CBO & JCT Report H.R. 3762 to Reduce Federal Deficit up to $472 Billion Over 10 Years
On December 11, 2015, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a report regarding the effects of reconciliation bill H.R. 3762, the Restoring Americans’ Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act. According to the CBO and the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT), the bill would reduce the deficit by up to $474 billion from 2016 to 2025. Since reconciliation… Read More
HIPAA and the Business Associate: What to Expect for 2016
Over the course of the following year, federal regulators must increase their efforts to apply HIPAA compliance to business associates because so few have mature security controls. Mac McMillan, the security expert and CEO of the consulting firm CynergisTek, argues this point. In 2013, business associates became directly responsible for HIPAA compliance under the HIPAA… Read More
US Department of Labor Announcement- State Sponsored Retirement Plans!
The U.S. Department of Labor announced a new proposal to offer more workers access to employer-sponsored, state-run retirement plans that will allow states to choose various roll-out options. With over 70 million employees without a retirement plan, supporters cite its benefits in enabling people to have an option for retirement savings. The rule would allow… Read More
4 Ways to Grow your Agency in 2016
Agents can be excited at the opportunities for growth in 2016. Start by taking inventory of your agency book of business. Do you niche? If not, you may be losing out on lucrative opportunities. Niche market agents are those who grow their book of business, through referrals, by becoming experts in all aspects of one… Read More
CMS Issues Guidance for Agent/Broker Compensation Processes
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has recently provided guidance to Section 120.4.2 of the Medicare Marketing Guidelines regarding agent/broker compensation. This guidance specifies when a carrier can pay full or pro-rated initial compensation. CMS states: There are three scenarios affecting how an organization may pay full or pro-rated initial compensation. For a beneficiary’s… Read More
No Cost of Living Adjustment in 2016
The Social Security Administration announced that there will be no cost of living adjustment (COLA) for the upcoming year. Since Part B premium is expected to have a slight increase, Medicare enrollees need to keep this in mind when evaluating the available plan choices. Half of all people with Medicare are living on less than… Read More
Critical Flaws Continue in Obamacare Enrollment Process
The Government Accountability Office, GAO, has found critical flaws in the mechanisms of the enrollment process for Obamacare leaving a potential for wide scale fraud. In their tests conducted in 2013 and 2014, using fictitious enrollees into both Obamacare and Medicaid, the fake enrollees were able to obtain subsidized coverage or Medicaid, despite the fact… Read More
Increase in Fine for No Health Insurance
Starting November 1, the penalties for the millions of people who are eligible for health insurance coverage but choose to remain uninsured in 2016 is going up; $695 or 2.5 % of taxable income, whichever is greater. This is up from the $325 or 2% of income in 2015. In 2014 the fine was $95… Read More