Tag Archive for: utah health insurance broker

What are the Silicon Slopes Health Plans?

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

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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.
What are the Silicon Slopes Health Plans?

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.
Spring cleaning beyond the home | Ark Insurance Solutions

Spring Cleaning Beyond the Home

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Spring is a time of renewal. Trees are budding, flowers are blooming and we tend to clean house with windows open, dusting off winter. One area of house cleaning you may not think to dive into is your beauty products. Keeping your products clean, and getting rid of old products, is important not only for hygienic purposes, but they can be breeding grounds for bacteria and fungi, especially makeup brushes.

 

Don’t share makeup.

Everyone has different body chemistry and sharing products you use can cause the spread of viruses and inflammation. For example, using someone’s lipstick can pass along the cold sore virus or using someone’s mascara can spread pink eye or other eye infections.

Clean those makeup brushes.

No need to buy a special cleaner for this, using a mild soap or shampoo is sufficient. Put a small amount in your hand and swirl the brush around, rinse well, and dry upright or flat. This is also a good time to wash out that cosmetic bag and those tweezers.

Purge products every six months if they are a liquid or a cream.

This includes liquid eyeliner and mascara, they can collect bacteria that causes eye infections. Powders tend to last a bit longer, so your sparkle powder eyeshadow has a few more months in them.Store beauty products in a cool, dry space. Humidity and heat can accelerate the growth of fungi and bacteria.

One final tip, when in doubt, throw it out. Holding on to something that may be contaminated is not worth the risk of illness or infections.

 

Try a Fake Commute For Your Mental Health

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Rebecca Yates Talks Health Insurance on the Cre8tivity podcast

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Photo courtesy of Cre8tivity

 

CEO Rebecca Yates recently sat down with the hosts of the Cre8tivity podcast.  They talked about all things health insurance, focusing on freelancers and businesses, as well as family coverage.

Get to know Rebecca and learn how you can get the best health insurance plan to meet your needs.

Listen in here:

http://utahpodcastnetwork.com/2020/09/20/cre8tivity-107/

 

From Cre8tivity:

REBECCA YATES is a superhero! Running over half a dozen businesses, being a single mother of two daughters, and helping everyone she can to get health coverage, in case anything unexpected happens (Illness, COVID, Etc)!

We hope this episode is helpful to freelancers, families,  & businesses!

How to Talk About COVID-19 Vaccines with Family and Friends

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COVID-19 vaccinations are a major tool to help us return to normal. There is a lot of information out there about the COVID-19 vaccines—and many people you know may have questions or concerns, or lack accurate information about the vaccines. You can play a key role in helping those close to you navigate this topic.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides the following guidance for how to talk with friends and family about COVID-19 vaccines.

Listen to Their Questions With Empathy

COVID-19 vaccines are new, and it’s normal for people to have questions about them. The sheer amount of information—and misinformation—about COVID-19 vaccines can be overwhelming to anyone. You can help by listening without judgment and identifying the root of their concerns.

Acknowledge their emotions so they know they have been heard. For example, you can say, “It sounds like you are stressed at work and home, and concerns about the vaccine are another source of stress. That’s really tough.”

Ask Open-ended Questions to Explore Their Concerns

Open-ended questions are meant to elicit more than a yes-or-no answer. Asking open-ended questions can help you understand what your friend or family member is worried about, where they learned any troubling information and what they have done to get answers to their questions. For example, you can ask, “How did watching that news report make you feel? What did you do next?” Try not to sound judgmental, and ask questions that help you understand their concerns. For example, avoid things like, “That’s a silly concern,” or “Why would you be worried about that?”

Ask Permission to Share Information

Once you understand your friend or family member’s question or concern, ask if you can provide some information, and tell them where you get information you trust. If they agree, they will be more willing to listen to you instead of feeling like you’re pushing unwanted information on them. You can find answers to common questions from reputable sources, including the CDC or local health department websites, or other trusted sources such as a doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Sometimes, sharing quick, accurate answers to common concerns your family or friends might have can go a long way toward moving someone from worry to confidence. If you don’t know the answer to their questions, consider offering to help look for information.

Help Them Find Their Own Reason to Get Vaccinated

Everyone who chooses to get vaccinated does it for a reason—to protect their family, to protect their children, to be less anxious, to visit their parents or to get back to activities like seeing friends, resuming work or returning to school. After addressing concerns with empathy and facts, you can steer the conversation from “why not” to the important reasons that matter to them—their “why.” You may choose to share your reasons for getting vaccinated or discuss common goals you may have, like visiting with others safely. The reasons that someone may choose to get vaccinated will always be those that are most compelling to them personally.

Help Make Their Vaccination Happen

Once someone decides on their “why,” help them make a commitment to get vaccinated. Help make the path to vaccination shorter, easier and less stressful for them. Offer to help your family member or friend make a vaccination appointment at a location nearby, and, if needed, go with them to the appointment. Offer to help with transportation or to babysit if they need child care.

Remember, every person who chooses to get vaccinated brings us all a step closer to moving past the COVID-19 pandemic. As a trusted messenger to your family and friends, you can play a role in their decision to vaccinate.

To Learn More

The CDC updates its website regularly with new COVID-19 vaccine information and provides information about vaccine availability. For more specific health guidance, speak with your doctor.

Source: CDC

New Dietary Guidelines for Americans

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The foods and beverages you consume have a significant impact on your health. Diet-related chronic diseases—such as cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, obesity and some types of cancer—are prevalent among Americans and pose a major public health problem. In fact, 60% of adults have one or more diet-related chronic diseases.

Every five years, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture publish nutrition advice. The newest version of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2020-2025) offers science-based nutrition advice to develop healthy eating habits and reduce chronic disease risk. For the first time, this edition provides recommendations by life stage, from birth through older adulthood.

2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines

The latest guidance provides four overarching guidelines that encourage healthy eating patterns while recognizing that individuals will need to make shifts in their food and beverage choices to achieve a healthy pattern.

Make every bite count and consider the following four overarching guidelines:

1. Follow a healthy dietary pattern at every life stage. Dietary needs and recommendations vary based on your age, sex and stage of life. Review the guidelines to ensure that you and your loved ones—whether they’re infants, teens, adults or older adults—are following a healthy diet.
2. Customize your foods and beverages to reflect personal preferences, cultural traditions and budgets. A healthy dietary pattern can benefit all people regardless of age, race, ethnicity or current health status.
3. Focus on meeting food group needs with nutrient-dense foods and beverages while staying within calorie limits. Keep in mind that 85% of your daily calories should meet food group recommendations for vegetables, fruits, grains, dairy and protein. Nutrient-dense foods are rich in vitamins and minerals, without too much-added sugars, saturated fats and sodium.
4. Limit foods and beverages high in added sugars, saturated fats and sodium. Be mindful of the nutritional facts of the foods and beverages you consume—including alcohol. For example, men should limit alcohol to two drinks a day and women should consume no more than one drink per day.
Everyone can benefit from a healthy eating pattern, so start simple with modest changes each day.

 

For healthy recipes or to learn more about the current guidelines, visit MyPlate.gov.

Benefits Breakdown

Benefits Breakdown

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Benefits Breakdown

Understanding Prescription Drug Pricing Trends

In 2019, the United States spent nearly $370 billion on prescription drugs, keeping trend with significant increases year over year. Although prescription drug spending has historically been a small proportion of national health care costs compared to hospital and physician services, it has grown rapidly in recent years—comprising about 10% of national health care spending. Below are the two major factors contributing to the rise of prescription drug costs:

  • Influx of specialty drugs—Specialty medications account for a smaller portion of U.S. prescriptions than non-specialty drugs, yet they command nearly half of the pharmaceutical market. In 2021, experts predict an 11.5% increase in specialty drug prices, compared to a 2.8% rise in non-specialty drug prices. These manufacturer price increases are often cited by insurers as reasons for rising insurance premiums.
  • Price inflation—According to a Segal report, 40% of new products recently launched by drug manufacturers were specialty medications. These drugs are now being pushed at a higher rate than non-specialty drugs, contributing to price inflation. Specialty drug utilization increased by nearly 6% in 2020, whereas non-specialty drug usage remained relatively the same. And there is little recourse for anyone seeking an alternative to these specialty drugs.

Yet, despite these trends, there are cost-cutting strategies available to employers. These include managing drug usage, utilizing rebates, and educating employees. Reach out to learn more about these and other budgetary tactics.

3 Voluntary Benefits Trends to Watch in 2021

Voluntary benefits have always been great tools for rounding off employee benefits offerings. And that value isn’t lost on employers—at least 50% offer some sort of voluntary benefits, according to an Alera Group report. Employers can expect to see voluntary benefits grow in these three key areas in 2021:

  1. Expanded offerings such as eldercare and critical illness insurance
  2. A focus on financial wellness, including budget counseling and financial planning
  3. Greater customization, allowing employees to pick and choose what’s best for them

Voluntary benefits include dental, vision, critical illness, pet insurance, and similar offerings that are paid for partially by employees. During the COVID-19 pandemic, having additional benefits options like these could be exactly what employees need. Specifically, these trends indicate employees want more control over the benefits that are important to them.

Reach out to learn how to help employees maximize their voluntary benefits.

Covid-19 Vaccine Misinformation

Identifying Misinformation About COVID-19 Vaccines

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Free workouts at home

Free Ways to Workout this Year

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Free workouts at home

Although we are still in the midst of a global pandemic, and many are working from home or quarantines are keeping you away from the gym, there are several ways you can get that daily workout in for FREE.

Working out is not only good for the body; it is excellent for the mind. We must do our best to keep our spirits up and our bodies healthy during these trying times.

Here are a few ideas:

Walking/Running-it may seem obvious, but walking and/or running just 30 minutes a day can lower your risk for heart disease, burn calories, and elevate your mood. Additional good news, you don’t need any special gear or equipment to do it. A good pair of comfortable shoes will do the trick for walkers and a decent pair of running shoes for runners. Getting outside is literally a breath of fresh air, which we all need, especially mask-free if possible.

Meditation-with so many apps and even podcasts available on meditation, even the novice can practice this mindful technique. In just 10 minutes, you can clear your mind, soothe the soul, and reduce stress. There are also many videos on YouTube for free that you can access on your devices.

YouTube fitness classes– YouTube has an array of videos offering free workouts. From kickboxing to HIIT training and yoga, there really is something for everyone. Subscribe to your favorites and get a new workout each day.

 

New year, new goals? There has never been a better time to get moving within your own space or in the great outdoors while social distancing.