Employee microchipping, invasion of privacy or just efficient?

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Similar to microchipping your pets, you may have heard that a company in Wisconsin is offering microchip implants to their employees. The majority of their employees have already agreed to inject the implant into their finger, exchanging convenience for privacy.

The implants are programmed to allow accesses to certain company functions, like entrance into secure company offices and IT networks. The RFID microchips communicate using electromagnetic fields and can be read at a distance of six inches.

Privacy advocates are concerned that this procedure is yet another way to intrude on our privacy. Smart phones have already stripped us of some privacies, apps can now collect data from your phone and broadcast your information. Do you find it unsettling when your phone knows exactly where you are, or Google knows your interest based on your search history?

Arguments against microchipping humans, are vast. What may originate as a matter of convenience can turn into monitoring a person’s habits on an entirely different level. They may even evolve to monitor productivity or lifestyle habits.

What say you?

 

Report shows ACA marketplaces experienced most profitable first quarter yet

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According to a new analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation, health insurers who participated in the Affordable Care Act marketplace earned an average of $300 per member in the first part of 2017.

This figure is more than double than this time period for the previous three years.

The figures presented to do not account for administrative costs, however, the increases still show that the marketplaces are becoming more profitable for private companies selling plans on the exchanges.

According to Cynthia Cox, a researcher at the Kaiser Family Foundation who worked on the analysis, the current profitability seems to come from increased premiums and steady cost which also suggests the markets are becoming more stable.

These increases were partially due to insurance companies underestimating the cost to cover people in the marketplace, many were sicker than expected and seeking insurance. Additionally, costs have been stable over the past few years, indicating that healthy people were not driven out of the marketplace. Insurers have set premiums high enough for them to profit but not so high that healthier customers left the market, allowing the market to achieve stability.

Source: Kaiser Family Foundation

Important information if you have Aetna or CoventryOne insurance.

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Recently, Aetna notified our brokerage of some important changes that will be taking place this year. Essentially, if you are currently covered individually by Aetna or CoventryOne, your coverage ends December 31, 2017.

“As a result of financial risk and an uncertain outlook for the Individual marketplace, Aetna (including Coventry)  has decided that we will no longer offer individual health products in the following states AR, AZ, CT, FL, GA, IL, KS, KY, LA, ME, MI, MO, NC, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, and WV for 2018.

Your clients’ existing coverage in these states will continue until their policy period ends onDecember 31, 2017. They will not be able to renew their plan when their policy term ends.

The 2018 Open Enrollment Period runs from November 1 through December 15, 2017; however your clients will have a Special Enrollment Period. They must select a plan from another carrier no later than December 31, 2017 to ensure there is no gap in coverage on January 1, 2018.”

 

Source: Aetna and CoventryOne individual and families

 

2018 Health Savings Accounts Limits Are Set

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The IRS recently published the inflation adjusted limits for the 2018 Health Savings Accounts (HSA). Deposits made to an HSA are tax free; contributions grow within the account tax free; and distributions are tax free as long as the money is used for out-of-pocket health care expenses, including deductibles.

Here are the new limits:

  • Individual accounts rise to $3,450 (from 2017’s $3,400)
  • Family coverage rises to $6,900 (from 2017’s from $6,700)
  • Maximum out-of-pocket figures are also up: for single coverage to $6,650 (from 2017’s $6,550) and for family coverage to $13,300 (from 2017’s $13,100)

 

Source: IRS

Small business owners are voicing their opinions on the President’s ideas to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.

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When 1,000 small business owners were recently survived, 53.1 percent are against the health care bill passed by the House, while only 13 percent support it.

An impartial position of 34 percent was reported while a large majority of 60.4 percent do not think the bill would have a negative effect on their small business. Almost all agreed at 92.5 percent that insurance companies should provide coverage to people with pre-existing conditions.

At 72 percent, most small business owners agreed that expanding access to health care is most important over reducing taxes and decreasing the federal debt.

 

Sources: BenefitsPro.com, Fit Small Business

Understanding Mini-Medical Plans

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Many industries or small sized employer groups utilize a mini-medical plan, such as restaurants, hotels, maid services, catering services, etc. These limited benefit plans pay for covered services at an affordable premium for both the employees and the employers. But keep in mind, they cost less, so they cover less, and most likely will not protect you from a bankruptcy situation for any catastrophic medical care.

Mini-medical plans provide a basic level of coverage for people who do not have access to a major medical plan or traditional coverage.

Some large employers have a class of employees who are ineligible for their companies traditional health insurance plan for a variety of reasons. For instance, they may be only seasonal or part-time employees. Being able to offer them a mini-medical plan helps to boast employee moral and increases retention.

Mini-medical plans are not meant to replace major medical plans, but to fill a specific niche and provide some medical coverage for those who may not qualify otherwise.

 

Long-term care insurance, should you have it?

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Becoming chronically ill due to a cognitive impairment, or if you’re unable to perform at least two activities of daily living without substantial assistance, qualifies a person for long-term care. Having insurance that covers long-term care would help pay for the care you need. Depending on the level of care that is required, that care may be provided in a nursing home, an alternate care facility, or even your own home.

In addition to helping pay the costs of long-term care, long-term care insurance may help to provide these additional benefits:

  • Protect your savings and other assets
  • Preserve your independence
  • Avoid government dependence

If you’re unable to pay for long-term care when you or even a loved one needs it, odds are you will need to spend down, or liquidate, your assets to become eligible for Medicaid to pay the costs of the care required. That is a sad reality if you do not have the coverage when you need it.

Another option is purchasing a long-term care rider on your life insurance. This option provides care before the client requires long-term health due to age but instead provides coverage become impaired due to an accident or illness.

 

Five Factors that can Affect Your Premium

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Did you know there are five factors that can affect how much your health plan’s monthly premium under the health care law? However, individual states can limit how much these factors come into play.

These five factors are:

 

  • Age: Premiums can be up to 3 times higher for older people than for younger people.
  • Location: Where you live has a big effect on your premiums. Differences in competition, state and local rules, and cost of living are the reasons why.
  • Tobacco use: Insurers can charge tobacco users up to 50% more than those who don’t use tobacco.
  • Individual vs. family enrollment: Insurers can charge more for a plan that also covers a spouse and/or dependents.
  • Plan category: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Catastrophic. The categories are based on how you and the plan share costs. Bronze plans usually have lower monthly premiums and higher out-of-pocket costs when you get care. Platinum plans usually have the highest premiums and lowest out-of-pocket costs.

 

In addition, insurance companies may offer more benefits, which could also affect costs. Furthermore, insurance companies can not charge women and men different prices for the same plan, nor can they take your current medical history or health into account when, otherwise known as pre-existing conditions.

Should you choose a high or low deductible?

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Understanding your deductible and out-of-pocket cost is important when choosing a health care plan. The deductible is the amount of money you need to pay towards your health care before your insurance kicks in and begins to cover costs. Deductibles can range from just a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. There are even some plans that have no deductible worked in. Once you reach your deductible amount for the year, your insurance plan will require you to pay a co-payment or cost share amount until you reach our out-of-pocket maximum. Once that is met, your insurance company should cover your services at 100 percent.

A higher deductible plan usually referred to as ‘consumer-directed’ plans, mean you are responsible for a greater amount of your initial health care costs, saving the insurance company money. The benefit to you comes in lower monthly premiums. If you have a qualified high-deductible plan, you are also eligible for a Health Savings Account. These [HSA] accounts are set up with pre-tax dollars and allow you to draw from them for medical expenses.

High deductible plans can be a good option for people who do not have young children and are in generally good health.

 

Life Insurance Can Provide Stability for Millennials

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Millennials find themselves in the stage of life that may require them to purchase their own insurance. After having aged out of their parent’s insurance coverage, both car and health, coverage needs may not be as black and white as one might think.

While some millennials are deciding to put off getting married or purchasing a home, life insurance is important, no matter how old you are. For a millennial, it may also save you money on a policy in the long run, especially since you are younger and presumably in good health. It is especially important if you have children.

Life insurance can help your family cover unexpected costs in your absence. In addition, if you have children, a life insurance policy can support their education or childcare expenses. A whole life policy can accumulate a cash value, thus making those funds available for future use for things like a down payment on a house, or a child’s tuition for education.

Having a personal life insurance policy is not affected by job changes etc. They can provide reassurance in times of transition and allow you the peace of mind that your coverage is in place if it became necessary to use it.