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Alpha e-News Update
November 2014
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The Alpha Group Agency
4200 Rockside Road, Suite 300
Independence, Ohio 44131
216-520-3300 |
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Agencies Issue Final Rule Expanding the Definition of Excepted Benefits
These final regulations simplify the requirements for limited-scope vision or dental benefits to qualify as excepted benefits, and also recognize certain EAP benefits as a new form of limited excepted benefits. View Article
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Know Your Benefits
Understanding Your Explanation of Benefits (EOB)
An Explanation of Benefits is a form that insurance companies send to their members to explain what part of a claim was paid by insurance, what part was not paid, and why.
Many employees find EOBs difficult to understand since they differ from one insurance company to another.
View ArticleDownload our KNOW YOUR BENEFITS handouts for employee distribution or include the link on your benefits webiste
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HHS Guidance on Same-sex Marriage and HIPAA Privacy Compliance

The guidance states that the terms, "spouse," "marriage" and "family member" apply to individuals who are legally married, whether or not they live in a jurisdiction that recognizes their marriage.
View Article
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Live Well, Work Well
Please download and print or email this month's LIVE WELL, WORK WELL Newsletter for your employees! This month's topics include:
- A Healthier Thanksgiving
- Ebola Outbreak Reaches U.S.
- Can You Really Boost Your Immunity?
- Lower Winter Fuel Costs
Download Live Well, Work Well - November Issue
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Ebola
Our Live Well, Work Well flyer provides a brief history of the Ebola virus and an in-depth discussion of the symptoms, transmission, treatment and prevention of the virus. View Article
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Missed Our Seminar?
If you missed our Seminar this morning, don't worry, we will have the information available soon on our website for those who are interested.
We will also have the Paylocity portion of the presentation available as a webinar coming up on November 12th @ 10am. RSVP information is coming later this week - watch your email.
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HR Brief: Human Resources Tips
This month's HR Brief gives an overview of several HR topics, including the U.S. Supreme Court's rejection of same-sex marriage appeals cases, how to fight the flu and new OSHA reporting requirements. View HR Brief
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Financial Calculators
How much retirement income will you need? How much life insurance is enough? What type of IRA is right for you?
Our easy-to-use financial calculators are designed as educational tools to help you estimate answers to common financial questions. Simply click on one of the general financial topics and you'll find a selection of easy-to-use calculators about related financial topics. Go to Financial Calculators
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Did You Know?
Open enrollment for the Health Insurance Marketplace, also known as the Exchange, opens Nov. 15, 2014, and continues until Feb. 15, 2015. Employees are likely to hear about the Exchange open enrollment and may have questions.
If your company offers affordable, minimum value health coverage, employees may still choose to enroll in a plan through the Marketplace, but they will not be eligible for premium tax credits and other savings.
Contact Alpha for more information or for access to employee education materials and information on quoting and enrollment.
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Sweet Potato Casserole
Skip the marshmallows this year. This five-ingredient sweet potato casserole is low in fat and rich in flavor, and makes for a perfect side to complement your Thanksgiving meal.
2 tbsp. low-fat milk
1½ tsp. brown sugar
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
¼ cup quick cooking oats, dry
1 can low-sodium sweet potatoes, drained and chopped
Preheat oven to 350° F. In a small bowl, combine milk, brown sugar, cinnamon and oatmeal. Mix well and set aside. In a medium-sized baking pan, add the sweet potatoes so they cover the bottom of the pan. Add the oatmeal mixture on top of the sweet potatoes. Bake for 20 minutes. Serve hot, or refrigerate and serve cold.
Download recipe
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HSA Guidance for Employees
Do you offer an HSA option at your company? Our HSA Quiz tests your employees' knowledge of health savings accounts. The HSA Guide explains what health savings accounts are and how they work, discusses why they are a good choice and provides several HSA case studies. Also share our HSA Video, or post to your benefits website.
Steve Orlando is Alpha's on-site HSA expert! If you or your employees have additional questions about HSA's or any consumer-driven health product, Steve can help.
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Alpha Benefits, Inc. / Alpha Financial Services, Inc. / Alpha Property & Casualty, Inc. / AlphaHR, LLC.
Stability in an ever-changing environment.
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