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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lucy Grosz is the CEO of Alta Vista Benefits and can be reached at lucy@altavistaben.com or by phone at 614-889-0934.
Showing posts with label COBRA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label COBRA. Show all posts
Friday, May 21, 2010
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lucy Grosz is the CEO of Alta Vista Benefits and can be reached at lucy@altavistaben.com or by phone at 614-889-0934.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
