Boca Benefits Consulting Group Inc.

As we indicated in a prior post, Twitterfeed.com will send all copies of posts here directly to our @bbcgbenefits Twitter account and to the Facebook account for Bob Murphy.

However, we understand that you may want to send certain posts to your own Facebook page and to your network of friends without first accessing the above accounts. To facilitate your ease of sharing we will be adding the below Facebook icon to the bottom of our posts. By clicking on it, you can share any post directly to Facebook.

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We have established an automatic publishing system whereby posts made on this blog are read from our “entries” RSS feed and sent along to Twitter and Facebook for posting on accounts maintained on those services. Our intent is broaden our readership base as much as possible.

Please refer friends and/or followers to our accounts. On Twitter please see @bbcgbenefits and on Facebook please see the account for Bob Murphy. 

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Below is link to excellent National Association of Insurance Commissioners “Frequently Asked Questions” resource relative to the specfics of PPACA (i.e., 2010 health care reform statute). It is segmented by Consumers, Employers and Seniors.

Click here for link.

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CIGNA is hosting an educational teleconference on the subject of early implementation of the “To Age 26” provision of PPACA. Valuable for all employers sponsoring employee health plans (i.e., both insured and self-funded). Possibly broker and CIGNA client oriented. However, pertinent to all regardless of present carrier and/or TPA.

CIGNA teleconference registration link.

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Below are two links to resources provided by the U.S.  Department of Health and Human Services in regard to the new “To Age 26” provisions of PPACA. Important reading for graduating college seniors, parents and other adult children less than 26 years of age.

HHS Frequently Asked Questions

HHS fact sheet

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Following on CIGNA’s earlier announcement this week regarding early implementation of the PPACA “to age 26” provision, CIGNA has announced today that they will also implement early the “anti-rescission” provisions of PPACA prior to the statutory requirement of 9/23/2010. CIGNA has announced they will make the policy change effective 5/1/2010.

It would appear that CIGNA is attempting to capture the public relations high ground on these decisions relative to their healthcare insurance competitors. However, these are relatively easy changes to effect and will not substantially alter the competitive balance as other major carriers make similar decisions to implement certain PPACA provisions early.

Below Excerpt from CIGNA Press Release:

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CIGNA’s business practices are already compliant with the suggested reforms that are to be implemented on September 23, 2010. CIGNA is confirming that it will not rescind the coverage of any premium-paying customer except in cases of deliberate fraud or intentional misrepresentations of material facts. CIGNA will also institute a policy of third party review if a rescission is to be made.

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Click here for full press release.


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Below from The White House Blog. See http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/04/27/more-support-young-adults for a list of carriers voluntarily accelerating the “age 26” provision to make in coincide with 2010 college graduation dates as of the date of this posting. BBCG expects that most all carriers will ultimately agree to this timeline.

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But we knew that some young adults graduating from college this spring could risk losing their health insurance before the provision takes effect, only to be added back onto their parents’ policy the next time their parents’ plan comes up for renewal on or after September 23rd.  That was bad news for families and bad news for insurance companies too.  Removing an individual from a health insurance plan and then adding them back on a few months later takes time, and it costs money.

That’s why on April 19, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius called on leading insurance companies to begin covering young adults voluntarily before the September 23 implementation date required by the new health reform law.  Early implementation would avoid gaps in coverage for new college graduates and other young adults and save on insurance company administrative costs of dis-enrolling and re-enrolling them between May 2010 and September 23, 2010.   Early enrollment will also enable young, overwhelmingly healthy people who will not engender large insurance costs to stay in the insurance pool.

And we’re pleased to report that the following insurance companies are doing just that:

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We have received communications from both CIGNA and Aetna that they will each be implementing the “to age 26” provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act earlier than required by statute (9/23/2010).  The concern stated is the potential for a gap in coverage for those in the 21-26 age group who may be graduating from college and who would otherwise lose eligibility once full-time student status was eliminated.

Both companies are making their eligibility changes effective 6/1/2010.

Although we have not seen announcements from either Blue Cross/Blue Shield or United Healthcare, BBCG is surmising that the changes announced by Aetna and CIGNA have become the new de facto eligibility standard and that the other major healthcare insurers will follow.

Click here for CIGNA announcement. 

Click here for Aetna announcement.

We are not the only systems being hacked. New U.S. Cyber Command gears up for probes. It is not all paranoia.

See this link regarding information provided at Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing.

BBCG’s blog is back up at 12:00 noon 4/15/2010. We are trying a different look on this blog concurrent with the conversion to the most recent version of WordPress. It is cleaner and easier for a new user to navigate. We also feel it is just a lot easier to read due to its font and layout. Let us know how you like it!