Have you ever received a surprise medical bill from a provider you did not designate? This often occurs when consumers seek care at an in-network hospital only to later find out that not all providers within that hospital share in the same network agreement. According to a study from Peterson-KFF, this occurs in about 1 […]

An estimated 67% of insured workers are covered under a self-funded health plan, according to a 2020 survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation. And that number continues to grow. While large companies were behind the initial uptake of self-funding, companies with as few as 50 to 100 employees are now following suit. Reasons for switching […]

It’s becoming increasingly common for employees to work past 65, when they become eligible for Medicare. Knowing how your health offerings interact with Medicare can benefit you and your employees. Let’s examine how Medicare interacts with: Group health plans Retiree health plans Prescription drug coverage Health savings account (HSA) contributions Group Health Plans The coordination […]

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) defines “telehealth” as telecommunications and information technology used to share information and provide clinical care, education, public health and administrative services at a distance. The term “telemedicine” is more narrow. It generally refers to remote clinical services and telecommunications between providers and patients. No matter what you […]

As with so many aspects of our lives, employee benefits have undergone massive changes since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The following six areas have been at the forefront of the developing needs of employees — and likely will continue to evolve. Virtual health care Remote work Caregiver benefits Mental health access Prescription drug […]

In 2021, 51 million people participated in the gig economy as temporary, on-call, contract or self-employed workers. According to the news site Vox, this represents an increase of 34% in just one year, and about one-third of all employees in the United States. In addition to the appeal of the gig economy, workers are job […]

Voluntary benefits, which allow your employees to choose certain types of coverage and then pay for some or all of the related costs, will continue to grow in 2022. With as many as five generations in the workforce at once and an increasing preference for personalization, the demand for benefits that fit different needs has […]

  Are you a member of the Valparaiso, Michigan City, or Crossroads Chambers of Commerce? Are you looking to support your company and your community with a benefits plan that is built just for them? Then look no further than the UnitedHealthcare (UHC) Community Chamber plan. The UHC Community Chamber plan is a level-funded program […]

In a self-funded group health plan, you as the employer eliminate obligations to an insurance carrier by assuming the risk of providing financial health care benefits to your employees yourself. This is an ideal setup for business managers who are willing to assume more risk to hopefully see a higher payoff at the end of […]

Group medical benefit plans for your employees typically fall into one of two categories: self-funded or fully insured. The risk assumed with either model is the chance that your employees will become ill and require costly treatment. However, each type of insurance carries its own set of administrative rules and legal constraints. Employers with either […]