The American Rescue Plan Act, signed into law on March 11, 2021, contains a 100% subsidy for COBRA premiums during the period April 1 – Sept. 30, 2021. This Compliance Bulletin provides information about the subsidy, including eligibility, coverage, notice requirements and funding. Read more now.
From Karen Reed:
Builder’s risk coverage is essential in helping to protect construction projects, but can be complex and often misunderstood. The bottom line is the materials, supplies and equipment on a building site need protection from theft, fire and other risks.
Who Needs Builder’s Risk Coverage?
Any person or company with a financial interest in the construction project needs builder’s risk insurance. Some common people you may want to include on your policy as insureds include the:
• Property owner
• General contractor
• Subcontractors
• Lender
• Architects
The coverage amount needed is determined by the contract price between the Property Owner and the Contractor. It should be determined prior to the start of construction or renovation as to whom will be responsible for providing this very important insurance coverage.
A builder’s risk policy as part of a thorough risk management plan can boosts a company’s reputation, while protecting your business and providing peace of mind for the contractor and his or her client.
Benefit plans are sometimes confusing and medical bills are becoming increasingly complex and difficult to read. This Know Your Benefits article outlines ways to save money by reviewing your medical bills with a careful eye. Read it now.
The ACA’s employer shared responsibility provisions impose penalties on certain employers that fail to offer an acceptable level of health coverage to their full-time employees (and dependents). This ACA Overview describes the potential penalties and when they can be assessed. Read more in our ACA Compliance Notes. (PDF, new window)
Anna Moorman
Anna Moorman has been recognized for Medicare supplement sales in 2020 by Anthem, one of the largest Medicare supplement carriers in the state of Maine.
Anna is one of two agents at Allen Insurance and Financial who specialize in the complex market of Medicare insurance, working with a number of insurance carriers to give customers a range of choices to suit their needs. Moorman has been with Allen Insurance and Financial since 2012.
This is the sixth consecutive year that Moorman has received an award from Anthem for Medicare sales; for 2020 she was named one of Anthem’s top 20 sales leaders in Maine.
Anna and her colleague Jo-Ann Neal have a goal of simplifying the process of enrolling in a Medicare supplement plan, by providing dedicated, one-on-one attention to their customers, assessing each person’s needs and finding options that will align with their budget and healthcare goals.
More information about Allen Insurance and Financial’s Medicare-related services: AllenIF.com/Medicare
This month’s Benefits Buzz discusses the temporary COVID-19 relief for Section 125 plans and the withdrawal of proposed regulations regarding wellness program incentives. Our benefits division is happy to share this valuable resource. Click here for the PDF.
By Chris Richmond
Originally Submitted to WorkBoat Magazine
Clients often ask us to review contracts they are preparing to sign. This is actually the most important part because after they sign a contract there is not much point in our reviewing it. One of the first things we tell them is that we are not lawyers and they should call their own attorney − but we are happy to review the insurance portions. Aside from limits of liability and mandatory coverages, nine times out of 10 there are three requirements which can significantly change their insurance coverage.
Hold Harmless: Commonly added to insurance clauses in contracts, this essentially promises to hold harmless from any and all claims the company you are doing business with. This provides a very broad exemption of liability and often can be reworded more favorably to include “in conjunction with your work under this contract.” You should also demand the contract is reciprocal to both parties and that the other party holds you harmless, as well.
Waiver of Subrogation: Another common condition added to contracts, this essentially prevents your insurance company from collecting from the other party if they were negligent in the claim. If your insurance company pays for damage done to your vessel by the other party in the contract, a Waiver of Subrogation prevents the insurance company from suing the other party in the contract to recoup their payment. Again, if this is required, make sure the other party waives subrogation, as well.
Additional Insured: This clause allows the other party to share your liability limits if they are named in a claim related to the work being done in the contract. This means the liability limits are now cut in half, reducing your overall coverage limits – and that the other party in the contract is now getting liability coverage for free. We are seeing this requested more often these days and often an underwriter will want to know the relationship between the two parties, to explain the need to be added as additional insured.
Contracts are part of doing business and can be as simple or as complicated as the parties involved require. When it comes to the insurance language in your contracts, be sure to reach out to your agent for a thorough review and advice on what you are about to sign.
As a contractor, you work hard every day – for your customers and to grow your business. Specifically designed insurance solutions can protect those efforts.
You start with General Liability, which covers you for claims involving bodily injuries and property damage resulting from your products, services or operations, resulting from your negligence. Then we recommend you build a more complete policy from there.
Among the coverages you should consider:
It is important to regularly meet with an independent insurance agent to review your exposures and make sure that your policy will respond as expected.
In response to the COVID-19 emergency, President Biden signed an executive order reopening HealthCare.gov for a special, three-month enrollment period starting on Feb. 15 and ending on May 15, 2021.
This means anyone − Americans without health insurance as well as those who have already enrolled in a HealthCare.gov plan for 2021 − all have a chance to check out their health insurance marketplace options offered through the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, outside the regular Nov. 1 through Dec. 15 period.
For many, a family vacation is a special occasion – and never more so in 2021, when such trips are investments which need protection.
A trip insurance policy covers the non-refundable costs of your trip if you’re unable to take your vacation or have to interrupt your trip and come home early. The coverage automatically embeds some extras like medical coverage, lost baggage, and missed connection benefits.
Many people are asking about travel during the COVID-19 pandemic and the “Cancel for Any Reason” benefit.
A “Cancel for Any Reason” benefit is an upgrade which requires purchase of a Preferred-level plan and carries additional cost. It is important to note that this benefit must be purchased within 10 days of making your initial trip deposit for any aspect of your trip, be it lodging, a car rental or reservations for travel.
A “Cancel for any Reason” benefit allows you to cancel for any reason not listed on the Certificate of Coverage and you’d receive a 75% refund of your insured amount. Cancellation due to travel restrictions or other circumstances related to the Coronavirus are not a covered reason to cancel under these plans unless you have the “Cancel for Any Reason” benefit. However, illness, as certified by a doctor, may be a covered reason for cancellation.
It is also important to read your plan documents carefully and be aware that this benefit is not available to residents of New Hampshire, New York and Washington.
For more information, click over to AllenIF.com/trip
