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Health Plan Options |
Commercial Bulletin: April 27, 2021
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Marketplace brokers: make sales and earn cash
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We are pleased to announce our new bonus opportunity for Geisinger Health Plan brokers selling individual Geisinger Marketplace health plans.
- Brokers will receive a one-time payout of $75 per member for first-time enrollments effective between June 1, 2021 and September 1, 2021.
- We’ll pay out broker bonuses for new Marketplace enrollments in October, in conjunction with September commissions.
Don’t forget, you must be appointed by us to sell our individual products and also possess your Pennie certification.
Download a copy of our bonus program news as a flier to share with your team, here.
Questions? Contact your account service representative.
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The May and June 2021 billing schedules are now available
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*The catchup is a bill run that picks up new groups or groups that did not receive a bill in a prior run.
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Childhood vaccine rates are dropping – and it could hurt your clients.
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Did you know? COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a sharp drop in childhood vaccinations – and it’s clear why. With physical distancing and stay-at-home recommendations, fewer families are visiting their primary care physician to receive their regular vaccinations. But this has the potential to lead to a resurgence in preventable diseases like measles, whooping cough, and even polio. Not only does this put the health of your employees, their children, and your community at risk, but it’s also a challenge for you, as it has potential impact the overall health of your group.
Vaccines are one of the most cost-effective ways to prevent wide-spread outbreaks of infectious diseases. According to the CDC, vaccinations to children will save nearly $295 billion in direct costs, which includes avoided hospitalizations and other medical care, and $1.38 trillion in total costs to society, such as lost wages and decreased productivity.
When it comes to regular vaccinations, your employees and their dependents are covered. Our preventive care and pediatric services ensure that childhood vaccinations will always be always when you need them. And for those with a myGeisinger account, it’s easy to keep track of care for the whole family. Members enrolled with myGeisinger can even opt-in to receive reminders when a vaccination, appointment, or an important care milestone is coming up.
Want to learn more? Reach out to your account representative.
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When it comes to seasonal allergies, there are multiple treatment options. Find one that works best for you.
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With the warmer summer weather and longer days spent outdoors can come pesky seasonal allergies. Sneezing, itchy eyes and coughing hit children and adults alike. Finding a treatment method that works well can bring relief from these allergies — so you can get outside and enjoy the fresh air.
What causes seasonal allergies
Allergies occur when your immune system reacts (or overreacts) to a foreign substance, like pollen, a bee sting or even certain foods. When your body is exposed to something you’re allergic to, it reacts by trying to remove the allergen from your system. These reactions often cause allergy symptoms that can include:
- Sneezing
- Itchiness
- Coughing
- Runny nose
- Hives
- Swelling
- Anaphylaxis (a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction)
“For most people, seasonal allergies cause mild symptoms like sneezing and runny nose,” says Joseph Lobrutto, PharmD, pharmacy manager at Geisinger Community Medical Center. But for some, symptoms can be life-threatening. In those cases, an EpiPen is often the best form of treatment. “In general, however, allergy medications or treatments like shots or drops can help lessen the effects of allergens,” says Lobrutto. Allergy medicine to manage your symptomsUsing medications like antihistamines, decongestants, steroidal nasal sprays and eye drops — either together or separately — can help you reduce and manage your symptoms. “Antihistamines are over-the-counter medications that reduce your body’s allergic response,” said Lobrutto. “But they can cause drowsiness, so be sure you know how the medication affects you before operating any heavy machinery, including driving your car.” Decongestants are another over-the-counter medication that work by breaking up mucus and congestion. “While you can buy these at your local store, more effective decongestants like pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) are only available at a pharmacy,” says Lobrutto. He cautions against using decongestants for more than 3 days at a time without talking to your doctor or pharmacist. Steroidal nasal sprays help you breathe easier by reducing inflammation in your nose. Most allergy nasal sprays are available over the counter and are usually used for one to two sprays per day, per nostril. “Steroid nasal sprays are not the same as decongestant nasal sprays, as they can be used longer than decongestants,” says Lobrutto. There are also antihistamine nasal sprays available, but you’ll need a prescription from your physician for these. Eye drops control the itchiness and watering that come with seasonal allergies. Some of these drops are available over the counter and others through a prescription from your doctor. For the best results, remember to take out contact lenses before using your eye drops. Seasonal allergy treatment optionsBeyond these medications that just treat the symptoms, you may also want to talk with your doctor about other allergy treatment options such as allergy shots. “Allergies can be treated by exposing your body to a small and increasing amount of what you’re allergic to,” says Lobrutto. This means that, as you continue receiving allergy treatments, the amount of allergens you’re exposed to increases each time. Your body gradually builds up tolerance against what you’re allergic to — and that lessens your symptoms. “Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about your seasonal allergy, symptoms and which treatments or medications might work best for you,” says Lobrutto. Learn more.
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For groups with employees over 55, Silver&Fit has something for everyone.
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Silver&Fit® is a healthy aging and exercise program where members can get fit in a way that accommodates their lifestyle. With 1,500 digital workouts, daily workout videos on Facebook and YouTube, home fitness kits, health coaching, and access to over 15,000 participating fitness center, there’s so many ways for GHP members over 55 to stay active. To learn more about Silver&Fit, visit SilverandFit.com or call 877-427-4788, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. EST.
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Regulation spotlight: what is the Family First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)?
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On February 26, 2021, the Departments of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Treasury released several FAQs clarifying provisions from the Family First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The key points include:
- Plans and issuers cannot use medical screening criteria to deny or impose cost sharing requirements on claims for COVID-19 diagnostic testing; however, plans and issuers can distinguish between testing for diagnostics purposes versus testing for public health surveillance or employment purposes. (Q1 and Q2)
- Plans and issuers must cover COVID-19 diagnostic tests provided through state or locality administered testing sites, point-of-care tests for COVID-19 without cost sharing, and vaccine administration fee when not billed for the vaccine. (Q3, Q4, and Q9)
- In addition to the tri-agencies’ guidance, CMS updated its Toolkit on COVID-19 Vaccine on March 18, 2021. The updates include operational considerations for potential COVID-19 vaccines, updated vaccine coding, and other reimbursement considerations and FAQs.
This document is provided for informational purposes only, not for the purpose of providing legal advice.
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Stay informed about COVID-19
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Geisinger.org/coronavirus is full of the most up-to-date information about the latest on COVID-19 including vaccine FAQs, our safety checklist, community resources and much more. Want the latest updates sent right to your inbox? Simply scroll down until you see the blue email sign-up box.
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Save the brokerHUB to your bookmarks
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Can’t keep all our brokerHUBs straight? Save these links to your bookmarks or wherever you can easily access it to enter with just a click:
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- The Biden Administration is switching its focus from COVID-19 to infrastructure, while Congress is looking to pass legislation to lower prescription drug costs.
- The IRS has announced that it will simply reduce the excess amount to zero and reimburse taxpayers who have already repaid any excess APTC on their 2020 tax return.
- NAHU, with the help of our Medicare Advisory Group, was able to submit a list of recommended changes to the 2022 “Medicare & You” handbook ahead of its publication.
This week’s fast facts are brought to you by the National Association of Healthcare Underwriters.
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**If you choose to share this information with others, be mindful. Please take care to avoid altering or modifying the original messaging in this bulletin, or any Geisinger communications, in any way.** |
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