Employee Benefits

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How to Position Your Company’s Employee Benefits for an Optimal Renewal

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Author, Shane Medlin, Account Executive, Employee Benefits, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

There are many factors that can impact your Employee Benefits renewal. It is important to have a broker that understands these factors so your renewal is the most favorable, each and every year. Preparation prior to your renewal is essential in reaching your goals and meeting your budget each year. Rancho Mesa has developed processes that can optimize your position to market and negotiate with your carrier to provide you with the best value for the benefits you provide your employees.

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What Employers Need to Know about the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021

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Author, Shane Medlin, Employee Benefits Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 is a $1.9 trillion economic stimulus bill passed by the 117th United States Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden on March 11, 2021. The bill includes a 100% subsidy on Continuation of Health Coverage (COBRA) premiums from April 1, 2021 to September 30, 2021, as well as additional guidance on paid sick and family leave. Employers will need to be aware of the changes because it could potentially increase COBRA elections and employer administration.

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2021 Insurance Game Plan

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Author, Dave Garcia, President, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

As we come to the end of 2020, the most challenging year most of us have ever experienced, where COVID-19, wild fires and other natural disasters took their toll emotionally, physically, mentally and financially on all of us we can only hope for a brighter 2021.

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Will COVID Impact Health Insurance Rates in 2021?

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Author, Shane Medlin, Employee Benefits Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Earlier this year, Covered California, California’s health insurance marketplace has projected that the national cost for testing, treatment and care specifically related to COVID-19 could be as high as a quarter trillion dollars. A large amount of these dollars was offset due to many US hospitals postponing elective surgeries because of the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, causing some insurance carriers such as United Healthcare to send premium rebates back to employers.

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Benefit Solutions to Accommodate Remote Employees

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Authors, Shane Medlin, Employee Benefits Account Executive and Colin Cadman, Benefit Analyst, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

With polling showing as high as 59% of the US workforce now working remotely, employers need more efficient solutions to administer their employee benefit plans, while also adhering to the social distancing standards passed down from their respective state governments. There are simple strategies that can help companies of all sizes achieve their goals.

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Healthcare Insurance Carriers Respond to COVID-19 Threat

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Author, Alyssa Burley, Media Communications and Client Services Manager, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

As Rancho Mesa continues building resources for our clients and their employees across all sectors, we have compiled a list of healthcare insurance providers and their enhanced benefits designed to respond to the COVID-19 virus. Listed below is information related to COVID-19 testing when ordered by a physician.

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New Law Provides Employers More Time to Prepare

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Author, Shane Medlin, Employee Benefits Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Prior to the end of 2019, California Governor, Gavin Newsom, approved Assembly Bill 731. This bill will expand the rate review practice that California already has in place for the individual and small group markets to the large group market.

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Healthcare Changes for California Residents

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Author, Shane Medlin, Employee Benefits Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

California’s Governor Gavin Newsom, announced a health care plan to address a fragmented healthcare system that leaves many residents priced-out or underinsured. His goal is to expand healthcare access and make prescription drugs more affordable. Californians could see lower insurance and prescription drug prices, if his new laws work as intended.

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Wellness in the Workplace

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Author, Shane Medlin, Employee Benefits Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

The care and concern by employers for their employees’ well-being has significantly increased over the past few years. About 75% of employers indicated that their companies offered some type of employee wellness program or service, according to research conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management. Wellness programs can benefit employers in many ways, including better insurance rates, reduced absenteeism, increased productivity and a positive culture in the workplace.

Have You Outgrown Your PEO?

Author, Shane Medlin, Employee Benefits Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Many companies can outgrow a professional employer organization (PEO) model, over time. Most companies currently in a PEO are unaware that they have outgrown this service model.Determining if you have outgrown a PEO can be a difficult task and will require a professional insurance broker and payroll advisor to assist your company.

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Health Care Reform… What is Next?

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Author, Shane Medlin, Employee Benefits Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Recently, multiple proposals to change the existing Affordable Care Act (ACA) have emerged. How will the proposed changes affect employers and their employees? The future of the ACA is still in question. However, it is unlikely that any of the proposed changes will pass congress within the next 2 years.

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IRS Extends 2018 Deadline for 1095c Forms

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Authors, Shane Medlin, Employee Benefits Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released Notice 2018-94 outlining extended deadlines for 2018 Minimum Essential Coverage under Section 6055 and Large Employer Shared Responsibility under Section 6056. This notice extends the due date to provide individuals the 2018 Form 1095-B, Health Coverage, and the 2018 Form 1095-C, Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage, from January 31, 2019, to March 4, 2019. This notice also extends good faith transition relief from section 6721 and 6722 penalties to the 2018 information reporting requirements under sections 6055 and 6056.

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How to Utilize Employee Benefits for Retention in the Construction Industry

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Author, Shane Medlin, Account Executive, Employee Benefits, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

As demand for all types of construction services continue to expand in California, contractors are struggling to retain and recruit enough skilled workers. About 57 percent of construction companies expect difficulty hiring salaried and craft workers to continue throughout the year. This is why retaining quality skilled talent is imperative for construction firms.

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Independent Contractor Classification Changes Expected to Impact Construction Industry

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Author, David J. Garcia, AAI, CRIS, President, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

With the recent ruling by the California Supreme Court concerning how 1099 employees (independent contractors) are defined, the construction industry's approach to utilizing these workers has changed significantly. The Court adopted a new test to determine whether the worker should be classified as an employee or independent contractor. The previous test to determine if a worker was an employee or independent contractor was whether the employer had the right to direct the manner and means by which the worker performed the services.

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Assembly Bill 72 Passes to Limit Unexpected Medical Costs to Californians

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Effective July 1, 2017, Assembly Bill 72 (Bonta) went into effect by protecting Californians from unexpected medical bills when visiting in-network facilities (i.e., hospitals, labs, and imaging centers). No longer can providers who aren’t contracted with a patient’s health plan step into the operating room, for instance, and charge the patient more than the patient would have expected to pay an in-network provider. Furthermore, the patient can only be billed for his or her in-network cost-share, meaning in-network benefits apply to all providers seen, and services rendered, in an in-network facility.

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What is SB 562 all about?

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It may be of interest, if not importance, for all Californians to know about current proposed legislation, sponsored by Senator Ricardo Lara of Bell Gardens and Senator Toni Atkins of San Diego.  The proposed bill would significantly expand the role of the state government within the healthcare system, by essentially establishing a single-payer system.

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