Issue #22
The monthly Alta Vista Benefits newsletter is provided as a service to help with issues in your every day life. Your suggestions and feedback can be e-mailed to lucy@altavistaben.com.
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Life Planning
Get your life organized
Have you organized your life so that your family knows your wishes if you cannot make health or financial choices yourself?
Have you thought about the consequences to your loved ones if you should be seriously injured, become frail or have a cognitive impairment and need care over a period of years?
If that happens, what is your plan?
Having an overall life plan is important to:
1) Ensure that your family knows your wishes and is prepared to support you.
2) Maintain your independence for as long as possible without compromising the emotional and physical well being of those you love.
3) Preserve your investment/retirement portfolio so it can be used for income.
You depend on income to provide financial stability and support your lifestyle. When you need care and your portfolio is reallocated to pay for it, it impacts your financial commitments, the financial viability of your spouse, and that of your children who depend on your legacy. If you ever do need care, your family’s life is dramatically changed without a plan.
Key components of a plan:
1) Legal Review -- Work with your attorney to review and update wills, living wills, trusts, durable power of attorney, health care power of attorney and other legal documents. Even if you already have these documents, it is important to review them on a regular basis.
2) Prepare Your Home -- Make sure your home is handicap friendly/accessible. This includes bright lighting, a shower chair, 36 inch doorways, bars in tubs and showers, first floor laundry and bath, a security system and other accommodations to help you stay in your home safely.
3) Communicate Your Plan -- Write down your plan and communicate with loved ones about the location of important documents and accounts, any health concerns you have and what your plan is for care. Have extra keys made and give them to someone you trust.
4) Document Financial Information -- Organize financial information by making a list of accounts and important advisers. Share this information with a spouse and other family members.
5) Review Insurance and Investments -- Make appointments with your trusted advisers to review all of your insurance and investments. Identify the person who will monitor them if you can't.
6) Protect Your Income -- Protect your income from being reallocated to pay for care by determining if disability and/or long term care coverage works for you. People purchase both types of income protection, not because they expect to need care, but to mitigate the consequences if they do.
Protecting you and your family is a necessity, not a choice. For help with your plan, contact us at 614-889-0934 or lucy@altavistaben.com.
Did You Know?
Wellness Benefits
There are now Wellness Benefits available to you as an individual, so you no longer have to depend on an employer to access this type of benefit. Alta Vista Benefits is certified in Wellness and can get you connected to the wellness resources you need.
There are also new tax incentives for small businesses who start a Wellness program, beginning in 2011. If you work for an employer who does not have a plan and are interested in starting one, just let us know.
For more information about how you can get healthier through a wellness program, please contact us.
Showing posts with label Alta Vista Benefits. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alta Vista Benefits. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
Keeping the Health Plan You Have - Grandfathering under the Affordable Care Act
Issue #21
The monthly Alta Vista Benefits newsletter is provided as a service to help with issues in your every day life. Your suggestions and feedback can be e-mailed to lucy@altavistaben.com.
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Keeping the Health Plan You Have
Grandfathering under the Affordable Care Act
The Department of Health and Human Services today announced the provisions of the Affordable Care Act that affect "grandfathering" status for Americans who currently have health plans. These provisions affect individuals who purchase their own health insurance as well as individuals who have employer-sponsored health coverage.
The new provisions allow plans that existed on March 23, 2010 to make routine changes without losing grandfather status. The routine changes include:
* Cost adjustments to keep pace with medical inflation;
* Adding new benefits;
* Making modest adjustments to existing benefits; and
* Adopting new consumer protections or making changes to comply with Federal or state laws.
Premium changes are not used when determining whether or not a plan is grandfathered. However, changing insurance companies will cause a loss of grandfathered status.
If a health plan loses its grandfathered status, consumers will gain new benefits, including:
* Coverage of recommended prevention services with no cost sharing; and
* Patient protections such as guaranteed access to OB-GYNs and pediatricians.
All health plans regardless if they are grandfathered plans or not must provide certain benefits for plan years starting on or after September 23, 2010, including:
* No lifetime limits on coverage for all plans;
* No recissions of coverage when people get sick and have previously made an unintentional mistake on their application;
* Extension of parents’ coverage to adults under 26 years of age
For Americans who get their health insurance through employers, additional benefits will be offered, whether or not their plan is grandfathered, including:
* No coverage exclusions for children with pre-existing conditions; and
* No “restricted” annual limits
Alta Vista Benefits is committed to giving you information about the Affordable Care Act as quickly as it is made available. If you would like to know more, please contact us today.
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Did You Know?
Life Insurance
Life insurance can provide benefits to your family in addition to a death benefit. Many clients are using whole life policies as a way to save money for college educations, gift money to children and grandchildren or create a retirement fund.
For more information about how you can use life insurance as part of your financial strategy, please contact us.
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Lucy Grosz is the CEO of Alta Vista Benefits and can be reached at lucy@altavistaben.com or by phone at 614-889-0934.
The monthly Alta Vista Benefits newsletter is provided as a service to help with issues in your every day life. Your suggestions and feedback can be e-mailed to lucy@altavistaben.com.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Keeping the Health Plan You Have
Grandfathering under the Affordable Care Act
The Department of Health and Human Services today announced the provisions of the Affordable Care Act that affect "grandfathering" status for Americans who currently have health plans. These provisions affect individuals who purchase their own health insurance as well as individuals who have employer-sponsored health coverage.
The new provisions allow plans that existed on March 23, 2010 to make routine changes without losing grandfather status. The routine changes include:
* Cost adjustments to keep pace with medical inflation;
* Adding new benefits;
* Making modest adjustments to existing benefits; and
* Adopting new consumer protections or making changes to comply with Federal or state laws.
Premium changes are not used when determining whether or not a plan is grandfathered. However, changing insurance companies will cause a loss of grandfathered status.
If a health plan loses its grandfathered status, consumers will gain new benefits, including:
* Coverage of recommended prevention services with no cost sharing; and
* Patient protections such as guaranteed access to OB-GYNs and pediatricians.
All health plans regardless if they are grandfathered plans or not must provide certain benefits for plan years starting on or after September 23, 2010, including:
* No lifetime limits on coverage for all plans;
* No recissions of coverage when people get sick and have previously made an unintentional mistake on their application;
* Extension of parents’ coverage to adults under 26 years of age
For Americans who get their health insurance through employers, additional benefits will be offered, whether or not their plan is grandfathered, including:
* No coverage exclusions for children with pre-existing conditions; and
* No “restricted” annual limits
Alta Vista Benefits is committed to giving you information about the Affordable Care Act as quickly as it is made available. If you would like to know more, please contact us today.
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Did You Know?
Life Insurance
Life insurance can provide benefits to your family in addition to a death benefit. Many clients are using whole life policies as a way to save money for college educations, gift money to children and grandchildren or create a retirement fund.
For more information about how you can use life insurance as part of your financial strategy, please contact us.
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Lucy Grosz is the CEO of Alta Vista Benefits and can be reached at lucy@altavistaben.com or by phone at 614-889-0934.
Friday, May 21, 2010
May 2010 Alta Vista Benefits Newsletter
Issue #20
The monthly Alta Vista Benefits newsletter is provided as a service to help with issues in your every day life. Your suggestions and feedback can be e-mailed to lucy@altavistaben.com.
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COBRA Subsidy Extended
Does this affect you?
The COBRA subsidies have been extended again through May 31, 2010. Under ARRA, the Federal government or the insurance carrier pays 65% of COBRA premiums for a period of fifteen (15) months for individuals who were involuntarily terminated. In addition to some income limitations, eligibility is for individuals terminated between September 1, 2008 and May 31, 2010.
If you have questions regarding how this legislation affects you, please contact us today. We will work with you to help you make your COBRA decision.
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Did You Know?
Ten Savvy Job Search Tips
Many of our clients are in a job search and we try to help them network to their next position. We have savvy tips for your job search, courtesy of Change it Forward, a Human Resource and Career Coaching firm.
Here are their job search tips:
1) Consider your job search your new full time position, and plan your day accordingly.
2) Get up and begin your day as if you were going to your office.
3) Designate a space in your home as your "work space" and set it aside for your job search tools.
4) Develop a "job search plan", set up a daily calendar and track your progress against your plan.
5) Create a powerful "master resume" with the idea that you will have to change it with job specific details when you apply for each position.
6) Track every resume that you send out, including company and position. When you are contacted for an interview, you will already have the job details to help with your job search plan.
7) Use online web sites to post for positions, but do not assume that the company only has posted positions.
8) Make a dream list of the 10 companies you are interested in most and network to find internal contacts in each company.
9) Review the web sites of your dream list companies for what postings best fit your background and expertise. Visit the sites weekly to look for changes and new postings.
10) Control your stress by adding daily walking to your schedule. Even a few minutes a day will help you.
If you would like to discuss additional job search tips, contact Deb Crall at 614-296-7424.
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Lucy Grosz is the CEO of Alta Vista Benefits and can be reached at lucy@altavistaben.com or by phone at 614-889-0934.
The monthly Alta Vista Benefits newsletter is provided as a service to help with issues in your every day life. Your suggestions and feedback can be e-mailed to lucy@altavistaben.com.
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COBRA Subsidy Extended
Does this affect you?
The COBRA subsidies have been extended again through May 31, 2010. Under ARRA, the Federal government or the insurance carrier pays 65% of COBRA premiums for a period of fifteen (15) months for individuals who were involuntarily terminated. In addition to some income limitations, eligibility is for individuals terminated between September 1, 2008 and May 31, 2010.
If you have questions regarding how this legislation affects you, please contact us today. We will work with you to help you make your COBRA decision.
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Did You Know?
Ten Savvy Job Search Tips
Many of our clients are in a job search and we try to help them network to their next position. We have savvy tips for your job search, courtesy of Change it Forward, a Human Resource and Career Coaching firm.
Here are their job search tips:
1) Consider your job search your new full time position, and plan your day accordingly.
2) Get up and begin your day as if you were going to your office.
3) Designate a space in your home as your "work space" and set it aside for your job search tools.
4) Develop a "job search plan", set up a daily calendar and track your progress against your plan.
5) Create a powerful "master resume" with the idea that you will have to change it with job specific details when you apply for each position.
6) Track every resume that you send out, including company and position. When you are contacted for an interview, you will already have the job details to help with your job search plan.
7) Use online web sites to post for positions, but do not assume that the company only has posted positions.
8) Make a dream list of the 10 companies you are interested in most and network to find internal contacts in each company.
9) Review the web sites of your dream list companies for what postings best fit your background and expertise. Visit the sites weekly to look for changes and new postings.
10) Control your stress by adding daily walking to your schedule. Even a few minutes a day will help you.
If you would like to discuss additional job search tips, contact Deb Crall at 614-296-7424.
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Lucy Grosz is the CEO of Alta Vista Benefits and can be reached at lucy@altavistaben.com or by phone at 614-889-0934.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Alta Vista Benefits Dec 2009 Newsletter
Issue #19
The monthly Alta Vista Benefits newsletter is provided as a service to help with issues in your every day life. Your suggestions and feedback can be e-mailed to lucy@altavistaben.com.
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New COBRA Legislation
Does this affect you?
On December 19, 2009, President Obama signed a bill that extends the COBRA subsidies made available earlier this year under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Under this law, the Federal government pays 65% of COBRA premiums for a period of nine (9) months for individuals who were involuntarily terminated. In addition to some income limitations, eligibility was for individuals terminated between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009.
Under the new provisions:
The end date for eligibility has been extended from December 31, 2009 to February 28, 2010.
The subsidy period has been extended to 15 months, up from 9 months.
Coverage is extended to former employees whose original subsidy expired. Those individuals who lost their subsidy because they were at the end of their 9 months in November, 2009 or later are grandfathered under the new law and may receive six more months of assistance.
A new notification is required within 60 days, outlining the changes to all individuals eligible for COBRA on or after October 31, 2009.
If you have questions regarding how this legislation affects you, please contact us today. We will work with you to help you make your COBRA decision.
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Did You Know?
If you are planning to do any travel outside of the country, you should know that your medical insurance generally is not accepted outside of the United States. If you should become sick or injured, a medical evacuation can cost as much as $50,000 or more.
Travel insurance is not just for canceled flights and lost luggage. It can provide protection for both business and personal travel, foreign worker's compensation, international group health insurance, personal medical coverage and medical evacuation services. Best of all, this is very affordable coverage.
Before you take your next foreign business trip or vacation outside of the country, please contact us. We will help you make sure you have the right coverage for your needs.
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Lucy Grosz is the CEO of Alta Vista Benefits and can be reached at lucy@altavistaben.com or by phone at 614-889-0934.
The monthly Alta Vista Benefits newsletter is provided as a service to help with issues in your every day life. Your suggestions and feedback can be e-mailed to lucy@altavistaben.com.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New COBRA Legislation
Does this affect you?
On December 19, 2009, President Obama signed a bill that extends the COBRA subsidies made available earlier this year under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Under this law, the Federal government pays 65% of COBRA premiums for a period of nine (9) months for individuals who were involuntarily terminated. In addition to some income limitations, eligibility was for individuals terminated between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009.
Under the new provisions:
The end date for eligibility has been extended from December 31, 2009 to February 28, 2010.
The subsidy period has been extended to 15 months, up from 9 months.
Coverage is extended to former employees whose original subsidy expired. Those individuals who lost their subsidy because they were at the end of their 9 months in November, 2009 or later are grandfathered under the new law and may receive six more months of assistance.
A new notification is required within 60 days, outlining the changes to all individuals eligible for COBRA on or after October 31, 2009.
If you have questions regarding how this legislation affects you, please contact us today. We will work with you to help you make your COBRA decision.
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Did You Know?
If you are planning to do any travel outside of the country, you should know that your medical insurance generally is not accepted outside of the United States. If you should become sick or injured, a medical evacuation can cost as much as $50,000 or more.
Travel insurance is not just for canceled flights and lost luggage. It can provide protection for both business and personal travel, foreign worker's compensation, international group health insurance, personal medical coverage and medical evacuation services. Best of all, this is very affordable coverage.
Before you take your next foreign business trip or vacation outside of the country, please contact us. We will help you make sure you have the right coverage for your needs.
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Lucy Grosz is the CEO of Alta Vista Benefits and can be reached at lucy@altavistaben.com or by phone at 614-889-0934.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Alta Vista Benefits August 2009 Newsletter
Issue #16
The monthly Alta Vista Benefits newsletter is provided as a service to help with issues in your every day life. Your suggestions and feedback can be e-mailed to lucy@altavistaben.com.
Health Care Reform: What You Can Do
Health Care Reform is an extremely important issue for all Americans and there is pressure on Congress to come up with a solution by the end of 2009. To meet this goal, Congress continues to work on several versions of health care legislation. However, the August recess is coming up, so it is unlikely that any legislation will be brought to the floor right now.
During the recess, many of the legislators will be in their home states holding Town Hall meetings and meeting with constituents. This recess is a critical time for all of us to weigh in with our legislators in the House and Senate to ensure that the final bill is what we all want.
As a consumer advocate for health care, Alta Vista Benefits wants to make sure that you have timely information about the proposed legislation. The link for the House Bill for Health Care Reform is the actual HR3200 House bill.
Even if you don't read the entire document, there a several sections that are worth reading. Page 50 defines that health care and health insurance will be available to everyone, regardless of citizenship. Pages 58 and 59 gives the Federal Government the right to access all of our personal financial information, including the right to do electronic transfers. Page 253 gives the Federal Government the right to assess a doctor's judgment and skills to determine his billing value.
Please take the opportunity to read House Bill 3200, evaluate it yourself and let your representatives know what you want.
During the recess, many of the legislators will be in their home states holding Town Hall meetings and meeting with constituents. This recess is a critical time for all of us to weigh in with our legislators in the House and Senate to ensure that the final bill is what we all want.
As a consumer advocate for health care, Alta Vista Benefits wants to make sure that you have timely information about the proposed legislation. The link for the House Bill for Health Care Reform is the actual HR3200 House bill.
Even if you don't read the entire document, there a several sections that are worth reading. Page 50 defines that health care and health insurance will be available to everyone, regardless of citizenship. Pages 58 and 59 gives the Federal Government the right to access all of our personal financial information, including the right to do electronic transfers. Page 253 gives the Federal Government the right to assess a doctor's judgment and skills to determine his billing value.
Please take the opportunity to read House Bill 3200, evaluate it yourself and let your representatives know what you want.
Did You Know?
The limits for HSA contributions are changing for 2010. An individual will be able to contribute $3,050 in 2010 and the family limit will be $6,150.
Long term care premiums can be paid out of an HSA and deducted. If you would like to know more about HSA accounts, please contact us at 614-889-0934.
Long term care premiums can be paid out of an HSA and deducted. If you would like to know more about HSA accounts, please contact us at 614-889-0934.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Healthy News from Alta Vista Benefits April 2009
Issue #15
The monthly Alta Vista Benefits newsletter is provided as a service to help with issues in your every day life. Your suggestions and feedback can be e-mailed to lucy@altavistaben.com.
The purpose of health insurance is to help you pay for health care and it protects you and your family financially when you have an unexpected illness or injury. Since you cannot predict what your medical bills will be, your health insurance helps cover those unexpected costs.
As the cost of health care has risen, so has the cost of health insurance. Some of the rise cost is due to overuse of the services available to us. Whether intentional or not, overuse contributes to the rising cost of care.
As consumers, we can all help drive down the cost of health care by asking some questions of our providers. Here are some suggestions for all health care consumers:
1) Choose health care the way other goods and services are selected -- based on the best quality for the best price. A higher prices does not necessarily mean that the quality of the care is better. Find out before a service is provided about the cost involved versus the quality.
2) Obtain care only when medically necessary and use the emergency room for real emergencies.
3) Ask your medical providers about the care they are prescribing and find out what other treatment options are available.
4) Talk with your doctor and pharmacist about using less costly generic drugs.
5) Make sure you get regular checkups to stay in good health. Prevention is the most powerful medicine.
6) Take care of yourself and your family by eating a balanced diet, getting enough exercise and making healthy lifestyle choices.
Strawberries are one of nature's most nutritious foods. One cup of raw strawberries contains 3 grams of fiber, 49 calories, 1.02 grams of protein and has more Vitamin C than orange juice. Strawberries also contain phytochemicals that help prevent certain cancers.
Lucy Grosz is the CEO of Alta Vista Benefits and can be reached at lucy@altavistaben.com or by phone at 614-889-0934.
Previous versions of newsletters are posted on the Alta Vista web site. If you missed an issue or there is a previous issue you would like to reference, please visit: http://www.altavistaben.com
Need a better web site? Can't be found in Google? Call Tom Anderson at 614-679-0912 or visit www.excelleweb.com
The monthly Alta Vista Benefits newsletter is provided as a service to help with issues in your every day life. Your suggestions and feedback can be e-mailed to lucy@altavistaben.com.
Health Care: Consumers Can Help Control Costs
The purpose of health insurance is to help you pay for health care and it protects you and your family financially when you have an unexpected illness or injury. Since you cannot predict what your medical bills will be, your health insurance helps cover those unexpected costs.
As the cost of health care has risen, so has the cost of health insurance. Some of the rise cost is due to overuse of the services available to us. Whether intentional or not, overuse contributes to the rising cost of care.
As consumers, we can all help drive down the cost of health care by asking some questions of our providers. Here are some suggestions for all health care consumers:
1) Choose health care the way other goods and services are selected -- based on the best quality for the best price. A higher prices does not necessarily mean that the quality of the care is better. Find out before a service is provided about the cost involved versus the quality.
2) Obtain care only when medically necessary and use the emergency room for real emergencies.
3) Ask your medical providers about the care they are prescribing and find out what other treatment options are available.
4) Talk with your doctor and pharmacist about using less costly generic drugs.
5) Make sure you get regular checkups to stay in good health. Prevention is the most powerful medicine.
6) Take care of yourself and your family by eating a balanced diet, getting enough exercise and making healthy lifestyle choices.
Did You Know?
Strawberries are one of nature's most nutritious foods. One cup of raw strawberries contains 3 grams of fiber, 49 calories, 1.02 grams of protein and has more Vitamin C than orange juice. Strawberries also contain phytochemicals that help prevent certain cancers.
Lucy Grosz is the CEO of Alta Vista Benefits and can be reached at lucy@altavistaben.com or by phone at 614-889-0934.
Back Issues
Previous versions of newsletters are posted on the Alta Vista web site. If you missed an issue or there is a previous issue you would like to reference, please visit: http://www.altavistaben.com
Need a better web site? Can't be found in Google? Call Tom Anderson at 614-679-0912 or visit www.excelleweb.com
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Alta Vista Benefits Feb 2009 Newsletter
Community News
Many of us are facing the realities of having a friend, parent or loved one in a non-medical care giving situation. We are forced to have difficult conversations with them about staying in their home and about how to fund the cost of care giving.
If you are interested in finding out more, please attend the free
"Love Your Parents + Live Your Life" seminar on March 12, 2009 at Trillium Place, 3500 Trillium Crossing, Columbus, OH 43235. Registration begins at 5:45 PM and the program begins promptly at 6 PM. You will have the opportunity to ask your questions of the Moving Forward Senior Solutions panel.
Please RSVP by Friday, March 6th to Lucy Grosz at 624-889-0934 or lucy@altavistaben.com
If you are interested in finding out more, please attend the free
"Love Your Parents + Live Your Life" seminar on March 12, 2009 at Trillium Place, 3500 Trillium Crossing, Columbus, OH 43235. Registration begins at 5:45 PM and the program begins promptly at 6 PM. You will have the opportunity to ask your questions of the Moving Forward Senior Solutions panel.
Please RSVP by Friday, March 6th to Lucy Grosz at 624-889-0934 or lucy@altavistaben.com
Back Issues
Previous versions of newsletters are posted on the Alta Vista web site. If you missed an issue or there is a previous issue you would like to reference, please visit:
http://www.altavistaben.com
Issue #14http://www.altavistaben.com
The monthly Alta Vista Benefits newsletter is provided as a service to help with issues in your every day life. Your suggestions and feedback can be e-mailed to lucy@altavistaben.com.
Stimulus Package: New COBRA legislation
As you are aware, President Obama recently signed into law a $790 billion economic stimulus package – the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This plan combines $281 billion in tax cuts, $311 billion in programs funded by appropriation committees and $193 billion for benefits programs.
Here are the major COBRA provisions:
1. The act provides a subsidy of 65% of the COBRA premiums for individuals who were involuntarily terminated between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009. This is not available for people who voluntarily resigned. Eligibility for this program ends when the individual becomes eligible for Medicare or a new employer-sponsored health plan.
2. This assistance will be available beginning March 1, 2009 and will last a maximum of nine (9) months. It is not a retroactive benefit.
3. Participants in this plan will also have to attest that their individual income is less than $125,000 and family income is less than $250,000.
4. Individuals who were involuntarily terminated between September 1, 2008 and February 17, 2009 who failed to elect COBRA because it was unaffordable, have an additional 60 days to make the election and receive the subsidy.
An individual's former employer will be responsible for paying the 65% COBRA assistance. In return, the employer will receive a credit against payroll taxes. My understanding is that payment by the employer will be triggered when the individual pays the remaining 35% of the premium.
Many of my clients are taking advantage of this subsidy while they are in a job search. Please keep in mind that the COBRA premiums return to the full amount after nine months. If you and your family want to shop for individual coverage at the end of the subsidy period, you must prove that you are insurable with any of the carriers.
If you have further questions about this legislation, please contact us. We will be happy to help you.
1. The act provides a subsidy of 65% of the COBRA premiums for individuals who were involuntarily terminated between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009. This is not available for people who voluntarily resigned. Eligibility for this program ends when the individual becomes eligible for Medicare or a new employer-sponsored health plan.
2. This assistance will be available beginning March 1, 2009 and will last a maximum of nine (9) months. It is not a retroactive benefit.
3. Participants in this plan will also have to attest that their individual income is less than $125,000 and family income is less than $250,000.
4. Individuals who were involuntarily terminated between September 1, 2008 and February 17, 2009 who failed to elect COBRA because it was unaffordable, have an additional 60 days to make the election and receive the subsidy.
An individual's former employer will be responsible for paying the 65% COBRA assistance. In return, the employer will receive a credit against payroll taxes. My understanding is that payment by the employer will be triggered when the individual pays the remaining 35% of the premium.
Many of my clients are taking advantage of this subsidy while they are in a job search. Please keep in mind that the COBRA premiums return to the full amount after nine months. If you and your family want to shop for individual coverage at the end of the subsidy period, you must prove that you are insurable with any of the carriers.
If you have further questions about this legislation, please contact us. We will be happy to help you.
Did You Know?
A total of 15% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is used on health care spending. You have undoubtedly heard about the efforts on a national level to address health care issues.
The State of Ohio is also examining ways to make access to health care more affordable. If you would like more information about what Ohio is doing, please consult the frequently asked questions (FAQ) area on http://www.recovery.ohio.gov.
Lucy Grosz is the CEO of Alta Vista Benefits and can be reached at lucy@altavistaben.com or by phone at 614-889-0934.The State of Ohio is also examining ways to make access to health care more affordable. If you would like more information about what Ohio is doing, please consult the frequently asked questions (FAQ) area on http://www.recovery.ohio.gov.
Need a better web site? Can't be found in Google? Call Tom Anderson at 614-679-0912 or visit www.excelleweb.com.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Alta Vista Benefits Jan 2009 Newsletter
Community News
Many of us are facing the realities of having a friend, parent or loved one in a non-medical care giving situation. We are forced to have difficult conversations with them about staying in their home and about how to fund the cost of care giving.
If you are interested in finding out more, please attend the free
"Love Your Parents + Live Your Life" seminar on March 12, 2009 at Trillium Place, 3500 Trillium Crossing, Columbus, OH 43235. Registration begins at 5:45 PM and the program begins promptly at 6 PM. You will have the opportunity to ask your questions of the Moving Forward Senior Solutions panel.
Please RSVP by Friday, March 6th to Lucy Grosz at 624-889-0934 or lucy@altavistaben.com
If you are interested in finding out more, please attend the free
"Love Your Parents + Live Your Life" seminar on March 12, 2009 at Trillium Place, 3500 Trillium Crossing, Columbus, OH 43235. Registration begins at 5:45 PM and the program begins promptly at 6 PM. You will have the opportunity to ask your questions of the Moving Forward Senior Solutions panel.
Please RSVP by Friday, March 6th to Lucy Grosz at 624-889-0934 or lucy@altavistaben.com
Back Issues
Previous versions of newsletters are posted on the Alta Vista web site. If you missed an issue or there is a previous issue you would like to reference, please visit:
http://www.altavistaben.com
http://www.altavistaben.com
Happy New Year from Alta Vista Benefits!!
Issue #12The monthly Alta Vista Benefits newsletter is provided as a service to help with issues in your every day life. Your suggestions and feedback can be e-mailed to lucy@altavistaben.com.
Are You Protected?: Losing Your Income
Your income could possibly be the most important asset you have. Your lifestyle, standard of living and financial goals are all tied directly to your income. Since you have worked hard to get to your current earnings, keeping your income flowing is a critical part of protecting your family and you. There are many options to do this with disability income protection.
It may surprise you to know that most disabilities are caused by illness, and less than 14% are caused by injuries. If you are disabled, it can be as financially devastating to your family as a death. Not only do you lose your income, your expenses can increase as a result of caring for you.
If you have not reviewed your disability policy lately, you only have coverage through your employer, or have no coverage at all, please contact us. We can help you find affordable coverage to protect the valuable asset of your income.
It may surprise you to know that most disabilities are caused by illness, and less than 14% are caused by injuries. If you are disabled, it can be as financially devastating to your family as a death. Not only do you lose your income, your expenses can increase as a result of caring for you.
If you have not reviewed your disability policy lately, you only have coverage through your employer, or have no coverage at all, please contact us. We can help you find affordable coverage to protect the valuable asset of your income.
Did You Know?
It is important to know the definition of a disability that is stated in any policy you have. A disability can be a full or partial disability and the interpretation of that varies by carrier.
The definition of occupation (your "own" occupation or "any occupation) also has a bearing on the type of policy you choose. Definitions of "own" occupation can also vary by carrier.
We can help you make the right choice for your situation. We work with a team of people that can help you ensure that you choose a financially sound company and the right policy for the right price. To learn more, contact us today.
Lucy Grosz is the CEO of Alta Vista Benefits and can be reached at lucy@altavistaben.com or by phone at 614-889-0934.
Need a better web site? Can't be found in Google? Call Tom Anderson at 614-679-0912 or visit www.excelleweb.com.
The definition of occupation (your "own" occupation or "any occupation) also has a bearing on the type of policy you choose. Definitions of "own" occupation can also vary by carrier.
We can help you make the right choice for your situation. We work with a team of people that can help you ensure that you choose a financially sound company and the right policy for the right price. To learn more, contact us today.
Lucy Grosz is the CEO of Alta Vista Benefits and can be reached at lucy@altavistaben.com or by phone at 614-889-0934.
Need a better web site? Can't be found in Google? Call Tom Anderson at 614-679-0912 or visit www.excelleweb.com.
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