Scott & White Employees Credit Union’s Post

Enhance your benefits and earn $573 per W2 employee per year! _________ Employee dissatisfaction due to rising healthcare costs and reduced health insurance plan options is a significant issue for U.S. employers. Various surveys highlight the extent of this dissatisfaction: 1. High Out-of-Pocket Costs: According to a survey by the Business Group on Health, 73% of large employers are concerned about high-cost drugs, and 92% are worried about the overall pharmacy cost trend. These rising costs often lead to employees facing higher out-of-pocket expenses, contributing to dissatisfaction. 2. Reduced Plan Options: Many employers are limiting health plan options to manage costs. This can result in employees feeling they have fewer choices that fit their healthcare needs, exacerbating dissatisfaction. Bridgecrest Advisors empowers businesses to enhance their bottom line with zero-cost medical benefits that employees love and use. Our comprehensive offerings include zero co-pay and deductible for primary and urgent care, telemedicine, and preventive services endorsed by the ACA. With a remarkable 100% participation rate, our plan seamlessly integrates with and enhances your current benefits.

How can I leave a Medicare Health Plan? When you sign up for a Medicare Advantage (MA) Health Plan, like PFFS plans, you are making an agreement with the plan. Its important to understand the terms of this agreement, including the obligations and penalties for termination of the agreement. You can leave or switch PFFS plans during the year if you qualify for special enrolment or if you have a qualifying life event. You can also leave because your health status has changed and you can no longer use the plan or the services. A beneficiary can exit and re-enroll in a new Medicare Advantage (MA) plan at any time as long as they do not have a break in Part B. You may change plans during the Annual Election Period (AEP) which is the seven (7) week period before the first day of each new calendar year. You can also change plans in the middle of the year if you experience certain qualifying life events, such as moving to a new area or losing a job. You may also change plans during the Coordination Period which is the two (2) months prior to when your current plan year ends. If you do not wish to change plans during these periods, you may change plans any time during the calendar year without a break in Medicare Part B coverage or a gap in plan coverage. Reach out to Alandra Mothorpe at Bridlewood Insurance for all your Medicare needs.

How can I leave a Medicare Health Plan? When you sign up for a Medicare Advantage (MA) Health Plan, like PFFS plans, you are making an agreement with the plan. Its important to understand the terms of this agreement, including the obligations and penalties for termination of the agreement. You can leave or switch PFFS plans during the year if you qualify for special enrolment or if you have a qualifying life event. You can also leave because your health status has changed and you can no longer use the plan or the services. A beneficiary can exit and re-enroll in a new Medicare Advantage (MA) plan at any time as long as they do not have a break in Part B. You may change plans during the Annual Election Period (AEP) which is the seven (7) week period before the first day of each new calendar year. You can also change plans in the middle of the year if you experience certain qualifying life events, such as moving to a new area or losing a job. You may also change plans during the Coordination Period which is the two (2) months prior to when your current plan year ends. If you do not wish to change plans during these periods, you may change plans any time during the calendar year without a break in Medicare Part B coverage or a gap in plan coverage. Contact Barbie Howard at Bridlewood Insurance for all your Medicare needs.

Healthcare is Unhealthy. (A Reilly Rant...) When you run your own business and have kids, scheduling can be difficult. Over six months ago, I made an appointment for my wife to get in to her doctor for a routine physical. This was six months ago because, at the time, this was the soonest she could get in... yikes. I called today to see if we can scoot her appointment a little because we had a scheduling conflict arise. The secretary told me it wouldn't be an issue and the next available appointment is March of 2025.... In all ways, healthcare is broken. It has failed us. All Americans pay too much and receive too little in return. Healthcare is no longer care but an insurance of that "just in case" — there is no care, compassion, or understanding as these monopolistic brands commonly state in their campaigns. My family is blessed with below average frequency of illnesses and health issues. My view on this is based on what I see and the infrequent experiences. Much like other regulated systems, this one has faltered and now punishes the very people who are paying to keep it running. These doctors barely spend time with their patients, the insurance companies don't protect, and the government empowers monopolies to exist so pricing is never guided by the consumers. Let's bring back caring for health.

Now this is after Obamacare and a Democratic President in the last few years How much worse must it get before the USA is like most of the world? The Green Party supports single-payer universal health care and preventive care for all. We believe that health care is a right, not a privilege. The results are in, and it is time to be honest with the American people. Obamacare is a failure. They promised it would bring down the costs of healthcare, but costs have exploded. Premiums are up. Deductibles are up. Spending is up. The Affordable Care Act, known as “Obamacare,” became law in 2010. President Obama promised the law would “reduce the costs of health care” and stated that “families will save on premiums.[1]” After 14 years, the facts do not support these promises:  Premiums have increased by 80%. From 2010 to 2023, the average premium for family coverage increased 80%, from just over $13,000 to nearly $24,000.[2] Total healthcare costs for a family of four now exceed $30,000 per year—increasing from $18,000 per year when Obamacare was passed.[3] Deductibles have increased over 50% since Obamacare was implemented in 2013.[4] America First? The Corporate world in America first not the people.... Trump or Harris? Both continue the Business as usual for the Health Care System... real change ? How Kennedy? Stein? 14 years of Obamacare has made healthcare unaffordable and put government and insurance bureaucrats in charge of your care. Our life expectancy is now shorter than that of other developed countries. We pay more while the health of Americans is suffering.

After reading an article about the private equity industry’s influence on emergency hospitals, patient care outcomes, and physicians’ role in all of this, we feel strongly that through our alignment with the group benefits agency Dennis J Walker Jr started, we can make a positive impact for individuals: (1) Employer-offered benefits packages reduce overall health care costs within the industry as a whole while improving the health of employees and their families, keeping them out of emergency rooms as their primary care provider. We put these plans in place and hold ourselves accountable to business owners to keep their costs low. (2) The strategies Dennis’ agency uses include using (a) direct primary care and (b) indemnification ancillary policies to funnel many visits away from the major medical plan, as they’re less expensive and can out cash back into employees’ hands to pay toward high deductibles. (3) With health insurance in place, we advocate for more personal responsibility for one’s health. Using your doctor as a trusted advisor and being open and honest during visits will lead to a richer life for the employee and family. The article is below in the comments. How do you feel about this?

Heard the latest buzz? Just came across an enlightening read on the Affordable Care Act, shedding light on vital aspects like dependent coverage, preventive services, and more. Here are my thoughts: The extension of Dependent Coverage to Age 26 is truly a game-changer for many families, offering peace of mind and financial relief. Prohibiting preexisting condition exclusions is a step towards a more inclusive and fair healthcare system, ensuring no one is left behind. The requirement for easy-to-understand summaries of health plans benefits is a welcome move, empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their healthcare. Don't forget the coverage of preventive services without cost-sharing - a small step that can lead to significant savings and better health outcomes. With the Health Insurance Marketplace providing new avenues for comprehensive coverage, it's time to explore all options for a healthier future. Remember, knowledge is power. Stay informed, stay empowered! https://lnkd.in/gAB-DAeq

At BSB Consultants, our team takes pride in providing important insights regarding the current trends in healthcare spending within the United States, which have been on a steady incline for decades. Recent analysis conducted by experts at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has unveiled that we can expect a significant increase in total employer spending on health benefits this year, with projections estimating a 5.8% rise to reach $1.3 trillion. Understanding these figures is crucial for anyone navigating the complexities of health insurance today, whether you're evaluating plans for yourself or your business. To dive deeper into what this means and how it might affect your decisions moving forward, we've prepared an informative News Brief titled "U.S. Employers to Spend $1.3 Trillion on Health Benefits in 2024." For comprehensive details and insights that could aid in making more informed choices about your health coverage options, I encourage you to follow BSB Consultants on LinkedIn for more up to date information.

ATTENTION EMPLOYERS, 2025 RENEWALS ARE NOW UPON US!! Have you looked at alternate funding mechanisms? Self-funding, level-funding, medical captives, health reimbursement accounts? Would an ICHRA be a good fit for your organization? Individual Coverage Reimbursement Arrangement, learn the pros and cons. How do your benefits stack up to other organizations in your area and in your industry? At USI, we can do a free, customized benefits benchmarking study. Do your premium contributions align with your benefits strategy? Let's take a look at your plan designs and employer/employee contributions. Is a High Deductible Health Plan a good fit for your organization? If you have an HDHP in place, do your employees understand the triple tax advantages of participating in one? Do you have employees that travel internationally? You could be over-insured or underinsured for these employees, let's take a look. Let’s connect and discuss strategies to get your health insurance costs back on track!! Here at USI, we help companies save money and keep employees happy!!

Nudge Health We are the plan administrator of a no-deductible, no-copay DPC-centric health plan with indemnity layer attached to it for emergency hospital care. We provide pre-negotiated fee schedules and tools to help patients contain costs & navigate the healthcare landscape via a cash-based fee-for-service model should it be needed. We offer dental, mental health, prescription, & physician coverage for both patients that require preventative care, as well as to those that require comprehensive managed care for chronic diseases. Unlike health insurance plans, our plans are a relatively fixed cost year-over-year with the ability to opt-in and opt-out of services that are not a requirement for your health plan and goals. We have also made it so that if a patient with a chronic condition becomes stable and has less doctor visits that their premium cost also goes down because we focus on doctor’s average production per patient per appointment. We do this with the goal of driving positive health outcomes with maximum reasonable payout to the servicing provider for their work. We pride ourselves in solving the gap in care for DPC models, high cost of insurance for small employers, and providing affordable access to all forms of care to patients. https://lnkd.in/e5zMM5rJ