| Issue: # 23 |
November 12, 2008 |
Greetings!
Filing Deadline is this Week 11-15-08.... Employer HIRD Forms Now On Line
This is a reminder announcement newsletter . The annual Employer Health Insurance Responsibility Disclosure (HIRD ) & Fair Share Contribution (FSC) packets have all been mailed to employers. November 15th is this week so please make sure you complete the filing.
Many employers had questions last year, so please contact us for assistance.
If you have any questions, e-mail Bill or Vanessa. To learn more about Advantage Benefits, click here. Many of our clients have found these newsletters to be quite helpful and we have now set up a link to hold all the archived newsletters on-line that can be accessed at anytime.
If you know anyone, who may find this information of interest, please forward them this newsletter (there is a link on the bottom), and they can subscribe themselves.
Sincerely,
Bill Randell, CLU, CHFC Vanessa Costa, CLU,CHFC
Advantage Benefits Group, Inc. |
| OTHER YEAR END REMINDERS |
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As we look towards approaching year end, there are other items you may want to be aware of, or remind employees of. Most of your major health carriers offer Fitness Reimbursements and Weight Watchers reimbursements. Don't forget to take advantage of this. Make sure employees have access to the appropriate forms.
Those employees participating in Health Savings Accounts (HSA's), please make sure you have maxed out on contributions by Dec 31st to take full advantage of the tax benefits. Also, for those employees participating in Flexible Spending Accounts/ Cafeteria Plans make sure you review how much is left in your account and submit the necessary paperwork for reimbursements by year end.
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| Blue Cross Blue Shield Announcements
New ID Cards & New Dental Rollover Max Benefits |
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Blue Cross Blue Shield Member Identification Cards will have a new look in 2009. All members participating with Blue Cross will receive new ID cards in 2009. They will be mailed to employees home addresses.
Blue Cross will also announce a new enhanced benefit to their dental plans. Following the lead of Delta Dental, employees will be able to accumulate portions of their unused annual maximum benefits and carry them forward to the next plan year. This will be starting in 2009 and then used in 2010. |
| Insurance Carrier Trends & News
News from Blue Cross Quarterly Meetings |
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Every quarter Blue Cross Blue Shield conducts broker meetings to keep us abreast of new products & changes in the marketplace. In addition, they discuss interesting trends & other medical information that helps us do our jobs better or provide information to our clients they may find of value. Below are some highlights we thought you may find of interest:
Emergency Room Visits: There are still way too many employees going to the emergency room for sore throats and colds. Blue Cross' data shows that daytime visits to the ER for these conditions are way too high and driving up costs.
One of the problems behind this issue is that patients can't schedule appointments right away with doctors. Blue Cross is trying to address this issue with reward & incentive plans for physicians that have "after hours care."
Other Incentive Programs for Physicians:
1. Technological Incentives: Blue Cross will help pay for updates & upgrades for electronic data devices. You may see physicians typing into a laptop computer, or in some cases, there are voice activated computer terminals. The days of hand written prescriptions are becoming obsolete. Automated services direct to the pharmacy are far more efficient from both a time persepctive and less errors in trying to read the handwriting.
2. Quality Measure: Incentives for initiating preventive services such as mammograms, cholesterol screenings, annual physicals and other wellness / preventive measures.
3. Efficiency: How efficient with managing prescriptions are doctors offices? More and more programs are being implemented to measure this data. What percent of prescriptions prescribed are for generics?
Questions regarding this newsletter may be directed to Bi.ll or Vanessa at Advantage Benefits.
We appreciate the many referrals our clients give to us each month. In today's complex employee benefits arena it makes no sense to go it alone. Let us help you. You may be assured of prompt, personal and confidential service.
No matter what size business, we can make a difference. Give us a chance to let us help you.
Larger size businesses - let us introduce you to self-insurance, or let us compare your current self insurance plan and see if there are cost savings measures you have not thought of.
Small businesses are struggling to maintain competitive benefits while containing costs. If you do not work with a benefits professional, you will be surprised how much we can help.
Thank you in advance for your consideration.
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