Alpha e-News Update

April 2013

April Showers                     

The Alpha Group Agency
4200 Rockside Road, Suite 300
Independence, Ohio 44131
216-520-3300
Health Reform Regulations

Premium Rate Reviews for Individual Policies and Small Group Plans

 rate review

The Department of Health and Human Services has established a process for the annual review of "unreasonable increases in premiums for health insurance coverage."   View Article

4 Ways Health Care Reform Will Change Benefits Communication

  

Health Care Reform will change your approach to benefits communication. Find out 4 changes. View Article

Employee Benefits

The Faces of Health Care Reform

Read this article from Crain's Cleveland Business featuring Alpha's John Wain

John in Crain's    

John Wain, one of the principals here at The Alpha Group, sat down and talked with Crain's Cleveland Business about the impact of Health Care Reform and what businesses should be doing to be prepared. View Article
Wellness Trends

Hypertension: The Hidden Threat to Employees and Companies 

  

About 76.4 million U.S. adults have high blood pressure, which can lead to severe health issues. Worse, they might not know. Read here for a description of what can be done to identify and combat hypertension. View Article

How to Promote Your Wellness Program 

shout outWellness programs are becoming increasingly popular as employers see an increase in morale, productivity and savings on health insurance. Your program only works, however, if employees use it. Here are some ideas for promoting your wellness program.  View White Paper

HR Best Practices
7 Tips to Help You Communicate Your High Deductible Plans 

helpful tips - cropped        

Want to move people over to a high-deductible plan?  Follow these seven communication tips.  View Article
What HR Leaders Should Know About Encouraging Recognition 

     

A recent survey sought to identify how often and in what ways employees are being recognized and how they feel about their jobs, the recognition they receive, and their company's culture. Here's an outline of the results.  View Article
Financial

Considering the Costs of Long-Term Care

LTCAbout seven out of ten people over age 65 are expected to need some form of long-term care during their lifetimes. This article presents the facts about long-term-care costs, including the coverage limitations of government programs, and encourages readers to factor these costs into their retirement savings strategies.
View Article

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Caribbean Casserole
caribbean casserole  

Serving Size: 1 cup 

Yield: 10 servings 

 

Ingredients:

1 onion (medium chopped)

½ green pepper (diced)

1 T Canola oil

1 can stewed tomatoes (14.5 oz)

1 t oregano leaves

½ t garlic powder

1 ½ cup brown rice (instant, uncooked)

1 can black beans or beans of your choice (16 oz)

 

Preparation:  

1. Saute onion and green pepper in canola oil, in a large pan, until tender.  Do not brown.
2. Add tomatoes, beans (include liquid from both), oregeno, and garlic powder.  Bring to a boil.
3. Stir in rice and cover.
4. Redue heat to simmer for 5 minutes.
5. Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes.

Finish the meal wih delicious tropical fruit, such as mangoes, papayas, or pineapple. 

 

Per Serving:

Calories 110

Total Fat 2 g

Saturated Fat 0 g

Sodium 280 mg

Protein 4 g

 

Download Recipe

 
CARRIER NEWS
 carrier partners   
PRIMEPAY -Upcoming Changes to Your Employees' Benefits Cards - PINs Coming 4/1/13 
View Article

MEDICAL MUTUAL
-Communications are being sent to group officials of small groups with a grandfathered health plan. A letter and fact sheet provide basic information about what a group needs to do to maintain grandfathered status and advantages for doing so.

ANTHEM - ACA Reinsurance Fee Fact Sheet
 
UNITED HEALTH CARE - Hearing Aid Discounts
As of March 1, UnitedHealthcare Vision plan members can purchase discounted premium hearing aids through hi HealthInnovations™. 
View Article

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