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7 Tips to Prepare for Flu Season

by ClaimLinxOctober 28, 2014October 22, 20191 Comment

Flu season is officially here. A report from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that 111 million workdays are lost because of the flu, costing employers $7 billion in lost sick days and productivity.

While getting vaccinated is still the best way to avoid getting the flu, here are seven additional tips to prepare your workplace:

1. Educate your employees about the symptoms and how the virus is spread.

2. Improve office hygiene practices, keeping in mind the dirtiest areas are: break room sink faucet handles, microwave and refrigerator door handles, and computer keyboards.

3. Review company policies for sick leave, paid time off, and telecommuting.

4. Develop a communication plan with information about signs, symptoms, sick time policies, and flu shot clinic dates and times.

5. Create a contingency plan to maintain normal business operations in the event key employees are out sick.

6. Share health plan details with your employees, making sure they are familiar with their insurance policies, and know who to call with questions.

7. Host an on-site flu shot clinic or participate in a local pharmacy voucher program.

Employers Cut Back on Health Coverage While Healthcare Spending Rises

by ClaimLinxOctober 23, 2014October 22, 2019Leave a comment

An annual poll of employers, by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research & Educational Trust, shows the cost of employer health coverage increased about 4% last year, while the cost of employer coverage for an individual was up 2%. In 2013 and 2014, premiums for a family went up 4%.

“We’re in a period of historic moderation in premium costs,” Drew Altman, chief executive of the Kaiser Family Foundation told the Wall Street Journal in a recent interview.

The cause of the slowdown is a debate among economists. Some argue it’s closely tied to the recession and its aftermath, while others believe the change is due higher deductibles and other ACA-mandated changes in health coverage.

According to the study, many employers considered changing coverage for retirees. In order to cut back, employers may change work schedules, since those who work fewer than 30 hours a week don’t count toward ACA non-insurance coverage penalties.

On the contrary, national health spending is projected to pick up this year. It is expected to increase 5.6% in 2014 and 4.9% in 2015.

Future healthcare spending is an important component of the federal budget, especially as the government expansion of Medicare impacts federal healthcare spending.

Even with the upturn of the economy, the recession has likely continued to play a large part in medical spending.

October Is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

by ClaimLinxOctober 21, 2014October 22, 2019Leave a comment

Breast cancer is the second most common kind of cancer in women, about 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will get breast cancer in their lifetime. Each year, over 2,000 men are also diagnosed with the disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

What is the survival rate if breast cancer is detected early?

When Breast Cancer is detected early, in the localized stage, the 5-year survival rate is 98%.

How is breast cancer detected?

A mammogram, an x-ray screening test for breast cancer, can find breast cancer early. There are other ways to detect breast cancer without a mammogram:

* Clinical Breast Exam (CBE), about every three years as part of a general health exam.

* Breast self-exam, on a regular basis lets you become familiar with your breasts so you will notice any changes.

What is it like to be a breast cancer survivor?

When Michelle Teel turned 30, she was doing a self breast exam and noticed a lump in her right breast that felt like a marble. A mammogram and biopsy confirmed the lump was cancer.

At 31, Teel underwent a double mastectomy and reconstruction of her breasts. She experienced side effects from the chemotherapy that included nausea, fatigue, and loss of her hair, including most of her eyebrows.

“I try to see the positives in this whole thing,” said Teel, whose mother is also a breast cancer survivor. “It makes it less weird for your friends.”

Early detection saved Michelle’s life.

Wellpoint to Rebrand Itself as Anthem

by ClaimLinxOctober 17, 2014October 22, 20191 Comment

WellPoint, located in Indianapolis and one of the largest investor-owned health insurers in the country, is rebranding itself as Anthem, pending shareholder approval.

WellPoint’s CEO, Joe Swedish, says the company wants to better connect with consumers in a “radically changing” healthcare environment. A recent survey conducted about healthcare preferences revealed that brand was at the top of consumers’ lists, as well as price and provider network.

“We’re dealing with a consumer-oriented industry that now is being put in a position to make healthcare decisions for themselves and their families that is based around more information about access, quality and price,” said Swedish, a former health system CEO. “We have to demonstrate a brand that gives each person a value proposition.”

Swedish also believes the name change will eliminate brand confusion among its 48,000 employees and large provider network, in addition to its millions of members.

The change should go into effect by the end of this year, pending Shareholders approval on November 5.

Please read the article by Bob Herman in its entirety here.

ClaimLinx is committed to helping you navigate your way through healthcare reform with tools and information that are ACA compliant. For more information or questions about your plan, email service@claimlinx.com or call 513.677.6262 or 1-800-858-1772.

Health Coverage to End Without Proof of Citizenship

by ClaimLinxOctober 14, 2014October 22, 2019Leave a comment

The Wall Street Journal announced mid-August that the Obama administration would cancel health insurance for nearly 310,000 people if they couldn’t provide proof of U.S. Citizenship by September 5, 2014.

According to the article, officials at The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will have insurers terminate the plans starting September 30th.

Millions of users complained about the difficulty of using the HealthCare.gov website last fall. Many user applications didn’t match the data the federa

l government had on file. Nearly 150,000 of the 310,000 people receiving the warning of insurance termination reside in Texas or Florida.

Ron Pollack, head of the Families USA advocacy group, is concerned about the short deadlines.

“You want to make sure that of the Families USA advocacy group, is concerned about the short deadlines.

those people are not cut off just because of some paper problems that exist within the federal government. I would err on the side of caution in terms of cutting anyone off. People who have not responded so far probably think they’ve done everything they needed to do.”

Contrarily, Leonardo Cuello, director of health reform for the National Health Law Program, believes applicants have been given adequate time to turn in their missing information and the government is being reasonable in terminating the insurance plans.

“At the end of the day, we have to appreciate that they’re striking a balance,” Cuello said.

To read the full story, click here.