As your broker, I am working daily \u00a0to keep updated on changes to policies as they relate to your employer group health plan as well as changes that may affect your business.\u00a0 Changes are coming in several times throughout the day from the insurance carriers and government agencies. \u00a0<\/u><\/u><\/p>
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Below are some changes due to COVID-19 .\u00a0<\/u><\/u><\/p>
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Telemedicine and COVID Testing<\/u><\/b><\/p>
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Most Employer Group Health Insurance plans are now covering Telemedicine.\u00a0 Screening for COVID-19 is covered at no cost through your insurance.\u00a0\u00a0 If you need to see a doctor and are unable to obtain an appointment, please check with your insurance carrier on options for Telemedicine.\u00a0<\/u><\/u><\/p>
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Premiums Due for Health Insurance<\/u><\/b><\/u><\/u><\/p>
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\u00a0As of now, the insurance carriers have not extended the deadline for the premiums due for Health Insurance but I do expect this to change over the next few days.\u00a0 However, if you would like to cancel your current policy to move to a lower premium and a\u00a0\u00a0different<\/i><\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>insurance carrier, please reach out to me and I will prepare some options.\u00a0 Or, if you would like to move employees who are eligible to Medicare, please contact me for guidance.\u00a0 Moving employees to Medicare can save several thousand dollars per year.\u00a0\u00a0<\/u><\/u><\/p> Special Enrollment Opportunity for Small Business<\/u><\/b>es<\/u><\/b><\/p> To assist employees in accessing care,\u00a0carriers\u00a0are providing Small Business clients with a\u00a0Special COVID-19 Enrollment Opportunity\u00a0<\/em>to enroll employees who did not previously enroll in coverage. \u00a0The opportunity will be limited to employees who previously did not elect coverage for themselves (spouses, children) or waived coverage. The enrollment opportunity will extend from March 23 to April 3, 2020.\u00a0Carriers may\u00a0provide a\u00a0\u201cNotice of Special COVID-19 Enrollment Opportunity\u201d\u00a0<\/em>to inform employees of this opportunity to enroll in their group health plan.<\/u><\/u><\/p> Early Prescription Refills<\/u><\/b><\/u><\/u><\/p> Insurance carriers are allowing for early prescription refills until April 30,2020.\u00a0 This means, if you take a medication, you can have it filled before the date it is due.\u00a0<\/u><\/u><\/p> Medicare Eligible People<\/u><\/b><\/u><\/u><\/p> Social Security has suspended in person appointments at the local offices.\u00a0 If people need to apply for Medicare Parts A & B, you can apply through the Medicare.gov website.\u00a0 If you only need to apply for Part B, please contact me for the appropriate forms.\u00a0\u00a0<\/u><\/u><\/p> Final Words for now\u2026<\/u><\/b><\/p> As more information becomes available, I will continue to communicate with you. \u00a0As always, I am here to help with your health insurance questions and Human Resource questions.\u00a0\u00a0<\/u><\/u><\/p> \u00a0<\/u><\/u><\/p> COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave Summary:\u00a0<\/p>
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