One of the big topics is flu season. Please find the attached materials from our friends at UnitedHealthcare to assist with flu season survival: Flu Facts, 6 Ways to Fend Off Seasonal Flu, Keep It to Yourself, and a link to a video with cold and flu facts for kids.
Health Care Reform
Remember that if you had fewer than 50 employees in 2013, you are NOT subject to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) beginning in 2014. So called “small employers” (no more than 25 full time/equivalent employees) are being given incentives by way of tax credits (including tax-exempt entities that are eligible for FICA credits). You are only subject to the employer pay or play rules IF you employed more than 50 employees in 2013 (full time and equivalent employees), but not until your plan year begins in 2014. Many companies will clearly fall into the “under 50” category and will not have to make any changes; many companies will clearly fall into the “over 50” category and many of them will already be in compliance (covering at least 95% of their full time population). Some companies will require careful calculation under the rules to know if they are subject to PPACA or not. If you have questions about how to calculate whether you are a “large” employer under the law, whether you should adjust your workforce in 2013 to better prepare for 2014, or about the small employer incentives (tax credits) for providing coverage, let us know.
Regardless of whether you, as an employer, will be subject to PPACA, your part time employees will be subject to the individual mandate that requires them to have coverage or pay a penalty. BMC has a link on our website to iDecide, a means of locating the most cost effective plan for individuals. If you have a large number of part time employees who would benefit, let us know. We can include the link on your website as well.
Property and Casualty Insurance
We’re frequently asked by our clients whether we can take care of their property and casualty needs. BMC doesn’t solicit or sell property and casualty insurance, but we partner with people who do – and do it with the same great service that BMC provides to our clients. If you have any P&C questions, are in the market for a new P&C agent, or perhaps haven’t gotten competitive quotes on your coverage recently, let us know and we’ll be glad to put you in touch.