Stahl & Company

PENNIE exchange Board of Directors approval. As posted recently, the PENNIE Health Insurance Exchange will be re-opening for additional enrollment through May 15, 2021. Many people are unaware that the deductibles and premiums are substantially reduced as income changes occur. With COVID-19 affecting many families' finances, converting COBRA coverage to an individual policy may save you a mortgage payment monthly in premium. As well, children from the ages of 21-26 may ha...ve incomes that qualify them for $0 deductible Blue Cross Blue Shield coverage for premiums less than $10 per week. Many families carry older children on their company based insurance for hundreds of dollars more per month. Redirecting $2,000 or more in premium savings to your 401k plan will make retirement more comfortable. People who have already purchased coverage on the exchange may be missing out on deductible reductions and additional premium savings. Most clients I helped this year had out of date files port over from Healthcare.gov. Please refer to the chart below and call with questions of how to reduce your premiums. We are here for extended hours to help in these difficult times!

PENNIE.com reopening for individual health insurance enrollment. President Biden is scheduled to sign an executive order this morning re-opening the Federal and State based exchanges to extend enrollment to individuals who are currently not insured. You will have until May 15th to elect coverage that meets your needs and budgets. The local Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) is the main carrier I represent in the four insurance regions of Pennsylvania. Please call (866-680-0951) or write to learn how quality, affordable BCBS coverage can be available for as low as $50 per month for a $0 deductible plan. Business hours are extended to 9:00pm until the end of this special enrollment period ends.

PPP Loans Round TWO application Many small businesses, sole proprietors and independent contractors are struggling through one of the most difficult times in our countries history. The application for the second round of PPP loans was released this morning. If in any quarter of 2020 you incurred more than a 25% reduction in revenue, you are eligible for a PPP loan and applicable loan forgiveness. Many 1099 independent employees and self employed are not aware they are elig...ible for loan forgiveness up to $100,000 of 2019 earned income. The maximum loan and forgiveness at this level is $20,833. A link to a virtual folder containing PPP round two information: https://www.dropbox.com//pyiyds/AACDolWw1liYfuj_3_q2lLQga This is my twenty fifth year of helping small businesses manage the cost of their second largest expense, health insurance. Please call or write for a free quote from one of the Chamber of Commerce, Consortium, PENNIE exchange or other resources I have to help you improve your insurance while lowering your cost. [email protected] or 866-680-0951

COVID testing, CVS mini-clinics and LabCorp I posted the announcement of the opening of the 1000 CVS mini-clinics a few months ago as that was unfolding. Having been tested there a few times myself, I can only say very good things about the experience. The only other local resources in my part of Pennsylvania you can find testing are urgent care centers. Unfortunately , most appear to be requiring you to allow them to bill your insurance and you pay a co-pay as an urgent care... visit. Testing is still paid by the CARES Act for the uninsured, an urgent care visit is likely not reimbursed. Your insurance carrier is also reimbursed for the cost of you getting tested. A huge THANK YOU for the leadership at CVS to have the foresight to see the need for weekend nurse practitioner care when most doctors offices are closed. With the average ER claim ranging from $2,000 to $3,000, it makes perfect sense to seek weekend care for non-emergency situations at urgent care or mini-clinics near you. LabCorp, a preferred lab partner to many insurance carriers including BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD, offers test kits they will mail to your home if it is more convenient for you or you can’t get an appointment at CVS or other local testing location. Visit their website and order one today in the event you have a loved one showing any signs of the virus. Stay healthy, be safe and best wishes for a prosperous 2021 for us all! Should any of your family or friends own a small business, be aging into Medicare or lose group insurance through their job, please have them contact me at 866-680-0951, [email protected] or here @chamberprogram.com

Coronavirus Response And Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act: With the new stimulus relief legislation passed Monday, comes one of the best protections for America in more than 100 years. Hidden charges from providers who elect to not participate with most main stream insurance carriers will now be limited to In-Network carrier reimbursement starting January 1, 2022. Their costs will be applied as in-network toward your deductible and MOOP.... Negotiating with a non-contracted provider in a hospital or other healthcare setting can be a financial nightmare. While recovering from an Emergency or a surgery, many have found themselves being billed by providers and service providers, unknown to the patient, that refuse industry standard reimbursements for their services. As example, the $9,600 your provider pretends an MRI costs them is reimbursed by Medicare in five county Philadelphia for roughly $450. Most imaging centers tack on an extra procedure code or two to upcharge even Medicare to receive $1,500 or more for the service. Typically, Medicare reimbursement is 200% over the submitted cost data from the contracted providers in the service area. Your providers pretend $9,600 charge for the service that costs them $225 to perform isn't pretend when your provider is not contracted with your insurance carrier or you are without insurance. Key elements of the legislation would: Hold patients harmless from surprise bills stemming from emergency medical care. That would apply if the patient is seen at an out-of-network facility, or if they are treated by an out-of-network clinician at an in-network hospital. In either case, the patient could only be billed based on their plan's in-network rate. Protect patients admitted to an in-network hospital for a planned procedure when an out-of-network clinician gets involved. This can happen when a surgeon is called in to assist in the operating room, or if the anesthesiologist on duty is not part of the patient's plan. Generally require out-of-network service providers to give patients 72-hour notice of their estimated charges. Patients would have to agree to receive out-of-network care for the hospital or doctor to then bill them. Bar air ambulance services from sending patients surprise bills for more than the in-network cost sharing amount. Air ambulance charges have become a bigger problem in states where patients have to travel long distances to get to the best hospitals. However, ground ambulance services will not face the same restrictions, and the legislation only calls for more study of their billing practices. Please remember us for your small group, individual and Medicare insurance needs. Call us at 866-680-0951.

The PENNIE exchange extended enrollment scheduled to close today for January 1st effective date. The new deadline is December 22nd. Adjusted gross incomes of under $25,000 in 2021 can expect to pay $50-$75 per month irrespective of age or total premium cost. A family of four under $104,500 can expect significant premium savings. Important Details for Customers: All customers will continue to be able to shop for 1/1 coverage through 11:59pm EST on 12/22... Extended deadline is automatically available to all customers and will be reflected when they login and plan shop. Customers will not be able to enroll in 2/1 coverage until 12/23 (although they will be able to anonymously shop for 2/1 coverage from 12/16-12/22) Customers enrolling for 1/1 coverage after 12/15 should remember to make a prompt binder payment to ensure that their coverage is in effect on 1/1. Any delays could result in the customer not having all of their member materials in hand on 1/1. Our office hours are extended to 10:00pm to help you secure a quality BCBS program. Call 866-680-0951