Resources

Ease

Manage benefits with Ease and rest easy knowing you and your employees have benefits administration under control.
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https://www.ease.com

The Mineral platform is an easy to use online tool that takes the guesswork out of HR and compliance. It allows you to communicate with the whole company, a group of people or each individual.
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Ease How-to

Download the App

What Ease can do for employers

Adding an employee in Ease

What to do when employee submits changes in Ease

Terminating an employee in Ease

Mineral How-to

Download the app

ACA Reporting Requirements for Employers

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) carries annual reporting requirements for certain employers. Review this video to learn more about one of those requirements

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Onboarding: No, They Won't Read that Handbook at Home

An employee's first days and weeks can be chaotic, but they don't have to be. With a little planning, onboarding can be a smooth and exciting time for new employees and managers alike

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Dress Codes and Personal Hygiene: The Good, the Bad, and the Smelly

Dress codes can be a challenge, including deciding whether to have one at all. We provide a few basic tips to get you started, as well as some helpful language about odors in the workplace.

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Documentation: The Magic Formula

If you've watched the video on at-will employment, you know that documentation is crucial when you're aiming for a low-risk termination (or other employment action an employee won't like). Join us to find out the essential elements of business-protecting documentation.

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Downloadable Resources

Terms to Know

Allowed Amount

The maximum amount the plan will pay for each health care service covered by your plan. This may be called "eligible expense," "payment allowance" or "negotiated rate." If your provider charges more than the allowed amount, you may have to pay the difference.

Balance Billing

When a provider bills you for the balance remaining on the bill that your plan doesn't cover. For example, if the provider's charge is $200 and the allowed amount is $110, the provider may bill you for the remaining $90. This happens most often when you see an out-of-network provider (non-preferred provider). A network provider (preferred provider) may not balance bill you for covered services.

Coinsurance

After you've paid your deductible, coinsurance is your portion of the cost for medical services listed as benefits in your insurance plan or prescriptions listed in the approved drug list. For example, if your plan's fee for an office visit is $100 and you've met your deductible, your coinsurance
payment of 20% would be $20. Your insurance would pay the rest of the fee, 80%.

Copayment

A fixed amount (for example, $15) you pay for a covered health care service, usually when you receive the service (sometimes called "copay"). You may also have a copay when you get a prescription filled. The amount can vary by the type of covered health care service.

Cost Sharing

Your share of costs for services that a plan covers that you must pay out of your own pocket (sometimes called "out-of-pocket costs"). Some examples of cost sharing are copayments, deductibles, and coinsurance. Family cost sharing is the share of cost for deductibles and out-of-pocket costs you and your spouse and/or child(ren) must pay out of your own pocket.

Coverage Documents

Documents that explain exactly what your plan contract includes and what it does not include, how to access health care, what services require preauthorization from, and much more. Depending on the plan, members may receive an insurance policy, a Certificate of Coverage, an Explanation of Coverage or a Summary Plan Description.

Deductible

The amount you pay each year before the health plan starts to pay for certain services. For example, if your deductible is $1000, your plan won't pay anything until you've met your $1000 deductible for covered health care services subject to the deductible. See your plan documents for details.

Deductible

Drug Tier

Classification for drugs listed in our formulary or approved drug list. Generally, the lower the tier (1 = lowest), the lower your cost.

Explanation of Benefits (EOB)

An EOB is the summary of costs for the medical services you received over a certain amount of time. It shows you what your insurance carrier paid toward your bill and what costs you can expect your provider to bill you. An EOB is NOT a bill.

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

A special account that allows individuals to set aside tax-free dollars to pay for dependent care and certain health expenses that are not paid for by a health insurance plan.

Formulary

A list of drugs your plan covers. A formulary may include how much your share of the cost is for each drug. Your plan may put drugs in different cost-sharing levels or tiers. For example, a formulary may include generic drug and brand name drug tiers and different cost-sharing amounts will apply to each tier.

High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP)

A plan that features higher deductibles than traditional health plans. High-deductible health plans (HDHPs) can be combined with a health savings account or a health reimbursement account to allow you to pay for qualified out-of-pocket medical expenses on a pre-tax basis.

Heath Savings Account (HSA)

A special type of savings account. You can only use the money if you're a member of a high-deductible health plan and only to pay for qualified medical expenses. You and your employer can contribute funds to your HSA. The funds contributed to the account aren't subject to federal income tax at the time of deposit. Like a retirement account, you own the funds, no matter where you go or work in the future.

Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)

An organization that provides health care in return for preset monthly payments. Most HMOs provide care through a network of doctors, hospitals and other medical professionals that their members must use in order to be covered for that care.

Health Reimbursement Account (HRA)

Employers may set up health reimbursement accounts to reimburse their employees tax-free for qualified medical expenses up to a fixed dollar amount per year. Employers own the funds in the account; usually, the funds don't roll over from year to year

Network

The facilities, providers, and suppliers your health insurer or plan has contracted with to provide health care services.

Out-Of-Network

Not in the health plan's network of selected and approved doctors and hospitals. Members who get care out-of-network (sometimes called out-of-area) without getting permission from their health plan to do so may have to pay for all or most of that care themselves. Exceptions are usually made for extreme emergencies or urgent care needed when traveling away from home.

Out-of-Pocket Limit (or Maximum)

Your annual maximum cost. The most you have to pay for covered services in a plan year. After you spend this amount on deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance for in-network care and services, your health plan pays 100% of the costs of covered benefits. The out-of-pocket limit doesn't include your monthly premiums, anything you spend for services your plan doesn't cover, out-of-network care and services, or costs above the allowed amount for a service that a provider may charge.

Point-of-Service (POS) plan

A type of managed-care coverage that allows members to choose to receive services either from participating providers or from providers outside the plan's network. In-network care from participating health care providers is more fully covered; for out-of-network care, members pay deductibles and coinsurance, much like traditional health insurance coverage.

Preauthorization

Some health care services, treatment plans, prescription drugs and durable medical equipment require a formal approval from the carrier in advance before your plan will pay for them. Sometimes called prior authorization, prior approval or precertification, preauthorization isn't a promise the carrier will cover the cost. The preauthorization requirement doesn't usually apply in emergencies.

Preferred provider organization (PPO)

A network of doctors and hospitals that provides care at a lower cost than through traditional insurance. PPO members get better benefits (more coverage) when they use the PPO's network of health care providers. They pay higher out-of-pocket costs when they choose to get care outside the PPO network.

Preventive Care

Routine health care, including screenings, check-ups, and patient counseling, to prevent or discover illness, disease, or other health problems. Preventive care includes specific health care services that help you avoid potential health problems or find them early when they are most treatable, before you feel sick or have symptoms. Examples of preventive care include flu shots, physical exams, lab tests and some prescriptions. You pay $0 for preventive care services listed in your plan documents when received from an in-network provider.

Primary Care Provider (PCP)

A physician, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist or physician assistant, as allowed under state law, who provides, coordinates, or helps a patient access a range of health care services. Must be set for HMO and POS plans.

Referral

A written order from your primary care provider for you to see a specialist or get certain health care services. In many health maintenance organizations (HMOs), you need to get a referral before you can get health care services from anyone except your primary care provider. If you don't get a referral first, the plan may not pay for the services.

Specialist

A physician specialist focuses on a specific area of medicine or a group of patients to diagnose, manage, prevent, or treat certain types of symptoms and conditions. A non-physician specialist is a provider who has more training in a specific area of health care.

Specialty Drug

A type of prescription drug that, in general, requires special handling or ongoing monitoring and assessment by a health care professional, or is relatively difficult to dispense. Generally, specialty drugs are the most expensive drugs on a formulary.

Step Therapy

Some medications require step therapy. This means you must first try taking an alternative medication-usually a generic-in the same drug family to see if you can effectively manage your condition before you can continue to take a non-preferred, more expensive drug. Rest assured, these alternatives are proven to be equally as safe and effective but are lower-cost drugs. Your current prescription may be covered if the alternatives suggested aren't effective or your doctor deems it medically necessary. If you've completed step therapy requirements in the past, your provider can send the information for review.

UCR (Usual, Customary and Reasonable)

The amount paid for a medical service in a geographic area based on what providers in the area usually charge for the same or similar medical service. The UCR amount sometimes is used to determine the allowed amount.

FAQs

How do I utilize Ease?

What's in it for you?
- Enroll and on-board employees easily
- Submit enrollment to carriers
- Create and send offer letters
- Collect digital signatures
- Access HR resources

What's in it for your employees?
- Explore plan options
- Compare costs
- Make changes
- Access via the web or mobile app

What benefits does Medicare provide?

Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older and it can help with hospital insurance (part A), medical insurance (part B) and prescription drug coverage (part D). Think of Medicare as a group health plan that is offered through the government.

What do I need to do when I turn 65? How do I sign up for Medicare?

Go to our updated Resources page at https://thegriswoldgroup.com/resources/ OR visit the https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/medicare/ site to get more information. Make sure to sign up within 12 months of turning 65 to avoid penalties.

What is the difference between Medigap, Advantage and Supplement?

Social Security enrolls you in Original Medicare (Part A and Part B).

Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) helps pay for inpatient care in a hospital or limited time at a skilled nursing facility (following a hospital stay). Part A also pays for some home health care and hospice care.
Medicare Part B (medical insurance) helps pay for services from doctors and other health
care providers, outpatient care, home health care, durable medical equipment, and some
preventive services.

Other parts of Medicare are run by private insurance companies that follow rules set by Medicare.

Supplemental (Medigap) policies help pay Medicare out-of-pocket copayments, coinsurance, and deductible expenses.
Medicare Advantage Plan (previously known as Part C) includes all benefits and services covered under Part A and Part B - prescription drugs and additional benefits such as vision, hearing, and dental - bundled together in one plan.
Medicare Part D (Medicare prescription drug coverage) helps cover the cost of prescription drugs.

What is considered a qualifying event, and what are their deadlines?

Qualifying Life Events (QLE) allow employees to adjust their insurance plans - but only within a defined window of time. Employees have 30 days from the date of any qualifying event to notify carriers, so we ask that you notify The Griswold Group within 25 days to ensure we have enough time to submit to the carrier.

Here is a partial list of QLEs:

Getting married or divorced
New dependents
Leaving your job
Moving
Changing citizenship status
Involuntary loss of coverage

What are the business requirements to be able to offer benefits?

The business must be a legally recognized business with the following:

Tax ID
W9
At least one common law employee (W4 and get a paycheck)
A worker's comp policy

You have and/or you are a dependent turning 26. What do you need to do?

The person turning 26 will need to roll off their parents' insurance. Turning 26 is a Qualifying Life Event, triggering a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). In addition, the SEP is open 60 days before coverage ends and lasts 60 days after coverage ends, for a total of 120 days. If you are a group that offers a COBRA plan, the dependent would also be eligible for COBRA coverage for 36 months

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Resources

Ease

Mineral

Ease How-to

Download the App

What Ease can do for employers

Adding an employee in Ease

What to do when employee submits changes in Ease

Terminating an employee in Ease

Mineral How-to

Download the app

ACA Reporting Requirements for Employers

Onboarding: No, They Won't Read that Handbook at Home

Dress Codes and Personal Hygiene: The Good, the Bad, and the Smelly

Documentation: The Magic Formula

Downloadable Resources

Terms to Know

Allowed Amount

Balance Billing

Coinsurance

Copayment

Cost Sharing

Coverage Documents

Deductible

Deductible

Drug Tier

Explanation of Benefits (EOB)

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

Formulary

High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP)

Heath Savings Account (HSA)

Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)

Health Reimbursement Account (HRA)

Network

Out-Of-Network

Out-of-Pocket Limit (or Maximum)

Point-of-Service (POS) plan

Preauthorization

Preferred provider organization (PPO)

Preventive Care

Primary Care Provider (PCP)

Referral

Specialist

Specialty Drug

Step Therapy

UCR (Usual, Customary and Reasonable)

FAQs

How do I utilize Ease?

What benefits does Medicare provide?

What do I need to do when I turn 65? How do I sign up for Medicare?

What is the difference between Medigap, Advantage and Supplement?

What is considered a qualifying event, and what are their deadlines?

What are the business requirements to be able to offer benefits?

You have and/or you are a dependent turning 26. What do you need to do?