The Premier Health Insurance blog is constantly being updated with current and pressing topics, including Affordable Care Act changes, group health plan updates, as well as articles to help individuals and families get the best value for their hard-earned healthcare dollar.
New Rules on Short Term Health Insurance Policies
Published April 24, 2017 1349 Views
In the many years leading to the onset of healthcare reform and the Affordable Care Act, short-term and temporary medical coverage were as common and familiar as traditional plans are today. Recently hired employees relied on them as a way to stay covered during new-hire grace periods, and man...
Understanding Ancillary Health Insurance
Published April 12, 2017 1236 Views
While most people are quite familiar with the various types of traditional health insurance, the term ancillary coverage remains a bit of a mystery. Perhaps this is because many of the plan types under the ancillary blanket are more commonly referred to as supplemental health insurance. ...
Healthcare Special Enrollment Qualifications
Published March 16, 2017 1348 Views
As of the time of this writing which, ironically, comes one week after the American Health Care Act was introduced, the only compliance-friendly way of purchasing traditional health insurance is under the ACA Special Enrollment provision. If the term is new you, Special Enrollment is a section of th...
How to Buy Health Insurance After Open Enrollment
Published February 22, 2017 1542 Views
Now that the 2017 open healthcare enrollment is well in our rearview, many of those who opted not to buy coverage have asked us which types of health insurance can be purchased after the cutoff date. In the spirit of keeping things as uncomplicated as possible, let's review some of the thi...
Setting Up an Effective Employee Wellness Program
Published January 17, 2017 1340 Views
It will come as a surprise to no one that healthy bottom lines are directly related to healthy employees. A health-minded staff will be more productive, less likely to call-in sick, and far more motivated than employees who are constantly dealing with illness and ongoing health issues. Whether...
What To Expect As Open Enrollment 2017 Closes
Published January 4, 2017 1216 Views
Now that we in the industry have had a few years to better understand the new health insurance open enrollment process, we're in a better position to let families and individuals know what awaits as the deadline draws closer. Regardless of whether you've had a significant life change around the firs...
Avoid the Problems of Last Minute Health Insurance Enrollment
Published December 5, 2016 1627 Views
As we've learned over the past few years, putting off health insurance until the last week of Open Enrollment has proven to be something of a nightmare for many. And while the way we buy or manage coverage has seen many changes, the limited timeframe is clearly one that's caused a grea...
Understanding COBRA and IL Continuation Health Insurance
Published November 30, 2016 1497 Views
Many questions arise when an employee leaves the company, with some of the most confusing and sensitive centered around their rights to continued health insurance benefits. Illinois employees who were actively participating in the company group plan, are entitled by law to receive ongoing medi...
7 Situations Where Calling a Local Healh Insurance Agent Can Help
Published November 11, 2016 1346 Views
Open Enrollment kicked off this week and, very understandably, many of those who looked at their carrier's renewal notice for the first time found themselves in a state of health insurance sticker shock. Again. Just like last year. And the year before that. Premiums have incr...
Managing 2017 Illinois Health Insurance Premium Increases
Published October 28, 2016 1172 Views
If you're in Illinois and have been paying any attention to the news lately, you've heard some rather grim tales about the drastic health insurance premiums that are on the way. From the most accurate reports we can gather, premiums on medical insurance are expected to go up an average of 51%...
2018 Employer Group Health Insurance Renewal Checklist
Published September 14, 2016 2339 Views
As more businesses prepare for the process of renewing their group health insurance plan, the topic of ACA compliance becomes increasingly important… just as stressful. Regardless of whether you're offering employee medical benefits for the first time, or well-versed on the ever-evo...
If Your Land of Lincoln Health Insurance is Being Cancelled
Published July 28, 2016 1348 Views
With Land of Lincoln officially announcing the cancellation of all health insurance plans on October 1st (including all individual, family and group plans) many are wondering if this is the new norm. You buy a plan, pay the premiums for the better part of a year, only to receive a notice...
Choosing the Most Appropriate Life Insurance Policy
Published June 10, 2016 2708 Views
By now it's safe to assume that you don't need any reminders on the importance of having life insurance. Commercials run non-stop from morning to night, painting grim pictures of widowed single-mothers trying desperately to comfort her now fatherless children. Despair-themed scare ta...
Health Insurance After Getting Married
Published May 3, 2016 1515 Views
Getting married is clearly one of the most significant change a person will make during the course of their lifetime. In light of all the planning and preparation that go into weddings, it's understandable that few give consideration to how the marriage will affect their health insurance cover...
Turning 65 and Preparing for Medicare
Published April 7, 2016 1396 Views
If you're nearing your 65th birthday, it’s safe to assume that you're likely paying more attention to all of the Medicare ads on television. Making the transition from traditional health insurance to Medicare can be a bit overwhelming, and this is especially relevant for those who've recently...
Did Your Company Discontinue Life Insurance?
Published March 4, 2016 1534 Views
We took an interesting call the other day, it was from a woman in her late 20's, in a bit of a panic over the fact that her employer, without any real warning, was doing away with the technology firm's company-sponsored life insurance plan. After assuring her that this was actually a very simp...
Preparing for Your 2016 Group Health Plan Renewal
Published February 18, 2016 1521 Views
Many business owners learned a financially painful lesson last year, while renewing their company's employee health insurance plan: 'tis far better to enter the process prepared, than to sit back and wait to see how much the carriers have raised your premiums. As everyone was warned well in ad...
Importance of Annual Group Health Plan Review
Published February 8, 2016 1584 Views
Anyone who owns a business or manages its employee health insurance plan, will be the first to admit that the process of offering employer-provided coverage has changed immensely over the past few years. Prior to the advent of the Affordable Care Act, the process was already stressful and dema...
Can I Buy Health Insurance After Open Enrollment Ends?
Published February 3, 2016 1391 Views
Since the advent of open enrollment circa the Affordable Care Act, there have been those who were either unwilling, unknowing or otherwise unable to purchase coverage. For many it was a matter of intense network congestion while attempting to sign-up during the final week. Just as many o...
Avoiding Cheap Health Insurance Scams
Published January 19, 2016 1487 Views
With health insurance premiums skyrocketing 20-40% this year, it should come as no surprise that there are organizations preying on those looking for more affordable coverage. In the past few weeks, it has been brought to our attention that some companies are contacting people with offers of l...
How Health Insurance Agents Make Open Enrollment Easy
Published December 30, 2015 1350 Views
As many Illinois residents are finding out, buying health insurance during the final month of open enrollment can be one stressful endeavor. Hundreds of thousands of people all trying to get through to carriers at once, with just as much traffic on the healthcare marketplace website. Thi...
2016 Healthcare Open Enrollment Frequently Asked Questions
Published December 15, 2015 1686 Views
Now that we've officially arrived at the halfway point of this year's open enrollment period, we've had time to gauge some of the more pressing and commonly-voiced concerns. Here are ten of the most frequently asked questions among those shopping for medical insurance, as well as those loo...
Understanding the Difference Between EPO and PPO Health Insurance Plans
Published December 9, 2015 1739 Views
If you've been keeping up with all of the recent and forthcoming health insurance industry changes, you may have come across a term that was brand new to you. EPOs, or Exclusive Provider Organizations, have actually been around for years. In light of ongoing premium increases and large n...
Beware the Final Weeks of Open Enrollment
Published December 2, 2015 1441 Views
If you haven't been holed-up in some remote mountain shack for months, it's safe to assume that you're aware of the widespread changes coming to health insurance in 2016. Premium increase notices have been going out in droves, and countless families and individuals have learned that their plan...
2016 Rate Increase Expected on Silver Health Insurance Plans
Published November 18, 2015 1285 Views
It's become clear that few people will be exempt from the 2016 health insurance premium increases already in place, and scheduled to take effect after the first of the year. According to a report in the Washington Post, consumers who purchased Silver health plans on the healthcare.gov website...
What Makes This Year's Open Enrollment Different?
Published November 11, 2015 1394 Views
Now that we're a few weeks into the 2015-2016 health insurance open enrollment period, it's become clear that this one stands out among the most unique. In this article we're going to review some of the most concerning issues, before shedding some light on how to ensure that your coverage rema...
Options for Dealing with 2016 Health Insurance Rate Increases
Published November 4, 2015 1450 Views
As more individuals and families receive notifications regarding premium increases on their health and medical insurance, we've received many requests for information on the various options available. Many will see their plan cancelled at the end of the year, while an equally concerning number...
Blue Cross Blue Shield IL to Cancel Metallic Health Insurance Plans in 2016
Published September 25, 2015 2228 Views
In an announcement made to Illinois health insurance agents recently, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, the state's largest and most influential health insurance carrier announced that it will no longer be offering large-network PPO coverage to those with Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum health pl...
It's Group Health Plan Renewal Time
Published September 14, 2015 1516 Views
For months now, there have been rumors floating around regarding the subject of 2016 group-health premium increases. As many hardworking businesses are finding out right now, these were far from being just speculation. Some businesses are facing renewal increases that range anywhere from...
Managing Group Health Insurance Premium Increases
Published August 11, 2015 1833 Views
5 Things Your Company Can Do to Keep 2016 Rates Affordable When it was announced that group health insurance premiums would be subject to sharp increases in 2016, an average of 20-40% based on industry chatter, it's safe to assume that small business owners from every industry felt a similar sin...