Individuals

Posted September 11th, 2018 in Employers, Producers, Individuals

The midterm elections will be held on November 6, 2018, and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will surely be a hot topic on campaign trails. Republicans are expected to continue down a path of conveying their belief that the ACA is ineffective and has driven up healthcare costs. Democrats are expected to point out consumer protections that are included in the ACA, such as coverage for pre-existing conditions and essential health benefits.

Posted September 4th, 2018 in Employers, Producers, Individuals

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has revised its frequently asked questions (FAQ) information pertaining to the Employer Mandate. More specifically, the IRS has confirmed that an employer who provides coverage through an association health plan (AHP) has no relevance to the Employer Mandate. An employer isn’t dragged into the Employer Mandate requirements simply because they provide coverage through an AHP. Only employers with 50 or more full-time equivalent employees in the prior calendar year will be subject to the Employer Mandate. Question and answer #18 from the FAQ is shown below.

Posted August 7th, 2018 in Producers, Individuals

Last week, the Trump administration issued final rules which extend the maximum duration of short-term medical plans (STM plans). STM plans can now have an initial coverage period just shy of one year (364 days). Taking into account renewals, STM plans can have a maximum duration of up to 36 months.

Posted August 2nd, 2018 in Employers, Producers, Individuals

Last week, the House of Representatives (House) passed two bills which would expand Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and make other changes to the healthcare industry. Below is a summary of key HSA provisions included:

HR 6311

Posted June 19th, 2018 in Employers, Producers, Individuals

A lawsuit contesting the legality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, is starting to gain a lot of attention. Last December, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was signed into law. Part of this law made the penalty under the Individual Mandate $0 starting in 2019. Technically the Individual Mandate is still in place, but there will no longer be any penalty under federal law for failing to health insurance.

Posted June 15th, 2018 in Employers, Producers, Individuals

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed into law last year wiped out the federal penalty for not having health insurance (a.k.a. the Individual Mandate) starting in 2019. Some state officials are concerned that the elimination of the penalty could destabilize their local insurance markets, and they have responded with their own Individual Mandate requirements.

Posted June 6th, 2018 in Employers, Producers, Individuals
As a part of Flex’s ongoing 30th anniversary celebration, we’d like to introduce you to some of our staff whose hard work and dedication has helped us to reach this important milestone.
 

Meet Larry

 
Larry Cassman is the Sales Manager for Individual and Medicare Sales. He has worked in the insurance industry for 18 years and at Flex for 11. Prior to that, Larry was a Stock Options Floor Trader at the Chicago Board of Exchange. 
 
Posted June 5th, 2018 in Producers, Individuals
We all know health insurance has an expensive price tag. Even plans with high deductibles and/or small provider networks can come with costly premiums. And for people who don’t have an employer chipping in for coverage, or for people who don’t qualify for premium assistance on the Affordable Care Act’s Health Insurance Marketplace, those premiums can be in the tens of thousands of dollars.
 

Enter Packaged Health Insurance

 
Posted May 24th, 2018 in Employers, Producers, Individuals

Why employees should max out their HSA contributions

Most people don’t think about an HSA as a savings account. Instead, they think of it as an account used to set aside money, tax-free, to pay for healthcare expenses. While this is true, the reality is an HSA is much more than a bank account. It’s a long-term savings vehicle.
 
Posted May 22nd, 2018 in Employers, Producers, Individuals

On May 10th, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published Revenue Procedure 2018-30 which includes inflation adjustments to qualified high deductible health plans (HDHPs) and Health Savings Account (HSA) contribution limits.

Benefits Buzz

SUBSCRIBE TO THE FLEX BLOG

Tag Cloud

Archives

Stay Connected