Insurance Archives - Salt Lake City Insurance Agents

Select Health announces a major change to covered hospitals in 2024: Holy Cross Hospital-Davis will not be a part of the Select Health Value Network

October 1, 2023/by Doug Burton

Select Health has announced that due to a breakdown in negotiations over “establishing fair and reasonable rates that ensure affordable insurance premiums” Holy Cross Hospital – Davis will not participate in the Select Health Value Network after December 31, 2023.

Additionally, Holy Cross Hospital-Davis will no longer participate in the Select Health Med, Select Health Care, and Select Health FEHB networks unless an agreement is reached by the end of the year.

According to Select Health, what this means for customers with affected plans is that after January 1, 2024, “Holy Cross Hospital-Davis will be considered out-of-network, and any services received at this facility may be denied or covered at a lesser benefit.”

If you’re an individual, family, or employer with Select Health, the company is encouraging you to find a new in-network facility to replace Holy Cross Hospital-Davis before January 1, 2024.

Select Health has offered the following guidance:

Visit the Select Health online provider directory at selecthealth.org/facilities. Search by facility type and geography.

For all other questions, please contact Member Services at 800-538-5038 weekdays, from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. TTY users call 711. Member Services can help find an in-network hospital, such as:

- Intermountain McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden, UT
- Intermountain Layton Hospital in Layton, UT
- Intermountain LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, UT

Navigating the complex world of health insurance can be daunting. The Ark Insurance Solutions team has the skill and experience to guide you. We’ll help you compare health plans to make the best decision based on your unique circumstances and budget. Give us a call at 801-901-7800 or click here to schedule an appointment with us.

Critical Moment for Utahns With Chronic Illnesses: S.B. 184, the Legislation Needed to Stop Unfair Copay Accumulator Policies, Heads to the Business and Labor Committee

February 26, 2023/by Doug Burton

Ark Founder and CEO Rebecca Yates reported Friday from the Utah State Capitol that S.B. 184 – Prescription Cost Amendments, was assigned to the Business and Labor committee in the house. That means it’s crucial to reach out to your representative to ask them to please support this important legislation.

Under current law, insurance companies are permitted to use copay accumulator adjustment policies to exclude copay payments/assistance provided by non-profits and pharmaceutical companies, so that these payments do not count towards a patient’s deductible or out-of-pocket-maximum. This leads to skyrocketing medical bills, and in some cases, patients not being able to afford needed medication.

Yates added, “Trying to address the cost of pharmaceuticals by adding financial burdens to our disabled communities is not only illogical, but also immoral. If they want to fix the cost of care and medications, they need to do it directly, not by trying to recoup it on the backs of those already burdened with poor health.”

Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, is the chief sponsor of S.B. 184 – Prescription Cost Amendments, which would require an insurer to calculate any amounts paid on behalf of an individual towards the individual’s cost sharing requirement, and would require a pharmacy benefit manager to calculate any amounts paid on behalf of an individual towards the individual’s cost sharing requirement.

Unfortunately, the bill does have opponents who are lobbying against it. S.B. 184 will likely be voted on by Tuesday, 2/28, so it’s important to reach out now to one of the representatives on the Business and Labor Committee:

Rep. A. Cory Maloy (R), Chair (Lehi)
corymaloy@le.utah.gov
801-477-0019

Rep. Stephen L. Whyte (R), Vice Chair (Mapleton)
swhyte@le.utah.gov
385-271-8435

Rep. Carl R. Albrecht (R) (Richfield)
carlalbrecht@le.utah.gov
435-979-6578

Rep. Brady Brammer (R) (Pleasant Grove)
bbrammer@le.utah.gov
801-538-1029

Rep. Walt Brooks (R) (St. George)
wbrooks@le.utah.gov
435-817-3530

Rep. Jefferson S. Burton (R) (Spanish Fork)
jburton@le.utah.gov
385-225-0575

Rep. James A. Dunnigan (R)
jdunnigan@le.utah.gov
801-538-1029

Rep. Jon Hawkins (R) (Pleasant Grove)
jhawkins@le.utah.gov
801-368-2534

Rep. Brian S. King (D) (Salt Lake City)
briansking@le.utah.gov
801-560-0769

Rep. Ashlee Matthews (D) (SLC)
amatthews@le.utah.gov
385-264-2024

Rep. Calvin R. Musselman (R) (West Haven)
cmusselman@le.utah.gov
801-941-6188

Rep. Thomas W. Peterson (R) (Brigham City)
tpeterson@le.utah.gov
435-720-3516

Rep. Mike Schultz (R) (Hooper)
mikeschultz@le.utah.gov
801-859-7713

Rep. Norman K Thurston (R) (Provo)
normthurston@le.utah.gov
801-477-5348

Rep. Ryan D. Wilcox (R) (North Ogden)
ryanwilcox@le.utah.gov
385-600-3306

Additional info

Below is an excellent op-ed authored by Jami Curtis that was included in Utah Policy today on this topic.

https://utahpolicy.com/opinion/66635-guest-opinion-end-predatory-copay-accumulator-programs-to-help-people-like-me

Have You Received A Notice That You Will Be Losing Medicaid?

February 15, 2023/by Rebecca Yates

If you were eligible for and enrolled in Medicaid as part of the “Families First Coronavirus Response Act” (FFCRA), you may soon receive–or have already received– notification of a discontinuation of coverage. Ark Insurance is here to help you understand those changes and make sure that you and your family will continue to receive healthcare coverage.

Congress passed legislation during the COVID-19 pandemic to guarantee that people would have access to health insurance and other benefits while the nation was in a state of public health emergency (PHE). This provided continuous coverage for those enrolled in the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and Medicaid, even if their eligibility changed. Continuous Medicaid coverage will end on March 31, 2023, and individuals who have received Medicaid coverage will go through state-run procedures to reevaluate their eligibility. It is known as “Medicaid Unwinding” to describe this procedure. Who is affected by the upcoming “Medicaid Unwinding”? It is anticipated that 15 million people will lose their Medicaid coverage as states continue to review the eligibility of Medicaid members, including about 8 million who are deemed ineligible and about 7 million due to administrative churn. Approximately 2.7 million of these people will be eligible for employer-sponsored health plans.

If you’ve received a notice that your Medicaid coverage will be discontinued, be sure to reach out to Ark Insurance Solutions right away. At Ark Insurance Solutions, we’ll help you find affordable health insurance plans to make sure you stay covered.

Navigating the complex world of health insurance can be daunting. The Ark Insurance Solutions team has the skill and experience to guide you. We’ll help you compare health plans to make the best decision based on your unique circumstances and budget. Give us a call at 801-901-7800 or click here to schedule an appointment with us.

Ark Insurance Founder and CEO Rebecca Yates testifies at Utah Senate Hearing

Ark’s Rebecca Yates Testified Today Before Utah Senate Committee About the Negative Impact of Copay Accumulator Adjustment Policies

February 10, 2023/by Doug Burton

Today at the Utah State Capitol, Ark Founder and CEO Rebecca Yates testified before the Utah Senate Business and Labor Committee about the negative impacts of copay accumulator adjustment policies. These policies can lead to skyrocketing medical bills, and in some cases, patients not being able to afford needed medication. The use of these policies often result in copay assistance provided by non-profits and pharmaceutical companies not counting towards a patient’s deductible or out-of-pocket-maximum.

In her testimony, Yates told the Senate Committee:

“Section 1557 in the ACA describes that you are not allowed by benefit design to discriminate on the basis of disability. You’ve heard today (in previous testimony) that this does directly discriminate against people that are disabled. It is discouraging their treatments and therefore is against ACA Law. It is also not in compliance with the actual federal register release which is what they’re using to implement it. Under 45 CFR 156.130, it actually does say that they are not allowed to implement a copay accumulator if there is not a generic available. You’ve heard testimony today that there are not generics available for this. They are already in violation of federal law in multiple ways, and we need to stop it at the state level.”

Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, is the chief sponsor of S.B. 184 – Prescription Cost Amendments, which would require an insurer to calculate any amounts paid on behalf of an individual towards the individual’s cost sharing requirement, and would require a pharmacy benefit manager to calculate any amounts paid on behalf of an individual towards the individual’s cost sharing requirement.

The Senate Committee gave the bill a favorable recommendation by unanimous vote today. The bill will now proceed to the full Senate.

Ark Founder and CEO Rebecca Yates Advocates at the Capitol for All Copays Count Coalition

January 24, 2023/by Doug Burton

Last Friday, January 20th, Ark Founder and CEO Rebecca Yates met with lawmakers and concerned Utah parents at the Utah State Capitol to address the affordability of life-saving medications for chronically ill patients. At issue is the rising use of copay accumulator adjustment policies by insurance companies, which results in co-pay assistance provided by non-profits and pharmaceutical companies not counting towards a patient’s deductible or out-of-pocket-maximum. This leads to skyrocketing medical bills, and in some cases, patients not being able to afford needed medication.

Along with the Utah All Copays Count Coalition, Yates met with Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, who will sponsor a bill this session eliminating copay assistance adjustment policies. Read more here.

Once the bill has been assigned a number, we encourage all concerned Utahns to voice support for it. More details coming soon…

Great news on access to Telehealth & Long-Term Care!

January 3, 2023/by Rebecca Yates

Congress recently passed a $1.7 trillion omnibus package which includes two provisions regarding telehealth and long-term care. The package allows individuals to use existing retirement accounts to pay up to $2,500 each for long-term insurance without a 10% early withdraw penalty tax.

In addition, they have included a two-year extension of telehealth-related “regulatory flexibilities”, known as the CARES Act, that were put in place during the pandemic and were set to expire at the end of 2022.

A bipartisan deal regarding the Medicaid policy that increased funding and preventing states from removing people from Medicaid was given a new end date of April 1, 2023. This change will impact close to 85 million people enrolled in Medicaid.

Substance abuse prevention and expanding access to mental health treatment was also included with a $1.5 billion in state grants.

Navigating the complex world of health insurance can be daunting. The Ark Insurance Solutions team has the skill and experience to guide you. We’ll help you compare health plans to make the best decision based on your unique circumstances and budget. Give us a call at 801-901-7800 or click here to schedule an appointment with us.

Ark Insurance Solutions Named Best Insurance Company for 2022 By Salt City Best

December 4, 2022/by Doug Burton

Today, the Salt Lake Tribune announced the winners of 2022’s Salt City Best Awards. Ark Insurance Solutions received the gold award for Best Insurance Company.

Rebecca Yates, CEO of Ark Insurance, says she is honored to receive the award on behalf of the whole team at Ark. “I’d like to send a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to all of our clients, partners, and associates! Here at Ark, we love helping people get connected to great health insurance, and it’s a wonderful thing to be recognized for doing what we love,” Yates said.

This year, Salt City Best awarded 702 businesses, organizations, and individuals across 304 categories. Winners were selected based on online votes collected between July 27, 2022 and September 9, 2022.

Click here to see Ark’s listing on the Salt City Best site.

Health Insurance Open Enrollment is going on now through January 15, 2023. If you need health insurance coverage or would just like to connect with an agent to review your existing plan, call Ark Insurance today at 801-901-7800.

Self-Employed Professionals and Entrepreneurs: The Guide You Need to Navigate Getting Health Insurance Coverage is Finally Here!

October 19, 2022/by Doug Burton

Finding quality, affordable health insurance coverage when you’re self employed can be a real challenge. Divining which plan is right for you, figuring out if you qualify for Affordable Care Act (ACA) Tax Credits, and projecting your modified adjusted gross income — are all just a small part of why getting health insurance coverage can be a Herculean task. That’s why Rebecca Yates, CEO and Founder of Ark Insurance Solutions, created “The Health Insurance Guide For The Self-Employed.” It includes detailed guidance on the top 10 considerations you’ll need to address when looking for health insurance coverage, as well as a glossary to help you make sense of overly confusing insurance terms. To get this FREE guide, click here.

Navigating the complex world of health insurance can be daunting. The Ark Insurance Solutions team has the skill and experience to guide you. We’ll help you compare health plans to make the best decision based on your unique circumstances and budget. Give us a call at 801-901-7800 or click here to schedule an appointment with us.

What are the Silicon Slopes Health Plans?

What are Silicon Slopes Health Plans and What Do They Mean For Your Utah Business?

October 11, 2022/by Rebecca Yates

They could mean great rates on group health insurance, and if the medical loss ratio is low for your company, you might actually get a rebate check from your plan administrator.

If you own a small business, you understand the challenge of finding affordable, quality health insurance coverage for your employees. The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that businesses with five employees could pay $100,000 in the first year for coverage — not including copays and coinsurance.

Last week, Silicon Slopes, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization empowering Utah’s startup and tech community, introduced Silicon Slopes Health Plans. Developed in partnership with University of Utah Health and EMI Health Plans, these plans are partially self-funded, and look to move beyond the transactional approach, where it’s all about paying premiums and claims, to put more focus on the ultimate goal of keeping employees healthy.

So how exactly do these plans work, and how can you know if they’re right for your company?

First, let’s look at a typical “fully insured” health plan. This is the model we’re all familiar with where the employer pays a fixed monthly premium to the health insurance carrier, and in return, the carrier pays all eligible member claims. If the premium collected is greater than the amount of the claims, the carrier gets to keep the excess as profit.

With a partially self-funded health plan, the employer contracts for the assistance of a health insurance carrier or third-party administrator (TPA) to administer all aspects of the health plan. The employer funds the claims payments. Something called “stop loss” insurance pays any catastrophic claims for conditions such as cancer or premature birth. While claims will vary from month to month, the employer reaps the rewards when few claims need to be paid. Any surplus funds can be reserved for future claims.

There are several attractive features of a partially self-funded plan (like the Silicon Slopes plans), including a statistical likelihood that it will cost less.

Other benefits of a Silicon Slopes Health Plan include:

As the employer, you can choose whether providers are in IHC network or non-IHC network
The plans are administered by University of Utah Health or EMI Health
These are “medically-underwritten” plans which means if your staff is very healthy, your company can actually see the benefits through lower rates
You’ll be pooled with other like-minded employers
You need not be a tech company or a start-up to benefit from this plan
You can qualify to participate with as few as two (2) full-time (W2) employees
You can sign up your company to participate at any time, with the starting date at the first of the next month

There are some important considerations to take into account when looking at these plans. Ark Insurance Solutions can help. Reach to us today for a no-cost consultation to determine if a Silicon Slopes Health Plan is right for your business.

Navigating the complex world of health insurance can be daunting. The Ark Insurance Solutions team has the skill and experience to guide you. We’ll help you compare health plans to make the best decision based on your unique circumstances and budget. Give us a call at 801-901-7800 or click here to schedule an appointment with us.

Try a Fake Commute For Your Mental Health

May 9, 2021/by Rebecca Yates

They could mean great rates on group health insurance, and if the medical loss ratio is low for your company, you might actually get a rebate check from your plan administrator.

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