Education Blog
Is Your Prescription Drug Coverage Creditable?
Employers providing prescription drug coverage to individuals who are eligible for Medicare Part D must inform both the individuals and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) whether their prescription drug coverage is “creditable.” Let’s take a look at what that means: The prescription drug coverage in a group health plan is considered creditable…
Read MoreNew I-9 Form In Effect September 18th
In July of 2017, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued an updated version of Form I-9: Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9). Under federal law, every employer that recruits, refers for a fee or hires an individual for employment in the United States must complete a Form I-9. While there has been a grace period…
Read More2018 ACA Reporting Draft Forms Now Available
The Internal Revenue Service has released draft versions of 2018 forms for Affordable Care Act (ACA) reporting under IRS Code Sections 6055 and 6056. Specifically, Forms 1094-C and 1095-C are now available in draft versions for reporting under Section 6055 and 6066, as are Forms 1094-B and 1095-B for reporting under Section 6066. Here’s what…
Read MoreNew Maryland Law for Enhanced Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Maryland drivers should be aware of a law that took effect for personal auto policies purchased on or after July 1, 2018. In order to expand protection for drivers who are injured by uninsured or underinsured motorists, insurers issuing new policies are now required to offer enhanced underinsured motorist (EUIM) coverage to replace traditional underinsured…
Read MoreControlling Workers’ Compensation Costs
Fourth in a series of installments on workers’ compensation coverage In previous posts on workers’ compensation, we’ve covered experience modification factors, what makes a claim compensable and signs of fraud. Now, let’s get to the bottom line – literally – and talk about controlling your workers’ compensation costs. The first thing to understand about cost…
Read MoreHSA/HDHP Limits to Increase for 2019
On May 10, 2018, the IRS announced inflation-adjusted limits for both health savings accounts (HSAs) and high deductible health plans (HDHPs) for 2019. These recently-announced limits include the maximum HSA contribution limit, the minimum deductible amount for HDHPs and the maximum out-of-pocket expense for HDHPs. Note, however, that not all of these are changing in…
Read MoreBack to School for Consolidated too!
Nearly 80% of the insurance-licensed staff here at Consolidated hold at least one insurance designation, and many hold more than one. From well-known certifications like CIC (Certified Insurance Counselor), ACSR (Accredited Customer Service Representative), CLCS (Commercial Lines Coverage Specialist), CAWC (Certified Authority on Workers’ Compensation), CISR (Certified Insurance Service Representative), and AAI (Accredited Advisor in …
Read MoreChild Off to College? Here’s the Question You Didn’t Ask.
It’s the time of year when parents prepare to say goodbye to children heading off to college, and there’s so much emotion wrapped up in this milestone that more practical considerations are sometimes overlooked. Here’s one: will your child at college still be covered by your existing homeowners’ and auto policies? The answer? Yes. Or…
Read MoreFraud Alert: Warning Signs of Workers’ Compensation Claims
Third in a series of installments on workers’ compensation coverage Having covered the circumstances that make a workers’ compensation claim compensable in a previous post (see it here), let’s take a moment to look at the other side of the coin: signs that a claim might be fraudulent. Various sources estimate that fraudulent claims cost…
Read MoreMinimum Wage Increases in MD and DC
As noted here at the start of this year, some 19 states plus the District of Columbia enacted new minimum wage laws in 2018. These laws supersede the current federal minimum wage rate of $7.25 per hour, and the vast majority of the increases took effect on or about January 1. The exceptions were Maryland,…
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