|
2012 Shirazi Benefits Holiday Calendar
Listed below you will find a list of observed holidays in which our office will be closed in 2012.
Early closings surrounding these holidays are not predetermined; however, as a holiday nears, we will notify our clients in advance of any early closings.
December 21, 2012:
December 24, 2012:
Christmas Eve
December 25, 2012:
Christmas Day
December 31, 2012
New Year's Eve
January 1, 2013:
New Year's Day
| |
|
Pension Plan Dollar Limits for 2013
The IRS has announced the cost-of-living adjustments to dollar limitations for retirement plans for 2013.
| |
|
Increased Dollar Limits for 2013 HSAs and HDHPs
HSA Contribution Limits
Self only: $3,250
(up from $3,100)
Family: $6,450
(up from $6,250)
HDHP Out-of-Pocket Expense Limits
Self only: $6,250
(up from $6,050)
Family: $12,500
(up from $12,100)
HDHP Deductible Limits
Self only: $1,250
(up from $1,200)
Family: $2,500
(up from $2,400)
These new limits are for the 2013 calendar year, effective January 1, 2013.
| |
|
|
|
Shirazi Notice
December 2012
|
 After the Election:
A Consumer's Guide to the Health Law
by Mary Agnes Carey and Jenny Gold
KHN Staff Writers
Now that President Barack Obama has won a second term, the Affordable Care Act is back on a fast track.
Some analysts argue that there could be modifications to reduce federal spending as part of a broader deficit deal; for now, this is just speculation. What is clear is that the law will have sweeping ramifications for consumers, state officials, employers and health care providers, including hospitals and doctors.
While some of the key features don't kick in until 2014, the law has already altered the health care industry and established a number of consumer benefits.
Here's a primer on parts of the law already up and running, what's to come and ways that provisions could still be altered.
continue reading full article...
|
|
2012 Shirazi Benefits Live Webinar Series
If you have not yet participated in our 2012 Webinar Series, we still have an entire lineup filled with great presentations for the remainder of the year, and into 2013. All webinars in the series are provided at no cost to you and are even Insurance CE, HRCI & SHRM credit eligible!
Registration is now open for the next part in our ERISA series:
Register now for ERISA 102
You can view the entire series line-up by visiting our Live Webinar Series page on our website.
And if you missed a prior webinar that you'd like to listen in on, we have you covered! Be sure to visit our Webinar Archives to listen in on all previous recorded webinars.
|
|
Compliance: Reimbursing Individual Medical Insurance Premiums & HRAs
Can an employer reimburse individual medical insurance premiums under a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA)?
Although technically employers can permit their HRAs to reimburse health insurance premiums under the IRS Notice 2002-45, they need to be cautious in reimbursing individual health insurance premiums. By including individual health insurance policies in an HRA, these policies can be treated as group health insurance coverage. If they are, the following compliance issues might arise.
They could be subject to: (a) the HIPAA portability, privacy & security requirements, (b) ERISA requirements for disclosure, claims and fiduciary liability, (c) other federal mandates, including FMLA, Mental Health Parity, Reconstructive Surgery After Mastectomy, Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act and other federal mandates, and (d) state insurance mandates for group insurance policies.
At the current time, there is no guidance in this area. Employers should be warned and cautioned before establishing such an HRA. This uncertainty has arisen because since HRAs provide medical care, they are considered "group health plans" and must comply with the additional ERISA requirements such as HIPAA and COBRA.
|
|
Anthem Flu Shot Update
Anthem members can get their flu and pneumonia shots fast and easy through their Pharmacy Immunization Program that is included in your prescription drug benefit. You can go directly to a participating retail pharmacy. More details can be found in this flier.
|
|
Anthem Updates
New Drugs Added Anthem's Exclusive Specialty Drug List starting January 1, 2013
As you may know, Anthem health plans include a specialty pharmacy program. Specialty pharmacies provide medicine to people with long-term health conditions, such as multiple sclerosis, cancer and rheumatoid arthritis. Specialty drugs come in different forms. Some need to be injected, infused or inhaled. And these drugs often need special handling and storage, like refrigeration.
These drugs are included on the Exclusive Specialty Drug List. Members in Individual plans with specialty prescription drug benefits and members in fully insured or administrative services only (ASO) groups with an exclusive specialty pharmacy benefit should get their specialty drug prescriptions filled at CuraScript, Anthem's preferred specialty pharmacy.
On January 1, 2013, we're adding new drugs to the Exclusive Specialty Drug List. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves new specialty drugs that come out on the market. We'll be adding over 250 of these new drugs to our list on January 1, 2013.
What this means to members taking the drugs that will be added to the list. Members who are getting any of these specialty drugs at retail pharmacies will receive a letter. Anthem will be letting them know they should move these prescriptions to CuraScript before January 1, 2013. If members keep using retail pharmacies for their specialty drugs after January 1, they may have to pay higher out-of-pocket costs. They may even have to pay the full cost of the drug.
Here's the Exclusive Specialty Drug List Updated with the new drugs we'll be adding.
Anthem Drug Update - Synagis
As of October 1, 2012, the prescription drug Synagis, used to treat respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), moved to a different cost level on the Drug List. This means that Anthem members with a four-tier benefit design filling prescriptions for Synagis may be charged a higher copay/coinsurance amount for this drug.
This medication will remain on tier 3 for members with a three-tier benefit design.
Here's how a four-tier Drug List works:
- Tier 1 drugs have the lowest costs. These are usually generic drugs.
- Tier 2 and Tier 3 drugs have medium costs. These are usually brand-name drugs.
- Tier 4 includes mostly specialty drugs, which have the highest costs.
CoverColorado Small Group Billing Information
for December
Anthem communicated earlier that we do not anticipate the need to collect a CoverColorado charge for December; however we inadvertently included the $4.36 per contract charge on the Small Group December 2012 premium invoice.
Employers will receive a corrected December invoice to impacted Anthem Small Group employers. If employers have already paid their December bill, we will deduct the overage from the premium on the next invoice.
Additionally, CoverColorado has announced that they will not be assessing carriers for 2013. As a result, we do not plan on charging our customers for CoverColorado in 2013. As always, if CoverColorado subsequently determines that they need to make an assessment, we reserve the right to pass that assessment on to our customers.
New Discount from 1-800 CONTACTS and Glasses.com
Effective November 1, 2012, all Anthem members will receive $20 off the price of their contacts or glasses when they spend a minimum of $100. Plus, free shipping. To receive the discount, simply:
- Log in at anthem.com
- Click on "Discounts" then "Vision, Dental and Hearing" to access the discount through SpecialOffers.
-
Click on "Redeem" and it will take them directly to 1-800 CONTACTS or Glasses.com. The $20 discount and free shipping will automatically be calculated for them at the time of purchase.
|
|
|
|
|
