2014: The Year in Review

09 Jan 2014: The Year in Review

As 2014 has drawn to a close, and 2015 begins, we thought we’d take a moment to look back at the events and changes of the previous twelve months.

With the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, 2014 was a year of unprecedented change in the health insurance arena. Although the employer mandate was delayed until January 1, 2015, there were, nonetheless, new forms and new requirements of which business owners and HR managers needed to be aware. Required Medicare and exchange notifications were highlighted in blog posts and via our newsletters, where we also shared advice, such as suggesting that employers think twice before “dumping” their employees on exchanges, and looking at reasons why many small businesses are considering self-funded plans.

Our individual clients have seen many changes as well, and we’ve had some busy months as we worked  to ensure that each client understood their healthcare options and were able to get the most appropriate coverage at the best price. We kept individuals apprised of healthcare open enrollment details and dates, as well as answers to frequently asked questions.

The year brought some exciting changes in other areas of our business as well. In May, we were pleased to add Joey Scheidler to the Exact Insure team to spearhead our new voluntary worksite benefits division. Joey has met with many of our group clients and succeeded in providing an average 20% savings, while ensuring that the employees had the coverage they needed and fully understood how to take advantage of the services. Voluntary benefits are an important part of employee satisfaction, and we’ve been pleased to see the excellent results Joey has provided.

2015 also saw us adding Legal Shield, which offers legal protection for businesses, as well as a voluntary benefit which businesses can offer their employees.  Legal Shield’s small business protection plan gives your small business unlimited access to legal consultation. Services include contract and document review, debt collection assistance, legal correspondence, trial defense service options and much more.  Plans are based on the size and needs of your company, and start at just $39 monthly.

Legal Shield’s legal and identity theft protection plans for individuals are designed to meet the most common issues encountered by employees and their families. Plus, at one low monthly fee, it’s completely affordable. This offering also benefits the employer, as Legal Shield takes the stress and strain of legal and identity theft issues off employees’ shoulders and puts their focus back at work.  To learn more, contact Exact Insure, or visit our Legal Shield website.

As we look ahead to 2015, the changes in Washington ensure that the world of healthcare will continue to change as well. We look forward to keeping you apprised of these changes, while continuing to ensure that you have the right coverage, at the right price. Of course, this doesn’t just apply to your healthcare plan, but also to your home, auto, and business insurance. As your independent insurance agent, we are here to support you in all your insurance needs!