Medicare News
Health Coverage By the Numbers
Job-based health insurance is the largest single source of health care coverage in the U.S. 1.) Employer-sponsored insurance covers more than 157 million workers and their dependents. 2.) The next largest source of coverage, Medicaid, insures less than half as many,...
In Acquiring Aetna, CVS Health is Aspiring to Become “the Trusted Front Door to Health Care”. What’s the Impact on Current Aetna Customers?
In a letter to the broker community Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini provided a glimpse of where the combined CVS/Aetna entity hopes to head once everything is completed. If approved, the blockbuster transaction is expected to close late in 2018. Here’s what Bertolini had to...
Health Savings Accounts: The Metrics You Need To Know For 2018
In case you missed the IRS announcement in May, here’s a snapshot of the key inflation-adjusted limits for next year as we roll toward 2018. Health Savings Accounts (and the IRS compliant health plans that must be paired with HSA's) are subject to annual dollar limits...
Pharmacy Coupons and Insurance Companies Making Adjustments
This is an example of one Ohio company adjusting how they administer coupons people use at the pharmacy. The program helps make sure members’ out-of-pocket cost for prescription drugs are properly applied to deductibles and maximum out-of-pocket amounts. The benefit...
If You Have Employees Who Are Turning 65 And Confused About Medicare Advantage, This Article Will Help Them
With more and more folks remaining in the workforce past age 65, we are often asked by clients to help explain Medicare eligibility and options to those employees on the cusp of turning 65. This article from Kaiser Health News (reprinted with permission) provides...
MEDICARE PANIC SETTING IN AS EMPLOYEES APPROACH 65th BIRTHDAY??? LET’S CLEAR UP THE CONFUSION ABOUT INITIAL ENROLLMENT
Can’t tell you how many calls and emails we get from panic-stricken employees nearing that magic 65th birthday and Medicare eligibility. It happens a lot. A whole lot. Some folks think if they don’t sign up three months before they turn 65 they’ll be in trouble....
Using An Old Opening Joke Line To Illustrate Costs In Healthcare
We have all heard jokes that begin with "Three guys walk into a bar...." I thought it might make sense to use that model to explain why "referenced-based pricing" and general consumer awareness in healthcare are important to consider. Here goes: Three guys walk into a...
Definition of Predicament: People Who Don’t Have Access to Employer Coverage, Aren’t Medicare Eligible, and Don’t Qualify for Subsidies
Yes, this is a bit anecdotal. Nevertheless, I think it’s worth reporting and some may find it interesting. First, recently our team managed the annual open enrollment process for the group health plan of one of our employer clients. After a quick but thoughtful...
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