June 2014
In This Issue |
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COBRA Rates Updated With Ceridian Upon
Renewal |
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SBCs, Highlights and Forms Available at
ncmsplan.com |
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Voluntary Benefits: Participation Expected to
Grow |
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Health Care Reform Employer Checklist |
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Ask George |
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Wellness Council of America President to Speak to
NCMS Plan Practices: August 7th |
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Jason Horay, Health Promotion Coordinator, Selected
for CDC Workplace Wellness Training |
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COBRA Rates Updated With Ceridian Upon Renewal
If your practice is subject to COBRA with COBRA administration provided
by Ceridian, we will automatically send updated NCMS Plan rates to
Ceridian upon your renewal. COBRA rates take a few weeks to update, so the
sooner your practice makes its renewal decision, the sooner we can send
new rates to Ceridian. Rate changes can be delayed a continuant billing
cycle if your renewal is submitted late.
If you have any questions
about COBRA rates or Ceridian COBRA administration, please contact Rachel
Eaton at [email protected].
SBCs, Highlights and Forms Available at ncmsplan.com
For your convenience, we provide a multitude of NCMS Plan related
documents on our website, ncmsplan.com. Documents available include SBCs and
highlights for all current health products, and forms for both the
employer and employee. If you have trouble navigating the website or have
feedback, please let us
know.
Voluntary Benefits: Participation Expected to Grow
In addition to NCMS Plan products, MMIC Agency offers a wide range of
voluntary benefit offerings to better meet the personal insurance needs of
your employees. Through our relationship with Colonial Life, we can
address potential gaps in your benefit programs and provide more
competitive voluntary benefits at no direct cost to your practice.
To see if you are getting the most value out of your voluntary
benefit program or to help you understand the role voluntary benefits
could play in your practice, please complete this brief
survey.
Voluntary benefits are the fastest-growing segment of
the employee benefits market. Employees need financial protection now more
than ever. Voluntary benefits enable employers to reduce their benefit
costs and still provide employees the coverage they need.
With
Colonial Life's voluntary products and services, you have:
- The
ability to offer employees a broader, more competitive benefits package at
no direct cost to you. Your medical practice can have access to Colonial
Life's broad platform of quality life insurance, disability insurance,
accident insurance, specified disease insurance for critical illness and
cancer, and more.
- Favorable underwriting guidelines not readily
available in the traditional voluntary benefits market.
- Simple,
personalized benefits communication and enrollment services for your core
and voluntary benefit offerings through Colonial Life's electronic
enrollment system.
- Personal, one-on-one benefits counseling
sessions with each of your employees, to help them better understand the
benefits available to them, as well as where they may need more protection
for their individual situation.
- Flexible benefit offerings,
tailored to each employee's individual needs and budget.
To
schedule an appointment with a representative or to learn
more, please contact Barry Hill, Director of Sales and Marketing at
(919) 878-7576 or [email protected].
Health Care Reform Employer Checklist
For the most part, full implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)
is here and practices need to understand their obligations under the law.
The NCMS Plan is pleased to provide this online ‘at-a-glance’ checklist that can assist you in
understanding your responsibilities to your employees and the impact of
the ACA on the NCMS Plan. The checklist summarizes compliance issues from
W-2 reporting to Flexible Spending Account Limits to Wellness Programs.
If you have questions about the ACA and the NCMS Plan, contact
your NCMS Plan agent or call us at (800) 662-7917.
Ask George
Question: George, We have group dental insurance with MetLife
through the NCMS Plan. We hired a new employee February 2, 2014, who is
subject to our 90-day probationary period. This employee signed and
submitted a dental enrollment on May 8, 2014, and was informed by MetLife
that they are considered a "late entrant" subject to coverage waiting
periods. Why is this employee considered a "late entrant"?
Answer: MetLife requires that all new hires either accept or
decline the dental benefits within 31 days of their hire date, regardless
of the date they may be actually eligible. In this circumstance, your
employee would need to have submitted the signed enrollment by March 5,
2014 to be considered a timely enrollee not subject to a late entrant
penalty.
If you have questions about MetLife enrollment or
eligibility, MetLife Employer Service can be reached at (800) 488-8757.
And, as always, you can contact me directly with an inquiry at (919)
878-7561 or [email protected].
Wellness Council of America President to Speak to NCMS Plan Practices:
August 7th
The NCMS Plan is honored to have Ryan Picarella, President of Wellness Council of
America deliver this exclusive webinar free to NCMS Plan
practices. Register today!
The New Science of Stress: 5
Things You Can Do Today To Reduce The Harmful Effects of Stress
Thursday, August 7 12:00 to 12:45 p.m.
As stress
levels continue to rise so do their harmful effects on individuals and
organizations. New research suggests that the damage stress can cause is
even more harmful than previously thought. The good news is that the
damage can be reduced and in some cases reversed by practicing several
simple exercises each day.
The NCMS Plan is pleased to welcome
Ryan Picarella, President of Wellness Council of America (WELCOA) as part
of the continued Practice Wellness webinar series designed to assist
practice managers with effectively planning, developing, implementing, and
measuring a successful wellness program.
During this exclusive
opportunity for NCMS Plan members, Ryan will discuss stress and what can
be done on an individual level and how you can assist others in your
practice master these techniques to avoid the negative health effects.
As WELCOA’s new President, Ryan brings immense knowledge and
insight from his career that spans over a decade in the health and
wellness industry. He is a national speaker, healthcare consultant,
and has designed and executed award winning wellness programs. Ryan is
well known for his innovative and pragmatic approach to worksite wellness.
All registrants will be entered to win a $25 VISA gift card.
Register now!
Jason Horay, Health Promotion Coordinator, Selected for CDC Workplace
Wellness Training
Jason Horay, Health Promotion Coordinator for the NCMS Plan, is one of
60 professionals nationwide to be selected to become a certified
Work@Health Trainer, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
sponsored employer health promotion program launched last year. With this
training, Jason will acquire even more knowledge and skills needed to
deliver comprehensive workplace health training to NCMS Plan practices and
also receive CDC funding to support the effort.
Acceptance into
the train-the-trainer program is limited given that individuals must
demonstrate experience with workplace wellness programs and also have
sponsorship from state or local health departments, business collations,
community-based health organizations or non-profit organizations.
Individuals also have to have previously demonstrated knowledge of the
program’s curriculum, completed the Work@Health program and have at least
one year of experience in a leadership role implementing health programs.
Jason was nominated by the North Carolina Department of Health and
traveled to Atlanta, GA, on May 8 to attend the training lab.
Congratulations to Jason on being accepted into this training program and
the value it will add to the NCMS Plan and our client practices.
About the North Carolina Medical Society
Established in 1849, the North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) is
devoted to representing the interests of physicians and protecting the
quality of patient care as the largest physician organization in the
state. The NCMS Plan, sponsored by the NCMS, is the only statewide
employee benefits plan designed specifically for North Carolina
physicians.
For more information about many other benefits of NCMS
membership, visit http://www.ncmedsoc.org/. |