As in-person appointments have been replaced with video conferences and other virtual mediums, UnitedHealthcare (UHC) has launched Right2You, a virtual care benefit that aims to assist the approximate 48 million people in the U.S. living with hearing loss. The initiative builds on the home-delivered hearing healthcare model developed by UnitedHealthcare …
On March 23, 2021, President Joe Biden and his administration reported that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it is extending the Special Enrollment Period (SEP) — which was originally available through May 15, 2021 —for an additional three months, allowing eligible individuals to enroll in …
According to a survey by virtual mental health platform, Ginger, 70% of workers say this period, that is the COVID-19 pandemic, is “the most stressful time in their entire professional career.” On top of that, approximately 88% reported experiencing moderate to extreme stress in 2020. Remote work has accelerated the …
An HSA, or Health Savings Account, is available to individuals enrolled in high deductible health plans (HDHPs). Traditionally, HSAs are a popular type of tax-exempt medical savings account. Allocated HSA funds can be used to pay for expenses covered under an HDHP plan until their deductible has been met; or …
On April 28, 2020, the Departments of Labor (DOL) and the Treasury issued deadline relief to help employee benefit plans, plan participants and plan service providers impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. Thereafter, on February 26, 2021, DOL Disaster Relief Notice 2021-01 clarified the duration of this relief. The deadlines were …
On December 21, 2020, Congress passed an emergency stimulus package designed to deliver approximately $900 billion in COVID-19-related aid. The bill has been sent to President Trump, and he is expected to sign it into law. Notably, the bill provides funding for unemployment benefits, small businesses, direct economic payments to …
Amazon has announced that it’s launching a virtual health clinic for Seattle-based employees and their families. What is the goal of this virtual health clinic? It will aim to provide telemedicine, in-person services, in-home follow-up appointments for employees, as well as serve as a vehicle for prescribing medications. This new …
What Is An HSA? An HSA is your Health Savings Account, available to individuals enrolled in high deductible health plans (HDHPS). Individuals can use their HSAs to pay for expenses covered under the HDHP until their deductible has been met, or they can use their HSAs to pay for qualified …
On Monday, June 24, 2019, President Donald Trump signed an executive order designed to increase pricing and quality transparency in healthcare. The president’s executive order is the latest move that the Trump administration has taken to address rising healthcare costs. In May 2019, the Department of Health and Human Services …
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires applicable large employers (ALEs) to offer affordable, minimum value health coverage to their full-time employees in order to avoid possible penalties. Because this employer mandate has been criticized as burdensome for employers and an impediment to business growth, it seems likely that its repeal …
In 2017 the Creative Benefits team launched a timely campaign, Employer Empowerment. Since the kick-off meeting, in early January, we are ahead of schedule with the successful completion of 3 strategic initiatives aimed to optimize the customer experience and drive desired outcomes. Providing our client stakeholders, the: CFO / Owner HR Director Employees …
It’s that time of year again. Temperatures are falling, days are getting shorter, and at Creative Benefits, we have insurance renewals and open enrollment on our minds. Most companies schedule health insurance renewals and open enrollment in December and January so the time to start thinking about these things is …
For most of us, seeing the doctor means making an appointment, trekking to the doctor’s office and having a face-to-face meeting. With its increasing accessibility and popularity, however, many consumers are turning to telemedicine as an alternative to a traditional doctor’s office visit. At Creative Benefits, we have observed a …
