search

MBPA Provides ERISA Compliant SPD’s for Members

/in

The Employer Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) guidelines make it mandatory for all businesses with 2 or more employees to provide employees with a Summary Plan Description (SPD). The MBPA continues to take a leading role in informing and helping our members meet their obligations under ERISA by providing SPD’s at no charge for all members of MBPA/MFBA. 

  • Types of benefits covered by Summary Plan Descriptions include: Medical, Long Term Disability, Short Term Disability, Life/AD&D and freestanding Dental/Vision.
  • The MPBA Welfare Benefit Plan Basic Summary Plan Description and Legal Wrap Plan Document is compliant with all applicable laws, including health care reform to date – including all Department of Labor (DOL) requirements.
  • This document can be used by groups of all sizes, including large groups and self-funded groups.   
  • This document is intended to be a “wrap” plan document and SPD that would work in conjunction with the underlying benefits policies/certificates for insured benefits and with underlying benefit summaries and/or administrative service agreements in the self-insured context.  
  • MPBA provides this document as a service to its members who are always encouraged to work with their legal counsel to ensure that the documents are properly completed and tailored to fit the needs of each individual member organization.

 

NOW, Two Easy Ways to Get Your Client’s SPD for Active Members:

1.    Let Us Do It For You:

Access an SPD adoption agreement from our Agent Pavilion

Complete it and e-mail it back to us IN WORD FORMAT at info@michbusiness.org, being sure to provide your complete contact information

We will complete and return the documents within two business days.

2.    Create Your Own On-Line (NEW):

Go to our Agent Pavilion and click on Summary Plan Description on the main menu.

Follow the instructions to create your client’s plan…..you can save it in your client’s ‘library’ for their/your future use.

Remember:  MBPA provides SPDs for FREE to members and $125.00 for non-members.

 

We look forward to continuing to provide you and your clients with the most up to date and easily accessible services in this important area. If you have questions or are in need of assistance, please contact our Member Services Team at 1-888-277-6464 or 1-586-393-8800.

 

Agents, COBRA has not been Eliminated!

/in

COBRA has not been eliminated under Health Reform. All the same rules and regulations continue for health plans including those for vision and dental. On May 8, 2013 the Department of Labor (DOL) issued a revised model notice which added additional language to the qualifying event notice. This was intended to inform individuals of additional options with guaranteed issue health insurance policies provided through the public marketplace. For those who qualify, they could be eligible for a subsidy.

 

Although Health Reform offers an alternative to COBRA though the marketplace, many other provisions of PPACA have a direct impact on COBRA. As an example, PPACA extended coverage for dependent covered children to age 26. When the coverage ends, employers subject to COBRA must extend the offer of COBRA to those children to allow coverage to age 29. Some of the other provisions that impact COBRA include the appeals process, lifetime limits and the stability period.

 

Even with the marketplace option, COBRA may be the better option. It’s important to review your health plan in detail before a decision is made. There is more to consider than a subsidy.
 

Agent Alert: Preparing For The Individual Market in 2014

/in

The Michigan Business & Professional Association (MBPA) services members from the group market and the individual market everyday with a variety of programs & services developed especially for our clients needs. Our focus is on providing our members with information, educational tools and valuable resources to help them in their businesses. As we look to 2014, and the impact of health care reform on our members and the small business community, we recognize that the individual market will be a major focus as individuals will now be required to have health insurance and groups will be considering their options and the impact of health care reform on their business.

    
The MBPA has supported the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Managing Agents Coverageforone.com system and sees the value in this innovative customizable enrollment tool. Coverageforone.com offers agents a unique custom branded enrollment website, including an agent’s personalized logo/contact information that you can share with your clients as they visit your website to enroll in the BCBSM individual product that best suits their needs. Best of all you earn commissions, and much of the work is done for you!

Coverageforone.com Features:

  • BCBSM Online Enrollment Connection – When your clients click on “I Want to Enroll” they will be re-directed to the BCBSM enrollment system to complete their application. Simply direct your clients to your customized coverageforone.com site/link and as your clients are redirected to the BCBSM system for enrollment your agent ID number, will automatically be coded to ensure proper credit is assigned. Best of all you can ensure your client is linked to MBPA via our sponsored acronym “AL” so that they receive all of the individual benefits and services the MBPA has to offer.
  • Simplified Quoting – Action Benefits and Grotenhuis share a simple quoting tool that your clients can utilize prior to applying for coverage to see which plans best fit their budget.
  • Easy to Access Benefit Information – Available on the welcome page is an easy to reference plan information to aid your clients as they evaluate which product best suits their needs.
  • Applications are Hard-Coded with Agent Code w/Option to Add MBPA’s Sponsored Code “AL” – In addition to the simplified quoting and benefit information, Coverageforone.com also posts the current applications on the welcome page. These forms have been hard-coded with your agent number, and it allows you to add the MBPA’s AL designation code as well.
  • Activity Reports – Coverageforone.com provides you with electronic activity reports regarding visitors and applications received via your coverageforone.com website helping you to manage your business and follow up with your clients and prospects.
  • Competitive Commission Structure – The MyBlue suite of individual products is still comprehensive and remains affordable when compared to other carriers. BCBSM competitive commission structure on these products allows you to earn up to 15% the first year of the contract.

 

When You Write Your Blues With Sponsored Code AL, You Get Enormous Value For Your Clients:

/in

Keep sticking with AL and writing your Blues business with the MBPA.

 

  • MBPA is proud to reach over 150,000 businesses with the vast array of programs, conferences and educational resources provided to the business community. That’s one out of three businesses in Michigan.
  • Health Care Reform Connect™: MBPA’s exclusive tool to help answer all your questions and provide tangible resources and education for your clients. Over 50 health care reform resources available and serviced by the MBPA team.
  • Reform Compliant SPDs – Free for all association members.
  • Low dues structure – only $75 for the first year – pays for itself in financial value.
  • Over 100 member programs and 30 educational conferences per year.


In addition to the valuable membership benefits we offer to your clients, the MBPA continues contest and bonus rewards with our program partners. Choose from the following contests:

 

1.  Staples Sizzler: For all your new 10+ groups signed up with MBPA membership now through December 31, 2013, receive an extra $100 in addition to the $500 you normally receive. That’s $600 thru 2013!

 

OR

 

2.  BASIC’s COBRA Bonanza: Receive one year of complimentary COBRA Administration for qualifying groups of 20-99 lives, plus a $250 bonus.

 

Retention Rewards:
Agents that continue to keep their clients with the MBPA for renewals are part of our Retention Rewards perks and have opportunities for additional bonuses, contests and prizes throughout the year brought to you by the MBPA Community Partners.
 

Health Reform Connect™ Exclusive For MBPA Agents & Members

/in

Health Care Reform Connect™ is your resource for implementing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA or ACA). We’ve pulled together the latest information from experts to help keep you updated on the newest developments about Michigan’s implementation of Obamacare, along with online tools to aid you with decision making.

 

As a writing agent with MBPA, you now have the answers that you need to help you as an agent navigate reform. Health Reform Connect™ will give you:

  • New! Health Care Reform Road Map – Our new exclusive member tool that will help lead you through an easy-to-follow flow chart to see where the road to full ACA implementation will take you.
  • Access to our exclusive Health Reform Questions and Answers hotlink – This email link will give you opportunity to ask any specific question related to reform and your clients needs.  Our team of experts will provide speedy answers to help you manage implementation of reform.
  • Small Business Health Care Reform Guide – which summarizes major ACA provisions, examines the impact on Michigan business, explains the Health Insurance Marketplace, offers suggestions about talking to employees and provides more information.
  • Health Care Tax Credit Estimator
  • MBPA Full-Time Employee Equivalent Calculator – helps you determine whether you are a “large employer” under the Affordable Care Act based on FTEs.
  • Health Care Reform Business Checklist – will inform you of ACA implications based on your business size.
  • Health Care Reform Glossary – Because the ACA itself is being implemented over a number of years and dictates substantial changes, there are many new terms and conditions that will need to be understood.
  • Compliance Tools Section – with an ACA timeline, COBRA information, updated Section 125 Plans and Summary Plan Descriptions (SPD), presentations and more.

 

To take advantage of these services, continue to write your Blues with the MBPA (cluster code “AL”).  This is a complimentary additional service for all members taking advantage of the MBPA BCBSM insurance offerings. Our service team is ready to help you at 888-277-6464.
 

Significant Changes Coming To Blues’ Underwriting Policies

/in

These changes will affect the way you do business and the information that you access.

 

Beginning next year, there will be some significant changes coming to the Blues’ underwriting policies that will affect your daily work. These changes are coming in response to the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and BCBSM’s transition to a nonprofit mutual. Because they will impact your daily business, it’s critical that you understand the changes. It’s important to note that the underwriting policy manuals apply to business enrolling off-SHOP only and the changes are applicable to both BCBSM and BCN unless required by law or business process.

 

What is changing?
There are numerous changes that you’ll see in the group underwriting policy manuals many of which have been communicated in prior Focus on Reform alerts and training sessions (See below for instruction on how to access to alerts). To give you an idea of what is coming, we’ve highlighted a few of the impacts below:

 

I.    Eligibility

a.    New definitions for small and large groups to align with the ACA, changes to participation and employer contribution rules, and benefit package guidelines including new small group wrapping rules.

b.    New common control guidelines to align with the ACA  

c.    Multiple location employer guidelines were updated to reflect a single geographic rating area for ACA small groups (50 or fewer FTE employees)

d.    Eliminated  the minimum of 5 enrolled active employee requirement to establish a retiree segment and only applying the 50-percent employer contribution requirement to ACA small groups (50 or fewer FTE employees)

II.    Group rating (BCBSM only)

a.    Changes in  rating methodology for small groups to comply with the ACA
b.    Large non-reform groups will be age-rated beginning with 2014 renewals

III.    Ancillary coverage, Dental and Vision

a.    Prescription drug policy changes (Single Source). See Focus on: Reform – Issue 9, May 27, 2013.
b.    Large group stand-alone vision and voluntary stand-alone vision coverage is available Jan. 1, 2014, when packaged with stand-alone dental

IV.    Membership processes

a.     All membership addition notice requirements were changed from 30 to 31 days. Deletion and cancellation notice requirements remain at 30 days. (Applies to all groups effective Jan. 1, 2014)

V.    Group processes

a.     Updates to lead time requirements, effective date, renewal date, plan year alignment and new hire waiting periods
b.    Beginning with Jan. 1, 2014, effective dates, group-wide changes are not permitted with effective dates 150 days prior to a group’s renewal period. This applies to benefit, industry class and geographic rating area changes. GWCs must be effective the first of the   month
c.    Changes to Rate Renewal Certification processes.  See Issue 9: Focus on: Reform bulletin – May 13, 2013

 

When will those changes take place?
The new rules in the policy manuals will be effective either on Jan. 1, 2014, or on the groups’ plan year date beginning Jan. 1, 2014. 

 

Where can I see the changes?
To view the new and current policy manuals:

  1. Go to www.bcbsm.com 
  2. Log in to the Agent Secured Services.
  3. Go to the Quote & Enroll tab. Select Underwriting Policy.
  4. Click on either BCBSM Group Underwriting Policy or BCN Group Underwriting Policy.

Pending Federal Legislation Aids Agents

/in

By Bonnie Bochniak
Government Relations

 

Discussions over the past six months at our Nation’s Capitol in Washington D.C. to aid the agent community are finally seeing some action.  Both the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives are actively pursuing bipartisan legislation that allows insurance agents the ability to become licensed to sell insurance in multiple states.  House bill H.R. 1155 and Senate bill S. 534, dubbed the “National Association of Registered Agents and Brokers Reform Act of 2013” has a favorable chance of being approved by this Congress.

Currently, agents and brokers must be licensed in each state in which they do business. The National Association of Registered Agents and Brokers (NARAB)  would create a national – not federal – clearinghouse for insurance agents and brokers to obtain approval to operate on a multi-state basis. NARAB would be governed by a board dominated by state regulators and would establish standards for membership that meet or exceed the existing requirements in any state.

A prospective NARAB member would be required to be fully licensed in his or her home state and satisfy rigorous membership criteria for the national organization. Then an approved NARAB member could utilize the clearinghouse to obtain approval to operate in any other state. States would retain their regulatory jurisdiction over consumer protection, market conduct and unfair trade practices, and would retain their rights over licensing, supervision, disciplining and the setting of licensing fees for insurance producers.

In essence, this legislation will allow agents and brokers more flexibility in offering products and also the ability to adapt to their clientele to continue to service them where ever life may lead. This legislation has been deemed a cost-effective and a common-sense approach to help this industry better service its customers and building stronger relationships.

The Michigan Business and Professional Association (MBPA) will continue to keep you updated as this legislation continues to move through the process at our Nation’s Capitol. If you have any questions regarding this article or issue, please contact our Government Relations Team at: 586-393-8800 or by email at bbochniak@michbusiness.org

SPD

/in ,

Are you concerned with the Random DOL Audits?

The MBPA Provides Summary Plan Descriptions (SPDs) at No Cost to our Members!

The Employer Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) guidelines make it mandatory for all businesses with 2 or more employees to provide employees with a Summary Plan Description (SPD). The MBPA continues to take a leading role in informing and helping our members meet their obligations under ERISA.

  • Types of benefits covered by Summary Plan Descriptions include: Medical, Long Term Disability, Short Term Disability, Life/AD&D and freestanding Dental/Vision.
  • The MBPA SPD is a comprehensive document that satisfies all of the Department of Labor (DOL) requirements.
  • The MBPA SPD is essentially a “wrap plan SPD” under which an employer can combine all of its benefits into one plan and one plan document for ease of administration and for purposes of DOL reporting requirements (e.g. Form 5500s) for those employers subject to such reporting.
  • The MBPA SPD can be used for both insured and self-insured benefits.

NOW, Two Easy Ways to Get Your Client’s SPD for Active Members:

  1. Let Us Do It For You:
  • Access an SPD adoption agreement from our Agent Pavilion
  • Complete it and e-mail it back to us IN WORD FORMAT at info@michbusiness.org, being sure to provide your complete contact information
  • We will complete and return the documents within two business days.
  1. Create Your Own On-Line (NEW):
  • Go to our Agent Pavilion and click on Summary Plan Description on the main menu.
  • Follow the instructions to create your client’s plan…..you can save it in your client’s ‘library’ for their/your future use.

Remember: SPDs are FREE for members and $125.00 for non-members.

We look forward to continuing to provide you and your clients with the most up to date and easily accessible services in this important area. If you have questions or are in need of assistance, please contact our Member Services Team at 1-888-277-6464 or 1-586-393-8800.

Preparing For The Individual Market in 2014

/in ,

The Michigan Business & Professional Association (MBPA) services members’ everyday from the group and individual markets with a variety of programs & services developed especially for our members business needs. Our focus is on providing our members with information, educational tools and valuable resources to help grow their business. As we look to 2014, and the impact of health care reform on our members and the small business community, we recognize that the individual market will be a major focus as individuals will now be required to have health insurance and groups will be considering their options and the impact of health care reform on their business.

The MBPA has supported the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Managing Agents Coverageforone.com system and sees the value in this innovative customizable enrollment tool. Coverageforone.com offers agents a unique custom branded enrollment website, including an agent’s personalized logo/contact information that you can share with your clients as they visit your website to enroll in the BCBSM individual product that best suits their needs. Best of all you earn commissions, and much of the work is done for you!

Coverageforone.com Features:

  • BCBSM Online Enrollment Connection – When your clients click on “I Want to Enroll” they will be re-directed to the BCBSM enrollment system to complete their application. Simply direct your clients to your customized coverageforone.com site/link and as your clients are redirected to the BCBSM system for enrollment your agent ID number, will automatically be coded to ensure proper credit is assigned. Best of all you can ensure your client is linked to MBPA via our sponsored acronym “AL” so that they receive all of the individual benefits and services the MBPA has to offer.
  • Simplified Quoting – Action Benefits and Grotenhuis share a simple quoting tool that your clients can utilize prior to applying for coverage to see which plans best fit their budget.
  • Easy to Access Benefit Information – Available on the welcome page is an easy to reference plan information to aid your clients as they evaluate which product best suits their needs.
  • Applications are Hard-Coded with Agent Code w/Option to Add MBPA’s Sponsored Code “AL” – In addition to the simplified quoting and benefit information, Coverageforone.com also posts the current applications on the welcome page. These forms have been hard-coded with your agent number, and it allows you to add the MBPA’s AL designation code as well.
  • Activity Reports – Coverageforone.com provides you with electronic activity reports regarding visitors and applications received via your coverageforone.com website helping you to manage your business and follow up with your clients and prospects.
  • Competitive Commission Structure – The MyBlue suite of individual products is still comprehensive and remains affordable when compared to other carriers. Please contact your BCBSM Managing Agent for details on Blues competitive commission structure.

 

Health Care Reform Connect™ – Agent Assistance With Employer Notifications Of The Marketplace

/in

Notification of Healthcare Marketplace

Assistance with Employee Notifications of the Marketplace

 

The Affordable Care Act requires that every employer must provide all of their part-time and full-time employees with a notice regarding the Health Insurance Marketplace by October 1, 2013. We are encouraging members to do this in early September at the latest.

 

To be compliant with the Department of Labor, one of two notices MUST be sent. One notice is for employers that currently offer health insurance as an employee benefit, and the other notice is for employers that do not offer health insurance as an employee benefit. Going forward, new hires must receive notice with 14 days of the start date of employment.

 

Employer Notification provided to Members At NO COST!

 

How can Agents create their Employer Notifications for their Clients?

 

Use our secured, easy-to-use agent pavilion to help you satisfy the requirement for your clients, by completing the online form and printing the notifications for their employees; similar to MBPA’s exclusive SPD and 125 document.

 

When you log in, you can quickly complete the information required by the Affordable Care Act.

 

It’s that simple, fast, and easy; just click “Print” and you’re done!

 

You Now Have Convenient Options to Notify their Employees:

  • Create the notifications On-Line…. FREE & Available immediately
    • Clients may distribute these in person to their employees
    • They can email them to their employees (provided they have a company issued computer available to them)
  • OR we can mail it to your employee’s home at a nominal cost, through a partnership with BASIC

 

Creating Them for FREE:

  • Select a member to access our Employer Notification form online.
  • Fill in all applicable fields with the company information.
  • Should you not be able to complete the document in one sitting, you may SAVE the work in progress in your own file library and come back to it later. You have two weeks to complete it. After a two week period has passed, you will need to create a new document from scratch.
  • When done, CLICK SUBMIT and the Employer Notification will be completed and saved in your library as a pdf file for your future use.

 

Call us for a custom mail quote!

 

If You Experience Any Difficulties During the Process: Call us at 586-393-8800 and ask for any Member Service representative.

 

Agents, Click Here to SIGN IN.

MichBusiness

719 Griswold Street, Suite 630
Detroit, MI 48226

Contact Us

hello@michbusiness.com
888-277-6464

Click to access the login or register cheese