IRS Health Care Tax Tip Addresses ACA Reporting Requirements

While many taxpayers will simply need to check a box on their tax returns to indicate they had health coverage for all of 2015, the IRS is reminding individuals that there are a few additional forms and specific lines on Forms 1040, 1040-A, and 1040-EZ that relate to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Learn more.

Benefits Notices Checklist

This checklist is designed to help companies review the key reporting and notice requirements that may apply to their employer-sponsored group health plans under ERISA (the Employee Retirement Income Security Act). Please note that this list is for general reference purposes only and is not all-inclusive. Learn more.

Capital BlueCross January Individual Commission Payout

On the March commission statement, payment will be made for your Individual Account Sales that have effectuated coverage effective 1/1/16 through 3/1/16. Read more.

Aetna | January 2016 Commission Payments in Process

In an on‐going effort to keep you informed, we are making system enhancements to our commission tier structure. These enhancements will ensure your first commission payment of 2016 is calculated and paid accurately. Read more.

6 questions to ask before hiring a benefits tech vendor

As the New Year is in full swing, many human resource professionals across the country are asking themselves, ‘how do I avoid another year like the last?’ Increasingly, the answer to solving many issues has been technology. Read more.

What the presidential candidates’ positions on the ACA mean for employers

As you certainly know, we are in the heart of the presidential campaign season.. Read more.

Delay Of New Health Law Forms May Confuse Some Taxpayers

As the 2015 tax filing season gets underway, tax preparers said a delay in new health law tax forms is causing confusion for some consumers, while others want details about exemptions from increasingly stiff penalties for not having insurance. Read more.

Justice Scalia's death leads to employer uncertainty

The tragic passing of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia throws employers into a world of uncertainty. Read more.

UPMC analysis contends Highmark no longer top insurer in Western Pa.

More people in Western Pennsylvania now have health insurance from UPMC than from Highmark Inc., according to a UPMC analysis, marking a potential milestone in the rivalry between the nonprofits. Read more.

The health insurance death spiral

In response, both individuals and employers decrease the benefit (generally by increasing out-of-pocket exposure). Over time, the out-of-pockets have climbed into the thousands of dollars per person. Read more.

Christians Find Their Own Way to Replace Obamacare

Health sharing ministries allow devout Americans a safety net of care, but regulators say more consumer protection is needed. Read more.

Agents/Brokers: Special Enrollment Confirmation Process

Special enrollment periods (SEPs) are an important way to make sure that people who lose health insurance during the year or who experience major life changes like getting married or having a child have the opportunity to enroll in coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplaces outside of the annual Open Enrollment period. Read more.

FFM News for Agents and Brokers: Updated Tax Materials Now Available

CMS has just released a number of tax-related resources at Marketplace.CMS.gov, which you can access by selecting the “Technical Resources” link. You can share these resources with consumers to help them understand the effect of having health coverage on their 2015 federal taxes. Read more.

16 New Group Health Tools for the New Year

Unbeatable new tools for group health business. When you write your group health and employee benefits business with URL you gain access to the most comprehensive benefits and rewards available. Read more.

UPMC Producer Update - SEP Commission Changes

Commission Changes Applicable to Special Enrollment Periods. Because of continuing changes in market dynamics, we will no longer be paying commissions for Special Enrollment Period (SEP) enrollments with effective dates of May 1, 2016 or later. Read more.

Highmark Agency Action Alert - Feb. 24, 2016

This week's Agency Action Alert covers the following topics: Enrollment in Highmark's Medicare Advantage plans grew 8 percent overall, Debit card available for Dependent Care FSAs, Producer Hotline: Releasing group information, Bulletin distributed to group clients. Read more.

2016 Product Information

Find all the current product information on our website. Read more.

Weekly PPACA Update Conference Call

In a continuing effort to assist our agent-partners in getting the information needed to flourish within the under 65 group and individual markets in Pennsylvania, we are holding weekly live webinars. They will serve as a place to get your questions answered and discuss topics and strategies that will lead to your continued success in the health insurance market. Register once and you'll be signed up for all of the 2016 Weekly PPACA Conference Calls. Register now.

Weekly PPACA Conference Call Archives

Click here to view the archived recordings of the PPACA Conference Calls.