Let’s say that you visited the doctor and you are wondering how much that visit is going to cost. A short while later, you receive something in the mail that looks like a bill – and even says “amount you owe” at the bottom. However, it doesn’t have a return envelope or tear-off portion for…
While the new year feels like a fresh start for most workers, it’s also expected to come with a spike in health insurance premiums. Premiums and deductibles have been steadily increasing for years. The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) found that premiums for a family rose 4% in 2021, according to a survey focused on employer-sponsored benefits. The average…
The end of the year is drawing near which may mean you have some extra money to spend. No, you didn’t read that wrong. Many Americans have money in their Flexible Savings Accounts (FSAs) that they need to use up before the end of the year. FSAs provide the benefit of putting pre-tax money aside…
The Affordable Care Act’s employer shared responsibility provision — often called the employer mandate or “play or pay” — requires large employers to offer health coverage to their full-time employees or face a potential penalty. (Employers with fewer than 50 full-time and full-time-equivalent employees are exempt.) Large employers can avoid the risk of any play…
Click below to listen to a great conversation in the health care and benefits arena featuring Bill Kite, president of D & S Agency and recent board president of United Benefits Advisors. During this fascinating conversation, Bill shares the history behind the creation of Cherry Tree Collaborative, an employer health insurance initiative that funnels the…
You have surely heard the terms “in-network” and “out-of-network” when referring to doctors or care facilities and your insurance plan. It can be confusing and make you wonder why it matters to you, as the consumer. Let’s explore these terms and find out more! What are Health Insurance Plan Networks? Health insurance plans create networks…
by Bill Kite, Owner, D&S Agency We were excited when we first heard of the joint venture of Amazon, JP Morgan and Berkshire Hathaway with their combined employee population of 1.2 million to “disrupt” healthcare costs. That excitement was further enhanced knowing leaders such as Dimon, Buffett and Bezos, with their midas touch, could potentially…
