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UnitedHealthcare Rate Update, April 2023

UnitedHealthcare has issued a rate update for Q2 2023. There are no changes to plan designs or underwriting guidelines. Quoting is now available. Statewide average change for the quarter shows a 2....

Aetna Rate Update, April 2023

Aetna has issued a rate update for Q2 2023. There are no changes to plan designs or underwriting guidelines. Quoting is now available. Statewide average change for the quarter shows the following i...

President Signs ‘Respect for Marriage Act’

President Signs ‘Respect for Marriage Act’ The President signed the Respect for Marriage Act (RFMA) on December 13, 2022. The Act defines marriage to include same-sex couples under a federal statu...

2023 CAA Signed Into Law - Includes Telemedicine & HSA Relief

Issue Date: January 2023 As previously reported, the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA 2023) includes language extending the temporary relief permitting telemedicine plans to be offere...

Summit Employee Benefits Online Education Webinar Series - Q1 2023

Amwins Connect Insurance Services is once again a proud sponsor of Summit Employee Benefits Online Education. This allows us to offer you free exclusive access to the upcoming webinars. You are inv...

Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade Decision: Carrier Responses

The Supreme Court released its decision regarding abortion rights on June 24, essentially reversing the previous Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey decisions. While this decision does not dir...

New Guidance and Delayed Enforcement for Prescription Drug Data Collection (RxDC)

On the eve of the requirement for employer-sponsored health plans and health insurance carriers to submit prescription drug cost reporting data (RxDC), the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Servi...

Health Net Announces Small Group Q2 2023 Updates

Health Net invites you to join their leadership team to hear the latest updates for Q2 2023 Small Group Business! They have good news to share designed to help boost Health Net sales. Join Health N...

Kaiser Permanente's® COVID-19 Vaccine Update for Children Under 5

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has approved the use of updated COVID-19 vaccines for children 6 months to 5 years. Kaiser Permanente® expects to offer updated vaccines to this age grou...

Sharp Health Plan Rate Update, April 2023

Sharp Health Plan has issued a rate update for Q2 2023. Plans will increase 1.6% compared to Q1 rates, and 4.3% as an annual change. There are no plan or underwriting changes and quoting will be ava...

Blue Shield of California Choice Medical Group Successful Contract Negotiation

Choice Medical Group Successful Contract Negotiation Blue Shield of California has agreed to a multiyear provider contract negotiation with Choice Medical Group Apple Valley and Choice Medical Grou...

Small Employers Can Save Big with Aetna Funding Advantage™

Now small employers can take advantage of lower monthly payments and a claims surplus opportunity at annual renewal. They also get fixed monthly payments and monthly reporting with Aetna Funding Advan...

Accessing Care is Easier with Kaiser Permanente's® New Travel Card for Members

When employees receive in-person urgent or emergency care from providers in non-Kaiser Permanente states, they will soon have the option of showing their digital ID card in the Kaiser Permanente mobil...

Kaiser Permanente® Adds New Enhancements to Group Bills

Following Kaiser Permanente's® recent feedback, employer groups will begin seeing new enhancements to commercial group invoices on their December or January bills (depending on billing cycles). Lea...

Sutter Health Plus and Prescription Drug Data Collection Reporting (RxDC) Requirements

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (Section 204) requires insurance companies and employer-based health plans to submit information to the federal government about: Spending on prescrip...

Blue Shield of California and Prescription Drug Data Collection Reporting (RxDC) Requirements

Blue Shield of California is preparing to submit data files as required by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, Section 204 – Pharmacy Drug Cost Reporting for reports due December 27, 2022. This feder...

CCSB Introduces Family Glitch Toolkit

In October 2022, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's bureau of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released a final rule to address the “family glitch” issue. The family glitch deemed that employer-spons...

Sutter Health Plus Rate and Benefit Pass 2nd Quarter 2023

Sutter Health Plus has announced a rate pass for Q2 2023. Quoting will be available soon! There are no network or benefit changes. Remember that available January 1, 2023 Sutter Health Plus adde...

Compliance Considerations When Moving from Fully-Insured to Self-Funded

Employers may choose self-funded group health plan coverage to obtain more flexibility with plan design and hopefully save some money. However, in doing so, there are additional responsibilities and c...

UnitedHealthcare Consumer Price Transparency Tool Available on January 1, 2023

UnitedHealthcare will provide members with a new tool to estimate and compare select health service costs based on CAA requirements. Beginning Jan. 1, 2023, price comparison information for a speci...