Good news! The State of Michigan has approved Companion Life to be ACA Certified Effective 1/1/2015. Companion is working toward a process through which it will transition its groups to the pediatric oral benefit as requested. In the meantime, here are some strategies that have worked so far to navigate the pediatric benefit while retaining Companion dental in groups: 1. If it is a Blue group, you can write the pediatric oral benefit for the children with the Blues offering and keep the Companion with the adults. It would be ideal to remove the children from the Blue coverage come 1/1 when Companion is certified but we realize this could be difficult depending on the current environment
If you are a member of the Health Underwriters, you may have noticed a recent article entitled Large Employers Like Skinny Plans. Skinny plans, or Minimum Essential Coverage plans are indeed one legitimate solution to the play or pay dilemma facing large employers this Fall. Due to a loophole in the law, employers can offer a stripped down benefit for right around $55 monthly and avoid the $2000 penalty. But there's definitely a catch. Employees who refuse this product offering can still go to the exchange and if they access subsidized coverage, the employer will realize the $3000 fine. Those who stay will satisfy the individual mandate however the benefits are well. . . skinny. In most
