Producers
If you were to make a list of your favorite things to do, prospecting for new group health leads would probably come in just behind getting a root canal. We get it, prospecting can be tough. It takes a lot of time and effort to be successful and it’s easy to get discouraged by poor response rates. Even if you can get past the caller ID or administrative assistant and actually speak to a decision maker, you’re probably going to get more negative responses than positive ones. Let’s face it, rejection is a natural part of the process!
Last week, the Trump administration issued final rules which extend the maximum duration of short-term medical plans (STM plans). STM plans can now have an initial coverage period just shy of one year (364 days). Taking into account renewals, STM plans can have a maximum duration of up to 36 months.
Last week, the House of Representatives (House) passed two bills which would expand Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and make other changes to the healthcare industry. Below is a summary of key HSA provisions included:
Recently, we’ve been exploring the role of General Agents and addressing some of the common misconceptions that people often have about them. There’s no question that working with a General Agent (GA) can be extremely beneficial for insurance brokers. However, not all GAs are created equal.
There are different types of arrangements out there and not every organization that represents itself as a GA meets the necessary criteria. When looking for a GA to work with, it’s important to look for a “true” GA.
Did you know that a General Agent helps brokers make more money and doesn't cost a penny to the broker? Even after 30 years in the business, we sometimes get confused looks when we tell people that we’re a General Agent. As it turns out, not everyone fully understands the wide range of services provided by General Agents or the value that they bring to insurance brokers. For brokers who don’t currently work with one, there are often misconceptions about why General Agents exist, how they operate and how they get paid. Well, we’d like to take a minute to clear up any confusion.
Many of you are familiar with the reinsurance fees that were charged to health insurance plans from 2014 to 2016, but you may not be as familiar with the risk adjustment program. The risk adjustment program was authorized under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This permanent program is intended to protect against adverse selection and risk selection in the individual and small group markets (inside and outside of the Exchanges).
A lawsuit contesting the legality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, is starting to gain a lot of attention. Last December, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was signed into law. Part of this law made the penalty under the Individual Mandate $0 starting in 2019. Technically the Individual Mandate is still in place, but there will no longer be any penalty under federal law for failing to health insurance.
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