If you are a small employer, there is a tax credit that can put money in your pocket. The small business health care tax credit benefits employers. The credit is available to eligible employers for two consecutive taxable years beginning in 2014 or later.
Anthem Blue Cross split fill drug program to reduce waste
Members will be allowed only 15 days per fill during the first 30 days, when starting on a select group of new specialty drugs. Copays are prorated during this time. The Split Fill program only applies to the first month of the drug fill at Accredo Specialty Pharmacy. After that, the prescription is filled as it is written by their doctor.
2016 changes to Covered California small group plans
Small employer group plans acquired through Covered California Small Business program will see benefit and coverage changes consistent with changes implemented for individual and family plans in 2016. Covered California has released a spread sheet comparing the 2015 benefit level to the new 2016 benefits by coverage type. The most significant changes will occur on Bronze level plans where coinsurance is rising from 30% to 100% after the deductible for many covered benefits. In addition, Kaiser and Health Net will be discontinuing their Silver 70 H.S.A. plans.
Aetna accused of unreasonable rate increases
Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones announced today that Department of Insurance actuaries found Aetna Life Insurance Company’s most recent small group health insurance rate increase excessive and unreasonable. Aetna is increasing rates for small businesses and their employees by an annual average of 27.4 percent.
What’s driving small group rates up
Anthem Blue Cross of California has released an infographic summarizing the factors which cause a grandmothered or legacy small group to realize a higher than expected increase in rates. In 2016 all small group plans must become ACA compliant. This means they must include certain new medical elements, but how the rates are determined are also affected.
WHA announces 2016 small group changes
We are happy to announce that with these benefit changes, groups will experience minor impact to their rates. On average over all plans and regions, we have an increase of 1%.
Kaiser California to discontinue two small group HSA plans
Starting January 1, 2016, we’ll no longer offer the Silver 70 HSA HMO 1500/20% w/ Child Dental and Bronze 60 HSA HMO 3500/30 w/ Child Dental plans to small groups. Some of your groups may be affected by this change and will be automatically enrolled into the Bronze 60 HSA HMO 4500/40% w/ Child Dental plan upon renewal — unless the group chooses another option.
Kaiser California changes to chiropractic/acupuncture small group coverage
Effective January 1, 2016, chiropractic and acupuncture benefits will no longer be offered as optional riders for your small group Kaiser California clients’ Affordable Care Act (ACA)–compliant plans.
Are California SHOP enrollment projections over estimated?
Covered California staff is forecasting that SHOP enrollment will double by the end of 2014 and double again during open enrollment for 2015. A list of assumptions was given for the stellar forecast enrollment during the May 2014 Board meeting where the topic was revenue projections from fees charged on individual small group members. Based […]