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Benefits Bites

Benefit Bites - Resources Edition - December, 2020

12/15/2020

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In this Benefit Bites:

Carrier Corner
  •  AIMS and ALLtech - Regence and Asuris NW 2019 rebates will be retained by the Trusts
     Canadian drugs - Canada passed a rule limiting exportation
     Premera Trusts and Associations - all removing Teladoc
     SBCs and Uniform Glossary updates
     SCOTUS & PBMs - ruling that states can regulate PBM pharmacy reimbursements
Vetted Vendor
  • SimpleHealth
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Benefit Bites - Industry Edition - December, 2020

12/1/2020

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In this Benefit Bites:
Blog: - Dependent Deductions

Carrier Corner:
  •  Advanced Professionals - partnered with Ease, Navia, Allstate
  •  BHT - removing Teladoc
  •  Healthcare Transparency - rules issued
  •  ICHRA/QSEHRA - CMS slide deck
  •  PCORI Fee - IRS announced new rate
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Benefit Bites - Industry Edition - November, 2020

11/16/2020

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In this Benefit Bites:

Carrier Corner:
  •  213(d) - reminder that was expanded
  •  Aetna - okab cgabges
  •  AWB - updated dual option matrix
  •  Blue Cross/Blue Shield - some WA residents may receive a settlement
  •  HR Service - Comparison charg of pre-tax programs
  •  Premera - Teladoc being discontinued
  •  Premera - updating drug prior authorization program
  •  UHC - plan changes
  •  WTIA - removing Teladoc
  •  WTIA - dental plan change

SURVEYS & SUCH
  •  Cigna - whitepaper on the current COVID-19 vaccination landscape
  •  Guardian - 9th Benefit Optimization study, with latest trends in voluntary benefits
  •  HUB International - ACA Reporting guide called Decoding the Codes
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Benefit Bites - Resources Edition - October, 2020

10/30/2020

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In this Benefit Bites:
Blog: 2021 Small Group Plans

Carrier Corner
  •  988 - National hotline for mental health emergencies, set up by 7/2022
  •  Aetna - partnered with Metlife for dental, vision, life, disability
  •  AP Connect - can now provide community-rated medical plans through NW Benefit Alliance
  •  Flu Vaccine - WA is working with Safeway and Albertons to offer no-cost flu shots to the uninsured
  •  Guardian - rolled out teledentistry for urgent needs
  •  Guardian - now coordinating EIO process for employer
  •  Health FSA - plan limits for 2021
  •  Insurance Transparency - federal rule passed, fully effective in 2024
  •  Kaiser - removing some Bartell phamacies from Core network
  •  KAVI - plan renewals
  •  NWBA - plan renewals
  •  Premera - ConnectYourCare will be administrator and custodian for HSA accounts 1/1/2021
  •  Public Health Emergency - HHS extended through 1/21/2021

SURVEYS & SUCH
  •  Optum - 3rd Annual Optum Surey on AI in Health Care
  •  WA State - if ACA struck down, estimated residents who would lose coverage
  •  Willis Towers Watson - 2020 Health Care Delivery Survey

Monthly Freebies
  • HSA - BeneBrief - HSA at 55+
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Benefit Bites - Industry Edition - October, 2020

10/15/2020

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In this Benefit Bites:
Blog: - Cascade Care - Going Live 1/1/2021

Carrier Corner:
  •  ACA Reporting Deadline - extended forms to individuals to 3/2/2021
  •  ACA Reporting Materials - IRS published
  •  AWB - no longer using Teladoc
  •  Delta Dental - no change to group rates
  •  Cigna - MD Live will be their only virtual care provider as of 1/1/21
  •  Freshbenies - Adding The Pet Pack, including telehealth for pets
  •  Medicare for ESRD - CMS announced final payment model
  •  Medicare.gov - has new Care Compare site combining multiple tools
  •  OMNI Clean Tech - formulary clarification
  •  Premera - plan changes
  •  Premera - Vivacity Care Center in Spokane Valley
  •  VSP - how to add Costco, Visionworks Pearle Vision and Walmart in-network
  •  WA Dept of Health - flyer comparing symptoms
  •  WA State - Insulin copay cap as of 1/1/2021
  •  WA State - minimum wage increase

SURVEYS & SUCH
  • Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Urban Institute - published policy brief on implications of SCOTUS finding ACA unconstitutional
  • The Hartford - 2020 Future of Benefits study

Vetted Vendor: ​ChallengeRunner
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2021 Individual Plans

10/2/2020

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Picture
The Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner released approved 2021 rates for 13 of the 15 carriers that proposed individual plans. 

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Benefit Bites - Resources Edition - September, 2020

9/30/2020

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In this Benefit Bites:
Blog: 2021 Individual Plans

Carrier Corner
  •  AIMS - plan changes
  •  ALLtech - plan changes
  •  AWB - plan changes
  •  BHT - no plan changes, added Chambers
  •  Cigna - Level Funding Edge
  •  Individual plans - Cascade Care
  •  Individual - open enrollment extended
  •  Kaiser- plan changes
  •  Kaiser NW - plan changes
  •  OMNI - plan changes
  •  PacificSource - plan changes
  •  Regence, Asuris NW - plan changes
  •  WA Labor Deprt - proposing no change to L&I average pricing
  •  Willamette - new office location

SURVEYS & SUCH
  •  EBRI - Workplace Wellness Survey
  •  VersantHealth - whitepaper Ocular telemedicine as an enhancement for in-person eye care


0 Comments

Benefit Bites - Industry Edition - September, 2020

9/15/2020

0 Comments

 
In this Benefit Bites:
Blog: - Medicare Part D Credibility

Carrier Corner:
  •  Infinisource - now iSolved Benefit Services
  •  Kaiser - will be offering new Virtual Plus plans for 2021, as well as Health360 plans with packaged dental
  •  Premera - large group plan information
  •  Regence - smaall and large group product updates
  •  UHC - fully insured plans no longer covering out of network services for lab, DME, dialysis.
  •  UHC - paying out MLR rebated by end of September
  •  Willamette Dental - 2021 individual brochure

SURVEYS & SUCH
  •  DocASAP - published Telehealth: Taking the Pulse of the Healthcare Consumer in the New Normal
  •  GoodRx - released list of most expensive drugs in the US
  •  Guardian -published Dental Benefits 2020: Maintaining oral health during COVID-19 and beyond
  •  Hartford - released their Future of Benefits Study
  •  HMI - Published their High Cost Pharmaceuticals and Therapies white paper
  •  SunLife - published Introduction to Gene Therapy
  •  VSP - article for BHT on 4 Ways to Protect Your Eyes from Wildfire Smoke

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Benefit Bites - Industry Edition - August, 2020

8/14/2020

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In this Benefit Bites:
Blog: - Navigating the Minefield of Nondiscrimination
Carrier Corner:
  •  Kaiser - Adding Magellan Healthcare to increase mental health and wellness access
  • Kaiser - new pharmacy in Bellingham
  • Kaiser - closing CareClinics at Bartell Drugs in WA
  • Premera - discontinuing member discount program
  • Principal - expanded Critical Illness to cover more conditions
  • Regence/Asuris NW - Premium relief in October bills
  • Vertafore - Joining Roper Technologies
  • WA Exchange - slide deck of 2021 proposed individual plans

SURVEYS AND SUCH
  • ACA Reporting - more codes added for Line 14
  • IRS published healthcare affordability figures for 2021
  • Principoal - 2020 Principal Financial Well-Being Index
  • SunLife - 2020 Stop-Loss Research Report - High Cost Claims and Injectable Drug Trends Analysis
  • WalletHub - Published report on States with the Best Health Infrastructure for Coronavirus

Vetted Vendor: ​LTC Solutions
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Benefit Bites - Resources Edition - July, 2020

7/30/2020

0 Comments

 
In this Benefit Bites:

Monthly Freebies:
  • NDT - intro and Data
  • NDT - 105(h) Self-funding Overview
  • NDT - 125 Cafeteria Plan Overview
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    About Sandy

    I love numbers.  I'm a math geek. I read benefits industry articles and periodicals for relaxation (but, honestly, I'm still a fun gal).  I also like to share what I've learned and you'll find it all here.

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  • Home
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