Mills + Maple Insurance Solutions

04/01/2022

11/05/2021

🤝Our Adaptable Engagement Method was developed to align our concierge level of service with the unique needs of our clients. It supports our solutions based approach to enhance the human experience. We will meet you where you are! Figuratively or quite literally… 🍃

11/04/2021

💡 No matter how you get your health insurance, there are a few things that can help you create a baseline for how to differentiate your options!

1️⃣ If you have doctors/providers that you want to continue seeing at the best cost, you’ll want to first understand how the provider networks affect your access to in-network care.

2️⃣ You’ll find that some plans may offer predictable flat dollar copayments for office visits, urgent care, generic prescriptions, labs… this will encourage you to seek care without the uncertainty of cost being a barrier.

3️⃣ Every plan has a medication formulary list. It’s a list of what medications they cover and how. Typically indicated by TIERS. Some medications require prior authorization to prove medical necessity. Some may be “non-formulary”, or not listed on the medication list because there are other less expensive alternatives. You could discuss with your doctor if the alternatives will work for you or pursue a formulary exception request if your doctor can support the medical reason why a non-formulary medication is needed.

4️⃣ Your out of pocket maximum is your financial protection. It’s the fundamental reason for having insurance. This is the most you will pay in a calendar year for in-network + medically necessary care. If the God forbid / catastrophic were to occur, your out of pocket maximum will mitigate financial devastation

⛰These 4 things can help you narrow down your options. (But wait, there’s more!) While it’s best to have a licensed professional walk you through all the nuances, being empowered with your own understanding will help you take charge of your healthcare journey 🤙🏼

10/07/2021

👋 4th quarter is the perfect opportunity to reconnect with clients. Hi everyone, I’m Jolene Bibian and Mills + Maple Insurance Solutions is my company. Now that many people are getting more comfortable with in-person interaction, I’m really hoping we can get back to our meetings outside the office walls and away from our screens 👩🏼‍💻 When I first launched the company, it was important that we infused our love for the outdoors with how we do business. That’s why we started offering meetings on a trail or outside taking a walk. Then hashtag Covid 🦠 We are happy to say that incorporating meetings outdoors is BACK! Of course we will continue zoom, phone, office couch and all the other traditional methods of meeting with you - whatever you are comfortable with. We will meet you there. 🍃

07/04/2021

✨Happy 4th of July 🇺🇸 We are delighted to see families + friends reuniting after over a year apart. There is a sense of optimism in the air that has been a long time coming 🎆

05/05/2021

After you get your COVID-19 vaccine, keep your vaccination card safe — scammers are using the COVID-19 pandemic to try to steal your personal information.

Don't share a photo of your COVID-19 vaccination card online or on social media. Scammers can use content you post, like your date of birth, health care details, or other personal information to steal your identity.

Protect Yourself

You should get a COVID-19 vaccination card at your first vaccine appointment. If you didn't, contact the provider site where you got vaccinated or your state health department to find out how to get a card.
If someone contacts you to buy or sell a vaccination card, it's a scam.
If you suspect COVID-19 health care fraud, report it online or call 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). TTY users can call 1-800-377-4950.

HHS-OIG is alerting the public about a fraud scheme involving COVID-19.

04/09/2021

DOL model notices dropped April 7th 🙌🏼 We expect our COBRA administrators + carriers to push out information in the coming days 💌Grateful for our proactive record keeping so that we’re able to reconcile and connect in real time to support our employer clients and potential AEIs (Assistance Eligible Individuals). You can find all of this on the dedicated DOL website - or simply reach out! We’re here to help 🍃

04/02/2021

Reminder from the CDC:

💯COVID-19 Vaccine is Provided at 100% No Cost to Recipients

All organizations and providers participating in the CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Program:

✅ must administer COVID-19 Vaccine at no out-of-pocket cost to the recipient
🚫 may not deny anyone vaccination based on the vaccine recipient’s coverage status or network status
🚫 may not charge an office visit or other fee if COVID-19 vaccination is the sole medical service provided
🚫 may not require additional medical services to receive COVID-19 vaccination
✅ may seek appropriate reimbursement from a program or plan that covers COVID-19 Vaccine administration fees for the vaccine recipient, such as:
🆗 vaccine recipient’s private insurance company
🆗 Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement
- HRSA COVID-19 Uninsured Program for non-insured vaccine recipients
🚫may not seek any reimbursement, including through balance billing, from the vaccine recipient

⚠️ Individuals aware of any potential violations of these requirements are encouraged to report them to the Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS or the website TIPS.HHS.GOV.

https://lnkd.in/gQxVbnh

03/31/2021

🤓The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) was signed into law on March 11, 2021.

🐍 One piece of ARPA that impacts employers, (ex)employees and the medical benefits offered is the COBRA subsidy provision.

🎒While there is a lot to unpack with this provision, here are some high level details (as of 3/30/2021)

💰In general, this provision requires employers to provide “assistance eligible individuals” (AEI) with a 100% subsidy for COBRA coverage during the period from April 1, 2021 to September 30, 2021 (Subsidy Period).

Employers are encouraged to identify all individuals who:
✅lost group health plan coverage due to involuntary termination or a reduction in hours,
✅ are within their maximum coverage period (generally 18 months), and
✅ are potentially assistance eligible individuals (AEIs).

📆This period may be as far back as October 2019 for an individual within their 18-month maximum coverage period.

💌 Once potential AEIs have been identified, the employer should coordinate with their COBRA administrator to make sure that appropriate notices are sent to the AEIs

📈 COBRA premiums should be tracked so that the appropriate credit can be claimed at the end of each quarter.

📩 Even though the COBRA administrator may be contractually obligated to send relevant COBRA notices, the plan administrator is ultimately responsible for compliance with COBRA.

🙏 Lean on your benefit advisor / broker!

☝️For all of our affected clients we are actively engaged with the COBRA administrator(s) to help run reports and facilitate outreach.

🤝 We know potential AEIs and employers have questions - we are prepared to walk with you!

(🙂The law is still being interpreted as of the date of this post + information is subject to change)

03/04/2021

Social Security and OIG Hold Second Annual ‘Slam the Scam’ Day: "Social Security will never tell you that your Social Security number is suspended, contact you to demand an immediate payment, threaten you with arrest, ask for your credit or debit card numbers over the phone, ask for gift cards or cash, or promise a Social Security benefit approval or increase in exchange for information or money....Social Security employees do occasionally contact the public by telephone for business purposes. Ordinarily, the agency calls people who have recently applied for a Social Security benefit, someone who is already receiving payments and requires an update to their record, or a person who has requested a phone call from the agency. If there is a problem with a person’s Social Security number or record, Social Security will typically mail a letter."

Today’s events include:

1 p.m. ET: and participate in a Spanish-language on Twitter hosted by .
3 p.m. ET: and participate in a on Twitter hosted by .
7 p.m. ET: Facebook Live with the SSA Office of the Inspector General and the Division of Consumer & Business Education at the Federal Trade Commission. More info here: https://www.ssa.gov/antifraudfacts/?_ga=2.139414134.490825919.1614880176-2100501050.1614880176

https://www.ssa.gov/news/press/releases/2021/ #3-2021-1

Our mission is to deliver Social Security services that meet the changing needs of the public. Every day our employees work diligently to ensure the public receives the services and benefits it deserves. We strive to ensure the integrity of our programs and provide a high level of service to the pub...

02/25/2021

*UPDATE*

Sign up for free COVID-19 vaccination Vaccinations are in high demand. But you can find out when it’s your turn to get one. Sign up at myturn.ca.gov or call (833) 422-4255 and schedule your appointment, or get notified when appointments are available in your area. Sign up now COVID-19 vaccination ...

02/24/2021

As we approach the 1 year mark since the beginning of the pandemic, we reflect on the ways that we have been able to support our employers during a time of tremendous uncertainty. One way was introducing virtual HR resources that employers could access anytime from anywhere.

HR Support Center is integrated seamlessly in our online benefit admin system, EASE. This means employers have access to their own employee benefit database & HR tool box with a single login.

For our employer clients who require a little more "human" support, we also have an upgraded version that includes HR On-Demand which has unlimited access to a team of certified HR Professionals, document customization and handbook development support + much more.

Not to mention, the COVID-19 Resources Page that contains sample communications to employees, telecommuting resources, and links to various federal resources including the CDC and OSHA, as well as state and local resources where available. We recommend checking this page regularly for guidance.

Coupling these tools with our network of employment law professionals + our expertise in employee benefits, has created a flexible solution enabling us to walk with employers and their employees through a tough year (to say the least).

We're proud of that.