May 22, 2013
The Arizona State Legislature is considering legislation to repeal Healthcare Group of Arizona effective January 1, 2014. If the legislation is approved, Healthcare Group of Arizona (HCGA) will stop providing coverage effective December 31, 2013, when the new web-based insurance exchange will be available to offer health insurance coverage. As currently drafted, HCGA will not accept applications for new groups or subscribers after July 15, 2013.
On October 1, 2013, the new web-based insurance exchange will begin accepting applications for health insurance coverage. In Arizona, this marketplace will be operated by the federal government and is known as the federally-facilitated exchange or FFE. Coverage on the FFE begins January 1, 2014 and will be available to individuals and to employees of small businesses. Additional information on the operation of the FFE will be forthcoming. We will post a link to the FFE once it becomes available.
If you currently have coverage from the Healthcare Group of Arizona and would like to look at alternative options, give us a call at (520) 721-4848.
About Healthcare Group of Arizona
Serving Arizona’s healthcare needs for more than 20 years, Healthcare Group of Arizona (HCG) is a State-sponsored health plan that provides premium-based healthcare coverage to many working Arizonans through two quality health plans: Mercy Healthcare Group and University Healthcare Group. HCG offers benefit plan options for businesses with 2 to 50 employees, as well as Arizona’s political subdivisions.
April 15, 2013
The Blue MedicareRxSM (PDP) formulary has been updated and a current formulary is now available on www.YourAZMedicareSolutions.com. The February 2013 drug changes are also in the online formulary search tool on this website. If you are a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Member, the Formulary changes will be incorporated into the formulary and communicated each month. Below is a list of the recent drug changes made to the formulary. If you have questions about your Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (PDP), give us a call at (520) 721-4848. Download the BCBSAZ PDP complete formulary here.
March 28, 2013
Golden Rule recently introduced enhancements to the UnitedHealthOneSM product portfolio. These updates included additional benefit options, as well as mandated benefits like enhanced women’s preventive care.
Please be advised that the coverage for some women’s preventive benefits has changed, particularly with concern to contraceptive coverage. United implemented the use of “Reasonable Medical Management Techniques” (RMMT), as authorized by federal law, to determine how benefits for contraceptives are provided.
What this means if you have a plan under the new portfolio:
- All contraceptives in Tier 1 are covered at 100% with no cost sharing. Contraceptives in Tiers 2-4 have cost sharing. This primarily applies to Copay SelectSM plans.
- The Prescription Drug – Copay Card optional benefit available with Plan 100® or Plan 80SMalso covers all contraceptives in Tier 1 at 100% with no cost sharing. Contraceptives in Tiers 2-4 have cost sharing.
To learn which contraceptives are in which prescription drug tier, please refer to United Health One’s 2013 Prescription Drug List Quick-Reference Guide. This list is available on E-Store under “forms”, and on www.GoldenRule.com under the “Customer” link. There are currently over 40 contraceptive options available in Tier 1.
By using RMMT, United is able to help keep premiums lower for you and your family. It allows you to choose high value preventive services from network providers, including choosing prescription options that are available with no cost sharing, giving you control over your health care dollars.
If you have questions regarding the UnitedHealthOneSM plans, please contact us at (520) 721-4848.
February 11, 2013
On Feb. 6, 2013, the Department of Labor (DOL) marked the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) by releasing a set of final FMLA regulations. The final regulations, which become effective on March 8, 2013, implement two statutory expansions of FMLA leave protections. According to the DOL:
- The first expansion provides families of eligible veterans with the same job-protected FMLA leave currently available to families of military service members and it also enables more military families to take leave for activities that arise when a service member is deployed.
- The second expansion modifies existing rules so that airline personnel and flight crews are better able to make use of the FMLA’s protections.
In connection with the final regulations, the DOL indicated that it has updated some . . . to download the rest of this information click the file below.
DOL Issues Final FMLA Regulations Ronstadt Insurance
February 7, 2013
By ROBERT PEAR
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration adopted a strict definition of affordable health insurance on Wednesday that will deny federal financial assistance to millions of Americans with modest incomes who cannot afford family coverage offered by employers.
In deciding whether an employer’s health plan is affordable, theInternal Revenue Service said it would look at the cost of coverage only for an individual employee, not for a family. Family coverage might be prohibitively expensive, but federal subsidies would not be available to help buy insurance for children in the family.
The policy decision came in a final regulation interpreting ambiguous language in the 2010 health care law.
Under the law, most Americans will be required to . . . click to continue.
