delay key health-reform provision to 2015

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The Obama administration said on Tuesday it would not require employers to provide health insurance for their workers until 2015, delaying a key provision of the healthcare reform law. Reported by ChicagoTribune 1 hour ago.

Pet Insurance Policies: Worth Your Money Or Not?

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Pet Insurance Policies: Worth Your Money Or Not? If you think healthcare in America has problems, you should talk to your dog.

A report put out by the Daily Mail today shows that many pet owners who pay hefty insurance premiums for their four-legged friends aren’t getting their money’s worth out of their policies.

For an example, take a look at the story of UK woman Vicky Hughes and her French Mastiff Emma.

Emma collapsed on the floor one evening. Hughes took the dog to a veterinarian, who told her that Emma would require a $4,000 surgery. Hughes gave the vet the green light to do the surgery. After all, she paid health insurance for the dog. Isn’t that the kind of thing health insurance should cover?

Apparently the answer is no.

Her insurance provider called four days later and told her the surgery would not be covered under her policy. Hughes, an office worker, was forced to pay the big bill off on her own despite the fact that she pays a $220 premium to her dog’s insurance provider. She sold her fridge, freezer, and many of her clothes in order to pay the bill.

Hughes story isn’t uncommon.

Many pet insurance policies are so riddled with loopholes and small-print stipulations that policy owners almost never get a worthwhile financial benefit from their policies. Experts in the field say pet insurance policies are just as much about peace of mind as they are about making financial sense.

“If you get the right policy, it can be an asset to the health care of that pet and have a significant impact on the bill that results from a visit in an emergency situation” says veterinarian Jean Maixner. “If people had acquired pet insurance before the emergency occurred, they might have been able to move forward with some reasonable treatment to help their pet.”

But consumer group Checkbook.com did a report on pet insurance policies recently, and most of the time the policies don’t pay off.

“It’s common to pay $300 a year or more for pet insurance. Over the life of a dog or cat that might be $5,000 or more. Most people are not going to have a big expense like that,” the report said.

Like all insurance policies, pet insurance is a matter of risk management. If your animal stays healthy, chances are you wasted a bunch of money on their insurance. But if they get sick or need surgery, an insurance policy can make the difference between life and death for an animal.

“It’s a way to manage risk,” says Grant Biniasz, a spokesperson for VPI Pet Insurance. “If you look at any form of insurance and try to run the numbers, you’re going to find that most people are not going to get back what they pay in premiums. But the people who do are happy they made the investment.”

(Daily Mail, NBC News) Reported by Opposing Views 6 hours ago.

Video: Obamacare's employer mandated health insurance delayed

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Business owners were relieved to hear that they won't be penalized next year for not offering health insurance to workers. The law had called for businesses with at least 50 full time workers to provide health insurance this January or pay a fine. Now they have an additional year, reports Wyatt Andrews. Reported by CBS News 6 hours ago.

Delay in Affordable Care Act's large employer health insurance mandate cheered, jeered by Utahns

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Delaying until 2015 the implementation of the Affordable Care Act's mandate that large employers offer health insurance to... Reported by Deseret News 4 hours ago.

Health law delay gives Minnesota employers breathing room

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Employers that were sweating the decision of whether to offer health insurance or pay a new tax penalty next year are no longer in the hot seat -- at least for now. Reported by TwinCities.com 2 hours ago.

Sec. Kathleen Sebelius: 4 Ways to Stay Healthy on the Fourth of July

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As we celebrate Independence Day, it is important to remember that the health care law gives you independence to choose a plan that meets your needs in the Health Insurance Marketplace, protects you from being locked out of coverage due to a pre-existing condition, and frees you from being locked into a job because of employer-sponsored coverage.

The law also provides you and your family with access to free screenings, vaccines, counseling, and other preventive services to keep you healthy.

All health plans in the Marketplace and many other plans must cover the preventive services below without charging you a copayment or coinsurance. This applies even if you haven't met your yearly deductible.

Learn more about prevention and find care when you need it:

1. Preventive services for all adults: 15 preventive services
2. Preventive care for women: 22 preventive services
3. Preventive care for children: 25 preventive services
4. Medicare preventive care for seniors: 23 preventive services

And try these easy-to-use prevention and wellness tools:

Health Topics A to Z: Browse topics and use interactive tools to help you and your family stay healthy.

MyHealthFinder: Get personalized prevention and wellness recommendations.

Health Insurance Marketplace: Starting in October, all individuals without insurance or looking to make a change can shop for quality, affordable insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplaces.

And most importantly, stay safe and healthy this summer and have a happy Fourth of July. Reported by Huffington Post 20 hours ago.

KANETIX Exposes the Top 10 Travel Insurance Myths

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Most Canadians lose thousands of dollars from believing in popular travel insurance myths.

Toronto, ON (PRWEB) July 04, 2013

Insurance is for the unexpected events in life and travel insurance is no different says KANETIX. Travel insurance ensures ones travel plans are not ruined by an unexpected illness, weather event or cancelled flight and all the expenses that follow from the unexpected.

Although travel insurance literally is a life saver in many unforeseen circumstances - not many Canadians choose to purchase travel insurance when they go away. As a consequence, many travellers are often unprepared for the unexpected events that can ruin an otherwise great travel experience. KANETIX exposes the 10 most travel insurance myths for consumers:

Myth #1: Purchasing travel insurance is not necessary.

Unfortunately, many people presume they will not experience an emergency while they are on vacation. In particular, those taking weekend trips believe the short time spent away from home, or the short distance from home, does not merit travel insurance. Nevertheless, all Canadians should consider purchasing travel insurance whether travelling internationally or domestically. However, if there were to be a medical emergency, a government health insurance plan will generally only cover a part of the costs. Even if the emergency were to occur within Canada, not all associated costs would be covered.

Myth #2: Travel insurance simply costs too much.

With transportation costs rising, many travellers may feel there is no space in their travel budget for additional insurance. However, by making travel insurance a priority, it is easier to include its cost in budget planning. A change of accommodation, or time of travel, can easily save money that could then be used on proper insurance coverage. Additionally, families expecting to make several trips may save by purchasing an annual policy. With one purchase, all of a family's travel could be covered without additional applications or payments.

Myth #3: Employee health plans and credit cards already insure travel.

While employee health plans and credit cards offer some coverage, there are limitations. In particular, employment benefits may not cover all medical emergencies and have a limited amount of covered travel expenses. Dedicated travel insurance, however, can provide assistance in finding alternative transportation home, or to the destination, in the case of a cancelled or delayed trip. And, notably, travel insurance providers offer assistance in arranging emergency medical care and guidance about foreign hospitals.

Credit cards, on the other hand, generally only cover accidents, not illnesses. Also, this accident insurance only covers travel expenses purchased with that card. Additional restrictions may include the coverage of only a limited number of days or a limited claim amount.

Myth #4: Travelling with insurance cards and coverage documents is sufficient.

While having updated copies of health insurance documents are helpful, the original insurance limitations still apply. Costs that are not covered by health plans must still be paid out of pocket. Thus, it is important to have specific travel insurance that can cover the shortfall and any unforeseen expenses. Additionally, good travel insurance will offer a network of emergency medical providers and easily accessible assistance at all hours.

Myth #5: Provincial health insurance covers emergency medical costs regardless of where they are incurred.

While provincial health insurance providers have agreements with their counterparts in other provinces to cover a traveller, this is unlikely to pay for all costs related to illness or accident. And, if an emergency were to occur in another country, the reimbursement limit may be much lower than the cost of care in that country.

Myth #6: Airlines always cover expenses related to cancelled flights.

Unfortunately, airlines generally do not reimburse expenses incurred by passengers after delaying or canceling a flight. Thus, money spent on hotel accommodations, food, or finding alternative transportation could fall to the traveller to pay.

Myth #7: In the case of an emergency cancellation, pre-paid accommodations will be refunded.

If an emergency were to occur before a trip, some hotels or resorts may allow rescheduling even when they do not offer refunds. But, if an accident or emergency were to occur during travel, it is unlikely that any remaining pre-paid expenses would be refunded. Additionally, the traveller could be held responsible for any cancellation fees. Only travel insurance can help recoup these losses.

Myth #8: Travel insurance covers all up-front medical expenses so there are no out-of-pocket costs.

Unfortunately, while travel insurance will cover these expenses, not all insurance companies will pay for them upfront. Some insurers honor claims for reimbursement only after the medical bills have already been paid. By researching insurers, consumers can find the coverage that best fits their needs.

Myth #9: While travelling abroad, there is no assistance in finding medical care.

While this may be true for those who do not purchase travel insurance, those who do should have phone access to agents with databases of hospitals, physicians, and even translation services, if they are necessary.

Myth #10: Individual travel insurance can cover an entire family.

Individual travel insurance will not cover all members of a family. However, insurers provide packages to fit a wide range of potential circumstances. Consumers should research the options that will best fit their family's needs. And, to help save money, family-pricing options may be available.

Unfortunately, many travellers believe many of the myths in this article and as a consequence, they have paid for it greatly - in some cases thousands of dollars. KANETIX reminds travellers to take the time to shop around and purchase a travel insurance policy to ensure they are protected against the unexpected.

About Kanetix®

Launched in October 1999, KANETIX.ca was Canada's first online insurance marketplace and today provides over a million quotes per year to consumers looking for insurance, as well as comparisons for mortgage rates and credit cards.

The KANETIX comparison service is a one-stop shopping environment for consumers. Each day, thousands visit the KANETIX website at http://www.kanetix.ca to comparison shop their various financial needs. Shoppers choose what they want to compare, obtain a quotation and complete an online application or, with the help of KANETIX connect with the provider to purchase or apply for the product over the phone.

Through its Software as a Service team, KANETIX is also the leading provider of online insurance quotation technology, developing online quotation systems, mobile solutions, actuarial tools and websites for many of Canada's largest insurance brands.

For more information, visit KANETIX.ca or contact:

Natasha Carr
416.599.9779 ext. 343
publicrelations(at)kanetix(dot)ca
Kanetix Ltd.

-30- Reported by PRWeb 19 hours ago.

Obamacare Delay Troubles Both Unions And Republicans

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* AFL-CIO says White House decision is "troubling"
* Business groups remain concerned about employer mandate
* Republicans want to know why they weren't informed sooner (Adds reaction, details)
By Caren Bohan and Yasmeen Abutaleb
WASHINGTON, July 3 (Reuters) - Republicans launched a fresh assault on "Obamacare" Wednesday, promising a congressional inquiry after the White House delayed a requirement for employer-provided health insurance until after the 2014 congressional elections.
Meanwhile, the AFL-CIO labor organization, which supports the health care law, asked that its own requests for changes be given the same consideration the White House has extended to employers.
That raises the prospect of numerous interest groups seeking to reopen previously settled disputes over the 2010 law.
The criticisms complicate White House efforts to boost public support for President Barack Obama's signature domestic policy achievement. The law's success depends in part on convincing millions of Americans to sign up for coverage.
The requirement that employers with 50 or more workers provide health coverage was set to begin at the start of 2014. Now the mandate will not begin until 2015.
The White House has said the delay for employers will not affect or delay the health exchanges that Americans will use to buy insurance.
"This is a demonstration of our willingness to work with the business community," said White House Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest, arguing that the delay should "inspire confidence" for that reason.
But a committee of the Republican-controlled House of Representatives wrote administration officials, including Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, asking why lawmakers were not informed sooner that the administration was considering delaying the requirement for employer-provided health insurance.
"Despite delays and missed deadlines, administration officials had repeatedly testified before Congress that they were still on schedule to implement the law," said Representative Fred Upton, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Whether or not an investigation promised by Upton's committee sheds light on the decision, it promises to prolong negative publicity about the law less than six months before it is to be rolled out.
In postponing the employer mandate on Tuesday, Upton said in a statement, the administration "admitted that wasn't the case, and it's clear we have no idea the full scope of delays and disarray that may be coming."

'CYNICAL PLOY'
Senator John Barrasso, a Wyoming Republican and leading critic of the health law, accused the administration of carrying out a "cynical ploy" with postponement of the employer mandate.
"The public already lacks confidence in the law and it seems that now the administration is finally admitting that this law is unworkable, unaffordable and continues to be very unpopular," Barrasso said.
Among Obama's supporters, the AFL-CIO, a staunch ally of the Democratic president, said it found the decision to postpone employer-provided coverage "troubling."
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka complained that while the White House showed willingness to provide flexibility for the business community, it appeared reluctant to make changes sought by labor.
He said he would press his concerns and hoped the administration would address them, "just as they have the concerns voiced by employers."
Business groups said they welcomed the postponement but remained concerned about the employer mandate.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce said the delay would help avoid "serious near-term economic consequences of the health law," but it wanted to work with the administration to head off other potential problems.
The National Association of Manufacturers said in a blog post that the employer mandate was a bad idea from the start and the administration's move "simply delays the inevitable."
The delay complicates White House efforts to make the rollout of the health law look smooth, an already challenging task in part thanks to the continuing Republican campaign to discredit the program.
Jim Manley, a former aide to Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, said he was worried that the delay would give Republicans "another club to beat Democrats upside the head."
"There's no denying that this is a setback for the program. The perception is pretty bad," said Manley, who was involved in the effort to pass the law.
Several lawmakers, including some Democrats, had pressed the White House to consider a delay in the employer mandate. Among them was Senator Mark Begich, a Democrat in the Republican-leaning state of Alaska, who met with the White House last week to express his concerns about the law's implementation.
Begich has also written to top administration officials complaining that small businesses were overwhelmed and confused by complex information strewn across nearly 50 government websites. (Additional reporting by Steve Holland and Roberta Rampton Editing by Fred Barbash and Xavier Briand) Reported by Huffington Post 17 hours ago.

Zane Benefits Publishes New Information on the HRA Research Fee

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PCORI Research Fee Due July 31 on Form 720, for Some Employers

Park City, Utah (PRWEB) July 04, 2013

Today, Zane Benefits, the online alternative to group health insurance, published new information on the HRA Research Fee and Form 720.

According to Zane Benefits’ website, the IRS has issued a revised Form 720 (Quarterly Federal Excise Tax) that now includes a section for reporting the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) research fees, also called the Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER) fees. The PCORI fee is listed in Part II of the form, IRS No. 133.

The first due date of these research fees (for some employers) is July 31, 2013.

According to Zane Benefits’ website, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) includes a "research fee" that plan sponsors, including HRA plan sponsors, must pay on an annual basis. The research fee is referred to as the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), or Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER) fee.

The ACA imposes this fee on insured plans and self-insured health plans, including HRAs. The research fee is temporary; it applies to plan years ending on or after October 1, 2012 and before October 1, 2019.

Applicable employers are required to report and pay the PCORI research fees annually via Form 720, due by July 31 of each year.

Click here to read 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 Health Reimbursement Arrangements, click here. Reported by PRWeb 17 hours ago.

Decision to Delay Employer Mandate Will Cause More Employers to Drop Coverage

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The big news of the day – and maybe the year – is that the White House and the Department of Treasury have decided to postpone the employer mandate, the rule that says large employers with 50 or more full-time equivalent workers must offer qualified, affordable coverage or pay a penalty. While some are focusing on the political motivation of this move and what it will mean for the mid-term elections, at Health Partners America we believe the decision will cause more employers to drop their group health insurance and send their employees to the individual market to purchase coverage.

Birmingham, AL (PRWEB) July 04, 2013

The big news of the day – and maybe the year – is that the White House and the Department of Treasury have decided to postpone the employer mandate, the rule that says large employers with 50 or more full-time equivalent workers must offer qualified, affordable coverage or pay a penalty.

While some are focusing on the political motivation of this move and what it will mean for the mid-term elections, at Health Partners America, we believe the decision will cause more employers to drop their group health insurance and send their employees to the individual market to purchase coverage.

Prior to this announcement, small employers (those not subject to the mandate) were already trying to decide whether to offer coverage next year or abandon it so that their employees could access the generous government subsidies through public and private exchanges. With no employer mandate to force them to offer insurance, small employers are making their decision in part because of cost and in part because offering group health coverage could hurt workers and their family members by blocking them from the government tax credits.

Large employers will also hurt many of their employees by offering coverage, but they’ve been "stuck between a rock and a hard place" since they faced severe penalties of $2,000 per full-time worker if they failed to provide coverage. With that threat removed, large employers can now make their decision the same way small employers will – based on what’s best for the employees.

"Employers offer benefits for a variety of reasons," explains Josh Hilgers, president of Health Partners America, which has developed private exchange technology to help individuals access the premium tax credits, "but the number one reason is to attract and retain quality employees. The problem is that next year, group health benefits may no longer be beneficial for a large percentage of employees – in fact, some workers may actually seek out companies that do not offer group health insurance."

What Hilgers is referring to is the fact that offering coverage that is affordable for the employee blocks all "related individuals"– generally, the spouse and tax dependent children – from accessing a government subsidy. And the bar hasn’t been set very high: if the employee would not have to pay more than 9.5% of his household income for his portion of the single (employee-only) premium on the employer’s plan, his entire family is firewalled off from getting the subsidy.

"It really doesn’t make any sense," says Eric Johnson, Director of Education for Health Partners America. "The IRS has concluded that congressional intent was to block these individuals from obtaining the tax credits. Instead of basing the affordability determination on the cost of the family premium, they’re basing it only on what the employee would pay, which means that coverage will be considered affordable for most employees and their family members will be locked into the employer’s plan, even if it’s significantly more expensive and the employer isn’t contributing to the dependent premiums."

Many experts believe that, as employees learn how the tax credits work, they may ask their employers to stop offering health insurance altogether so that they can afford coverage for their families. And a lot of employers won’t have to be asked twice.

"When you look at the numbers, it’s clear that most employees will do better with a subsidized plan," says Hilgers. "That’s because the amount a family would pay is limited to a percentage of its income. The less people make, or the more children they have, the more affordable the subsidized coverage becomes." As it turns out, nearly two-thirds of U.S. households earn less than 400% of the federal poverty level, the cutoff point for the subsidies.

To highlight Hilgers’ point, here are some sample monthly premiums for plans purchased in the silver level of the individual marketplace. Coverage in the bronze level – the lowest tier where individuals can purchase qualified coverage – will be even less costly.

Click here to view a chart of the Monthly Premium for Silver-Level Coverage for Families Receiving Government Subsidy

"Employers won’t be able to compete," says Johnson. "The subsidies are too rich, so many employers will conclude that it’s best to let the government take care of the health insurance. That will free up money that employers can use to purchase other valuable group benefits like dental and life insurance or pass on to employees through a cafeteria plan so that they can choose from other qualified coverage options. They’ll do this by accessing the private exchange site set up by their benefits broker."

And now, with no penalty standing in the way, employers of all sizes can decide for themselves what’s best for their employees.

About Health Partners America    
Founded in 2007, Health Partners America provides insurance brokers and consultants with the tools, training, and technology to help businesses deliver quality health coverage using affordable solutions. The company offers a private exchange website, which can be used by individuals to access the new government subsidies as well as non-subsidized insurance plans. To learn more, visit http://www.healthpartnersamerica.com. Reported by PRWeb 11 hours ago.

What now? Q&A about latest snag in health care law

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What now? Q&A about latest snag in health care law
Associated Press
Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Updated 11:27 am, Thursday, July 4, 2013

The latest hitch gives employers an additional year before they must offer medical coverage to their workers or pay a fine. [...] is it a significant setback for a law already beset by court challenges, repeal votes and a rush of deadlines for making health insurance available to nearly all Americans next year? Obama administration officials say they listened to businesses that complained they needed to figure out how to comply with complicated new rules written since the plan became law. The law passed in 2010 required employers with more than 50 employees working 30 or more hours a week to offer them suitable health coverage or pay a fine. The employer mandate was set to take effect at the start of a congressional election year, intensifying the focus on one of the Republicans' favorite campaign issues. Postponing the requirement should mean fewer ads featuring business owners saying they're drowning under health care mandates. When the employer mandate does take effect, some smallish companies have threatened to lay off workers or cut back their hours to stay under the 50-employee threshold. The law doesn't change the January 2014 deadline for individuals to get insurance or the tax credits in the law to help them pay for it. The penalties are designed more to discourage businesses from dropping their existing health plans than to encourage them to start new ones. [...] these employees can buy their own insurance through the new health care exchanges being set up under the law. [...] the postponement doesn't affect the heart of the law — the requirement that individuals get insurance, and the subsidies to help them pay for it. Medicaid changes in the health care law designed to help some 15 million low-income people are being rejected by many states with Republican leaders. Medicaid already covers more than 60 million people, including many elderly nursing home residents, severely disabled people of any age and many low-income children and their mothers. Reported by SeattlePI.com 10 hours ago.

John Arensmeyer: Decision to Delay Employer Mandate Has No Practical Impact on Small Firms

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The Obama administration made big news this week when it announced that it will delay until 2015 the requirement in the new health care law that employers with more than 50 employees provide their workers with health insurance. This requirement has generated huge amounts of interest since the law passed in 2010. One talking head after another has bemoaned it as a job-killing requirement that impacts the most vulnerable of job creators: small businesses.

If there's one good thing about the announcement to delay this requirement, it's that it may shine a light on just how little an impact this requirement has on small businesses.

Lets look at some statistics:

• Ninety-six percent of businesses in this country have fewer than 50 employees.

That's right. The vast majority of businesses are already exempt from having to offer their employees health insurance. For these employers, delaying the requirement a year means absolutely nothing.

• Ninety-six percent of businesses with more than 50 employees already offer insurance.

Health insurance is called a benefit for a reason, and companies that can provide that benefit have a competitive advantage over companies that can't. Some people stay at jobs they don't like simply for the health insurance. (It happens so often it even has a technical term: "job lock.") What's more, there's a confirmed connection between the size of a company and its ability to offer insurance. The respected Kaiser Family Foundation found the larger a business is, the more likely it will offer insurance. Here are some figures from Kaiser's study:

• Forty-nine percent of firms with three to nine workers offer insurance.

• Seventy-one percent of firms with 10 to 24 workers offer insurance.

• Eighty-five percent of firms with 25 to 29 workers offer insurance.

• Ninety-six percent of firms with more than 50 workers offer insurance.

• Ninety-nine percent of firms with more than 200 workers offer insurance.

See the trend? Bigger businesses are better able to afford insurance. Larger firms with more employees have more bargaining power with the insurance companies, allowing them to get better rates. The policy makers who wrote the Affordable Care Act didn't pick the 50-employee cutoff out of a hat. They knew that most businesses with more than 50 employees already offer insurance. Now, just one more stat:

• Only the 4 percent of larger employers that do not offer health insurance will be impacted by the delay.... or by the requirement in general, for that matter.

What these stats show is that the employer requirement that is getting so much attention impacts a tiny sliver of businesses in this country. This requirement, and the decision to delay it, doesn't affect the vast majority of small businesses. Not one bit. Granted, delaying this requirement will allow larger businesses that will be impacted time to adjust and provide additional input to the Treasury on how the proposed requirements will work best.

But the most important provisions in the ACA for small business owners, such as health insurance exchanges, are still moving full-steam ahead. The exchanges haven't gotten nearly the same play as the employer responsibility requirement, but they impact small businesses much more significantly. These marketplaces, coming online in January 2014, will allow small businesses to pool their buying power to help drive down coverage costs. Those larger businesses I mentioned earlier that are more likely to offer insurance because it's more affordable? The exchanges will give small businesses that same kind of buying power, so they can better afford to offer benefits and compete with their larger counterparts for talented employees.

Maybe, just maybe, that will become the big news now. It sure wouldn't hurt for the millions of small business owners who will be able benefit from the exchange to hear all about it. Reported by Huffington Post 4 hours ago.

FinanceSpectrum.com Prepares for Subsidized Health Insurance Exchange Effect

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After a news report published July 2nd in Forbes, entitled “WSJ: Health Insurance Rates Could ‘Double or Even Triple’ for Healthy Consumers in Obamacare’s Exchanges,” FinanceSpectrum.com remarks on the different affects these changes will have on consumers nationwide and offers advice to those who might be hit with rate increases about how to potentially avoid these costs.

New York, NY (PRWEB) July 04, 2013

FinanceSpectrum.com online financial advice magazine today released their observations regarding the impending Obamacare subsidized health insurance exchanges set to become fully operational on October 1st 2013. FinanceSpectrum.com explored the implications for consumers, and doled out a word of advice for how to get around a massive insurance rate increase.

According to Avik Roy in a Forbes article published July 1st 2013, Obamacare’s subsidized health insurance exchanges are set to come into full fruition on October 1st of this year. Roy reported that according to an analysis performed by Louise Radnofsky of the Wall Street Journal, who looked at insurance rates in eight different states around the U.S., there is the probability that healthy consumers might have their individual health insurance rates double or, worse, even triple under the new exchange.

FinanceSpectrum.com acknowledged that under the new tax-credit subsidies, health coverage will be made affordable to many uninsured U.S. families who would not be able to afford it otherwise. After applauding this noble outcome, they also recognized the healthy and financially fit consumers who would be experience a severe increase in insurance coverage costs and recommended that they look to their employers for insurance. FinanceSpectrum.com is quoted as saying, “Our best piece of advice to those who are or would be footing the bill on their own individual insurance plans is to give it your best shot at getting insurance through your employer. If they offer it, piece of cake. If they don’t, it’s not to say that they won’t. Check with your co-workers or other employees to see if they’d be interested in obtaining group health insurance. The premiums would be lower and could be taken directly out of your paychecks, if your employer does not provide this as a benefit. You might have to do the legwork on finding the plan and getting everyone signed up for it, but it could be a huge win.” FinanceSpectrum.com pointed out that another perk is that similar to guaranteed acceptance life insurance policies, getting insurance through an employer means that employees can’t be turned down due to pre-existing conditions, poor credit, or their past medical history.

FinanceSpectrum.com advised that consumers “get rolling now” on obtaining group coverage through an employer if that is a feasible option. FinanceSpectrum.com is quoted as saying, “It’s certainly not an overnight process and can take a couple of months from when you start researching health insurance policies to when you and your co-workers are actually covered. I would not recommend waiting on it, because October 1st is just under three months away, and you’ll want to be covered by the time the exchange hits.”

About FinanceSpectrum.com:
FinanceSpectrum.com is a finance and economic advice column catered towards middle-aged, mid-income American consumers. FinanceSpectrum.com publishes articles about a broad range of topics, everything from budgeting, to household finances, to planning for retirement, to investment options, to boosting one’s credit score. Reported by PRWeb 3 hours ago.

Only 1% of workers affected by Obamacare mandate: experts

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WASHINGTON — The “train wreck” of Obamacare may have fewer casualties than critics now claim. There has been much hoopla over the Obama administration’s surprise move to delay by one year, until 2015, a mandate that businesses with more than 50 full-time workers offer employees affordable health insurance or face penalties. Reported by NY Daily News 1 hour ago.

Nitin Chhoda Uncovers the Three Biggest Mistakes Physical Therapist Make When Dealing With Health Insurance

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Physical therapist, Nitin Chhoda, has been helping practices streamline their billing efforts for many years and he regularly shares his expertise on a variety of topics through his EMRNews website. Recently, Chhoda tackled the complex issue of how physical therapy offices lose revenue through non-payment because their staff does not know how to accurately apply for health insurance reimbursement.

Denville, NJ (PRWEB) July 05, 2013

Effective physical therapy billing is very important to any practice. Perhaps the second most important thing next to the delivery of the actual physical therapy services is. When dealing with billing issues, understanding the complex nature of insurance is paramount and practices get into the most trouble when they make mistakes processing insurance claims. Chhoda reveals the three most common mistakes practices make when it comes to insurance and how those mistakes cost a practice in lost revenue.

According to Chhoda, the biggest insurance mistake is the failure to verify a client’s insurance information. People change jobs. Move from one address to another or transfer policies. If the information gathered is incorrect, it is almost a given that the insurance claim will be denied directly, affecting the physical therapy business’ bottom line.

Similar to getting the correct insurance information, practices must also have the most current patient information on file in order to receive quick reimbursement and avoid denials. Even a simple misspelling for a patient’s name can result in insurance denial. Finally, making the correct diagnosis and coding procedure is mandatory. Nothing results in an insurance denial faster than the billed service not matching the actual diagnosis.

After explaining these three common insurance mistakes, Chhoda reveals that the best way to avoid these mistakes is by having sound physical therapy management and implementing effective physical therapy billing software. It is here where Chhoda relies on his EMR expertise to offer effective solutions that any physical therapist can implement to ensure the minimum loss of revenue.

Chhoda’s office can be reached by phone at 201-535-4475. For more information, visit the website at http://www.emrnews.com.

About Nitin Chhoda

Nitin Chhoda PT, DPT is a licensed physical therapist, a certified strength and conditioning specialist and an entrepreneur. He is the author of "Physical Therapy Marketing For The New Economy" and “Marketing for Physical Therapy Clinics” and is a prolific speaker, writer and creator of products and systems to streamline medical billing and coding, electronic medical records, health care practice management and marketing to increase referrals. He has been featured in numerous industry magazines, major radio and broadcast media, and is the founder of Referral Ignition training systems and the annual Private Practice Summit. Chhoda speaks extensively throughout the U.S., Canada and Asia. He is also the creator of the Therapy Newsletter and Clinical Contact, both web-based services to help private practices improve communication with patients, delivery better quality of care and boost patient retention. Reported by PRWeb 1 day ago.

Dawn Insurance, a New Online Insurance Provider Launches Official Website Today

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Dawn Insurance launched their official website today at http://dawninsurance.com/ and claim that they will soon be changing the insurance industry for the better. They specialize in finding affordable insurance policies that offer the best protection for each applicant.

(PRWEB) July 05, 2013

Dawn Insurance specializes in helping all of their applicants find auto, home, and health insurance policies that are completely affordable, and also offer the highest quality of protection available for each client. Anyone at all who needs new coverage on their car can prepare for the future without breaking the bank. Those seeking home or health insurance will find the perfect plans for their families. “This is a business about supporting the client. That is how I believe all businesses should operate. We have the unique ability to find the perfect insurance agreement for each of our applicants, and we use that ability to its fullest potential. Anyone who needs help finding a good insurance service can come to us and we will always be there to help.” David Anderson, CEO of Dawn Insurance.

Dawn Insurance offer free quotes on all of their insurance services, to find a great insurance agreement, or to learn more about Dawn Insurance, visit http://dawninsurance.com/ today!

About Dawn Insurance

Dawn Insurance is one of the best insurance programs online today. We have many different types of insurance, and are well known for our dedication to our clients. At Dawn Insurance we know that an insurance plan is much more that a monetary agreement, which is why we put a great effort into the interests of our clients. Anyone seeking home, life, or health insurance can get exactly what they need today. Visit our website now for a free quote on any kind of insurance. Reported by PRWeb 21 hours ago.

Online Insurance Marketplace Offers the Possibility to Compare Online Different Plans of Life Insurance for People Over 50

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Online Insurance Marketplace (http://www.onlineinsurancemarketplace.com), announces new blog, “Different Plans of Life Insurance for People over 50!”

(PRWEB) July 05, 2013

Online Insurance Marketplace has released a blog explaining the benefits of life insurance plans for people over 50 and the fact that it can be compared online on the website!

A life insurance plan can cover a part of the medical costs. It all depends on the terms of the policy, in some cases it can cover the whole cost for a treatment.
The website can offer quotes for health insurance plans, term life insurance and forms of permanent life insurance. In order to obtain one type of insurance, people must fulfill its specific requirements. For example, most insurance companies will refuse to provide term life insurance if one is too old or too sick. In this case, purchasing a whole life insurance may seem to be a good idea, because the price of premiums is locked and no matter if one gets older or sick, he or she will pay the same amount. Also, it can let people borrow against policy if they need money for personal use.

"Life insurance is usually bought by people who are in their thirties or early forties. However, life coverage is not limited to a certain group age. Most insurance agencies insure people up till the age of 50, 65 and some beyond that,” said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company.

Online Insurance Marketplace is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. It is unique in that this website does not simply stick to one kind of insurance carrier, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. This way, clients have offers from multiple carriers all in one place, this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc.

For more information, please visit http://lifeinsuranceover65.com/. Reported by PRWeb 16 hours ago.
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