Health Insurance Overview

Why not let Mercer research the market, work with you in selecting the right plan designs, and assist you in managing your employee benefits including group health insurance?

We have experience working with hundreds of pharmacists just like you. Right now, we cannot offer “special” association benefits, but we can make sure that your benefit plan is cost effective and provides the benefits that you need to run your business! There are hundreds of different plan designs, utilizing different provider networks from the major health insurers. And we offer one stop shopping. If you are currently offering a group health insurance plan, we can become your broker by way of a broker of record letter and you can begin to utilize our services with or without changing your current plans.

Due to the new Executive Order regarding health care, legislation may change to allow true Association Health Plans (AHPs) to reemerge in the market. As they become available, we will make these benefits accessible to members of the California Pharmacists Association.

Regardless of the legislative environment, we can find the right plan at the right price for your practice. Reach out today for more information. We look forward to working with you! 

Healthcare News

As you may know, an Executive Order regarding health insurance was recently issued by the President. The major points were:

1. Directing the Department of Labor to liberalize federal health insurance rules that could allow the formation of Association Health Plans (AHPs) across state lines. These plans would not have to offer all of the Essential Benefits mandated by the ACA, and potentially enable Association Health Plans to be treated as large employer plans not having to comply with each specific state requirement with respect to individual and small employer offerings.
2. Directing Departments of Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services to draft regulations that would expand availability of short-term insurance plans beyond the current 3 month limit.
3. Directing Departments of Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services to change rules to allow Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRAs) to purchase individual health and family plan coverage on a tax favorable basis, which is not permitted under current rules. This would allow individual and family plans to be used as an employee benefit. Under current law, individual and family plans are not deductible for employers as a business expense.

The Executive Order directs rules to be proposed by Dec 11 for items 1) and 2) and by February 9 for item 3). Following the release of these proposed rules there will be a 30 to 60 day comment period, meaning that no changes are likely for the upcoming open enrollment period for individual and family plans.

We will carefully follow the rulemaking process. There are obviously many questions and open issues to be resolved, but we will use our extensive experience in developing and managing successful and compliant Association Health Plans, as well as Mercer’s overall industry leading health plan expertise, to explore every opportunity to create health insurance solutions that provide value for our clients.