Access Benefit Solutions Inc

Makes sense. Will your current business model change?

In an attempt NOT to overwhelm the healthcare system, Hospitals and Health Care Professionals are asking the population use Telehealth Teledoc Doctor on Demand. They do not want individuals showing up at the emergency room or urgent care centers. The telehealth programs as well as the apps noted below can help you with Coronavirus Assessment and treatment, Allergies, Urinary Tract Infections, Bronchitis, Coughing, Diarrhea, Fever, Headache, Pinkeye, Rash, Sinus, Sore thro...at, Stomachache and more. Health Insurance agents in Georgia are reaching out to our insureds to give you the contact information for your insurance company. Note: if you work for a large company, your insurance may be controlled by your company. You will most likely have unique contact information specific to your plan. WAIVING COSTS people who have regular group insurance (not the mega companies who are self-funded look at your health plan information) will not be charged for using a telephone physician or an online virtual visit. BE PATIENT it may take some time to connect, the doctors are very busy. However, this is the fastest and safest way to receive medical attention. You will receive faster service when using the available apps. Blue Cross LiveHealth online https://startlivehealthonline.com/landing.htm Once you log-on and register, you will be connected with a physician. Or Download the SydneyCare app available in the app store. Select Register, confirm your identity and follow the prompts. Or from your computer, go to www.anthem.com/register and follow the prompts. Humana Download the DoctorOnDemand app or www.DoctorOnDemand.com website Enter your health insurance information; select Humana and enter your group ID and member ID All cost has been suspended you will not have to pay for this visit. You may be asked for a payment source, while you will need to put this information on the website, you should not be charged. Kaiser 404-365-0966 Aetna 1-855-835-2362 United Healthcare Virtual Visit at www.myuhc.com or through the UnitedHealthcare app which can be downloaded from the app store.

https://www.dol.gov/agenc//pandemic/ffcra-poster-questions Important time-sensitive information for businesses with fewer than 500 employees.

It's hard to believe, but we're celebrating our nine year business anniversary. We could not be more grateful to reach this significant milestone! Any entrepreneur knows running a small business is never just a walk in the park, which is why we're thankful for every single client, partner, and vendor that's supported us along the way. Our mission is the same today as it was 9 years ago. ... It's a very challenging time in the insurance industry but can be very rewarding. Our goal is to help employers and consumers by guiding them through the complexities of health insurance purchasing and enrollment. We can advise and guide clients through all aspects of the Affordable Care Act. We seek to understand each personal situation to create recommendations that compliment a client's financial and medical needs. And, our job does not end with the sale. We will continue to go beyond what is expected and provide the highest levels of service. Please contact us www.absaugusta.com if we can help you in any way. Thank you again to each of our current clients, anyone we’ve helped in the past and especially those that have been with us since day one. We would not be here today, without all of you!

Call us with any questions.

Are you a small business owner and paying too much for health insurance? Be the boss that saves your employees up to 30% on their health insurance. With 5 or more employees you can take advantage of this product. If you are the benefits decision maker call us today 706-364-3072 to see if you and your employees qualify. Click on the video to hear more details. https://www.humana.com//what-is-humana-level-funded-premium

Long awaited...insurance carriers will not get a dime. Federal Government Doesn’t Have to Pay Billions to Insurers, Court Rules The federal government doesn’t have to pay insurers billions of dollars under an Affordable Care Act program aimed at enticing them into the markets by helping cover their financial risks, a divided federal appeals court ruled Thursday....Continue reading

IRS Releases Affordability Rate for 2019 May 25, 2018 IRS issued Revenue Procedure 2018-34, which increases the affordability threshold for ACA employer mandate pay or play purposes to 9.86% for plan years beginning in 2019... For a copy of Revenue Procedure 2018-34 please click on the link below: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rp-18-34.pdf

2018 Health Insurance News Flash!!!! If you are covered under the individual market (not employer sponsored) and you own a small business.....group insurance will be the way to go for 2018. Give me a call to discuss options. #rateincreasescomingyourway #ihavenocontrolofrateincreases #nofacebookdiscussions #callme7063643072

IRS will not waive penalties for individual and employer mandates under ACA.......... In a series of information letters, IRS indicates that it won't waive individual and employer mandate penalties under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) despite President Trump's Jan. 20 executive order directing agencies to reduce potential burdens imposed by the law . These letters were created in response to questions from individual taxpayers. Please remember that these letters can only be r...elied on by the taxpayer to whom they are issued, but are a good indication of the IRS' position on particular issues. Employer mandate. In Information Letters 2017-010 and 2017-0013, IRS explains that nothing in the ACA allows the agency to waive employer shared-responsibility payments; taxpayers remain subject to the law and must pay what they owe. The letters emphasize that no waivers are available under the law, including for financial or religious reasons. They also note that the executive order directing agency heads with responsibility under the ACA to minimize the law's "unwarranted economic and regulatory burdens" did not change the ACA, and that the ACA remains in force until changed by Congress. IRS expects to publish guidance describing employer assessment procedures before sending letters in 2017 to employers with potential assessment liability for 2015, according to IRS FAQs. IRS hasn't yet announced when letters for 2016 assessments will be issued. Individual mandate. In Information letter s 2017-011 and 2017-0017, the IRS addresses whether an individual taxpayer must be covered by health insurance at a certain benefit level in 2017 in order to avoid having to make a shared-responsibility payment . The letters explain that individuals who go without health coverage but don't qualify for an ACA coverage exemption should make an individual mandate penalty payment when filing their 2017 personal tax return. For a copies of the letters, click on the link below: IRS Information Letter 2017-0010: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-wd/17-0010.pdf IRS Information Letter 2017-0013: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-wd/17-0013.pdf IRs Information Letter 2017-0011: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-wd/17-0011.pdf IRS Information Letter 2017-0017: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-wd/17-0017.pdf IRS FAQs: https://www.irs.gov//questions-and-answers-on-employer-sha Thank-You, Larry Grudzien Attorney-At-Law

For your weekend reading pleasure...... How the Senate Health Bill Compares to House, 'Obamacare' June 23, 2017...Continue reading

IRS Adjusts HSA Limits for 2018 On May 4, the IRS released the 2018 inflation-adjusted limitations for health savings accounts. In Revenue Procedure 2017-37, the IRS said the annual contribution limitation on deductions for an individual with self-only coverage under a high deductible health plan is $3,450. For calendar year 2018, the annual limitation on deductions for an individual with family coverage under a high deductible health plan is $6,900. For calendar year 2018, according to the IRS, a high deductible health plan is defined as a health plan with an annual deductible that is not less than $1,350 for self-only coverage or $2,700 for family coverage, and the annual out-of-pocket expenses (deductibles, co-payments, and other amounts, but not premiums) do not exceed $6,650 for self-only coverage or $13,300 for family coverage.

IRS Announces Retirement Plan Limitations for 2017 October 27, 2016 The Internal Revenue Service and Social Security Administration announced cost of living adjustments applicable to dollar limitations for qualified retirement plans, and other limits for tax year 2017. The many limits provided below remain unchanged from 2016. The Social Security Wage base increased from $118,500 to $127,200. ... The important limits are provided below: Limits: 401(k), 403(b) & 457(b) deferrals $18,000 Catch-up 401(k), 403(b) & 457(b) $6,000 415(c) Limit $54,000 Annual Compensation Limit $270,000 HCE Compensation Limit $120,000 Maximum Pension at age 62 $215,000 SIMPLE Deferrals $12,500 SIMPLE Catch-up $3,000 SEP Minimum Compensation $600 Key Employee Limit, Officer Test $175,000 IRAs for individuals age 49 & below $5,500 IRAs for individuals age 50 & above $6,500 Soc. Sec.Taxable Wage Base $127,200 2017 limits reflect issuance of IRS Notice 2016-62 (October 27, 2016) and Social Security Administration News Release (October 19, 2016). The IRS Notice 2016-62 can be viewed at: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-16-62.pdf The Social Security Administration news release can be viewed at: https://www.ssa.gov/news/press/factsheets/colafacts2017.pdf

If you purchase your health insurance as an indivdual (not covered through your employer) you will have very limited options for 2017. In our market and in most cases BCBSGA will be your only option. With that being said, as a business owner you may want to consider offering an employer sponsored health insurance plan for your employees. You as the owner will have more options and be more competeive when attracting and retainng valuable employees. When offering a formal benefit plan employer contributions can generally be written off as a business deduction. The employees cost can be payroll deducted on a pre-tax basis. Call me about your small business employee benefit options 7063643072.

Stay informed. DOL proposing BIG changes regarding overtime regulations.

I have received many calls asking why the insurance companies are asking for my dependents social security number. Here is the short answer: Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA or health care reform law), U.S. citizens and legal residents must have basic health insurance or face a penalty. This basic insurance is called minimum essential coverage (MEC). Many people already get coverage that counts as MEC through their employers or purchased individually. Those who don't have i...t may have to pay a penalty to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It's called the individual shared responsibility payment. Employers, insurance companies and others who provide MEC will be required to report who's covered with them to the IRS. This is called Minimum Essential Coverage Reporting, or IRS Code Section 6055 Reporting, and it will take place each year. This is how the federal government will make sure people have MEC. It's also how the IRS will determine who may owe a penalty for not having coverage. As required by law, insurance companies now file the 1095-B to the IRS and to the plan members. When reporting to the IRS all covered individuals under a group's plan will be listed by their Social Security numbers (SSNs). Some members and dependents are missing their SSNs. In these cases, the IRS requires insurance companies to collect them for reporting purposes.

Employers with more than 50 FTE's should be prepared for ACA reporting for the 2015 tax year.

This article is meant to clear the air and any misleading information concerning those eligible for Medicare whether due to age or disability and their ability to continue to contribute to a Health Saving Account (HSA). An individual who is entitled (enrolled) into Medicare is not eligible to contribute to a HSA. They may elect a HDHP that is HSA compatible. The key term is entitled, which is not the same as the term eligible. IRS Publication 969, IRS Notice 2004-50 and ...IRS Notice 2008-59 clarify that mere eligibility for Medicare does not make an individual ineligible to contribute to a HSA and that a Medicare-eligible individual who is not actually enrolled in Medicare Part A, B, D, or any other Medicare benefit may contribute to a HSA until the month that he/she is enrolled in Medicare. Secondly, on a noteworthy side, remember that entitlement to Medicare Part A is automatic for some individuals because they have already applied for and are receiving Social Security, Railroad Retirement benefits or have been deemed Medicare Disabled. However, it is not unusual for a working older person to delay receiving Part B benefits until he/she terminates employment. The employee is still eligible to contribute the full family contribution to the HSA as long as he/she is the HSA holder, is not enrolled in Medicare and is enrolled as other than single on the health plan. It doesn’t matter if the spouse is enrolled in Medicarethe maximum contribution is determined by how the employee is enrolled in the medical plan. Final Year’s Contribution is Pro-Rata. You can make a HSA contribution after you turn 65 and enroll in Medicare, if you have not maximized your contribution for your last year of HSA eligibility. You have until April 15 of the year following the tax year you lose HSA eligibility to make your HSA contribution. You can do so even if you are no longer eligible for a HSA so long as you are making a contribution for a period when you were eligible. Here is an example: Jim was covered by a self-only HDHP and eligible for a HSA in 2015, but turned 65 on July 2, 2015, and enrolled in Medicare. Jim lost eligibility for a HSA as of July 1, 2015. For 2015, Jim was eligible for 6 months of the year. The federal HSA limit for 2015 is $3,350 for individual enrollment, plus a $1,000 catch-up = $4,350. Accordingly, Jim’s calculation is 6/12 x $4,350. Jim’s max contribution for 2015 is $2,175. Jim has until April 15, 2016, to make this contribution. The Center for Medicare Advocacy is asking for Medicare beneficiaries or their loved ones to email the center with any problems that may have occurred regarding appealing denied items or services by a hospice agency at [email protected].

And as complicated and convoluted as all this sounds, it's something that people 65+ really need to understand.......