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The Affordable Care Act (ACA or health care reform law) changed how health care plans work and how people can get coverage. It also changed the way we do business and the way you serve your clients. Now more than ever, it’s important to stay on top of what’s changed, and prepare for what’s ahead. That’s […]

Commentary: The Department of Labor finally revealed its proposed fiduciary standard rule on Tuesday after weeks of anticipation and speculation. The rule is intended to deter brokers from pushing “backdoor payments” and hidden fees in the products they recommend to clients. Specific elements of the rule include imposing a fiduciary duty on brokers, preventing conflicts […]

Failing to claim all the tax deduction you’re entitled to is like flushing money down the toilet. As small business owners prepare their taxes this year, it’s important they don’t miss any of these most commonly overlooked tax deductions, to avoid paying more money to Uncle Sam than necessary. 1. Home office deduction Do you use […]

At the beginning of March, CMS announced a special enrollment period (SEP) for individuals and families who did not enroll for health coverage in 2014, and were subject to the fee or “shared responsibility payment” when they filed their 2014 taxes. By enrolling during this SEP, affected consumers may avoid further tax penalties on their […]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Small businesses seeking to buy health insurance under President Barack Obama’s health care law will have to wait a couple of months before they can complete the process online, administration officials said Thursday in the latest delay of the high-stakes rollout. New online health insurance markets created by the law for individuals […]

WASHINGTON (AP) — You might be pleased with the low monthly premium for one of the new health insurance plans under President Barack Obama’s overhaul, but the added expense of copayments and deductibles could burn a hole in your wallet. An independent analysis released Wednesday, on the heels of an administration report emphasizing affordable premiums, […]

Many employers are reconsidering whether they will send the Exchange Notice because there are no penalties in connection with a failure or refusal to provide the notice. In a brief Frequently Asked Question document (link provided below) issued on September 11, the Department of Labor formally clarified that an employer covered by the Fair Labor […]

By SARAH E. NEEDLEMAN And ANGUS LOTEN CONNECT Small businesses offering health insurance tend to require their employees to cover significantly more out-of-pocket than do big companies—and new limits imposed by the health-care law likely won’t ease the pain. At businesses with fewer than 200 workers, for example, employees pay an average of $1,715 a year out-of-pocket to cover […]

BY JOYCE M. ROSENBERG SEPTEMBER 20, 2013  NEW YORK (AP) — Many small businesses hope to temporarily sidestep Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) by renewing their coverage early. One of those businesses is Huber Capital Management. The asset management firm is renewing its health insurance policy this year, instead of next year. The early […]

Managers of Covered California may require individual exchange plan issuers to accept cash payments through neighborhood utility offices or other brick-and-mortar offices. The managers discuss payment options in a premium payment report in a packet for an upcoming board meeting. All of the 12 sellers of individual “qualified health plans” (QHPs) will be taking personal checks, cashier’s […]