Zane Benefits Publishes New Information on Investing in Defined Contribution Health Benefits

February 18, 2014, 4:09 pm

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Ten Signs Defined Contribution is a Smart Investment for Small Businesses and Nonprofits

Park City, Utah (PRWEB) February 18, 2014

Today, Zane Benefits, the #1 Online Health Benefits Solution, published new information on investing in defined contribution health benefits.

According to Zane Benefits' website, small businesses and nonprofits are looking for alternatives to traditional health benefits. One of the most popular health insurance alternatives owners are investing in is defined contribution health benefits.

According to Zane Benefits' website, defined contribution is considered an alternative health benefits strategy because the business offers stipends for health insurance, rather than a specific health insurance plan. With "pure" defined contribution health benefits, employees purchase any individual or family health insurance plan.

Ten Signs a Business or Nonprofit Should Invest in Defined Contribution
1. They cannot afford a small group health plan
2. They need to strategically customize health benefits to recruit and retain employees
3. The need predictable health benefits costs in the short term and long term
4. They have limited time and/or personnel to administer health benefits
5. They want to get out of the health insurance business
6. They want to give employees and their families access to the health insurance tax credits
7. They want to see more value in health benefits dollars
8. They’ve seen small business health insurance costs increase, and coverage levels decrease
9. They are open to using innovative and cutting edge solutions to achieve the same or better results
10. Employees have diverse medical needs

Click here to read the full article.

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About Zane Benefits
Zane Benefits, the #1 Online Health Benefits Solution, was founded in 2006 to revolutionize the way employers provide employee health benefits in America. We empower employees to take control over their own healthcare, while helping employers recruit and retain the best talent. Our online solutions allow small and medium-sized businesses to successfully transition to a health benefits program that creates happier employees, reduces costs and frees up more time to serve their customers. For more information about ZaneHealth, visit http://www.zanebenefits.com. Reported by PRWeb 9 hours ago.

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Undocumented Immigrants Could Get Health Insurance

February 18, 2014, 7:00 pm

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Reported by TIME 6 hours ago.

Online doctor ratings used less: Survey

February 19, 2014, 12:29 am

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Doctor ratings are less popular than those of toasters, cars and movies when it comes to online consumer sites. That's according to a survey that found most adults hadn't checked online physician reviews - and most said a conveniently located office and accepting patients' health insurance was more important. Reported by Journal Gazette 16 minutes ago.

No Title

February 19, 2014, 12:44 am

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The University of Miami is launching a pilot program to encourage young adults to sign up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. Reported by WEAR ABC 3 2 minutes ago.

10 Gaps, Penalties and Limits in Medicare Coverage

February 19, 2014, 3:07 am

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Filed under: Health Care, Insurance, U.S. Government, Nursing Homes, Health Insurance

*Shutterstock/18percentgrey*

By Emily Brandon

Some out-of-pocket costs that Medicare beneficiaries face are fairly predictable, such as their monthly premiums, annual deductible and the copays and coinsurance associated with various Medicare services. However, other Medicare costs that are far more difficult to discern could lead to surprise medical bills. Here are some examples:

*Your Free Annual Checkup Might Not Be Free*

During the first 12 months you have Medicare Part B, you can get a free "Welcome to Medicare" preventive care doctor's visit, and after that participants are eligible for a free annual wellness checkup. However, depending on what tests or services your doctor orders during this visit, you may still end up with a bill.

While Medicare covers a variety of preventive care services with no cost-sharing requirements, if your doctor recommends a test or procedure that isn't considered preventive or you get a test more often than Medicare covers it, you may have to pay coinsurance and the Part B deductible may apply.

"If the doctor orders a test and it falls under Part B, you could very well have to pay 20 percent of those test costs," says Allison Hoffman, an assistant professor of law at the UCLA School of Law. Supplemental plans such as Medigap and Medicare Advantage plans may fill in some of the cost-sharing requirements.

*Preventive Services May Trigger Other Costs*

Medicare covers many, but not all, preventive care screenings with no out-of-pocket costs. However, if a screening test finds something that requires additional tests or services, you will likely face a variety of out-of-pocket costs.

"The copay is reduced to zero for the preventive service, but once that part of the service is no longer preventive, now we are treating something and you are going to hit the 20 percent copay,"
says Jack Hoadley, a health policy analyst at Georgetown University.

For example, a colonoscopy is covered once every 120 months for most Medicare beneficiaries and typically costs nothing for the recipient. However, if a polyp or other suspicious tissue is discovered and removed during the colonoscopy, you may have to pay 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount for the doctor's services and a copayment to the medical establishment where the procedure was performed.

*No Annual Limit on Out-of-Pocket Costs*

With original Medicare, retirees can expect to pay a Part B deductible, copays and coinsurance amounting to 20 percent of the Medicare‑approved amount for most services. There's no annual limit on what retirees could be expected to pay out-of-pocket.

"There are types of situations where out-of-pocket costs can go extremely high," Hoadley says. "If you have major cardiac surgery, your 20 percent coinsurance could be thousands of dollars or possibly tens of thousands of dollars." Supplemental insurance policies are again the answer

*Penalties for Late Enrollment*

You can sign up for Medicare Part B at any time during the seven-month period that begins three months before the month you turn 65. But if you don't sign up during this initial enrollment period, you might have to pay a late enrollment penalty for the rest of your life.

Your monthly Part B premium will increase by 10 percent for each 12-month period you were eligible for benefits but didn't sign up for them. For example, a person whose initial enrollment period ended Sept. 30, 2010, but who didn't sign up for Medicare Part B until March 2013 will pay 20 percent higher premiums due to the two full years he delayed signing up.

People who are still working after age 65 and are covered by an employer's group health plan can avoid this late enrollment penalty by signing up for Medicare Part B within eight months of the employment or coverage ending. COBRA coverage and retiree health plans are not considered coverage based on current employment for the purpose of avoiding the late enrollment penalty.

*You Could Lose Your Right to Purchase Medigap Coverage*

Medigap policies, which are sold by private insurance companies, generally pay for some of the health care services that Medicare doesn't cover. However, you only have a one-time Medigap open enrollment period.

Starting the first month you're 65 and enrolled in Part B and running for six months, you have the right to buy any Medigap policy sold in your state regardless of your current health. After this enrollment period ends, you may no longer have the option to buy a Medigap policy, or it could cost significantly more.

"If you sign up in that initial period, they can't look at your whole health history and decide to charge you more because you have had cancer in the past or had heart disease," Hoffman says. "If you don't sign up in the initial enrollment period, then they can underwrite you. They can charge you more because of your particular health characteristics."

If you delay enrolling in Part B due to group health coverage provided by an employer, your Medigap open enrollment period begins when you sign up for Medicare Part B.

*Part D Late Enrollment Penalty*

Medicare Part D also has a late enrollment penalty if you don't sign up when you are first eligible to do so or you go 63 or more days in a row without prescription drug coverage, and the penalty increases the longer you go without coverage."If you become entitled to Medicare and you decide you don't want to sign up for a Part D plan -- for example, if you are not taking very many medications, if down the road you get sick and you start needing some medications, you will face a late enrollment penalty unless you have had drug coverage that was at least as good," says Juliette Cubanski, a Medicare policy analyst at the Kaiser Family Foundation. "It makes sense to sign up for Part D when you are first eligible or when you first lose coverage so as to avoid those late enrollment penalties."

The late enrollment penalty is calculated by multiplying 1 percent of the national base beneficiary premium ($31.17 in 2013) by the number of months you went without Medicare Part D or other prescription drug coverage after becoming eligible for Medicare, and is then added to your monthly premiums for as long as you have Medicare Part D. For example, a person who was first eligible for coverage on May 1, 2009, but elected to delay signing up for a Part D plan until Jan. 1, 2013, and didn't have other coverage during those 43 months will be charged a monthly penalty of $13.40 in 2013 in addition to the plan's monthly premium.

*Drug Restrictions*

Medicare Part D plans have formularies that list which drugs are covered and cost-sharing requirements. Some Part D plans also require prior authorization before you can fill certain prescriptions or might require you to try similar lower-cost drugs before a plan will cover a more expensive prescribed drug. There may also be quantity limits on how much medication you can get at a time.

*Medicare Part D Has a Coverage Gap*

Most Medicare drug plans have a coverage gap that begins after a retiree incurs $2,850 in prescription drug costs and ends when drug costs reach $6,691 (in 2014) and catastrophic coverage kicks in. In the coverage gap, retirees are responsible for 47.5 percent of the cost for brand-name drugs and 72 percent of the cost for generic medications in 2014.

"Part D has the famous 'doughnut hole' that it going to be closed, but there's a sizable liability there for people who have substantial prescription drug costs," Palmer says. Some Part D plans offer additional gap coverage in exchange for higher premiums. The coverage gap is scheduled to be eliminated by 2020.

*Little Long-Term Care Coverage*

Don't expect Medicare to pick up the tab for a nursing home or many other types of long-term care. Only short-term nursing home stays of up to 100 days after a three-day hospital stay are covered. If you need nursing home care for longer than that, you will be responsible for all costs.

"Many people who have a need for long-term care services end up spending down whatever resources are available to them and may, at that point, end up qualifying for Medicaid," Cubanski says. "While Medicare does not cover long-term care expenses, if someone is permanently living in a nursing home or some other type of assisted living facility, Medicaid does cover some of those long-term care expenses. And people can purchase private long-term care insurance that can help cover long-term care."

Emily Brandon is the senior editor for retirement at U.S. News. You can contact her on Twitter @aiming2retire, circle her on Google Plus or email her at ebrandon@usnews.com.

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-*More from U.S. News*-

· 12 Ways to Increase Your Social Security Payments
· How to Pay for Cancer Treatment When You're Broke
· How to Budget for Health Costs in Retirement

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Zane Benefits Publishes New Information on Health Insurance Allotments

February 19, 2014, 5:04 am

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The Do's and Don'ts for Offering Health Insurance Allotments to Employees

Park City, Utah (PRWEB) February 19, 2014

Today, Zane Benefits, the #1 Online Health Benefits Solution, published new information health insurance allotments.

According to Zane Benefits' website, small and mid-size businesses are using a "pure" defined contribution strategy to offer employees an allotment for health insurance, rather than offering employees a specific group health insurance plan. There is a right way and a wrong way to set up and administer health insurance allotments.

Zane Benefits’ website outlines four best practices (“do’s”) for small businesses setting up health insurance allotments, and three health insurance allotment "don'ts."

Health Insurance Allotment “Do’s”
1. Use a Formal Defined Contribution Health Plan
2. Set Affordable Allotment Amounts
3. Use Defined Contribution Software
4. Select an Insurance Broker to Help Employees

Health Insurance Allotment “Don’ts”
1. Don’t Allow Employees to Contribute to the Defined Contribution Health Plan
2. Don’t Self-Administer the Health Insurance Allotments
3. Don’t Forget to Educate Employees

Click here to read the full article.

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About Zane Benefits
Zane Benefits, the #1 Online Health Benefits Solution, was founded in 2006 to revolutionize the way employers provide employee health benefits in America. We empower employees to take control over their own healthcare, while helping employers recruit and retain the best talent. Our online solutions allow small and medium-sized businesses to successfully transition to a health benefits program that creates happier employees, reduces costs and frees up more time to serve their customers. For more information about ZaneHealth, visit http://www.zanebenefits.com. Reported by PRWeb 20 hours ago.

Panviva Expands Healthcare Team Amid Industry Push for Improved Member and Patient Satisfaction

February 19, 2014, 5:04 am

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Michael Weise Named Healthcare Business Development Director

Burlington, MA (PRWEB) February 19, 2014

Panviva Inc., the leader in business process guidance software, today announced the appointment of Michael Weise, a former IBM solution sales executive, as Healthcare Business Development Director. He is responsible for expanding and supporting the Panviva healthcare customer base. Health plans, healthcare providers and integrated healthcare delivery systems use Panviva SupportPoint to improve member and patient satisfaction and enhance operations. Weise is based in Panviva’s Western Region headquarters in San Mateo, Calif.

“Michael’s leadership and industry experience accelerate our ability to meet the significant healthcare sector demands for IT solutions that deliver operational and clinical benefits while meeting regulatory requirements,” said Stephen Pappas, Senior Vice President of North American Operations for Panviva.

Demand from health plans, healthcare providers and integrated healthcare delivery systems has increased under managed care, which links patient satisfaction to reimbursements. In addition, open enrollment for Qualified Health Plans under the Affordable Care Act has exponentially increased inbound calls to health insurance companies from current and prospective members. Panviva SupportPoint enables customer service representatives to immediately and accurately respond to questions.

Panviva SupportPoint is a business process guidance system that simplifies complex, dynamic business processes. SupportPoint provides role-based, step-by-step navigation and moment-of-need information for customer interactions that require accuracy, speed, and compliance with regulations such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Panviva’s healthcare clients include AvMed Health Plans, Gundersen Health Systems, Health New England, Health First Health Plans, Saint Mary’s Health Plans (A Dignity Health Member), Scott & White Health Plan, and Sentara Healthcare.

“National headlines have documented the strain that the crush of calls from people seeking health insurance coverage under the Individual Mandate of the Affordable Care Act has put on contact centers. Some of the biggest health plans are struggling under the weight,” said Weise. “SupportPoint can help in two critical ways: By organizing, curating and providing access to relevant information so that customer-facing employees can quickly and fully answer questions, and by providing the unlimited scalability of cloud software to meet any call volume. The end result is increased contact center productivity and performance.” SupportPoint’s benefits extend into the clinical setting where the software is used to coordinate care, deliver wellness programs, and manage and measure patient satisfaction.

Weise has 17 years of channel strategy and direct sales experience providing hardware, software, services, cloud, and data management solutions. He has consistently formed revenue-generating partnerships with global technology companies and exceeded revenue targets. Weise joined Panviva from IBM where he sold the company’s broad portfolio of information management solutions. Prior to IBM, he held executive positions at Trillium Software/Harte Hanks, including as Vice President of Strategic Alliances.

Panviva: Partnering with Healthcare
Panviva is a vendor partner of the Health Plan Alliance, an industry association of health plans, hospitals and physicians working together to improve operational and financial performance, medical management and market position. Members of the Health Plan Alliance achieve these goals by leveraging a broader knowledge base, disseminating specific performance improvement methods and participating in a collective purchasing program.

About Panviva
Panviva is the originator of Business Process Guidance and the developer of SupportPoint, the world’s leading Business Process Guidance system. Users rely on SupportPoint to guide them with step-by-step instructions through complex processes and systems in real time. SupportPoint reduces task handling times, error rates and compliance issues; increases staff capacity and agility; cuts training times and operational costs; and helps users to achieve the very highest levels of customer service.

Among Panviva’s diverse customer list globally are Bupa, Health New England, AvMed Health Plans, Gundersen Health Systems, Saint Mary’s Health Plans, Sentara Healthcare, Health Alliance, Health First Health Plans, Scott & White Health Plan, Orica, Carlton & United Breweries, BT, Westpac, Stellar BPO, National Australia Bank, Medibank, Foxtel, HBF, ANZ Bank, and Accenture.

Visit http://www.panviva.com to learn more.

### Reported by PRWeb 20 hours ago.

March 31 deadline looms for those still seeking health insurance

February 19, 2014, 6:59 am

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After that, only a qualifying event - the birth of a new child, a divorce, a job loss, for example - will allow most Americans to get health insurance for the rest of the year. Some populations, such as Native Americans in federally recognized tribes, can enroll any time. Reported by Freep 18 hours ago.

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Alaska Veterinarian Named Best in the Nation by Pets Best

February 19, 2014, 9:49 am

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2013 My Vet’s the Best Grand Prize Winner Dr. Sarah Coburn to Aid Pets in Need With Prize Money

Las Vegas, Nevada (PRWEB) February 19, 2014

Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC (Pets Best), a leading U.S. pet insurance agency, has named Dr. Sarah Coburn the 2013 grand prize winner of its nationwide My Vet’s the Best contest. Dr. Coburn practices at North Slope Borough Veterinary Clinic in Barrow, Alaska, which is the sole source of veterinary care within an 89,000-square-mile area.

Pets Best created the My Vet’s the Best contest in 2010 to recognize outstanding veterinarians and provide funding for the treatment of animals in need. The agency awards several seasonal winners each year and announces one annual grand prize winner during the Western Veterinary Conference in Las Vegas. Nearly 1,000 veterinarians received nominations from grateful pet owners during the 2013 contest.

Dr. Jack Stephens, president and founder of Pets Best Insurance, announced Dr. Coburn as the grand prize winner today at the Western Veterinary Conference. Dr. Coburn, who was selected from a group of 24 grand prize finalists across the U.S., received a check for $1,000 to support her ongoing efforts to address animal health issues in her region. Dr. Coburn said she plans to use the prize money to provide shelter and insulation for outdoor dogs that otherwise would not have protection from the frigid arctic weather.

“Pets Best received an overwhelming number of nominations for highly qualified veterinarians this year, but the story of Dr. Coburn’s efforts to care for animals in a remote area of Alaska was incredibly compelling,” Dr. Stephens said. “We believe the entire nation should be aware of her selfless commitment to treating animals under extremely demanding circumstances.”

Dr. Coburn practices at a clinic in the northernmost town in the U.S. that overlooks the Arctic Ocean and is accessible only by plane. Facing extreme weather while traveling to remote areas, Dr. Coburn overcomes a host of challenges to treat local animals.

With no private veterinary practices in the region, Dr. Coburn’s clinic is funded by the North Slope Borough government, requiring her to offer a wide variety of services. She regularly takes flights to several surrounding villages to provide veterinary services, including rabies shots and spaying and neutering. When animals experience emergencies, owners typically fly their pets to the clinic.

“I believe I won My Vet’s the Best because our situation and remoteness here is so different from what most other veterinarians face,” Dr. Coburn said. “It’s a challenge, but it’s interesting every day. Since it’s an area that can’t support a private vet, I’m glad to provide a service that otherwise wouldn’t be here. It’s a lot of variety, and it’s very rewarding.”

In addition to treating household pets, Dr. Coburn has also treated a wide range of wildlife, including birds, snowy owls and walruses. She is scheduled to assist the veterinary team dedicated to examining and treating dogs this year during the world-famous Iditarod dog sled race. With such limited public health resources in the area, Dr. Coburn even assists state health inspectors with inspections at local restaurants. Coburn has a master’s degree in clinical sciences and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Colorado State University.

Dr. Coburn received multiple nominations for My Vet’s the Best in 2013, and she frequently receives praise from pet owners who could not provide care for their animals without her.

“Dr. Coburn is the kindest, most compassionate animal lover I know,” pet owner Beckie Campbell wrote in her nomination entry for Dr. Coburn. “She flies out to the smaller villages here on the North Slope in small planes, sometimes in bad weather, to give her skill, care and kindness to all the animals. She has some amazing and heart-wrenching rescue stories. She is an animal angel.”

In 2010, Pets Best became the nation’s first pet insurance agency to develop a contest aimed at recognizing the country’s best veterinarians. While voting for the contest’s seasonal winners is open to the public through the Pets Best website and Facebook page, each year’s grand prize winner is selected by an internal review panel comprised of respected veterinary professionals. The grand prize winner receives $1,000 to treat animals in need, as well as a trip for two to the Western Veterinary Conference.

For more information about the My Vet’s the Best contest, visit http://www.petsbest.com/blog/my-vets-the-best-contest.

About Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC
Dr. Jack L. Stephens, president of Pets Best, founded pet insurance in the U.S. in 1981 with a mission to end euthanasia when pet owners couldn’t afford veterinary treatment. Dr. Stephens went on to present the first U.S. pet insurance policy to famous television dog Lassie. Pets Best provides coverage for dogs and cats and is the only veterinarian founded and operated pet insurance company in the United States. Dr. Stephens leads the Pets Best team with his passion for quality pet care and his expert veterinary knowledge. He is always available to answer questions regarding veterinary medicine, pet health and pet insurance. The Pets Best team is a group of pet lovers who strive to deliver quality customer service and value. Visit http://www.petsbest.com for more information.

Pet insurance coverage offered and administered by Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC is underwritten by Independence American Insurance Company, a Delaware insurance company. Independence American Insurance Company is a member of The IHC Group, an organization of insurance carriers and marketing and administrative affiliates that has been providing life, health, disability, medical stop-loss and specialty insurance solutions to groups and individuals for over 30 years. For information on The IHC Group, visit: http://www.ihcgroup.com. Additional insurance services administered by Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC are underwritten by Prime Insurance Company. Some existing business is underwritten by Aetna Insurance Company of Connecticut. Each insurer has sole financial responsibility for its own products.

Pets Best is a proud member of the North America Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA).

### Reported by PRWeb 16 hours ago.

Should You Buy Pet Insurance?

February 19, 2014, 10:33 am

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One topic I've learned to avoid with new acquaintances until I know them better (along with politics and religion) is where they stand on the treatment of pets. Some people, when their dog gets sick or badly injured, say, "It's an animal -- that's just part of the circle of life." Others consider Rover a close family member and would take out a second mortgage to save his life.

Pet owners from both camps probably see the barrage of ads for pet insurance and wonder whether it's worth the expense, which might be several thousand dollars over the life of your pet. I did some research and the best answer I can come up with is, it depends.

Veterinary science, like human medicine, has made incredible strides in recent decades so many conditions that formerly would have doomed an animal to being put down are now easily treatable -- but at quite a cost. For example, according to Veterinary Pet Insurance, the average cost for a vet to extract a dog's tooth is $829 (it's even more for cats), while treating a dog's torn ACL or cartilage costs around $2,667, on average.

First, ask yourself: Do you regard pet insurance as a financial investment, where you expect to get back more in benefits than you paid out in premiums over the pet's lifetime? Or, is it more like auto or homeowner's insurance, where you hope that nothing ever goes seriously wrong, but you want coverage in case there's a catastrophe?

Either way, here are some basic facts about pet insurance that may help you decide whether it's right for you:

Pet insurance shares many features with human health insurance: Policies typically have monthly premiums, annual deductibles, copayments and exclusions, and some limit which veterinarians, clinics and hospitals you can use, while others set no such restrictions.

But there are numerous differences as well. For example, unlike human plans governed by the Affordable Care Act, pet insurers are allowed to refuse coverage for preexisting conditions and to set annual and lifetime payout limits.

Among the many other restrictions you should watch for when comparing plans are:· Premiums vary greatly depending on where you live and they may increase based on your pet's age, breed, veterinary cost inflation and other factors.· Typically you must pay the vet or hospital bill out of pocket and get reimbursed later.· Some policies reimburse you based on a schedule of what are considered usual, customary and reasonable charges, which may be considerably less than your vet's fees. Look for coverage with a straightforward, percentage-based payout.· Many plans deny or restrict coverage for congenital or hereditary conditions, like hip dysplasia in dogs or kidney failure in cats. Preventable conditions like periodontal disease are also frequently excluded from coverage.· Along with annual and lifetime maximums on benefits paid out, there may be a limit on how much it will pay for treatment of an individual illness or accident.· If your pet suffers a particular disorder one year, don't be surprised if that condition is excluded at renewal -- or if you're required to pay an additional fee for future coverage.· Pets over certain age limits frequently are denied coverage.· Certain breeds are often excluded or only eligible for restricted coverage -- pit bulls, Rottweilers, chow chows and Lhasa apsos, for example.· Some carriers let you augment your accident and illness policy with optional "wellness care" coverage for things like spaying and neutering, annual physicals, vaccines and routine tests. Make sure the additional premium is worth the extra cost, over time.
Perhaps the biggest challenge when choosing pet insurance is trying to compare plans, apples to apples. There are about a dozen carriers in the U.S., including major players like Veterinary Pet Insurance, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance, 24PetWatch.com and Trupanion. Each offers a variety of plans with varying deductible, copayment and maximum coverage amounts, as well as different covered benefits and exclusions.

You can go directly to their websites for plan details and to request a quote, or use an independent comparison website like Petinsurancereview.com or Pet Insurance Quotes to pull quotes from multiple carriers. I'd recommend creating a spreadsheet to compare benefits and costs side by side, just as you would when shopping for auto insurance.

Also, before signing on the dotted line, do you due diligence about the carriers. Ask your vet and other pet-owning friends for recommendations. Check with the Better Business Bureau and ratings services like Angie's List for customer complaints. And ask whether your employer offers discounted pet insurance as a benefit -- thousands of companies do.

Bottom line: If you decide pet insurance isn't right for you, at least be sure you're setting money aside to cover expected -- and unexpected expenses. And, as with humans, being diligent about preventive care for your pets will save a lot of money in the long run, so don't be a stranger to your vet.

This article is intended to provide general information and should not be considered legal, tax or financial advice. It's always a good idea to consult a legal, tax or financial advisor for specific information on how certain laws apply to you and about your individual financial situation.

*To participate in a free, online Financial Literacy and Education Summit on April 2, 2014, go to Practical Money Skills for Life.* Reported by Huffington Post 15 hours ago.

California ramps up Latino outreach as healthcare deadline nears

February 19, 2014, 2:19 pm

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NEW YORK (Reuters) - More than 800,000 Californians have enrolled in private health insurance under President Barack Obama's healthcare reform law, but that number included fewer Latinos than officials hoped, the head of its state-run marketplace said on Wednesday.

California has already exceeded estimates of how many people it would enroll by March 31, signing up 828,638 residents for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, said executive director Peter V. Lee.

Officials had hoped more Latinos would enroll, partly because polls have shown Latinos are more supportive of the healthcare reform law. In September, the Pew Research Center found 61 percent of Hispanics viewed it favorably, compared to 29 percent of non-Hispanic whites. Yet their enrollment has lagged.

To address the shortfall, Covered California is rolling out a multimillion-dollar outreach campaign to run until March 31, the enrollment deadline for health insurance coverage in 2014.

California and federal health exchange officials have made Latino enrollment a priority for several reasons, including the group's median age and its large numbers who lack health insurance. In the U.S., the median age of Latinos is 27, compared to 42 for non-Latino whites, according to the Pew Hispanic Center. Insurers want younger customers because their medical costs are generally lower than older people's.

About 31 percent of Latinos have no health coverage, according to Pew, compared to 16 percent of the overall U.S. under-65 population.

In the first three months of 2014, Covered California will spent $8.2 million for ads on Spanish-language media to reach those uninsured Latinos, Lee said. That represents an increase of 73 percent from the last three months of 2013.

The final push before next month's enrollment deadline focuses on what Lee called "the ground game." Covered California is adding more bilingual enrollment counselors and hiring more bilingual call-center representatives in seven communities with large populations of Latinos who are eligible for federal subsidies to help pay premiums for health insurance.

They include areas in Los Angeles, in San Bernardino and Riverside counties, and in the Central Valley and San Joaquin Valley.

"People want to sit across the table from someone" helping them enroll, Lee said.

Reasons why Latino enrollment figures have been low include fear of immigration enforcement and a lack of awareness. Undocumented immigrants cannot buy insurance on the insurance exchanges, creating problems for families where one or both parents are in the U.S. illegally.

Surveys also have shown that roughly half of Latinos nationally say they are familiar with the insurance exchanges, compared to nearly 70 percent of non-Hispanic whites and blacks.

The outreach has already yielded results. In January, Latino enrollment in Covered California plans represented 28 percent of total sign-ups, compared to 18 percent for October through December.

"We had 45,745 Latinos enroll in a single month," Lee said in reference to the January numbers.

(Editing by Amanda Kwan)

Join the conversation about this story »

 
 
 
  Reported by Business Insider 11 hours ago.

State to use fake rappers, real patients in ads for health insurance

February 19, 2014, 5:12 pm

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If you attend roller derby and ice hockey you may see something new: signs, booths and videos encouraging you -- particularly if you're young -- to sign up for health insurance through Washington Healthplanfinder, the state exchange marketplace. Reported by Seattle Times 8 hours ago.

Biden: 'We May Not Get to 7 Million' by Obamacare Deadline

February 19, 2014, 7:01 pm

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Vice President Joe Biden acknowledged on Wednesday that it will be hard to reach the target on the number of people signing up for health insurance by a looming March 31 deadline for Obamacare enrollment. Reported by Newsmax 6 hours ago.

California Health Insurance Enrollments Rise, but Hispanics Still Lag

February 19, 2014, 8:01 pm

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The state-run online marketplace did not offer applications in Spanish until late December, and a Spanish-language site was dogged by translation errors. Reported by NYTimes.com 5 hours ago.

Student Borrowers In The Dark As Education Department Limits Disclosure

February 19, 2014, 9:35 pm

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The Department of Education has quietly stopped disclosing its quarterly assessment of student loan companies, making it nearly impossible for the public to judge the companies' handling of taxpayer-backed debt.

The grades, which rank loan specialists' ability to provide customer service and prevent debtors from defaulting on their loans, determine how many new loans the Education Department allots to companies like Sallie Mae each year. A better overall score leads to more loans and increased government-provided revenues.

The Education Department has previously said it published the data to hold servicers accountable and spur improved customer service. But quarterly performance results have not been posted on the department's website since August, meaning reviews covering the quarters ending Sept. 30 and Dec. 31 haven't been publicly disclosed. The department says the next batch of reviews won't be posted until late April or early May, because it wants to privately assess how the loan specialists have been handling a recent influx of new borrowers.

Consumer advocates, who use the assessments to keep tabs on both loan servicers and broader industry practices, say the department's reasoning doesn't make sense. And with some borrowers now able for the first time to choose which company they want to work with as they repay their federal student loans -- a development some Education Department officials are particularly proud of -- advocates reckon the decision to withhold information could make it harder for borrowers to choose a company that meets their needs.

"The Education Department is not sufficiently open or transparent, or sufficiently focused on its primary clients: students," said Barmak Nassirian, director of federal relations and policy analysis for the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.

Some advocates also believe the lack of disclosure makes it harder to hold the companies accountable.

"If you're trying to have a competitive marketplace, and the information is all private, it gives less incentive to servicers to change their behavior," said Deanne Loonin, director of the National Consumer Law Center's Student Loan Borrower Assistance Project.

The department's decision seems to fly in the face of President Barack Obama's advice to "shop around" when picking things like colleges and health insurance plans.

Maura Dundon, senior policy counsel for the Center for Responsible Lending, said servicers' scores are "very important" to borrowers hoping to consolidate several loans who are choosing one company to handle their monthly payments. Without access to the scores, Dundon and other advocates said, consumers are in the dark.

The move comes as the Education Department and loan servicers face increasing criticism over how they collect payments on federal student loan debt, which has reached $1.1 trillion. Sallie Mae, the nation's largest student loan servicer, is under formal investigation by at least three federal agencies -- none of them the Education Department -- over its practices.

Lawmakers and borrower advocates have said the department has exhibited little oversight of the companies it pays to service student debt. Worse, they've said, the department has looked the other way when discovering evidence of misconduct.

In December, the department told Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) that it had declined to levy any fines on Sallie Mae despite secretly determining that the company has harmed borrowers, incorrectly billed the department and had other servicing failures over the past decade. Warren said the agency risks becoming a "lapdog," rather than a watchdog, as a result of its lackluster supervision.

Rohit Chopra, a top official at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, has raised the possibility that problems infecting private student loans may also be present in federal loans. Practices banned in other consumer debt industries are still used by companies that collect payments on private student loans. These companies often misallocate payments, lack clear procedures for how borrowers can fix errors, and create hurdles for borrowers who try to rework their debts.

In December, a consortium of student groups, colleges and teachers criticized the Education Department for failing to ensure that student borrowers are granted basic consumer protections. The consortium demanded that Education Secretary Arne Duncan prohibit Sallie Mae from servicing federal student loans until the company complies with government rules.

Still, the department recently told Sallie Mae it plans to renew its lucrative servicing contract, which is set to expire.

Sallie Mae already has set aside $70 million to deal with a spate of government probes. The company maintains that borrowers it works with are less likely to default on their loans compared to other loan servicers, and Jack Remondi, its chief executive, told Duncan and members of Congress last month that the Sallie Mae unit that deals with borrowers whose federal loans are in default receives three times as many thank-you notes from those borrowers as verbal complaints.

The Education Department did not publicly announce its decision to withhold performance reviews, though it regularly informs the financial aid community when it is changing its procedures. Instead, it has published bulletins reminding the public that the surveys are being conducted. CFI Group, the company in charge of the surveys used for the performance reviews, has sent its results to the Education Department, according to Rodger Park, the company's director of customer analytics.

Borrower advocates said the department's decision appears to conflict with a memorandum from Obama, published on his first day in office, that promised his administration would "disclose information rapidly in forms that the public can readily find and use."

In the last published performance review, which covered the quarter and year ending June 30 and was made public Aug. 27, Sallie Mae was the lowest-rated company among the department's main loan servicers. The CFPB highlighted the results, with Chopra noting that "Sallie Mae ranks the worst in borrower, school, and federal personnel satisfaction.”

The Education Department said in response that Sallie Mae would be granted the fewest new loans among its major servicers.

At the time, student advocates praised the CFPB for calling attention to the Education Department's figures. Rory O’Sullivan, policy director at Young Invincibles, an advocacy group representing people ages 18 to 34, said his group was "thrilled." The department's results, while public, were posted on an obscure government website meant for what the department describes as financial aid professionals.

No results have been posted since then, leading to speculation among some borrower advocates that the Education Department resented the CFPB's apparent encroachment onto its turf.

"The delay in posting these results is unrelated to any actions by the CFPB," said Chris Greene, a spokesman for the Office of Federal Student Aid, an Education Department unit. "The department has temporarily suspended the release of [servicers'] performance metrics as we assess the impact to servicer performance in light of the final transfer of loans off of ... our legacy servicing system."

The Education Department declined to renew its contract with ACS Education Services, a Xerox company, and has been moving loans to its other servicers instead.

The process began in January of last year, according to the Education Department. The final transfers were completed by Aug. 29, and the servicing center ceased its support and messaging functions on Nov. 16.

But during the first six months of last year, while the transition was already underway, the department continued to grade the servicers and make public those results.

"I don't see why this would prevent them from releasing the performance data," Loonin said of the Education Department's rationale.

Last September, Stephen Spector, then an Education Department spokesman, said that servicers' performance results were posted online as part of the department's efforts to "promote transparency and accountability in the federal student loan programs."

"These efforts help encourage competition and improve service," Spector said.

The Education Department's move has some advocates worried that it may cease making customer service scores public altogether. They point to the department's 2010 decision to yank off its website a manual for debt collectors that could have been used by borrowers to extract concessions when negotiating their troubled debt.

At the time, the department reportedly said the removal was temporary. But more than three years later, the manual still has not been returned to the website. Reported by Huffington Post 4 hours ago.

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U.S. health insurers brace for new steep Medicare cuts

February 19, 2014, 10:54 pm

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By Caroline Humer

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. government is expected to announce this week the proposed payment rates for insurer-run Medicare plans in 2015, but industry officials say the anticipated cuts will mean higher co-pays and fewer benefits for seniors.

Of the more than 50 million older Americans who receive coverage through Medicare, about 15 million are enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans offered by companies such as UnitedHealth Group Inc, Humana Inc and Aetna Inc. The rest use Medicare fee-for-service programs, in which doctors are reimbursed by the government for patient visits and procedures.

Each February, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services proposes reimbursement rates that it agrees to pay insurers for managing the privately run programs. It publishes a final rate 45 days later.

Insurers are bracing for a proposed cut of around 6 to 7 percent when the government makes the information public in an announcement expected on Friday, according to the latest industry and analyst forecasts. Health insurance executives have been lobbying against cuts of that magnitude, saying they would have no choice but to pass on a significant part to seniors to keep their business intact.

Aetna, which has about 1 million Medicare Advantage members, said that to keep costs in line with cuts in recent years, it has changed its network of doctors and hospitals to be more cost-effective, among other efforts.

"If you can't solve the reduction based on those activities, then you have to resort to things that are much more visible to the beneficiaries, which can range from benefit reductions, and either premium increases or the introduction of a premium," said Fran Soistman, executive vice president and head of Government Services at Aetna.

Another possibility for insurers is eliminating plans and withdrawing from certain markets. Many did that last year after the government cut rates by nearly 6 percent.

"The concern is that a second consecutive 6 percent cut to the program will be devastating for seniors," said Robert Zirkelbach, spokesman for the healthcare industry's key trade and lobbying group, America's Health Insurance Plans. Their campaign has included TV, print and online advertising as well as a sign on Washington city buses, telling viewers that "Seniors are Watching" when it comes to Medicare Advantage benefits.

CONTAINING LEAKS

The announcement could put pressure on President Barack Obama's administration as it defends its signature healthcare law, the Affordable Care Act, from attack ahead of the 2014 elections. Early technical failures hampered enrollment in insurance plans and new fees and healthcare taxes have gone into effect, providing Republican opponents of the law with ammunition to call for its delay.

Insurers, which worked closely with the government to help fix early enrollment problems, are hoping that partnership will help their lobbying effort to influence the 2015 Medicare rates.

The U.S. government has been cutting payment rates for Medicare Advantage as part of an overall reduction in healthcare spending required under the law and as it seeks to bring the program fees closer to the ones it pays through the Medicare fee-for-service program.

CMS is balancing the need for these spending cuts with the potential political backlash. A group of 40 senators, both Republicans and Democrats, recently called on the agency to maintain Medicare Advantage payment levels and prevent disruption.

The rate announcement due out this week has been widely anticipated by insurers and investors this year, after information on last year's release of the final rates was leaked to investors ahead of time. As a result of that, stocks in insurers with large Medicare Advantage businesses jumped higher just before the market close because the payments were not as low as investors had expected.

A Wall Street Journal report found that a lobbyist who was working for Humana had been involved in the leak. The story prompted investigations by the Department of Justice, Republican Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa, Humana (which fired the law firm of the lobbyist), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and its Office of the Inspector General.

When asked about any changes the agency is taking this year concerning the announcement, a spokeswoman for CMS said that the agency is "committed to releasing Medicare payment policies in a time and manner that is appropriate and consistent with statutory requirements." She did not provide a comment on the probe into last year's incident.

The U.S. Justice Department and the Office of the Inspector General declined to comment.

Humana did not have an immediate response, and Grassley's office did not return a call seeking comment.

This week's announcement is unlikely to affect industry stocks unless it comes in far below or far above 6 percent, according to CRT Capital analyst Sheryl Skolnick.

"It is by no means a secret. Everyone knows it is coming and everyone knows it is going to be bad," Skolnick said.

The final rate announcement is expected on April 7.

(Reporting by Caroline Humer; Editing by Michele Gershberg, Amanda Kwan and Ken Wills)

Join the conversation about this story »

 
 
 
  Reported by Business Insider 3 hours ago.

Insured less likely than uninsured to be taken to trauma center

February 20, 2014, 12:20 am

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Health insurance is a good thing, right? Not if you are severely injured and taken to the nearest hospital, a large new study has found. Reported by philly.com 1 hour ago.

Next Generation Trust Services Notes 2014 Changes in Health Insurance, Medicare and Social Security Support Need for Stronger Retirement Savings

February 20, 2014, 12:39 am

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Administrator of self-directed retirement plans says building up IRA investments is crucial as individuals must plan for longer life spans, higher medical bills and lower Social Security benefits. The baby boomers’ unprecedented burden on the Social Security program, Americans’ longer life spans, and recent changes in health insurance plans could all present big problems to current retirees and those nearing retirement.

Roseland, NJ (PRWEB) February 20, 2014

The baby boomers’ unprecedented burden on the Social Security program, Americans’ longer life spans, and recent changes in health insurance plans could all present big problems to current retirees and those nearing retirement. The professionals at Next Generation Trust Services point to the very real prospect of increased medical expenses, potentially higher insurance costs, and a decrease in Social Security benefits over the long term; these factors all put pressure on individuals to ensure they will have enough to live on during their retirement years.

Jaime Raskulinecz, CEO of Next Generation, notes that those who are still working should do all they can to bolster their retirement plans now. “Changes in Social Security this year, coupled with shifts in the health care industry, could have a real affect on retirees’ ability to meet their health care costs in their later years. Therefore, now is the time to build up retirement savings to cover future expenses,” said Raskulinecz. “One way to do that more aggressively is to invest through a self-directed retirement plan.”

With self-directed plans, individuals make all their own investment decisions, usually based on assets they already know and understand. Self-directed plans are primarily for investments in alternative assets such as real estate, precious metals, hedge funds, private placements, limited partnership and much more, and may also include traditional investments (stocks, bonds and mutual funds).

Raskulinecz noted that early retirees in particular must pay careful attention to changes in Social Security or plan for how the Affordable Care Act may affect them. For example:· Individuals who are under age 65 and collecting Social Security benefits, and those reaching full retirement age this year, should expect to see a decrease in their benefits above certain earning limits. Amounts will vary based on wage or salary income.
· The annual cost-of-living increase will be modest compared to previous years, only 1.5 percent in 2014.
· People who have not yet retired will see an upward adjustment in 2014 on the earning maximum by 3 percent (on what gets taxed for Social Security), so many workers will be paying more into the system.
· Older workers or early retirees who are not yet on Medicare and who switch health care plans may find premiums to be higher than anticipated, cutting into disposable income.
· Although there are many cost-savings to many individuals through the Affordable Care Act, certain Medicare plans may carry higher deductibles and co-pays.

A complete list of 2014 Social Security changes is available at http://www.ssa.gov/pressoffice/factsheets/colafacts2014.html.

“We cannot stress enough the importance for people of all ages to be more proactive about saving for retirement, especially given the uncertain future ahead in terms of government benefits,” said Raskulinecz. “For those who are already investing in nontraditional assets outside of their existing retirement plan, or who are knowledgeable and comfortable making their own retirement decisions, a self-directed IRA can help them build greater retirement wealth more effectively.”

For more information about self-directed retirement plans or to open an account, visit http://NextGenerationTrust.com or contact Next Generation Trust Services at (888) 857-80258 or Info(at)NextGenerationTrust(dot)com.

About Next Generation Trust Services

Next Generation Trust Services (NGTS), headquartered in Roseland, New Jersey, is a professional third-party administrator of self-directed retirement plans. NGTS provides education, administrative support, and account maintenance to individuals interested in self-directing their retirement portfolios with a wide variety of investments that are not typically found in an IRA, such as real estate, precious metals, notes and mortgages, private placements, accounts receivables, limited partnerships, hedge funds, and much more. Next Generation Trust Services serves clients globally via its website, http://www.NextGenerationTrust.com. For more information on self-directing a retirement plan, call 888-857-8058 or e-mail Info(at)NextGenerationTrust(dot)com. Reported by PRWeb 48 minutes ago.

CSG Government Solutions’ Robin Chacon Elected to PSTG Board of Directors

February 20, 2014, 12:08 am

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CSG Government Solutions, a national leader in government program modernization, today announced that Robin Chacon has been elected to the Private Sector Technology Group (PSTG) Board of Directors for 2014.

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) February 20, 2014

CSG Government Solutions, a national leader in government program modernization, today announced that Robin Chacon has been elected to the Private Sector Technology Group (PSTG) Board of Directors for 2014.

Ms. Chacon is a Senior Principal in CSG’s Healthcare and Human Services practice. She is a nationally recognized expert in Medicaid Management Information Systems (MMIS) and other state healthcare system operations, and is regarded as a thought leader in health IT and reform initiatives. Ms. Chacon has over 20 years of experience in state government information technology and program administration, and advises states on the design and implementation of health insurance exchanges and other initiatives.

“As a member of several PSTG subcommittees and former Board Secretary, Robin is well positioned to continue providing leadership to such an important organization,” says Andrea Danes, Director of CSG’s Healthcare and Human Services practice. “Robin’s expertise and dedication will serve the organization and its members well.

CSG Government Solutions continues to increase its presence across the United States. The company deploys highly experienced teams and innovative methods, knowledge, and tools to help governments modernize complex program enterprises. CSG clients include 37 state governments, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Labor, and large municipal governments.

Contact:
Andrea Danes
Director, Healthcare and Human Services Practice
CSG Government Solutions
180 N. Stetson Ave
Suite 3200
Chicago, IL 60601
312.444.2760 Fax: 312.938.2191
adanes(at)csgdelivers(dot)com

About CSG Government Solutions:
CSG Government Solutions is a leading government operations consulting firm focused on helping states modernize critical program enterprises. Our highly experienced teams and industry-leading Centers of Excellence help governments leverage innovative technology and processes to meet the challenges of administering complex programs. Founded in 1997, CSG has established itself as a trusted adviser to government agencies across the U.S. Reported by PRWeb 1 hour ago.

There He Goes Again: Obama Continues to Flout Rule of Law

February 18, 2014, 11:01 am

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“I've got a pen and I've got a phone – and I can use that pen to sign executive orders and take executive actions and administrative actions that move the ball forward."

“That’s the good thing about being President. I can do whatever I want.” [President Obama during a recent visit to Monticello.]

About the best thing that can be said about President Obama and his penchant for unilateral, extra-constitutional executive action is that he’s not being coy about it. He tells you he’s going to break the law. And then he does it.

And he just did it again.

As reported by The Wall Street Journal:



Most employers won't face a fine next year if they fail to offer workers health insurance, the Obama administration said Monday, in the latest big delay of the health-law rollout.





The Treasury Department, in regulations outlining the Affordable Care Act, said employers with 50 to 99 full-time workers won't have to comply with the law's requirement to provide insurance or pay a fee until 2016. Companies with more workers could avoid some penalties in 2015 if they showed they were offering coverage to at least 70% of full-time workers.





The move came after employers pressured the Obama administration to peel back the law's insurance requirements. Some firms had trimmed workers' hours to below 30 hours a week to avoid paying a penalty if they didn't offer insurance.



According to the WSJ, a senior administration official said “no one reason was behind the change.”

Oh, but I beg to differ. There is one purely selfish political reason behind the decision to flout the rule of law and rewrite Obamacare--again and again. To win elections. A sentiment echoed by Charles Krauthammer in an appearance on the Fox News Channel (transcript courtesy of The Right Scoop):



…generally speaking you get past the next election by changing your policies, by announcing new initiatives, but not by wantonly changing the law lawlessly. This is stuff you do in a banana republic. It’s as if the law is simply a blackboard on which Obama writes any number he wants, any delay he wants, and any provision.





…These are political decisions to minimize the impact leading up to an election. And it’s changing the law in a way that you are not allowed to do.



Here’s a part of the law the president did not change. While corporations are getting a break from the mandate, American families are not. Anyone who doesn’t run a company with more than 50 employees is still stuck under Obamacare and its mandates, including, but not limited to, the penalties paid for not having healthcare insurance (or the “right kind” of healthcare insurance).

Oh, and before the president’s pen runs dry, he’s got an “avalanche” of new Obamacare regulations yet to come. The Washington Free Beacon reports that according to an American Action Forum analysis, the 28 new regulations in the pipeline are expected to require 45.7 million man hours, costing $1.4 billion annually. That’s 22,800 employees working full-time.

As you might recall, it is the man hours required to abide by Obamacare’s mandates that are at the center of a Judicial Watch lawsuit on behalf of Kawa Orthodontics, owned by Florida orthodontist Larry Kawa.

Judicial Watch lawyers argue that Dr. Kawa expended considerable resources to comply with the original start of the mandate, December 2013 – resources he can never get back now that President Obama has decided to delay the employer mandate (our legal argument is strengthened by Obama’s delaying the law now twice).

Dr. Kawa argues that the law, and the U.S. Constitution, require that the original mandate be reinstated, unpleasant political consequences for President Obama or not.

Unfortunately, our lawsuit was dismissed by a federal district court. The court ruled that Kawa Orthodontics didn’t have standing to pursue the case. JW is appealing the ruling with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

And what is the state of healthcare in America as the president attempts to keep his Titanic healthcare reform law afloat? Not enough life rafts. Millions of people have had their health insurance cancelled, children with disabilities are being denied treatment, and people are having trouble finding any doctors to treat them at all.

And that uber-expensive train wreck of a website Healthcare.gov still can’t get its act straight. Perhaps this should come as no shock to the system given that the contractor hired to clean up the mess was cited by the U.S. Postal Service Inspector General’s office for having an “absence of business ethics.” Fox News used the words “kickbacks” and “bid rigging” to characterize the activities of employees working for Accenture.

This just gets worse and worse as the days pass.

I can certainly understand the temptation to rewrite Obamacare, a freedom-killing piece of legislation that is corrupted by secrecy, kickbacks, and political power grabs. But as any high school history class will teach, writing laws, and changing them, is the province of the legislative branch, not the executive.

President Obama has both feet planted out of bounds on this (and on so many other issues, including illegal alien amnesty) and worse--he doesn’t seem to care. Because that’s the good thing about being THIS president, evidently. He can do whatever he wants. Or so he believes.  Let’s hope the Eleventh Circuit reminds him otherwise.

*Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton is author of the NY Times best-seller “The Corruption Chronicles” and executive producer of the documentary “District of Corruption.”*

 
 
 
  Reported by Breitbart 3 days ago.