IBD to participate in HCTC Enrollment Event

Posted May 5th, 2010 by Jody / Add Comment »

The Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) Program will be sponsoring an informational session for individuals and their families that are eligible for HCTC. The event will be on Monday, May 10th in Raleigh from 9:00 – 3:00pm at the Clarion Hotel. Inclusive Health is the only state qualified plan for HCTC eligible individuals and their families. IBD representative Jody Fortune will be on hand to discuss Inclusive Health and to assist individuals with the enrollment process. To learn more about the event, click here.

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HealthCampRDU - A conference focused on issues and opportunities related to the changing face of healthcare

Posted May 4th, 2010 by Jody / Add Comment »

HealthCampRDU: Join Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina and other healthcare industry leaders on May 14, 2010, for HealthCampRDU, a one-day, user-organized “un-conference” that aims to bring together consumers, providers, health industry experts and technologists to openly and informally exchange views, and ultimately initiate and sustain positive change to improve health and wellness in our communities. HealthCampRDU participants will focus on three channels of personal health engagement: mobile (compliance, activity recording, consumer support at the point of care); telemedicine (eVisits, ePrescribing and online care); and, social medicine (crowd sourcing and shared wisdom). Visit the HealthCampRDU website for more information!

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Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans Changing In June 2010

Posted Apr 27th, 2010 by Jody / Add Comment »

In 2010 the Medicare Supplement landscape will see some significant changes.  With the addition of two new plans, comes the phase out of several current plans.

Many seniors are willing to accept some cost sharing method, such as co-pays and deductibles, in order to keep their Medicare Supplement premiums lower.  As a result Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina will begin offering the approved new plans which offer lower premiums in exchange for the insured accepting some additional risk.

The two new plans are Plan N and Plan M.  Each plan has a cost sharing factor.  One plan uses an annual deductible and the other a co-pay when you visit the doctor or hospital.  In exchange for paying a small amount out-of-pocket, an insured can reduce their annual premiums from 15 to 30%.

Because some of the benefit updates for 2010 roll coverage that is currently provided on a supplement plan into basic Medicare, there are also a few plans that will no longer be offered to new clients.  Any individual currently on one of these plans can elect to keep that plan but may be paying for benefits that are now provided by Medicare.

Compare New Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans

Plans E, H, I and J are the plans being phased out.  If you choose to remain with one of these plans you will most likely not see any immediate effect.  However, since no new clients will be brought into these plans the claims experience could drive up premiums faster than other plans as policy holders age and generate more claims expense.

If you would like more detailed information about the coming changes and how to best compare Medicare Supplement insurance plans, feel free to contact us.  You deserve to have all the necessary information as you plan for your future.

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BCBSNC’s Discount Programs

Posted Apr 26th, 2010 by Jody / Add Comment »

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina members get more than just health insurance. The BCBSNC family of discount programs is available to members at no additional cost and complements their health insurance plan, whether that plan is Blue Advantage or Blue Options HSA. These programs help individuals save money and take charge of their health.

BCBSNC members receive discounts on chiropractic services, hearing aids, vision care, laser eye surgery, vitamins, weight management programs, products and services – and more! All BCBSNC members need to start enjoying these discounts is their Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina ID Card. Click here to view a brochure about the many discounts available.

For more information about the discount programs or to get a free Blue Advantage or Blue Options HSA quote, contact IBD Insurance today.

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Select BCBSNC individual plans offer free preventive care

Posted Apr 21st, 2010 by Jody / Add Comment »

Multiple studies have shown the benefits of regular preventive health care. Recently, the American Heart Association stated that basic preventive health care services should be an integral part of any comprehensive health care plan pointing out that prevention costs less than expensive medical interventions (view article here). The new health care reform legislation addressed the issue of preventive care and made it a requirement that health plans cover preventive health care without co-pays or additional out-of-pocket costs for health plan members beginning in September 2010.

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For individuals that want to benefit from preventive care before September, consider an individual health plan from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC). BCBSNC already covers preventive care on all of their individual plans and on the Blue Options HSA plan, preventive care is covered in full - in other words, free! Click here to view a list of preventive care benefits you can get for free with Blue Options HSA.

To get your free quote for Blue Options HSA or any other individual BCBSNC plan, contact IBD Insurance Services today. Call 800-615-5980 or complete our quote request form on our website.

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Health Care Reform: Common Questions and Answers

Posted Apr 16th, 2010 by Jody / 1 Comment »

It’s Friday! Besides being the last day of the work week, today brings us the last post in our three-part series on the new health care reform legislation. We have been answering questions from our group clients as well as our individual customers for the past month and have put them together here for the first time. We have conveniently divided the questions into two sections: one for employers and one for employees. Take a look to see if your question made the list and if not, just call us. We would be happy to answer your question for you! After you have finished, feel free to share any feedback with us. We would love to hear from you!

General Questions & Answers for Employers

I’ve heard about a number of different health care proposals over the last year. Which one did Congress pass?

  


The new health care reform law is a combination of two bills:

  • The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590), which was signed into law on March 23, 2010; and
  • The Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (H.R. 4872), which was signed into law on March 30, 2010.
 

What is a “grandfathered plan”?

  


A grandfathered plan is a group health plan or health insurance coverage in which an individual was enrolled on the date of enactment of the health care reform legislation. Many of the health care reform provisions affecting health plans do not apply to grandfathered plans. A plan can still be a grandfathered plan if it allows new employees, or family members of current employees, to enroll after the date of enactment.

  

 

 

Which health care reform rules apply to grandfathered plans?

  

 

Some of the health insurance industry reforms apply to grandfathered plans as well as new plans. These reforms include prohibitions on lifetime and annual limits, pre-existing condition exclusions, rescissions of coverage and excessive waiting periods. Grandfathered plans must also comply with the rules regarding coverage of adult children up to age 26 and provisions of a summary of benefits and coverage.

  

 

 

Which health care reform rules do NOT apply to grandfathered plans?

  


Under the health care reform law, grandfathered plans are not required to provide first dollar coverage of preventive care, permit selection of any available participating primary care provider, comply with limits on preauthorization requirements, out-of-pocket expenses or cost-sharing, satisfy nondiscrimination rules for fully-insured plans, establish a new appeals process, guaranteed issue or renewal of coverage.

  

 

 

What is the small business tax credit and how do I know if I am eligible?

  


Effective for the 2010 tax year, tax credits are available to qualifying small businesses that offer health insurance to their employees. Your business qualifies for the credit if you cover at least 50 percent of the cost of health care coverage for your workers, pay average annual wages below $50,000, and have less than the equivalent of 25 full-time workers (for example, a firm with fewer than 50 half-time workers would be eligible).

The size of the credit depends on your average wages and the number of employees you have.  For tax years beginning in 2010 through 2013, the maximum credit is 35 percent of the employer’s premium expenses that count toward the credit. The full credit is available to firms with average wages below $25,000 and less than 10 full-time equivalent workers.  It phases out gradually for firms with average wages between $25,000 and $50,000 and for firms with the equivalent of between 10 and 25 full-time workers.

  

 

Does the new law affect dependent care flex accounts and health flexible spending accounts?

  

Under current law, dependent care flex accounts are capped at $5,000 annually, and health flexible spending accounts (health FSAs) have no cap (although many employers implement their own caps, typically at the $5,000-$6,000 level or less). The new health care reform law does nothing to change the limits on dependent care accounts, which remain capped at $5,000. However, the law does reduce the annual cap on health FSAs to $2,500. This change is effective on January 1, 2013.

 

 

  

How does health care reform affect the Medicare prescription drug deduction for employers?

  


Under the current Medicare prescription drug program, employers that provide prescription drug benefits for retirees can receive subsidies covering 28 percent of their coverage costs. They are also allowed to deduct the entire amount spent on the drug benefits from their taxable income, including the subsidized amount. The health care reform law reduces the amount that can be deducted beginning in 2013 to exclude the subsidized amount.

  

General Questions & Answers for Employees

Does health care reform allow people to keep their current health coverage?

  


Yes. Nothing in the new law requires individuals to terminate coverage that they had on the date the law was passed. However, due to new coverage requirements, the coverage provided under an individual’s plan may change in the future.

  

 

 

Are individuals required to have health coverage?

  


Not yet. However, in 2014, most U.S. citizens must obtain health insurance coverage or they will be subject to penalties. There exceptions for low-income individuals and those who are unable to obtain affordable coverage.

  

 

 

What are the penalties for individuals who don’t have health coverage?

  


Beginning in 2014, the penalties for individuals who are not enrolled in coverage will be the greater of a flat dollar amount or an applicable percentage of income. The flat dollar amount for 2014 is $95, $395 for 2015 and $695 for 2016. After 2016, the flat dollar amount is indexed for inflation. The applicable percentage of income is 1 percent for 2014, 2 percent for 2015, and 2.5 percent for 2016 and later years. The penalty for children is half of that for an adult. A family’s total penalty generally cannot exceed 300 percent of the adult flat dollar penalty or the national average annual premium for the “bronze” level of coverage through the insurance exchange.

 

  

Can I now get coverage for my child who has a pre-existing condition?

  


Effective for the first plan year after September 23, 2010, health insurance companies that cover children will not be able to deny coverage to your child under 19 years old based on a pre-existing condition. This applies to all new employer plans, new plans in the individual market and existing employer plans.

  

 

 

When does free preventive care start and will it affect my plan?

  


Effective September 23, 2010, all new group health plans and new plans in the individual market must provide coverage for preventive services.  Recommended prevention and vaccination services will be covered without any deductibles or copayments.  Seniors enrolled in Medicare will also no longer have to pay for proven preventive services.

 

 

What consumer protections will I get if I obtain insurance at work?

  

Effective for the first plan year after September 23, 2010, insurers will be prohibited from placing lifetime limits on what they will pay for your medical care and they can only apply restricted annual benefit limits.  Insurers will no longer be able to arbitrarily cancel your insurance policy when you get sick, except in cases of fraud.

Insurance companies will be prohibited from denying coverage to children with pre-existing conditions. This applies to all new and existing employer plans. 

All new group health plans must provide coverage for preventive services.  Recommended prevention and vaccination services will be covered without any deductibles or copayments. Plans must also have a straightforward and independent appeals process so you can appeal decisions by your health insurance company.

 
 

 

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Health Care Reform: What Does it Mean for You?

Posted Apr 15th, 2010 by Jody / Add Comment »

Thanks for coming back for part two of our health care reform discussion. Today, you will learn how health care refom will impact you as an individual. How you will be affected by the health care reform legislation varies greatly depending on your age, who you work for and many other factors. So what does it mean for you? Below are common categories that many Americans fall under, and how reform will affect their coverage.

Elderly: Effective this year, the elderly will receive free preventive services under Medicare – to be expanded to wellness visits and personalized prevention plan services in 2011. Also effective in 2010, those with Medicare prescription drug coverage will receive a $250 rebate once the “doughnut hole” coverage gap is met. Medicare beneficiaries earning $85,000 or more will pay higher Part B premiums until 2019. Those with Medicare Advantage plans may lose some benefits or experience an increase in copayments.

Employees of a large company: Employers with 50 or more employees will be required to provide coverage or pay a penalty starting in 2014. Existing coverage packages will be grandfathered in, but new plans will have to meet minimum requirements. Caps on out-of-pocket spending will take effect and are intended to keep costs down. Despite this, premiums could continue to rise, and those who do not qualify for subsidies or exchanges may have no choice but to opt for employer-sponsored plan.  

Low-income employees: Even without children or a disability, those among the lowest-income workers will be eligible for Medicaid as of 2014. Those who earn less than 400 percent of the federal poverty level (about $88,000 for a family of four) will be eligible for subsidies to help buy coverage. The expansion of funding for community health centers, designed to offer free and reduced-cost care, will also provide relief. Despite these options, getting coverage could still strain a low-income budget unless qualified for an exemption.

Children with a pre-existing condition: Group health plans and health insurance issuers may not impose pre-existing condition exclusions on coverage for children effective this year. Provision applies to all employer plans and new plans in the individual market.

Adults with a pre-existing condition: Starting 2014, when buying individual coverage, obtain it through the insurance exchange and pay the same as others in same age group. Insurers cannot place annual or lifetime limits on coverage, nor can they deny coverage or charge higher premiums due to a pre-existing condition. Temporary high-risk pools will be established this year to provide coverage to individuals with pre-existing conditions. These high-risk pools will remain in effect until 2014 when the exchanges are established. 

Unemployed and uninsured: Most likely will qualify for Medicaid under coverage expansion starting 2010. The expansion of funding for community health centers, designed to offer free and reduced-cost care, will also provide relief. Certain uninsured individuals with pre-existing conditions can obtain coverage through the temporary high-risk pool effective this year as well.  

Small-business owners: Effective 2010, those with 25 or fewer workers may be eligible for a tax credit to help provide coverage for employees. Those with 50 or more employees must provide benefits or incur a penalty starting in 2014. Small-business owners will be able to buy insurance for employees through insurance marketplaces by 2017.

Young adults: Those who are 26 or younger may stay on parents’ policy effective 2010. Those who buy coverage on their own or through the exchanges can obtain cheaper catastrophic coverage. Those who obtain traditional benefits packages will pay less than those who are older, but can be pricier than what is available now. Must obtain coverage unless qualified for an exemption starting 2014.

Contact IBD today for more information about how health care reform will impact you. Our benefit consultants are able to answer your questions and provide you with personalized health insurance quotes. Whether you need individual health insurance quotes or a proposal for your business, IBD can help. Call us today at 800-615-5980! 

This is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of an insurance professional.© 2010 Zywave, Inc.

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Health Care Reform: The Who, What and When

Posted Apr 14th, 2010 by Jody / Add Comment »

Health care reform. What does it mean and when will it happen? These are the two main questions we have been asked repeatedly over the past few weeks. With that in mind here is a look at some of the major health care reform provisions that you will see over the next decade.

2010

Employers: Small businesses can receive tax credits if purchasing insurance for employees.

Insurers: Cannot impose pre-existing condition exclusions on coverage for children. Must cover preventive services without copays. Cannot remove coverage when a person becomes ill. Cannot impose lifetime coverage limits.

Uninsured: Individualswith pre-existing conditions receive immediate access to coverage through a high-risk pool. Dependent children can remain on parents’ plans until age 26.

Early retirees: Employers will be able to participate in a reinsurance program to help provide coverage for retirees and their spouses, surviving spouses and dependents over age 55 and not eligible for Medicare.

Medicare Part D enrollees: A $250 rebate check received for those entering the “doughnut hole” gap in coverage in 2010. Rebate payable by April 1, 2011.

2011

Insurers: Required to spend at least 80 percent of premiums on medical services.

Medicare Part D enrollees: Receive a 50 percent discount on brand-name prescription drugs when in doughnut hole coverage gap.

Those with health care savings accounts: Federal tax on those who spend health care savings account money on ineligible medical expenses increases to 20 percent.

Over-the-counter drugs: Except for insulin OTC drugs without a prescription are not reimbursable from an FSA or HRA, and are not a tax-free reimbursement from an HSA.

W-2: The value of your health coverage must be disclosed on your W-2 form.

2012-2013

Taxpayers: Medicare payroll taxes increase to 2.35 percent for individuals earning more than $200,000 and families earning more than $250,000.

Those with flexible savings accounts: A federal limit of $2,500 for individual pretax contributions per year.

2014

Employers: Companies with 50 or more employees must provide affordable coverage or pay a penalty.

Insurers: Prohibited from refusing to sell or renew policies. Cannot deny coverage for adults with pre-existing conditions. Limits ability to set prices on the basis of sex, health status or other factors. Prohibited from imposing annual limits.

Uninsured: Most Americans required to buy health insurance or pay fines of $95 per individual and up to $285 per family. Families will pay half the amount for children. Families can receive subsidies to buy insurance if they earn no greater than four times the federal poverty level (about $88,000 per year for a family of four). Individuals and small businesses can buy packages through state exchanges.

2015

Uninsured: Penalties for not carrying insurance increase to $325 per individual and up to $975 per family. Families will pay half the amount for children.

2016

Uninsured: Penalties for not carrying insurance increase to $695 per individual and up to $2,250 per family or 2.5 percent of taxable family income – whichever is greater. Families will pay half the amount for children.

2018

Taxpayers: A 40 percent excise tax imposed on high-cost employer-provided policies ($10,200 for individual coverage or $27,500 for family coverage).

2020

Medicare Part D Enrollees: Prescription drug coverage gap eliminated.

 

Contact IBD today for more information about how health care reform will impact you. Our benefit consultants are able to answer your questions and provide you with personalized health insurance quotes. Whether you need individual health insurance quotes or a proposal for your business, IBD can help. Call us today at 800-615-5980!

This is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of an insurance professional. © 2010 Zywave, Inc.

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Sleep Apnea Tied to Increased Risk of Stroke

Posted Apr 12th, 2010 by Jody / Add Comment »

Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with an increased risk of stroke in middle-aged and older adults, especially men, according to new results from a landmark study supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health. Overall, sleep apnea more than doubles the risk of stroke in men. Obstructive sleep apnea is a common disorder in which the upper airway is intermittently narrowed or blocked, disrupting sleep and breathing during sleep.

Researchers from the Sleep Heart Health Study (SHHS) report that the risk of stroke appears in men with mild sleep apnea and rises with the severity of sleep apnea. Men with moderate to severe sleep apnea were nearly three times more likely to have a stroke than men without sleep apnea or with mild sleep apnea. The risk from sleep apnea is independent of other risk factors such as weight, high blood pressure, race, smoking, and diabetes.

They also report for the first time a link between sleep apnea and increased risk of stroke in women. Obstructive Sleep Apnea Hypopnea and Incident Stroke: The Sleep Heart Health Study, was published online March 25 ahead of print in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide. “Although scientists have uncovered several risk factors for stroke — such as age, high blood pressure and atrial fibrillation, and diabetes — there are still many cases in which the cause or contributing factors are unknown, ” noted NHLBI Acting Director Susan B. Shurin, M.D. “This is the largest study to date to link sleep apnea with an increased risk of stroke. The time is right for researchers to study whether treating sleep apnea could prevent or delay stroke in some individuals. ”

Conducted in nine medical centers across the United States, the SHHS is the largest and most comprehensive prospective, multi-center study on the risk of cardiovascular disease and other conditions related to sleep apnea. In the latest report, researchers studied stroke risk in 5,422 participants aged 40 years and older without a history of stroke. At the start of the study, participants performed a standard at-home sleep test, which determined whether they had sleep apnea and, if so, the severity of the sleep apnea.

Researchers followed the participants for an average of about nine years. They report that during the study, 193 participants had a stroke — 85 men (of 2,462 men enrolled) and 108 women (out of 2,960 enrolled).

After adjusting for several cardiovascular risk factors, the researchers found that the effect of sleep apnea on stroke risk was stronger in men than in women. In men, a progressive increase in stroke risk was observed as sleep apnea severity increased from mild levels to moderate to severe levels. In women, however, the increased risk of stroke was significant only with severe levels of sleep apnea.

More information about the Sleep Heart Health Study is available at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/, search for NCT00005275, or at the SHHS Web site at http://www.jhucct.com/shhs/.

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5 Ways to Reduce Allergy Symptoms

Posted Apr 8th, 2010 by Jody / Add Comment »

Allergy season got you down? Allergies come from your body’s reaction to allergens in the surrounding environment (although you can also have food allergies as well). These allergens can come from pollen found in trees, grass and weeds, dust, pet dander and mold. Some of the most common allergy symptoms include any and all of the following: hives, that stuffy ear feeling, stuffy noses, runny noses, watery and/or itchy eyes as well as sneezing, sinus pressure and that weird, itchy feeling on the roof of your mouth. Sounds horrible doesn’t it? Well it can be and usually is pretty bad for the people who have to endure it. The following list shows some ways that you can reduce the severity of your allergy symptoms .

Ways to Reduce Your Allergy Symptoms

  1. Avoid the Pollen:After you’ve been out all day, make sure that you shower before going to bed. Pollen attaches itself to everything, including your hair, skin and clothes. If you get into bed at night without showering, you can pretty much consider yourself to be sleeping in a bed of pollen. If you are driving or are in your home, you can forget about the “nice breeze”; keep your windows shut and turn the air conditioner on instead.
  2. Kill the Mold:Mold grows easiest in warm, damp conditions. The perfect place is the bathroom. Make sure that you change or at least clean your shower curtains regularly. Also, make sure that you have a vent in the bathroom that actually works to remove some of the damp air. If your home or apartment is especially susceptible to mold growth, consider getting a dehumidifier. Turning a fan or the air conditioning on as well as regularly changing air filters will also help.
  3. Tips For Dust: If at all possible, remove carpeting. Carpet is the enemy because it acts as one gigantic dust trap. In addition to that, it retains smells a lot more too, which can make your home or apartment not smell as fresh as it could. Keep the humidity low in your home (set your thermostat at 70 degrees). Avoid comforters or bed linens that have feathers (sorry to all those who love down comforters!). If you can, replace your fabric mattress cover with a plastic one or none at all to reduce the amount of dust floating around. When you wash your sheets, make sure it’s in hot water and that you do it at least once a week!
  4. Filter Away: If you do have carpeting, make sure that your vacuum has a high quality filter on it and don’t forget to leave the apartment after you vacuum (to allow time for particles in the air to settle, since you’ll be stirring them up). The same goes for the filters associated with your air conditioning (if you have central air). If you have pets, one way to reduce the dander is to get an air filter for your air conditioning system that deals with all sorts of allergens, including pet dander.
  5. Medication: If your allergies are severe, you may need to see a doctor to find out what the best method of reducing them is. They may perform an allergy skin test and/or some other tests for allergies. If you feel that your allergies are not severe, there are plenty of over the counter (OTC) medications available to you. However, you may still want to consult with your doctor or pharmacist as to what OTC medication would be best for you.

For more information on individual health insurance coverage in North Carolina, contact IBD Insurance today.

 

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