Whether you’re an individual searching for a health plan for yourself or your family, or an employer looking for a group health insurance policy for your staff, there are many types of health plans to choose from. Two popular types of health plans for individuals and employers alike are a health maintenance organization (HMO) policy and a preferred provider organization (PPO) plan. Most people have a basic understanding of how health insurance works. However, knowing the differences between specific health plans, like an HMO and a PPO plan, is necessary to secure the right health coverage for ..read more

As more individuals and families become active healthcare consumers, knowing key healthcare terms and how they affect your health insurance costs is essential. One of the most critical terms to understand is health insurance premiums. Paying health insurance premiums is necessary to ensure your coverage is active when you need it most. This blog post will explain what a health insurance premium is, how much premiums typically cost, and how different factors and plans affect premium amounts ..read more

To navigate the healthcare industry successfully and secure the proper medical treatment, it’s important to know common terminology such as inpatient and outpatient. Knowing the difference between these terms will help you understand where to receive care and what to expect. Understanding these two types of care and how much each will cost can also give you an advantage when choosing a health plan and estimating out-of-pocket medical expenses. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the difference between inpatient and outpatient care, what factors determine each one’s costs, and what health ..read more

If you want to take your insurance business to the next level, you need to understand the ins and outs of working with field marketing organizations (FMOs). An insurance FMO is a company that provides support and resources to independent agents and brokers to help them grow their businesses. In this article, we'll explain how an FMO works, how it can benefit insurance agents and brokers, and why it's important to have a solid understanding of this key player in the insurance industry ..read more

In most cases, health insurance plans cover the policyholder and their immediate family members. However, some individuals may be able to add non-family members to their plan if they meet some very specific criteria. If you're curious about adding non-family members to your health plan, you need to understand the potential implications, limitations, and requirements for dependent coverage. In this article, we'll explore the considerations involved in extending coverage to non-family members and provide guidance on making informed decisions about your health insurance coverage ..read more

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) took great strides toward improving the affordability of and access to comprehensive healthcare nationwide. One initial aspect of the ACA required all Americans to obtain health insurance that provided minimum essential coverage (MEC) through their employer or on an individual basis or pay a federal tax penalty. The federal government has since repealed the health coverage requirement and penalty known as the individual mandate. But, some states still require their residents to have health insurance. Having a qualified health plan to avoid fines is essential in th ..read more

There are often different eligibility requirements for employee benefits like health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off (PTO). Employers and employees need to have a clear understanding of what constitutes an eligible employee and the requirements to qualify for specific benefits. In this article, we'll cover what an EE is and what the requirements are for different types of benefits ..read more

Many employers are moving away from traditional group health insurance by offering more affordable and flexible health benefits like health reimbursement arrangements (HRA) or health stipends. At the same time, many employees are taking advantage of health insurance subsidies, such as premium tax credits. Employees often ask, “Will the federal government penalize me for getting a subsidy when my employer offers benefits?” As an employer, you’ll need to know which health benefits options you can offer your employees without risking their health insurance subsidies ..read more

Like other small employers, dentists may wonder if they must offer health insurance benefits to their employees. While the Affordable Care Act (ACA) only requires organizations with 50 or more full-time equivalent employees (FTEs) to provide health insurance, smaller companies, like a dental practice, can improve their retention rate, team morale, and overall productivity by offering a comprehensive health benefit ..read more

Key employees aren't your average workers. These employees are key to the overall success of a company. They typically influence the strategy of a business and may even have ownership of it. Without them, a business may struggle to survive in a competitive market. But while their role is essential in their organization, favoring them with regard to benefits can have legal consequences. In this article, we'll define what a key employee is, explore the consequences of giving preference to key employees, and go over some strategies that companies can implement to attract and retain them without s ..read more