Producers

Posted May 13th, 2013 in Producers

The Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO) published guidance on May 1, 2013 about the role of insurance producers in the Health Insurance Marketplaces, also referred to as the public exchanges.

The guidance suggests that insurance producers will play a valuable role in facilitating public exchange enrollments starting this October.

Posted May 8th, 2013 in Individuals, Employers, Producers

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a statement on April 30, 2013 that the public exchange applications, officially referred to as the Marketplace Consumer Applications, have been revised.

The Invidual Short Form is now just three pages in length. The Family Form is also said to have been reduced by about two-thirds its original length.

Posted May 3rd, 2013 in Employers, Producers

Recent guidance helped clarify some of the confusion about Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) fees applicable to Health Reimbursement
Arrangements (HRAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). It was originally thought that the fee would be applicable to all covered lives including spouses and dependents. That is no longer the case in some instances.

Posted April 30th, 2013 in Individuals, Employers, Producers

What will the exchanges look like? What are the exchange deadlines? How will subsidies and payments be processed? There constantly seems to be questions about the health insurance marketplaces, also known as the exchanges.

The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a progress fact sheet about the exchanges on April 22, 2013. This new information provides additional details about eligibility and enrollment, plan management, financial management, consumer support and more.

Posted April 15th, 2013 in Individuals, Employers, Producers

The Obama administration announced last week that parts of the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) would be delayed until 2015. This announcement has created a lot of confusion in the market.

The SHOP will be a new health insurance marketplace to provide exchange-based coverage to small businesses with up to 50 employees in most states. The SHOP is still expected to be launched as planned in 2014, but one of its key components will be delayed until 2015.

Posted April 8th, 2013 in Producers

Last week the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released proposed regulations about the role of Navigators. The new guidance provides some clarification about the role of Navigators, but it has several producers questioning how they will be compensated for their services next year.

Navigators are organizations that will provide unbiased information to consumers about health insurance.

Posted March 26th, 2013 in Individuals, Employers, Producers

Online insurance marketplace offers more choice and flexibility for small businesses struggling with increasing healthcare costs.

InsureXSolutions® today announced that Assurant®, Inc., Blue Cross® and Blue Shield® of Texas (BCBSTX) and Humana®, Inc. have joined the list of health insurance companies available through their private insurance exchange. The products from these three insurance carriers include individual health plans and offer a variety of premium and deductible options. Along side Aetna® and Blue Cross® and Blue Shield® of Illinois, the InsureXSolutions private exchange now features leading insurance companies in select markets.

Posted March 22nd, 2013 in Individuals, Employers, Producers

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have jointly issued rules that define affordable coverage. Employers and employees still have several questions about how this affects penalty calculations and subsidy eligibility.

The following offers some insight on these key issues:

Posted March 18th, 2013 in Individuals, Employers, Producers

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has published a draft version of the individual application that will be used for public exchange enrollments starting on October 1, 2013. The application may be as long as 21 pages for some families.

Estimates indicate the online application process will take a minimum of 45 minutes to complete, and it could be even longer for individuals applying for coverage with dependents. Social Security Numbers, citizenship and residency status and employment and income verification are among the items that will need to be disclosed. A recent AP news article indicated the application process "could be as daunting as doing your taxes."

Posted March 14th, 2013 in Employers, Producers

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released final regulations on March 1, 2013 about the Transitional Reinsurance Program. This new program will require insurance companies and some employers to fund a program that will provide partial reimbursements to commercial insurers that provide coverage to high risk individuals.

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