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New Medicare ID Cards

New Medicare ID Cards will be mailed out beginning April 2018 to all current Medicare Beneficiaries.  

New law requires CMS to remove Social Security Numbers from Medicare cards. A randomly generated Medicare Beneficiary Identifier or MBI will be used by April 2019, to protect an individual’s identity.

The new cards will look similar to the current red, white and blue Medicare cards.

(Image courtesy of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services)

If you are currently enrolled in a Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage plan or Prescription Drug Plan:

·         Continue to use your current ID cards with your insurance company.  This new Medicare ID card does not replace those.

·         Keep your current Medicare card with you. You may have to provide both to your doctor during this transition.

Please see the chart below outlining the timeframes based on where you live.

Wave	States Included	Cards Mailing
1	Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia	April – June 2018
2	Alaska, American Samoa, California, Guam, Hawaii, Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon	April – June 2018
3	Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin	After June 2018
4	Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont	After June 2018
5	Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina	After June 2018
6	Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming	After June 2018
7	Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Puerto Rico, Tennessee, the Virgin Islands	After June 2018

Should you experience and claims issue or have any questions please contact Colleen Geiger or Bud Fassnacht at 740-967-0210.

For additional information:  https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/New-Medicare-Card/

New Rating Structure for Children 15 and Older

If you have a child that is age 15-20 be aware that their coverage through the Marketplace in 2018 will be higher than before.

The federal child age bands for premium rates have been updated to better reflect the health risk of children and to avoid significant premium increases for an individual when they reach age 21.

For the plan year 2018, there is:

• One age band for individuals age 0-14,
• One-year age bands for individuals between ages 15-63, and
• One age band for individuals age 64 and older

Vision Health and Eye Safety

As we lead busier and busier lives, we may not always take the best care of our vision.  When you add in the amount of time we all spend in front computers, tablets and smart phones, getting an annual eye exam can go beyond just getting a new pair of glasses or contacts.

According to American Optometric Association, if you are experiencing symptoms such as eye strain, fatigue, headaches, or even blurry vision, you may be suffering from Computer Vision Syndrome.  We never heard of this until now either.  To give your eyes a break, follow the “20-20-20” rule: every 20 minutes look at an object 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. 

 An annual eye exam may also detect signs of a serious health problem

• Diabetes
• Certain types of Cancer 
• Heart disease
• Glaucoma
• High Blood pressure
• Rates effective as of 7/1/2017
• Macular Degeneration

Tips to protect your vision:

• Eating plenty of dark leafy greens such as spinach, kale
• Eating fish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon, albacore tuna, and trout.
• Wash your hands before removing your contacts
• Clean your contact lenses to avoid infections
• Wear protective eyewear including sunglasses that block UVA and UVB Radiation
• Wear protective eyewear at work and during sports

Sample Rates for Individual/Family As of 7/1/2017
Individual	$14.51
Individual + Spouse	$24.60
Individual + Child(ren)	$37.74
Family	$37.74

Written By Bud Fassnacht

Benefits of Regular Dental Exams

Not everyone enjoys going to the dentist. However, did you know that having a regular dental checkup can detect other health problems you may not even be aware of?

According to the American Dental Association more than 90% of all systemic diseases have oral manifestations, including swollen gums, mouth ulcers, dry mouth and excessive gum problems.

Some of these diseases include:

• Diabetes
• Leukemia
• Oral cancer
• Certain types of Cancer
• Heart disease
• Kidney disease

Having a regular dental exam can catch the early signs of gum disease. Research has shown gum disease has links to other medical problems including:
Osteoporosis

• Alzheimer’s
• Kidney & Pancreatic Cancer 
• Heart Disease
• Respiratory Disease
• Increased risk of premature birth

Tips for better oral hygiene:

• Brushing your teeth for two to three minutes - twice a day. 
• Flossing daily to remove plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach. 
• Eating a healthy diet 
• Avoiding cigarettes and smokeless tobacco. 
• Seeing your dentist immediately when you have any unusual oral symptoms like bad breath, mouth sores, red or swollen gums or sore jaws

Many Dental plans cover x-rays at least once a year under preventative benefits and exams plus general cleanings twice a year with no waiting periods or cost to you. 

Sample Rates for Individual/Family
Individual	$35
Individual + Spouse	$69
Individual + Child(ren)	$90
Family	$125

 



     Rates Effective 3/1/2017

If you have any questions or would like more information on available dental plans please contact Creekstone Benefits at (740) 967-0210.

Written by Bud Fassnacht

2017 HSA Limits

HSA Contribution Limit:

     Indvidual coverage: $3,400

     Family coverage:  $6,750

HDHP Minimum deductible:
     $1,300 Individual coverage
     $2,600 Family coverage

Out-of-Pocket Maximum Expense:
     $6,550 Individual coverage
     $13,100 Family coverage

If you are over 55 you can deposit an additional $1000 per year.

Remember as of 2011 over-the-counter drugs may only be reimbursed if they have a prescription.

If a policyholder uses an HSA to pay for items or services that aren't qualified medical expenses, the tax penalty is 20% of the HSA distribution.

If you need to open an account and you aren't sure where to go, here are some of our recommendations. 

Proposed Changes for Form 5500 for Small Employers

ACTION NEEDED: Proposed Changes for Form 5500 for Small Employers

The Department of Labor, Health & Human Services and Treasury recently issued proposed regulations that would eliminate the "small plan" exemption currently in place for small employers sponsoring a group health plan with fewer than 100 participants.

If adopted, small employers would be required to furnish the same Form 5500 information to the Department of Labor as large employers.

What is this going to cost employers?

The Department of Labor estimates that eliminating the “small plan” exemption will add 2.2 million work hours and $241.6 million in reporting costs for small employers (both self-insured and fully-insured).

What can you do?

The Department of Labor is requesting comments until December 5, 2016.

1.     Go online to http://www.regulations.gov/document?D=EBSA-2016-0010-0001

2.     Click on the “Comment Now!” button in the upper right hand corner of the web page

3.     Write your comments in the space provided (see below for suggested script)

4.     Follow all steps to complete your submission

Suggested script…

I am requesting that the Department of Labor reconsider the proposed Annual Reporting and Disclosure rules relating to Form 5500 and Schedule J.

The proposed rules that would eliminate the small group exemption on Form 5500 filings plus the additional data collection requirements on Schedule J will add 2.2 million work hours and would cost small employers $241.6 million.

Small employers are already challenged to stay current and compliant with excessive federal, state and local rules and regulations. The proposed changes place yet another unnecessary burden on small employers.

I urge the Department of Labor to reconsider this proposal.