We hope it never happens, but when you suffer a loss, you’ll have to file a claim to receive payment from your insurer. Here’s how the process works, and how to handle it to your best advantage. Notify Authorities Your first priority is always to prevent further injury and to protect life and health. If...
Read more
“Skinny Plans” Loophole To Close
Proposed IRS regulations would close a loophole that allowed certain employers to skirt the Affordable Care Act’s minimum value requirement, creating so-called “skinny plans.”. Background The Affordable Care Act applies to employers with 50 or more full-time equivalent employees. It requires them to offer their full-time employees coverage that: Is affordable. The employee’s share of...
Read more
Through Thick and Thin: Using Skinny Plans and Fat Plans to Cut Healthcare Costs
In a companion article, we discuss how some employers are using “skinny plans” to cut healthcare costs under the Affordable Care Act. Others are planning to use the opposite strategy: high-cost plans with rich benefits, or “fat plans.” The Affordable Care Act requires all health plans to cover certain preventive care services with no copayment....
Read more
Skinny Health Plans—Good Idea or Not?
So-called skinny health plans could give larger employers a way to minimize shared responsibility penalties under the Affordable Care Act. Beginning in 2015, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) will require all employers with 50 or more full-time equivalent (FTE) employees to offer their full-time employees coverage that is affordable and meets a...
Read more