Benefits Barbie

Benefits Barbie NW Benefit Advisors is bringing BLISS back to benefits. Follow your bliss with

Our team of forward-thinking, creative women are here to educate and empower you around one of the most boring topics: BENEFITS.

Raise your hand if you wait until the LAST day of open enrollment to take action! Our office has already talked to many ...
12/12/2022

Raise your hand if you wait until the LAST day of open enrollment to take action! Our office has already talked to many of you.😂

Listen, open enrollment is a stressful time of year for everyone. We're trying to circle the wagons at work before Q4 ends, prep for the holidays, take care of ourselves somewhere in there and now we have to deal with insurance?!

We know. We get it.

But you being proactive, calling us BEFORE the last day, asking questions and doing research will alleviate so much stress— we promise.

So don't miss your chance to enroll in the best benefits possible for you this year! Talk to your HR department today and reach out to our office anytime. YOU GOT THIS!💪🏻

10 things to know about a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) vs. a Health Savings Account (HSA):1️⃣The money in an FSA has ...
11/28/2022

10 things to know about a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) vs. a Health Savings Account (HSA):

1️⃣The money in an FSA has to be spent down by the end of the plan year. The IRS allows you to rollover a small portion of unused money at the end of the year. At the end of 2022, you can rollover up to $570 and next year it will raise to $610.

2️⃣There is an annual maximum contribution amount set by the IRS for an FSA. This amount increases slightly from year to year.

3️⃣The annual amount you decide to contribute to your FSA account is available on day 1, even though you have not contributed the total amount yet. The total amount you contribute comes out of each paycheck before you pay taxes.

4️⃣For an HSA, you contribute your annual election over the course of the year. However you can only make a claim against your HSA account based on the balance in the account. There is no pre-funding like there is for the FSA account.

5️⃣The money in an HSA can roll over from year to year.

6️⃣You can only contribute to an HSA account if you are on a High Deductible Health Plan.

7️⃣HSAs also have an annual maximum amount you can contribute.

8️⃣If you are married and you are on a High Deductible Health Plan but your spouse is NOT on a High Deductible Health Plan you cannot contribute to an HSA account.

9️⃣If you are on a High Deductible Health Plan and contribute to a HSA account, you can still contribute to a Simple FSA. A Simple FSA allows you to set aside money on an annual basis only for dental and vision.

1️⃣0️⃣Any tax dependent in your household can make claims against the HSA or FSA for reimbursable health expenses even if they are not on your health plan.

Does this help? SAVE this post for future planning.💙

One of my new favorite mentors in brain health is and I learned from her that of all the organs in the body, the brain ...
11/21/2022

One of my new favorite mentors in brain health is and I learned from her that of all the organs in the body, the brain is the most easily damaged by a bad diet.

WOW.

Our brains rely on the nutrients in our diet to run our entire body, not to mention to repair and maintain its own tissues.

When you eat a poor meal with high sugar, unhealthy fats, fried foods, etc. and feel drowsy, sluggish, spaced out or experience brain fog, this is your brain talking to you!

The newest in brain research shows that a poor diet causes the loss of key structures and functions in the brain and drastically increases the risk for dementia.

So what can you do today?!

Let's start small by taking inventory of your current diet.

I want you to keep a food journal for 1 week and then analyze it. Be the health inspector of your own kitchen.

❓Can you add more fruits and vegetables (we always can)?

❓Can you substitute olive oil, avocado oil or coconut oil for some of the seed oils (canola, soy, etc.) in your home?

❓Can you read some of the labels on processed foods you buy and be aware of how much sugar is in there?

❓Can you drink more water instead of wine?

I'll be back with more brain tips, but let's start here, ok?💙

Think of your out-of-pocket maximum as a big bucket.🪣The bucket accumulates every single co-pay, deductible and co-insur...
11/17/2022

Think of your out-of-pocket maximum as a big bucket.🪣

The bucket accumulates every single co-pay, deductible and co-insurance amount you pay.

When and if you reach your out-of-pocket maximum, your health insurance pays 100% of your medical costs for the rest of the year.

Your out-of-pocket maximum RESETS annually.


LADIES, let's start talking about brain health! Look at the stats, they're not in our favor, but that doesn't mean they ...
11/16/2022

LADIES, let's start talking about brain health! Look at the stats, they're not in our favor, but that doesn't mean they are a life sentence.

Here's 5 easy tips for taking control of your brain health TODAY:

🥬Eat whole foods that nourish your entire body, from brain to toes.

🏃‍♀️Exercise every day. This can be as simple as a 20 minute walk!

🧩Keep your mind stimulated. Try a new hobby, learn a new language, write a story, do a puzzle. What we don't work, we lose. Don't let that be your brain.

👯‍♀️Have a social outlet at least once a day. The brain thrives on interaction.

🍭🍷Avoid sugar and alcohol. All things in moderation, of course, but those ingredients are especially harmful for your brain!

Which one will you try first? Tell us below!

Co-insurance is the PERCENTAGE of medical costs that you are responsible for. For example, in an 80/20 plan, you will be...
11/15/2022

Co-insurance is the PERCENTAGE of medical costs that you are responsible for. For example, in an 80/20 plan, you will be responsible for paying 20% of what the doctor charges.

And what about health savings accounts in 2023? Well, the IRS also raised maximum contributions on these to $3,850 for a...
11/14/2022

And what about health savings accounts in 2023? Well, the IRS also raised maximum contributions on these to $3,850 for an individual and $7,750 for a family

First of all, an HSA is an account associated with a high deductible health plan (HDHP) to help you save money to pay for medical expenses.

*You can only contribute to an HSA if you have a HDHP*

With an HDHP, you don't really have health insurance in the traditional sense until you reach your deductible, so the HSA can help you pay for services before you reach your deductible amount.

Similar to an FSA contribution, anything you contribute to an HSA reduces your taxable income.

So, if you have a HDHP in 2023, start planning what you should contribute to your HSA today!


A co-pay is a fixed amount, pre-determined by your medical plan, that you are required to pay at time of service. For ex...
11/10/2022

A co-pay is a fixed amount, pre-determined by your medical plan, that you are required to pay at time of service.

For example, when you go to urgent care, you likely have to pay between $30 and $50 for the visit. That is your co-pay.💙

I have always been fascinated with the human brain. Part of my life's path (like many women) has been acting as the care...
11/09/2022

I have always been fascinated with the human brain. Part of my life's path (like many women) has been acting as the caregiver and because of that, I have been given many opportunities to learn about the brain.

November is National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month and I want to dedicate our health posts this month to the most misunderstood and unknown organ: The Brain.

Caring for your brain is one of the most important things you can do. I've always half-joked that that is why I am never retiring — because what would my brain do?!

Alzheimer's is, sadly, becoming relatively common and it is a horrifying disease for both patient and family.

A recent press release from the White House said that in the next 30 years, the number of Americans with Alzheimer’s is expected to reach nearly 14 million. WOW.

The good news is that there are steps we can take to prevent this in our daily lives. I'll be sharing more soon!

Also, the government launched the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health at NIH this year with the goal of doing "cutting-edge research to prevent, treat, and cure Alzheimer’s and other deadly diseases."

That's a cause I can get behind.

Tell me one thing that you do to care for your brain each day, let's start inspiring each other!💜

It’s open enrollment season, which means that we receive more questions than ever about the ins and outs of insurance. A...
11/08/2022

It’s open enrollment season, which means that we receive more questions than ever about the ins and outs of insurance. And we get it – it’s confusing!

So we will be dropping short little “benefit bites” to help you. And we’re starting with deductibles!

A deductible is the amount of money you must pay for specific services before your insurance kicks in.

Hey! Guess what? The IRS (everyone's favorite government agency) has helped us out for 2023 and raised the maximum contr...
11/07/2022

Hey! Guess what? The IRS (everyone's favorite government agency) has helped us out for 2023 and raised the maximum contribution amount on Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) to $3,050.

They also raised the carryover so that you will now be able to carry $610 into 2024 if it is not all used in 2023.

Why do we bring this up now?

Because FSA accounts are an important piece of your annual financial planning.

Ya, ya, ya — we see the eyerolls already. But hear us out:

Contributing to your FSA in a way that makes sense for what you plan to spend in 2023 is a way to pay with money that has NOT been taxed.

Effectively, an FSA account gives you MORE spending power.

So our recommendation?

STOP being scared of FSAs and START planning today.

Barbie’s Angels.😇Happy Halloween to all of our friends!
10/31/2022

Barbie’s Angels.😇Happy Halloween to all of our friends!

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