With the economy the way it is, people are thinking twice before spending money at the doctor’s office. In fact, I think it’s smart to ask for a bill every time you use any type of health services. When did we stop doing that?

Health Insurance was designed originally to pay for emergencies, not for a runny nose. That’s the way Auto Insurance is designed. You don’t expect your car insurance to pay for an oil change. Why should we expect health insurance to cover every incidental expense?

Here’s an article from a recent Wall Street Journal:

http://finance.yahoo.com/insurance/article/110187/americans-cut-back-on-doctor-visits?mod=insurance-health

Sean Herndon
Employee Benefits
sherndon@vanbeurden.com
Kingsburg • (559) 634-7112
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Today in our weekly meeting at Van Beurden Insurance, we discussed the requirements that the IRS is going to have for small businesses, in regards to reporting their Group Medical Insurance expenses.

Payroll reporting is getting more confusing for all of you business owners, and a Payroll company like Payality, can make your life a lot easier. Let me know if you’d like to learn more about Payality, or click here to visit them now.

“We’ll lie awake at night for the business owners, so they can get some sleep.”

Chet Reilly, Payality, Kingsburg CA

Sean Herndon
Employee Benefits
sherndon@vanbeurden.com
Kingsburg • (559) 634-7112
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I’ve been doing my yearly rate reviews for expected increases, and, up to now,  Anthem has not had any.

HOWEVER, I just spoke with them today, and they told me to be on the lookout for September. I’m on the edge of my seat.

I have to say this also;  I have several clients with Blue Shield, and not only did they not get increases, they also don’t expect any soon! Am I in an alternate universe where they don’t raise rates? WOW! Let’s keep our fingers crossed.

Sean Herndon
Employee Benefits
sherndon@vanbeurden.com
Kingsburg • (559) 634-7112
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We are all hearing about wellness, and how it can affect your companies bottom line, if you have unhealthy employees.

Keeping  people healthy is the most effective way to reap the financial benefits of cost avoidance. The cost of prevention drastically reduces health care costs, and directly impacts an employees ability to remain productive.

If you are an employer looking for a competitive edge in today’s market, it is in your best interest to take responsibility for effectively managing the health and well being of your employees. – Employee Benefit News

As a former small business owner, I know employees can be your best assets, or your worst nightmare. Keep them healthy, and in return you will make more money, and reap the rewards.

Sean Herndon
Employee Benefits
sherndon@vanbeurden.com
Kingsburg • (559) 634-7112
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Good afternoon world!

I want to update a previous post and let every individual Anthem Blue Cross policy holder know they will not be experiencing the rate increase proposed earlier in March. Per the CA Department of Insurance, Anthem Blue Cross had 2 math errors in calculating the new rates.

This is great news for Californians!

Daniel Bittick
Employee Benefits
dbittick@vanbeurden.com
Paso Robles • (805) 238-2181 ext. 105
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One  important aspect of the new health care reform legislation is funding for Wellness Grants.

Starting in 2011, employers with under 100 employees will have access to a $200 million fund available to help pay for Wellness Programs.  We will keep you informed as more details emerge, but this development should remove any last obstacles you may have as a business owner to implementing a viable Wellness Program now.  Our agency has one of the most effective Wellness Programs available anywhere, VeryWell Health, and for around $10 per employee per month, you will see results that make the decision to move forward a no-brainer.  The premium savings generated from an effective Wellness Program on both your Group Health Insurance Plan and Workers Compensation Insurance program are substantial and are documented on our website, www.VeryWellHealth.com. Please take a look and contact us for further information.

Erik Van Beurden
Chief Executive Officer
erikvb@vanbeurden.com
Kingsburg • (559) 897-2975
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Finally an article that begins to articulate a specific reason that health care costs are on the rise….are we being over tested by providers because they practice “defensive medicine” and the fee for service model reimburses them based on volume of procedures? I am certain that we are….

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35834880/ns/health-health_care

Gabe Rossetti
Employee Benefits
gabriel@vanbeurden.com
Los Osos • (805) 503-4726
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Here is the President’s Health Care proposal that was published prior to the Health Care Summit held last week. It is a blend of the Senate and House bills:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/summary-presidents-proposal.pdf

Gabe Rossetti
Employee Benefits
gabriel@vanbeurden.com
Los Osos • (805) 503-4726
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The attached is the best article regarding the cost of health care that I have read in my 30 years of being involved in health insurance:

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200909/health-care/2

Gabe Rossetti
Employee Benefits
gabriel@vanbeurden.com
Los Osos • (805) 503-4726
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Good morning world!

As many of you might know, Anthem Blue Cross filed a rate increase effecting individual policy holders in the state of California. This was originally going to take effect March 1st of 2010.  Since then the California Department of Insurance has stepped in to have Anthem Blue Cross justify their high rate increase. The California Department of Insurance will be hiring an independent actuary to review the requested rates.

The good news is the original rate increase will be delayed until May 1st, 2010 due to the audit. This will allow plenty of time to make plan changes or shop around. For more information please contact me or see the California Department of Insurance for the latest news and updates.

Have a great week!

Daniel Bittick
Employee Benefits
dbittick@vanbeurden.com
Paso Robles • (805) 238-2181 ext. 105
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Wellpoint, parent company of Anthem / Blue Cross has warned its individual policy holders that their rates may go up 39%, but the majority of their policy holders will have a 24% rate increase. They advise this is due to claims dollars paid out are higher than premiums brought in, among other reasons.

It appears that real health insurance reform is not going to happen anytime soon. With the recent election of the Republican senator in Massachusetts, the Democratic majority was ended. While many Americans did not like the direction that Health reform was going, I am concerned that reform will now take a back seat to other, also very important, priorities. America needs health insurance reform. Unless we collectively make changes, we will continue to see rate increases that Americans simply cannot continue to pay.

If you have an individual health insurance policy, be sure to contact your health insurance broker to review your specific needs. A broker can provide guidance, information and a variety of insurance companies with different plans and premiums.

Chris Van Beurden
chrisvb@vanbeurden.com

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