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Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri Helping Businesses Navigate Health Care Changes with Online Tools
New Grandfathering Tool Helps Businesses Determine Best Health Plan Solution
H&R Block Tax Calculator Tool Helps Companies Determine Tax Credits and Financial Impacts
ST. LOUIS, Oct. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to help minimize confusion regarding implementation of health care reform provisions among business owners, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri has created two new tools to help business navigate the changes in health care, a grandfathering tool and a tax calculator tool.
Both tools are available at http://www.anthem.com/healthcarereform. The small business tax calculator tool and tax content were developed by The Tax Institute at H&R Block and also may be viewed by visiting http://www.thetaxinstitute.com.
The interactive grandfathering tool is designed to help businesses better understand what grandfathering means, if they qualify for it, and what options are available to them with regard to their health plan, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri has also joined forces with H&R Block to provide a convenient, comprehensive tool to help small business owners understand the financial impact, as well as the opportunities that accompany the changes in the health care system.
"The grandfathering tool is another part of our commitment to help make health care reform work," said Dennis Matheis, president, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri. "This tool will allow business owners to understand what grandfathering is, qualification parameters, and if it is potentially in their best interests to grandfather their current health plan. This tool can help businesses quickly and easily determine a course of action based on their current plan in an easy to use and understandable tool."
Matheis added, "We are also extremely pleased to partner with H&R Block to make the small business tax calculator available, which can help small business owners understand the tax credits they are qualified for and allow them to better control and anticipate their health care costs. It's our hope that this resource will allow owners to focus on running a successful business and add some clarity as they navigate the health care system."
The small business tax calculator can help users understand the following reform provisions:
-- The small business health care premium credit for qualified employers
with 25 or fewer employees and average annual wages under $50,000 (2010)
-- Requirements to provide employee coverage for full-time employees who
work for businesses with 50 or more employees (2014)
-- Employer penalties for not providing coverage when at least one
full-time employee is enrolled in a subsidized health care plan (2014)
-- The excise tax on high-cost health plans, which applies to plans that
cost more than $10,200 for an individual and $27,500 for a family
(2018).
"These tools will provide me with an easy way to communicate the financial impact that healthcare reform may have on my clients and to better communicate to them about grandfathering is and if it is might be in their best interest," said Thomas Murphy, managing partner of the Employee Benefits Division of MSM&F. "Again, these are shining examples of why Anthem is the leader in the industry."
Joe Heptig, regional manager of Benefits by Design Inc. agrees:. "The new Anthem website works exceptionally well. I like the way when you select the Individual Health link it takes you to everything you need on one page. The quoting site is compact and easy to navigate and understand. I wish all of the carrier sites were this easy to use."
About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri
In Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area) Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name for RightCHOICE® Managed Care, Inc. (RIT), Healthy Alliance® Life Insurance Company (HALIC), and HMO Missouri, Inc. RIT and certain affiliates administer non-HMO benefits underwritten by HALIC and HMO benefits underwritten by HMO Missouri, Inc. RIT and certain affiliates only provide administrative services for self-funded plans and do not underwrite benefits. Independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ®ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri is available at http://www.anthem.com
SOURCE Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri
CONTACT: Deb Wiethop, +1-314-923-4767
Web Site: http://www.anthem.com
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri Helping Businesses Navigate Health Care Changes with Online Tools
New Grandfathering Tool Helps Businesses Determine Best Health Plan Solution
H&R Block Tax Calculator Tool Helps Companies Determine Tax Credits and Financial Impacts
ST. LOUIS, Oct. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to help minimize confusion regarding implementation of health care reform provisions among business owners, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri has created two new tools to help business navigate the changes in health care, a grandfathering tool and a tax calculator tool.
Both tools are available at http://www.anthem.com/healthcarereform. The small business tax calculator tool and tax content were developed by The Tax Institute at H&R Block and also may be viewed by visiting http://www.thetaxinstitute.com.
The interactive grandfathering tool is designed to help businesses better understand what grandfathering means, if they qualify for it, and what options are available to them with regard to their health plan, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri has also joined forces with H&R Block to provide a convenient, comprehensive tool to help small business owners understand the financial impact, as well as the opportunities that accompany the changes in the health care system.
"The grandfathering tool is another part of our commitment to help make health care reform work," said Dennis Matheis, president, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri. "This tool will allow business owners to understand what grandfathering is, qualification parameters, and if it is potentially in their best interests to grandfather their current health plan. This tool can help businesses quickly and easily determine a course of action based on their current plan in an easy to use and understandable tool."
Matheis added, "We are also extremely pleased to partner with H&R Block to make the small business tax calculator available, which can help small business owners understand the tax credits they are qualified for and allow them to better control and anticipate their health care costs. It's our hope that this resource will allow owners to focus on running a successful business and add some clarity as they navigate the health care system."
The small business tax calculator can help users understand the following reform provisions:
-- The small business health care premium credit for qualified employers
with 25 or fewer employees and average annual wages under $50,000 (2010)
-- Requirements to provide employee coverage for full-time employees who
work for businesses with 50 or more employees (2014)
-- Employer penalties for not providing coverage when at least one
full-time employee is enrolled in a subsidized health care plan (2014)
-- The excise tax on high-cost health plans, which applies to plans that
cost more than $10,200 for an individual and $27,500 for a family
(2018).
"These tools will provide me with an easy way to communicate the financial impact that healthcare reform may have on my clients and to better communicate to them about grandfathering is and if it is might be in their best interest," said Thomas Murphy, managing partner of the Employee Benefits Division of MSM&F. "Again, these are shining examples of why Anthem is the leader in the industry."
Joe Heptig, regional manager of Benefits by Design Inc. agrees:. "The new Anthem website works exceptionally well. I like the way when you select the Individual Health link it takes you to everything you need on one page. The quoting site is compact and easy to navigate and understand. I wish all of the carrier sites were this easy to use."
About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri
In Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area) Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name for RightCHOICE® Managed Care, Inc. (RIT), Healthy Alliance® Life Insurance Company (HALIC), and HMO Missouri, Inc. RIT and certain affiliates administer non-HMO benefits underwritten by HALIC and HMO benefits underwritten by HMO Missouri, Inc. RIT and certain affiliates only provide administrative services for self-funded plans and do not underwrite benefits. Independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ®ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri is available at http://www.anthem.com
SOURCE Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri
CONTACT: Deb Wiethop, +1-314-923-4767
Web Site: http://www.anthem.com