Pacific Coast Planning - Employee Benefit Services

Pacific Coast Planning - Employee Benefit Services Insurance for Business and Individuals www.pacificcoastplanning.com

Seamlessly integrate your employee benefits with payroll, Human Resources , IT and over 500 apps. Keep your current benefits or appoint us to research the market for improvements and savings. We specialize in creative solutions to help reduce benefit costs while bringing value to you and your employees. 30+ years experience with multiple NAHU Soaring Eagle designations. Specialties include: Group

benefits, medical, dental, disability, life, long-term care, vision, consumer-driven plans, HRA's, HSA's, FSA's. Our thoughtful planning process ensures that important details are addressed, including health care reform regulatory compliance.

Would you use an app to help with mental health issues? Well, it may become commonplace soon. As one whose tried cogniti...
09/01/2021

Would you use an app to help with mental health issues?

Well, it may become commonplace soon. As one whose tried cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to reduce anxiety, an app seems like a great alternative to the traditional "couch talk" with therapist.

To access app-based mental healthcare, all one has to have is a smartphone and health insurance coverage.

Bloom's CBT Therapy and Sanvello's Anxiety & Depression apps are a couple to check out.




02/02/2021

For some strange reason, I get some of my best ideas when I’m washing the dinner dishes.

When and where do you find inspiration?

01/28/2021

For a big chunk of employers, offering health benefits is unobtainium. Some are saying that the new Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA) is an option employers should consider.

The ICHRA works like this.

✅ Employer makes a tax deductible, fixed dollar contribution to the ICHRA.

✅ Employee purchases their own individual health insurance.

✅ Employee then files a claim against the ICHRA to get reimbursed.

While an ICHRA might be a good idea, in my opinion it won’t be a game changer compared to traditional group medical and here's why...

🔹Individual medical insurance rates are higher than group rates for equal coverage.

🔹Individual plan provider networks are typically smaller than group plan networks.

🔹Far fewer carriers (and as a result, far fewer plan choices) participate in the individual market compared to group carriers.

🔹Employers who want to "cap" their contribution with a fixed dollar amount like they would on an ICHRA have been doing this for years under a small group plan. We call it a defined contribution.

🔹If an employee wants to choose their own plan as advertised within an ICHRA they can do that within a private (CoveredCA) or public (CalChoice) exchange group plan.

01/26/2021

If you’ve ever heard me ramble on at an open enrollment workshop, you’ll know this is a topic where I tend to go deep...especially since many employees are covered by high deductible medical plans.

Studies show that up to 66% of emergency room (ER) visits could have been safely treated in another health care setting. If your employees are aware of their health care options, they can save money, time and frustration.

1 in 5 Americans goes to the ER at least once a year...that’s more than 131 million visits a year. Now stay with me here...if 66% of those visits were treated in a more appropriate care setting such as an urgent care, doctor’s office, telemedicine or retail clinic, the savings to our health system would add up to billions.

Think about it...If 20% of your employees go to the ER at least once a year and 66% of those visits could have been handled in a less expensive health care setting, that adds up to a lot of scratch!

Average Cost Per Visit

🔹 Emergency Room = $1,600+
🔹 Urgent Care = $205
🔹 Doctor’s Office = $140
🔹 Retail Clinic = $95
🔹 Telehealth Visit = $50



One of the side-effects of the pandemic is that we can -- and we are -- working from home. For some, that's meant moving...
01/21/2021

One of the side-effects of the pandemic is that we can -- and we are -- working from home. For some, that's meant moving to a new zip code - maybe in another state -- and some employers are fine with that. But, that's also presenting some interesting challenges, especially in the areas of Human Resources and Employee Benefits.

Case in point, I recently took on a new client who are developers of mobile games. Only 25% of the employees call California their home which is problematic as carriers typically decline cases with such low "in-state" participation. Complicating the issue is the company had new ownership, a name change and refiled as a California entity.

With some creative underwriting (thanks to my good relationships with my underwriters), presenting a solid case and demanding to "make it right!" we were able to get the client the coverage they wanted.

I love solving difficult insurance problems - whether it's placing new coverage or helping solve a claim issue. It's what I do!

Bundling discounts are not reserved only for the Geico gecko! If you're not using the same insurance carrier for your gr...
01/19/2021

Bundling discounts are not reserved only for the Geico gecko! If you're not using the same insurance carrier for your group dental, vision and another line of coverage such as group life and/or disability coverage, you're missing out on savings!

Stop Wasting TimeIf you're using a legacy payroll provider such as ADP, Paychex, or Paycom - you are probably spending t...
10/22/2020

Stop Wasting Time

If you're using a legacy payroll provider such as ADP, Paychex, or Paycom - you are probably spending too much time processing payroll. Errors are also a frequent problem as legacy systems require alot of manual data input across multiple systems.

We've built excellent partnerships with a couple of highly ranked modern payroll companies. Now is the time to review your payroll and learn how you can integrate payroll with benefits and HRIS. It's easier than you think!

04/15/2020

During these trying times, many of the more vulnerable are in dire need of financial help. From small business owners, to restaurant employees, to bartenders, nannies and undocumented immigrants -- they all need help to survive.

The link below will take you to a resource list with links to more than 20 websites offering help during this COVID-19 crisis. Please share my post or pass along the document to anyone who could benefit from these programs.



03/30/2020

The Paycheck Protection Program of the recently signed CARES Act will provide small businesses forgivable loans up to 2.5x their payroll costs to help them stay in business.

Talk to your banker!

Click the link below for a very helpful guide regarding this.

Employers and employees alike are concerned if an employee’s hours drop they may be ineligible for insurance benefits. I...
03/26/2020

Employers and employees alike are concerned if an employee’s hours drop they may be ineligible for insurance benefits.

In a webinar today covering a broad spectrum of employee benefits, it was revealed that most carriers are willing to allow employees to be covered if their hours drop below the minimum requirement or even if the employee is furloughed so long as there is one employee meeting the minimum eligibility requirement.

This is an obvious sign the carriers are willing to make exceptions during these unprecedented times.

03/20/2020

Some better news for policyholders from the CA Insurance Commissioner. The issue I have with the language in the press release is using the word “requesting” and not “requiring”. We will see how the carriers respond.

Click below to read the full press release.

25% of US workers have no paid sick leave. That is truly unfortunate given these times. But, California workers can tap ...
03/14/2020

25% of US workers have no paid sick leave. That is truly unfortunate given these times. But, California workers can tap into State unemployment benefits which will provide some relief if their hours are cut.

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