Round 2 of ObamaCare Enrollment Delayed

The Obama administration plans to delay the start of next year's ObamaCAre enrollment period, a move pitched as a way to give consumers and insurance companies more time to study their options-but which also conveniently pushes the second round of enrollment past the 2014 midterm elections. 
The decision does not affect those trying to enroll this year, despite the myriad problems with the launch of the law and HealthCare.gov.  It only affects those who will sign up late next year for 2015 coverage. 
This move will allow consumers to start signing up on Nov 15, 2014 as opposed to Oct 15.  Enrollment will last until Jan 15, 2015 instead of Dec. 7th.
By pushing off next year's enrollment period, the administration coveniently pushes off the possibility of any ObamaCare hicccups until after the midterm elections.  Some of the biggest critics of the current roll out have been Democrats up for reelection next year.

Final Rules on Workplace Wellness Programs

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) includes provisions to encourage the use of wellness programs related to group health coverage. Effective for plan years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2014, ACA adopts the existing HIPAA nondiscrimination requirements for health-contingent wellness programs, while also increasing the maximum reward that can be offered under these programs. On May 29, 2013, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and the Treasury (Departments) released final regulations that implement ACA’s nondiscrimination requirements for wellness programs. The final regulations clarify and reorganize the rules outlined in previous proposed regulations. They are intended to ensure that every individual participating in a wellness program can receive the full amount of any reward or incentive, regardless of any health factor. Specifically, the final regulations:  Formally adopt the proposed nondiscrimination rules for health-contingent wellness programs, such as giving individuals an opportunity to qualify for the reward each year and providing an alternative standard or waiver for individuals with health conditions;  Divide health-contingent wellness programs into two categories: activity-only wellness programs and outcome-based wellness programs; and  Increase the permissible reward for meeting a health-related standard to 30 percent of the total cost of employee-only coverage (or 50 percent, if the program is designed to prevent or reduce tobacco use). The regulations apply to both grandfathered and non-grandfathered group health plans and group health insurance coverage for plan years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2014.

Obamacare Mandate YouTube

ACA "Obamacare" Mandate Under the Affordable Care Act you are required to Purchase health insurance for 2014. You may be eligible for a advanced federal premium subsidy which will be paid to the insurer you choose To offset the total monthly premium for your insurance you may also be eligible for a cost sharing subsidy to pay expenses required by your new health plan. View Vidio: http://youtu.be/AU7rgN7DEXw www.millerlewishemahelp.com

What is the Medicare Plan Star Rating

"Stars" is a Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) program to improve quality for Medicare Advantage members. This program measurers how well plans perform on over 50 measurers. Medicare uses information from member satisfaction surveys, plans, and health care providers to give overall performance star ratings to plans. A plan can get a rating between 1 and 5 stars. a 5-star rating is considered excellent. These ratings help you compare plans based on quality and performance. The ratings are updated each fall and can change each year.

Important announcement regarding FSA policy

Moments ago, the Department of Treasury issued a press release and informational fact sheet announcing a major policy change relating to flexible spending accounts (FSAs) that has many positive implications for all FSA constituents – including administrators, employers and participants. The Department of Treasury has modified its FSA “use-it-or-lose-it” provision to allow a limited rollover of FSA funds. Details are as follows: • Effective in plan year 2014, employers that offer FSA programs will have the option of allowing participants to roll over up to $500 of unused funds at the end of the plan year. • Effective immediately, employers that offer FSA programs that do not include a grace period will have the option of allowing employees to roll over up to $500 of unused funds at the end of the current 2013 plan year. From my perspective, the major benefits of this new “rollover” provision include: • Eliminating the most significant impediment to FSA adoption (use-it-or-lose-it) – creating significant upside for FSA adoption growth, which has been limited over the past several years • Enhancing healthcare options and offering greater funds protection for FSA participants, particularly lower & middle income workers who are highly concerned about cash flow • Minimizing risk for constituents with unpredictable healthcare expenses, such as those dealing with chronic conditions that may necessitate high-cost procedures/services with ambiguous timing or medical necessity • Curbing wasteful & potentially unnecessary end-of- year spending by FSA participants seeking to avoid losing unused funds

The week in review October 11, 2013

Exchanges continue to work througth some initial growing pains, as the government teeters ever closer to default; while a pair of House hears seeks to shed some light on implementation efforts, and Medicare Advantage starts to feel the pinch. 
Exchange Marketplace is heading into its second week of open enrollment, the health insurance exchange marketplace continues to experience some gowing pains.  While polling suggests that American's initial impressionof the new marketplace has left some room for improvement, the Administrationcontinues to urge patience, attributing the early hiccups to overwhelming demand. 

Given the changes that continue to reverberate across the health care reform landscape, it's hardly surprising that few, if any, corners of the health care world should escape completely unscathed.  Already we've seen stakeholders-large employers to small businesses, hospitals and providers, state and local governments-step gingerly into this new landscape, uncertain of what les ahead. And while we already know the havoc that certain provisions threaten to wreak if ultimately unacted, we're only now starting to see some of the damage from what's already been put in place.  One such program, Medicare Advantage (MA), some believe now finds itself at the forefront of how these changes could ripple out.  Dispite its high satisfaction rate amongst beneficiaries and better reported quality of care, a new study from health care consulting firm, Avalere Health, projects that MA plans will decreases by 5.3% in 2014, amidst continued payment reductions under the health care low, monifications to the risk adjustment model my the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the application of the health insurance tax (HIT).  

www.millerlewishemahelp.com

This website can show you your estimated subsidy. Also run your own quote. 

Call me with further questions.