New Year’s resolutions are known to fall by the wayside just as quickly as they begin. Old habits die hard. The exercise routines, juice cleanse, and promises of a healthier fresh start can easily be put on the backburner. No matter where you are on your health journey – you can still use your health insurance to meet your health goals. But how? It’s simpler than you’d think. Let’s dive in.
There are strict deadlines for open enrollment each year. It opens nationally on November 1st, and closes on January 15th. Some states, such as New York and California, have extended deadlines through January 31st. Click here to see your state’s open enrollment period.
During this period, people have the opportunity to enroll in healthcare coverage, or change their plans. Failing to take action during this time can pose serious consequences because open enrollment is the time employers can take advantage of having health, dental, vision, life and other voluntary benefit insurance plans.
Open enrollment for health insurance in the United States begins annually on November 1st and ends on January 15th. Some states, like California, however, extend the enrollment date for residents to the end of January.
Over the past few years, enrollment rates dipped due to funding cuts from the previous administration for advertisements and navigators aiding sign-ups for coverage.
Plan sponsors are no longer allowed, under the No Surprises Act (NSA), to bill an insurer more than the in-network cost for emergency services. The goal of this new piece of legislation is to reduce surprise medical billing costs for the insured seeking emergency services.
The Build Back Better framework, created by the current administration, is engineered to “set the United States on course to meet its climate goals, create millions of good-paying jobs, enable more Americans to join and remain in the labor force, and grow our economy from the bottom up and the middle out”. One of the elements of the bill allocates $165 billion to healthcare spending and support. $35 billion is earmarked for adding hearing services to existing Medicare coverage with $130 billion earmarked for Affordable Care Act (ACA) credits, including coverage for previously uncovered states.
COBRA stands for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. Under this Act, group health plans are required to provide temporary benefits and group health coverage to individuals who experience adverse events, such as job termination. In the United States, COBRA is a continuation of health coverage for workers for a certain period of time.
The No Surprises Act (NSA) The NSA went into effect January 2022. This new law addresses surprise medical billing and requires new disclosures for employers, third party administrators (TPAs), brokers, and all participants in the healthcare industry.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA), enacted in March 2010, was created with the goal to make healthcare more affordable. All applicable large employers (ALEs) with 50 or more full time, or full time equivalent employees must offer ACA compliant benefits to at least 95% of their workforce, and their dependents.
Open enrollment, the one period a year where employees can sign up or change health insurance, is still in progress. Open enrollment opens nationally on November 1st and ends January 15th. Some states like California, however, extend their open enrollment period to January 30th.
It’s not too late for brokers to partner with employers to offer benefits plans. Take advantage of this opportunity to encourage employers to offer your insurance as employers can easily change and upgrade their current plans during this time. Click here to find when open enrollment closes per state.
Open enrollment is the one period of the year where employees can sign up for health insurance or change a health insurance plan provided by the employer. Remember that this period also allows employees to disenroll in health insurance if they no longer wish to have coverage.
The only exception to enrolling, changing a health insurance service, or disenrolling is through a qualifying event. Qualifying events can vary depending on the state the employee resides in.
Physical activity doesn’t always mean an intense hour-long workout at the gym every day. While this form of exercise has great benefits, it’s not for everyone.
Mon – Fri: 7:00 – 5:00
Sat: CLOSED
Sun: CLOSED
© SBMA 2022 – all rights reserved
site designed by digitalstoryteller.io
© SBMA 2021 – all rights reserved
site designed by digitalstoryteller.io
