Category Archives: Health Insurance

Are You an Employer? Do You Have Employees?

September 8, 2014Compliance, federal compliance, Group Health Insurance, Health Care Reform, Health Insurance, Healthcare updatesDebbie Sears

The IRS and the Department of Labor are working together regarding the Affordable Care Act. If you have employees who have individual health insurance premiums and you are doing a pre-tax employer reimbursement for that, please consult your CPA immediately. This document explains the stiff penalties associated with the reimbursement of individual premiums.

In addition to talking to your CPA, and getting yourself in the proper position with your current situation, you may also want to contact me to explore the options and premiums associated with group insurance. Our quotes and consultations are free and keeping you compliant is a priority.

Attention All Moms and Dads!

September 2, 2014Health InsuranceDebbie Sears

I received an email that I would like to share with you, but I will preface that with a brief introduction.

A very dear friend of our family, Mary Chase, sent me an email and also, we’ve had numerous telephone conversations, about a family medical emergency. Her 10 year old nephew, Carson Chase, spent approximately 15 hours in surgery today to remove a spinal tumor. The situation becomes very complex from a financial standpoint. And this is where I need everybody’s help.

Mom and Dad (Marty and Tawnya Chase) are both employed by small employers for whom FMLA is not an option. Therefore, they are both on a leave of absence to focus on this crisis. The other two children are being cared for by family. Here comes the financial pinch: they have all of the normal expenses that any young, growing family would have, but in addition to that, they have maximum out of pocket for 2014 and undoubtedly 2015, plus whatever uninsured expenses or durable equipment necessary for a very long recuperation. There will be travel expenses from Fonda, Iowa (where they currently live) to Iowa City and back and forth during his extended in-patient stay.

There have been a couple of fundraisers that I’m aware of, which is wonderful, but this is of such great magnitude, that I need all hands on deck. With the recent scams that have taken place, below, you’ll find the parent’s cell phone numbers and mailing address in Fonda, Iowa, but most importantly, Doug and Mary Chase’s (Aunt and Uncle) contact information. I prefer that you contact Doug and Mary Chase, as this family is in an emotional crisis and needs all the prayers and financial support that any of us feels that we can offer.

Would you please consider mailing any contributions to the mailing address of Marty and Tawnya Chase at the address provided in Fonda, Iowa.

Greetings Hawkeye friends, please see this message from Doug.

Last week my ten year old nephew, Carson Chase, had a tumor discovered on his spinal cord. Surgery will be required to remove the tumor. The size and location of the tumor requires about 15 hours to complete the surgery. Following the surgery Carson will be spending an extended period of time in the ICU at University of Iowa Hospital and will also have several months of therapy in order to re-learn to walk. The expenses are overwhelming.

Uncle Doug is the contact you should use since the family is over-burdened at the moment

Doug Chase, CPA, CIA – Doug.Chase@conagrafoods.com
Manager | Corporate FP&A

One ConAgra Drive 1-358, Omaha NE 68102
p: 402.240.8528 | c: 402.541.8201

Mary E. Chase, Ed.D. – MaryChase@creighton.edu
Associate Vice Provost, Enrollment Management
Creighton University | Omaha, Nebraska
402.280.3105 | admissions.creighton.edu

Here is the contact information for the family:

Marty and Tawnya Chase
303 E. 3rd St.
Fonda, IA 50540

Marty’s cell: 712-259-4945
Tawnya’s cell: 712-259-0251

What is the Key to a Successful Business?

August 25, 2014Health Insurance, UncategorizedDebbie Sears

It could be an innovative product, cutting edge technology, the ability to raise capital, or attention to the bottom line. The answer is simple – people. From strategic decisions to customer demands, your employees make the company go. But what happens if you lose a key person? Does the company come to a halt? Can you easily replace the revenue, reputation or decision making? How do you get through the transition period?

Key person insurance from EMC National Life is designed to help businesses stay the course when a key employee is no longer present. When a key business person policy is utilized, the proceeds can be used to replace lost revenue associated with the death of a valued employee. This extra income can help keep the company moving forward during a difficult time.

Below is some of the information I would gather from you:

Obtain basic information about the business
Identify the key employee and reasons for his or her valued statue
Gather basic information needed for an accurate quote
Analyze finances to determine an appropriate amount of coverage
Review the benefits of different types of insurance products

National Immunization Awareness Month

July 28, 2014Blue Zones, Health Insurance, SafetyDebbie Sears

August is National Immunization Awareness Month and I am providing a link fro the US Department of Health and Human Services. This is sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Center for Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases. There is a menu on the left side of this web page that you will find helpful, but if you will click on the tab for health care reform, it’s going to pop up preventive services for adults, women (including pregnant women) and preventive services for children.

As we prepare our kids to go back to school, please take advantage of your wellness and preventive benefits on your health insurance (included in your health insurance toolkit). Your child’s physical, if timing works on your behalf, may serve the needs for the athletic departments as well. This particular link is also formatted in Spanish for your convenience. I encourage you to share this with anybody, but particularly parents. If you have any questions about your insurance, please be sure to give us a call.

Iowa Farmer’s Markets

July 21, 2014Blue Zones, Health InsuranceDebbie Sears

We have been so blessed to be in the Midwest of the United States of America, that we are literally in the breadbowl of the world. If you can’t get healthy and stay healthy here, you’d be hard pressed to do it anywhere. Eat your fruits, eat your vegetables. It has been scientifically proven that what we eat and the quantity that we eat has a direct impact on so many facets of our health that we need to truly pay attention.

Our local farmer’s markets have everything that you would need or want fresh from the farm. In an effort that we don’t get caught up in the hype and literally flounder our way through a farmer’s market and blow our budget in the process, I recommend that you have your list in hand of what you think you want for your groceries for the week, search out your favorite vendors and purchase accordingly.

It’s also kind of fun to try something new and different. This is a great experience for children; as they walk beside you and get caught up in the moment, they are truly learning a skill set that will serve them the rest of their lives. Proper nutrition is huge. Obesity drives so many other health conditions that it is pitiful. Please take the opportunity to enjoy summer and all the options we have to be healthy.

If farmer’s markets are not your thing, don’t overlook the abundance and beauty of the produce department at our local grocery stores…Hy-Vee (and maybe others) happen to have on their website access to recipes, weekly menus, budgets, 30 meals for $3. They have dieticians in their stores, they have health screenings. They have healthy weight commitment programs, digital coupons, on and on and on…we are so blessed to have so many resources that truly I feel it’s a personal choice to do what’s best for us or not.

Starting April 1, 2014, if you did not assure yourself that you were insured for your health you are subject to the 2014 penalty. You can still purchase insurance between now and the end of the year. If you have a qualified event, you could use the SEP (Special Enrollment Period). If you are an employer insuring your employees, please don’t want until your renewal to investigate your options. We are an independent health insurance agency, 40 years strong, in Des Moines, Iowa, and are recognized as a top producer, again, in 2013 for Wellmark. Our quoting process is free and there is always room for improvement/discoveries that may put some dollars back in your pocket. Let’s start now to get ready for January 2015.

Worldwide Networks

June 2, 2014Health Insurance, UncategorizedDebbie Sears

As you or your children prepare for your summer journeys, wherever they may take you, please remember that Wellmark has your bests interestes at heart. The network of providers has always been something that I felt I would want my Clients and their families to have access to, but please know that anywhere in the US, and even worldwide, you have protection.

myWellmark mobile app allows you to access medical, dental, talk to a personal health assistant 24/7 and find a health facility, anywhere you may be. I have used this myself and find that no matter how prepared I may be, accidents and illnesses can happen. This is a good precautionary measure for the “what-ifs”.

Understanding the 3 Main Drivers of Health Care Costs

May 19, 2014Health Care Reform, Health Insurance, Healthcare updatesDebbie Sears

This video will help you understand the three main drivers of our health are costs are. After viewing this video, there’s recommendations made that would be easy for any of us to follow, and of course, I always default to adhering to our preventive guidelines for our screenings, wellness checkups, etc., and from there, it becomes a personal choice as to how invested you are in your own health.

Freaky Fast Health Insurance

May 12, 2014Health InsuranceDebbie Sears

In our industry, there is a list of acronyms that is a mile long. If you don’t want to tell anybody that you don’t know about a PPO, HMO, a metallic plan, an ACA plan, a Grandfathered plan, a non-grandfathered plan, an HSA, a deductible, a co-insurance, out of pocket maximums, in-network, out of network, your prescription drug coverage, etc., please feel free to call me.

We were just acknowledged as top producer individual sales 2013 Wellmark of Iowa. It only took 36 years for this to sink in for me, so don’t feel that there’s ever a dumb question. I can make it easy for you to understand, and we can keep it affordable. Please give me a call.

Special Enrollment Periods

April 7, 2014Health Insurance, Healthcare updatesDebbie Sears

Special enrollment periods are periods of time during which you can purchase individual health insurance. The mandatory individual enrollment period ended March 31st.

So, what happens between April 1st and November 15th for folks wanting health insurance? If you are looking to purchase an individual policy, you can, under what’s known as “Special Enrollment Period” (SEP). This special enrollment period is a time when under certain circumstances, you are allowed to purchase individual insurance. There must be a qualifying event in order for you to enroll. From the date of your “event’, you have 60 days. The events that are recognized as “qualified” events are: birth, adoption/placement for adoption, legal guardianship, involuntary loss of credible coverage, access to a qualified health plan due to a permanent move to Iowa, gained citizenship, foster child placement, court ordered coverage or returning from military services.

As an example, I have one of these events happen and I have documentation to establish that date. I then, within my 60 day time frame, make application for individual insurance. My application will be honored (as there are no underwriting requirements anymore) and I have coverage suitable for my needs, my health and my finances. If I do not have any of these qualifying events happen to me between April 1 and November 15th, then I must wait until April 15th. People in this particular time frame are subject to penalties, which have been stated as “$95 OR 1% of your household income”.

Why is your ID Card so Important?

March 31, 2014Health Insurance, Safety, TravelDebbie Sears

Your ID Card contains information important to you and your health care provider.

Outside of your name, policy number, provider network name, plan name and code, this information helps a health care provider process your claims. New cards are not issued every year. However, to the under-65 market, who purchase their own insurance, new ID Cards were issued.

The difference is a new, 3-letter prefix before your ID Number. If you have more than one card in your wallet and you’re confused as to which one you should use, please check the back of the card for the print date. The card with the most recent print date is the card to keep and start using as of January 1, 2014.

As a little tip, having been through some serious health concern with my husband, I strongly encourage husband and wife to carry copies of each others ID Cards AND a current prescription drug list. We all can access this information from many different sources, but in a time of emergency, the patient needs an advocate and to better help health care providers administer care as quickly as possible, they need your insurance information and it is always helpful to have that prescription drug list.