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Is Cost Sharing Reaching its Limit for California Employers?

Health care costs continue to rise in California with the average health plan now topping $19,200 a year for a family. But employers and workers seem to be reaching their limit when it comes to increa...

California Legislative Update

Below are bills that have passed the California Legislature. As of this date, Governor Jerry Brown has signed several into law. UNIVERSAL COVERAGE Signed into law: AB 2472 (Wood D): The bill req...

Blue Shield of California Eases Small Group Participation Requirements

To help make new sales submissions easier, Blue Shield of California will count a refusal of coverage due to individual coverage as a valid waiver beginning with October 1, 2018 effective dates. Emplo...

MediExcel Launches Vision Plan

MediExcel has introduced Vision Plan V100, focusing on quality coverage at affordable premiums. The plan is available as an employer-paid or voluntary benefit. Coverage is available to members who are...

What You Need to Know About Employer Reporting – IRS Letter 5699

Most of us are well aware that the IRS is actively collecting employer shared responsibility payments from applicable large employers (ALE) who failed to comply with the Section 4980H offer of coverag...

Webinar: Today's Biggest Employee Benefit Trends

MetLife is hosting a webinar featuring critical insights from their latest U.S. Employee Benefit Trends Study. You will learn The 2018 research is out and it’s clear. More than any other time th...

Anthem Blue Cross Issues MLR Rebates

Anthem Blue Cross is issuing rebate checks to certain employers in accordance with medical loss ratio (MLR) provisions under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Small group medical carriers are required to...

A Look at Out-of-Network Billing

In more than 15% of inpatient admissions, a patient gets a bill from an out-of-network provider even though they used an in-network facility, according to a national study of large employer plans by t...

Many Employers Are Not Ready for Open Enrollment

A significant number of employers are not on the right pace to gear up for open enrollment. As of July, many had not yet planned or designed employee communications, reviewed compliance and eligibilit...

Premier Physician Network Satellite Sites to Close

Anthem Blue Cross was recently informed that the Premier Physician Network satellite sites listed below will close and discontinue services effective December 1, 2018: PPN United Care Medical Gr...

Dignity Health Medical Network-Sequoia to Discontinue Services

Anthem Blue Cross, along with other major carriers, was recently informed that Dignity Health Medical Network-Sequoia in San Mateo County will discontinue all services on November 1, 2018. Members en...

Kaiser Permanente® Announces 50% Participation Promo

Kaiser Permanente® has lowered their participation requirement to 50% for all new small groups with effective dates September 2018 through January 2019. Also, Kaiser Permanente® will continue to write...

Will Raising HSA Limits Prompt Higher Contributions?

The House of Representatives passed a bill that would raise the annual limit on HSA contributions to match out-of-pocket deductibles for HDHPs. HR 6311 would nearly double annual contribution limits f...

LISI Partners with BenRevo to Streamline Large Group Quoting

LISI has an exclusive partnership with BenRevo, Inc. to offer a revolutionary large group insurance quoting process. BenRevo connects carriers, brokers, and customers on a common platform, slashing th...

California Legislature Bans Short-Term Health Plans

The California legislature passed a bill that would prohibit the sale of short-term health plans. Authored by state Sen. Ed Hernandez (D-Azusa), SB 910 awaits action by Governor Brown. If the bill bec...

Commissioner Jones urges DOJ to block CVS/Aetna Merger

California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones is urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to sue to block the proposed merger of CVS and Aetna. Jones said it would have significant anti-competitive effec...

Delta Dental Small Business Update

Delta Dental announced the following updates for their 2019 Small Business Program renewal for California: Rate pass for 2019 – There is no increase in rates for all Delta Dental PPOTM and DeltaCar...

Group Coverage Rises in California While Individual Coverage Falls

In 2017, group coverage rose while individual coverage declined in California, according to a report by the California Healthcare Foundation. Strong employment growth contributed to rising enrollment ...

Employers Ramp Up Benefits in Tight Labor Market

Employers are using benefits to recruit and retain talent in a tight labor market. A survey by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) finds that more employers are reviewing their benefit pa...

Test Your Health Net Knowledge

Health Net is introducing new plans and expanding in Southern California just in time for Q4. So now is a great time to see if you're on top of the game with this quiz.

Anthem Renews Agreement with Dignity Health

Anthem Renews Agreement With Dignity Health Anthem Blue Cross renewed their Commercial Hospital Agreement (including Medicare Advantage) with Dignity Health as well as their CaliforniaCare HMO Agreeme...