Federal Courts Delay New Healthcare Nondiscrimination Rules On July 15, 2024, federal judges delayed parts of the Biden Administration’s new healthcare nondiscrimination rules, which were set to enforce Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act starting July 5, 2024. These rules, reversing Trump-era regulations and restoring Obama-era provisions, broaden the definition of sex discrimination to…

Watch Harry Bickel Speak on the Road To 50 Employees Are you going to reach 50 employees in 2024?! Growth comes with new requirements to your health insurance coverage. Under the Affordable Care Act, companies with 50 or more full-time equivalent employees (including a mix of full-time and part-time staff) are considered large employers. These…

Horizon BCBSNJ Data Breach Affects Some Members Horizon BCBSNJ was notified by a vendor, Continuum, of a data breach that occurred in October 2023. An unauthorized party accessed certain member information, including names, addresses, health insurance details, and treatment information. Social Security numbers and financial data were not impacted. Horizon is working with Continuum to…

Why Your Company Should Be High On High-Deductible Health Plans High-deductible health plans (HDHPs) with Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) can be a good option for companies to offer their employees. HDHPs typically have lower premiums than traditional plans and HSAs allow employees to save money on qualified medical expenses on a pre-tax basis. HDHPs can…

2024 Prescription Drug Data Collection (RxDC) for CMS Reporting The Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) requires health insurers and employer plans to report prescription drug data annually to CMS. These yearly reports on prescription drug use and costs are due by June 1st. However, many carriers will submit on your behalf. They require varying information and…

Change Healthcare Cybersecurity Incident Affecting Carriers Multiple health insurance carriers, including AmeriHealth, Geisinger, Guardian, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Independence Blue Cross, are experiencing disruptions due to a cybersecurity incident affecting their vendor, Change Healthcare. While there’s no evidence of data breaches on the carriers’ side, the incident impacts services like accessing explanations of…

Medicare Part D – CMS Notification Reminder! Employers with group health plans, regardless of type, must report the “creditable” status of their prescription drug coverage to CMS. This means informing them if the plan meets Medicare standards for cost and coverage. Employers do this through an online portal and must report: Annually: within 60 days…

2024 Preventive Care Coverage Changes Starting 2024, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires that your health insurance plans cover certain preventive care services for free, without deductibles, copays, or coinsurance. This applies to all adults, women, and children, and includes new coverage for anxiety and depression screening, HIV screening for older teens, and breastfeeding supplies.…

Open Enrollment Season Is Here! Open enrollment is a crucial time for employees to review their benefits options and make informed decisions that can significantly impact their financial well-being and overall health. Here are the key tips and strategies for employees during open enrollment: Compare medical, dental and vision plan options. Consider life, disability insurance.…