Small Employers May Qualify for Tax Credit
March 16, 2012
Filing Deadlines Approaching
Washington, D.C. – With business tax-filing deadlines fast approaching, the Internal Revenue Service encourages small employers that provide health insurance coverage to their employees to check out the small business health care tax credit and then claim it if they qualify.
The recently-revamped Small Business Health Care Tax Credit page on IRS.gov is packed with information and resources designed to help small employers see if they qualify for the credit and then figure it correctly.
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Mini-Meds and Other Junk Insurance Plans Still In Business as Consumers Wait For Health Reform to Kick In
February 20, 2012
Plus, how to avoid common pitfalls when buying insurance on your own
Yonkers, NY – Brand name insurance companies are selling health coverage as skimpy as a hospital gown. The leading example of so called “junk health plans,” cited in a new report in the March issue of Consumer Reports, are mini-meds, which the magazine describes as “legal but inadequate.” Other misleading products include fixed benefit indemnity plans and medical discount cards.
Because the federal government has granted waivers—a total of 1,231 covering 3.9 million people as of January 2012—to several large, well-known companies, mini-med junk plans continue to operate, and disappoint, even though they represent the type of misleading and extremely limited health coverage that the Affordable Care Act was designed to eliminate. The waivers will expire in 2014 when health reform goes fully into effect. [Read more]
Tennessee Department of Commerce urges residents to review Insurance Coverage
December 27, 2011
Prepare for the holiday season with an eye toward Murphy’s Law
Nashville, TN – The holiday season increases the chance for mishaps, as more people travel and attend gatherings. Factor in the fatigue and distraction that can accompany changes to our routines, and the risk becomes greater. After all, no one ever plans on being injured.
Commerce and Insurance Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak suggests you take time to review how your insurance covers mishaps in the home and when traveling. Consider these scenarios as a starting point for reviewing your coverage limits, whether for the holidays or for every day. [Read more]
New Health Insurance Rankings reveal wide variations in Quality
October 4, 2011
PPOs, enrolling more than one third of Americans, ranked for first time
Yonkers, NY – New rankings of 830 private, Medicare, and Medicaid health insurance plans reveal wide variations in quality and mixed results for some of the nation’s largest health insurers. The rankings are available for free online at www.ConsumerReports.org/health.
They also appear in three regional editions of the November issue of Consumer Reports. Many employers, as well as Medicare, schedule their annual open enrollment periods for the fall, so for consumers who have the option of switching plans, now is the time to do the research. [Read more]
IRS and HHS Announce New Round of Outreach to Small Businesses and Practitioners About the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit
September 10, 2011
Washington, D.C. – As the upcoming filing extension tax deadlines approach, the Internal Revenue Service, in partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services, is announcing a new round of outreach to small employers and the professional service providers they rely on to encourage them to review the new Small Business Health Care Tax Credit to see if they are eligible.
“As the filing deadlines approach, we want to make sure that small business owners don’t leave any money on the table,” said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. “Small businesses that offer health insurance should learn about this credit and claim it if they are eligible.” [Read more]
