Make sure you tune in every day this week for Healthcare Trivia! You don't want to miss a minute of this hilarious series, which explains everything you need to know about the Affordable Care Act. 

Transcript:

MC: And we’re back for round number 2 of HEALTHCARE Trivia with Joel Harrison from EliteHRTeam.com leading Obamacare 1-0
Question 2: Please explain how the Affordable Care Act has affected healthcare prices and why.
Obamacare: (buzz) Free healthcare for everyone… just like these Obamapops. (Throws handful of Obamapops.) The ACA is great. The government is paying for everyone’s healthcare. I just applied last week and got coverage for $37 a month thanks to the government’s help.
MC: Obamacare, aren’t 2014 health insurance premiums being quoted at an increase of 100% or more from 2013 prices? 
Random Audience Member: THESE OBAMAPOPS AREN’T GLUTEN FREE. CELIACS UNITE (Throws Obamapop)
(Obamapop hits Obamacare in the head and knocks him out)
Joel: (looks confused *Buzz*) Yes, it is true that healthcare premiums are going up, and that is unfortunate. But here is why: health insurance plans are getting better. Every plan now has Essential Health Benefits. (graphic) The underlined benefits were previously optional. Now everyone gets them. This guy (pic of old guy) gets maternity. This girl (pic of quite “nice” girl) gets mental health and substance abuse… and that’s a good thing… (softly shaking head and looking up) it’s always the quiet ones. 
New plans also have “Cost sharing limits,” which means that no one will pay more than $6350 for their out of pocket max, $12700 for a family. Follow a few other rules and you’ve got yourself a Qualified Health Plan. 
Other changes include unlimited lifetime limits, which means you can’t get dropped for using your insurance, and that’s actually a GREAT thing.
Another great thing is Guaranteed Issue: This means that everyone can have insurance, without having to worry about pre-existing conditions. The only questions they will need to answer are: Where do you live, how old are you, and what plan would you like?
And the 300% rule means that no one person will pay more than 300% more than any other person. 
As you can see, there are big changes here. These plans are stacked, and most of them are GREAT coverage. The downside is that Congressmen wrote the law and they aren’t insurance people. So the big side effect is that it’s gonna cost ya.
MC: (sleepy) Uh uh yeah… that’s correct. Another point for Joel. And Obamacare has been taken to an in-network facility only 90 minutes away. I’m sure he’ll be fine.
Remember you don’t have to be scared about the cost of healthcare. Between subsidies, affordable options, and working with the system, Mensing Consulting Solutions can find a plan that works for you. Even if you don’t think you can afford health insurance, give us a call. We’ll give you peace of mind, and a plan that gets you covered! Our toll-free number is: 1-855-MENSING. Or, fill out a free quote request at www.EliteHRTeam.com 
So at the end of round one we have Joel ahead of Obamacare 2-0
We’ll be right back.

Make sure you tune in every day this week for Healthcare Trivia! You don't want to miss a minute of this hilarious series, which explains everything you need to know about the Affordable Care Act. 

Transcript:

Ladies and Gentleman, Welcome to HEALTHCARE TRIVIA.

And now, introducing your contestants:

Joel Harrison is a healthcare consultant at EliteHRTeam.com

His opponent and reigning US Healthcare Heavy-weight Champion,

OBAMACARE!

First Question: What do young people and the uninsured need to know about Health Insurance?

(Buzz) Obamacare

Obamacare: Healthcare.gov is all you need to know. It’s just like using Kayak.com to buy health insurance. [*This is a real statement made by President Obama

MC: Reports say healthcare.gov is having issues and users are not able to sign up.

O: Healthcare.gov is such a party, there’s a long line. It’s like waiting in line at “Da Club” to buy health insurance. 

MC: Joel 

Joel: (buzz) Young people looking to purchase health insurance need to get educated and speak with a licensed broker. A broker can look at all their options, both inside and outside the state marketplace, and help them find the best plan for their unique situation. It is also important to understand the following terms to help the conversation go smoother.

Deductible—The amount of money you are responsible for paying BEFORE the insurance company will start to pay their share.

Co-pay—The amount you will pay to go to a specific kind of doctor. There are different co-pays for well visits, primary care physicians, specialists, ER visits, prescriptions, and other situations.

Co-Insurance—The percentage of your medical bills that you are responsible for paying. For example, 80/20 co-insurance means the company pays 80% and you pay 20%, up to your out-of-pocket Max.

Out-of-pocket max—The most you will pay in a year for care.

MC: OK, yes, we were looking for contact a broker you can trust… but the judges will accept it.

So at the end of round one we have Joel ahead of Obamacare 1-0

Today’s episode is brought to you by Mensing Consulting Solutions—The HR Department for small businesses. For more information on how Mensing Consulting Solutions can help you navigate the confusing world of Healthcare, call us toll-free at 855-MENSING, or go to our website, www.EliteHRTeam.com, for your free quote. 

Get ready for a mini-series you can't ignore! Tune in every day next week for Healthcare Trivia, featuring contestants Joel Harrison from EliteHRTeam.com and Heavy-Weight Champion, OBAMACARE! Don't miss this hilarious series with real facts about what you need to know on Healthcare Reform.

Healthcare Reform Trivia coming to a computer screen near you! Monday 10/28/2013 at Noon CST. 

Joel Harrison VS Obamacare

MCS is counting down the minutes until the Illinois Health Care Exchange opens on October 1. Keep checking back for what-you-need-to-know updates!

FOR EMPLOYERS: You are required to send a letter to your employees, explaining their exchange options. We have drafted a letter for you. There are two options: one for businesses that already offer healthcare and one for businesses that do not. Contact us and we can co-brand it with your company’s information. 

FOR EMPLOYEES: If your employer doesn’t offer coverage, or you want to explore your options, we are here to give you the best health quote. We take into consideration your income, your life, and your desired level of coverage. There is a plan for everyone out there, and we can answer whether your best course of action is to go through the state, stick with your employer’s offering, or go out on your own.

Illinois opened the registration process for Producers to sign up on the Exchange on August 9. The first step is to complete the certification requirements for the Federally Facilitated Marketplace. As they say, “The course only takes 3-4 hours to complete, and it’s free.”

Our licensed agents have been attempting to complete this training for a while now, and so far, they haven’t been able to get access to the site to complete the verification process. One of them called the number listed on the site, and after being redirected to the right number (which has since been updated), was told that the site was experiencing a high volume of visitors (not surprising, since thousands of agents in the state have been waiting for access to rates and more information for their clients). He was told to try back later. Seven in the morning, eleven at night. Same error message. These lines are longer and more frustrating than the DMV! This problem is occurring with just enrolling agents--what happens if the population of Illinois wants to log on for more information? That's 12.8 million people. Facebook may be able to handle it, but we aren't sure about the Exchange.

The good news about the Exchange is that if you, as an individual, use a licensed and trained agent to find the best plan, you won’t pay a penny more than if you sat in front of the computer and dealt with the headache yourself! 

Mensing Consulting Solutions is here with the information you need to make an informed decision.

You’ve been through your files. You make sure to follow HR Best Practices. You don’t discriminate and you’ve made sure your staff has been through safety and harassment training. You’re doing everything a business owner should do. But did you know that your computer system could make you non-compliant?

According to Tech Republic, if you’re still running Windows XP, you are open to liability. On April 8, 2014, Microsoft will no longer release security patches for this operating system, which will make it non-compliant with HIPAA/HITECH. 

For those in the medical field, now is the time to work out a plan. There are a few things to consider:

· See if your current workstations can update to a newer version of Windows or if they need to be replaced.

· Contact current vendors for updated software that will run on a newer platform.

· Analyze whether you can run outdated software on a terminal server and have clients access it remotely.

· Decide whether a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) will work for you. This would run 50-100 desktops on one physical server. 

We know you would’ve updated already if it seemed like the best option. Now may be the time to replace slow, outdated machines with new. For more information, read this article.

Even if you aren’t in the healthcare field, there may be things you can do to protect yourself from costly fines. 

On August 21, Mensing Consulting Solutions hosted “Are You Prepared?” in conjunction with the Small Business Association. It was a workshop designed to answer business owners’ many questions about the Affordable Care Act. Keynote speaker Dennis Foldenauer from the Small Business Association explained the benefits of the program from the government’s perspective. 

In three breakout sessions, practical solutions were offered and “what if” scenarios proposed. Kurt Rickhoff, owner of Rickhoff Small Business Accounting, discussed the ramifications from an accounting perspective, including the changes to W-2s. Joel Harrison from Mensing Consulting Solutions talked about how to make the affordable care act actually affordable, and presented a myriad of options that business owners might not have been previously aware of when it comes to offering benefits to their employees. Finally, Kandi Mensing ended the morning with a session on the perks that business owners can offer their employees–many with no additional cost involved.

The workshop addressed more than forty attendees, with interest in repeating the information session for chamber groups. Attendees stayed after for an hour-long question-and-answer session, where they had a chance to outline their own unique situations and get answers to their specific questions. 

The event was a success thanks to the support of: 

• Mensing Consulting Solutions 
• Rickhoff & Associates

• SBA, Small Business Association 
• SBDC, The Small Business Development Center at SIUE
• O'Fallon-Shiloh Chamber of Commerce (COC) 
• Riverbend Growth Association
• Edwardsville/Glen Carbon COC
• Collinsville COC
• SW Madison County COC
• Belleville COC
• Mascoutah COC
• Snap Shack PhotoBooth
• Illinois Business Journal 
• Snap Shack Phot
• Edward Jones Mascoutah Office

Even though “Are You Prepared?” and events like it can help owners understand what is expected of them, starting with the changes that have already passed and the new requirements of January 1, 2014, we recommend contacting a trusted broker who can walk you through all the options. Mensing Consulting Solutions has recently sat down with clients and saved them thousands of dollars a year or more, just by exploring their choices. Our experts would love to talk with you! 

By: Jodi Tahsler 

Many businesses, small and large, use benefits brokers to help them choose healthcare coverage for their employees, implement wellness and safety programs, and keep them up to date on changing legislation, including healthcare reform. 

In a recent article, Benefits Pros summarize studies that showed brokers are not able to provide companies with the service and attention they require, and a large percentage are unhappy with their experience. Even more surprising is that “nearly half of brokers aren’t confident in their future in the industry and are considering quitting.” Businesses are realizing their need for a broker more than ever, and brokers know they need to provide more than just an insurance policy. So where is the disconnect? 

Mensing Consulting Solutions is different because we can offer the “boutique experience.” Unlike brokers, which compare to the “big box stores,” we can customize your experience and tailor-make HR recommendations for your company. We don’t want to offer cookie cutter solutions, because every company is not the same. We want to work with you to find real-world, workable situations that will save you money and create a welcoming environment for employees. 

We can customize the level of coverage you need. Whether you need auditing and file compliance help, sexual harassment training, recruitment, employee engagement and retention strategies, or healthcare options and advice, we offer an option that is right for your needs. As a bonus, you get the peace of mind that you made an informed decision. 

To read more, go to: Brokers Failing Employers 

Our next session of Elite HR Business School is now enrolling. We only accept 5 businesses for each program and have several enrolled for our September session already! Save your seat today by applying below!

Businesses tell us that one of their top areas of worry and uncertainty, if not THE #1 concern, involves changes in healthcare.  We're always interested in multiple points of view regarding this important topic, regardless of political leaning.  Like you, we're keenly attuned to the financial impact of healthcare policies on businesses. Thus we thought you might be interested in Dr. Elizabeth Lee Vliet's perspective, especially since "taxpayer" is often another way to say "businesses."

Now that businesses will not be required to offer health insurance until 2015, workers and their dependents will be eligible for taxpayer-funded subsidies to purchase health insurance on the exchanges.
This will cost taxpayers an estimated $60 billion dollars in 2014 alone to cover the increased costs of subsidies and the loss of revenue from employer penalties.
This $60 billion figure is before we take into account the "liar subsidies"that will invariably occur now that the administration has quietly removed eligibility verification for taxpayer-funded subsidies.
Community organizers are already being hired around the country to sign people up for the health exchanges. There are no penalties for failing to verify eligibility, and no penalties for signing up people who cannot afford to pay the monthly insurance premiums.

To read more, go to:
 
 10 Reasons Why Obamacare Is Going to Ruin Your Medical Care and Your Life