Today, Zane Benefits, Inc. published a new information on insurance agents’ role in Marketplaces. Zane Benefits, which provides comprehensive and flexible alternatives to traditional employer sponsored health benefits, is the leader in health care reform, defined contribution and health reimbursement arrangements.

According to Zane Benefits’ website, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently released a much-anticipated statement and Q&A on the role of agents, brokers, and web-brokers in the health insurance Marketplaces.

According to HHS, individuals and small businesses who access health insurance coverage through their state Marketplace will be able to receive assistance in a variety of ways, including in-person, online, and phone support. The statement provides more information about how agents will register with the Marketplaces, assist consumers in applying for plans and receive commissions.

This statement relates mostly to the states defaulting to a federally-facilitated Marketplace (26 states at time of writing) or a state-federal partnership Marketplace (7 states). The 18 states planning for a state-based Marketplace are defining their own regulations and procedures.
Role of Agents in Health Insurance Marketplaces

According to Zane Benefits’ website and the HHS, agents and brokers (including web-brokers) will play a role in educating consumers about Marketplaces and insurance affordability programs, and will help consumers receive eligibility determinations, compare plans, and enroll in coverage. HHS anticipates that in addition to assisting individuals, agents and brokers will play a "critical role in helping qualified employers and employees enroll in coverage through the Small Business Health Options Programs (SHOPs)."

The release specified that agents and brokers intending to work with consumers in federally-facilitated and state-partnership Marketplaces will be able to enroll consumers in two ways: through an issuer’s website or
through the Marketplace's website.

Either way the registered agent’s or broker’s identifying information will be passed along to the appropriate issuer to facilitate the issuer’s payment to the agent or broker for each enrollment transaction.

Agent Registration with the Health Insurance Marketplace

According to Zane Benefits’ website and the HHS, for the federally-facilitated or partnership Marketplaces, all agents and brokers must register with CMS so that they may assist qualified individuals for individual Marketplace coverage.

CMS expects that an online registration process will begin in the summer of 2013, prior to open enrollment in October 2013. The registration process will require the agent or broker to:

- Confirm identity by answering a number of simple questions online.

- Complete a Marketplace-specific online training course.

- Agree to comply with federal and state laws, rules, standards and policies, including those related to privacy and security policies, as a condition of working with consumers in the Marketplace.

Once registered, the agent or broker will receive a unique Marketplace user ID. This unique identifier, along with the agent’s or broker’s national producer number (NPN), will be used in issuing compensation from the issuer to the agent or broker.

Enrolling Consumers in the Health Insurance Marketplace via Issuers Website

According to Zane Benefits’ website and HHS, many agents and brokers already use issuer websites to assist consumers, and will be able to continue using issuer websites to work with consumers in the federally-facilitated Marketplaces. This issuer-based "pathway" will be available to agents and brokers who are assisting individual consumers starting in the fall of 2013.

HHS says "An agent or broker initiates this pathway by logging on to the issuer’s website. Once the consumer determines that he or she would like to apply for coverage through the federally-facilitated Marketplace, the agent or broker will be securely redirected from the issuer’s agent website to the Marketplace website to complete the eligibility application, using his or her federally-facilitated Marketplace user ID to access the Marketplace website. The agent or broker will be prompted to enter his or her federally-facilitated Marketplace user ID and NPN as part of the eligibility application."

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About Zane Benefits
Zane Benefits was founded in 2006 to provide a revolutionized SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) administration platform ("ZaneHRA") for Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) and defined contribution health care. The flagship software provides a 100% paperless administration experience to employers and insurance professionals that want to offer better health benefits without a traditional group health insurance plan at lower costs. For more information about ZaneHRA, visit http://www.zanebenefits.com.

Today, Zane Benefits, Inc. published a new information on the Vermont Health Insurance Exchange. Zane Benefits, which provides comprehensive and flexible alternatives to traditional employer sponsored health benefits, is the leader in health care reform, defined contribution and health reimbursement arrangements.

According to Zane Benefits’ website, starting in 2014 as part of health care reform, health insurance coverage for individuals and small businesses will become available through new state health insurance exchanges. Most importantly, the key tax credits (e.g. the small business healthcare tax credits) and tax subsidies (e.g. individual health premium subsidies) will only be available for coverage purchased through their state health insurance exchanges.

Under health care reform, there will be an exchange (also called "marketplaces") in every state. All states have three options for setting up a state health insurance exchange for 2014: build a state-based exchange, enter into a state-federal partnership exchange, or default to a federally-facilitated exchange.

Vermont plans to offer a state-based exchange that will open October 1, 2013 (for coverage starting January 1, 2014) under the name "Vermont Health Connect."

Vermont Health Insurance Exchange

According to Zane Benefits’ website, the Vermont Health Insurance Exchange will be a marketplace where Vermont individuals, families and small businesses can compare health plans and select a plan that fits their needs and budget. All plans offered through Vermont Health Insurance Exchange will by Qualified Health Plans (QHPs), meeting federal guidelines. According to Vermont Health Connect, the Exchange website will have easy-to-understand, side-by-side comparisons of plan’s costs and benefits.

The Vermont Health Insurance Exchange will also provide information on tax credits and public programs. The Exchange will provide assistance to residents selecting a health plan or using the website by phone or in person.

The Vermont SHOP exchange will be available for small businesses with 50 or fewer employees starting in 2014. In 2016, small businesses with 100 or fewer employees will be able to offer coverage for their employees through Vermont's SHOP Exchange.

According to healthcare.gov, 44,105 or 8% of Vermont’s non-elderly residents are uninsured, of whom 37,179 (84% of these) may qualify for either tax credits to purchase coverage in the Marketplace or for Medicaid if Vermont participates in the Medicaid expansion. Vermont currently supports Medicaid expansion.

History of Vermont Health Insurance Exchange

According to Zane Benefits’ website, Vermont is approaching the health care reform differently than many other states. On May 26, 2011, Governor Peter Shumlin signed into law HB 202, a state health reform law that puts the state on a path toward establishing a single-payer health care system. As an interim step, the law created the Vermont Health Benefit Exchange to meet the requirements of federal health reform.

The state plans to offer a state-based exchange as part of federal health reform, and in 2017 the state plans to apply for a federal Waiver for State Innovation to transition to Green Mountain Care, the new public-private single-payer system that will provide coverage for all state residents. In May 2012, the Governor signed additional health system reform legislation further defining the role and duties of the Green Mountain Care Board and the Exchange (HB 559).

On January 3, 2013, Vermont received conditional approval from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a state-based exchange.

Plans Available Through the Vermont Health Insurance Exchange

According to Zane Benefits’ website, Vermont has released preliminary premium rates on their website. The rates, which are subject to regulatory review, will range from $1,700 for premium family coverage to $745 for catastrophic coverage. For a single person, rates will range from $600 for premium coverage to $265 for catastrophic coverage. These rates do not take into account the premium tax credits that will be available to most individuals and families

Click here to read full article.

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About Zane Benefits
Zane Benefits was founded in 2006 to provide a revolutionized SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) administration platform ("ZaneHRA") for Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) and defined contribution health care. The flagship software provides a 100% paperless administration experience to employers and insurance professionals that want to offer better health benefits without a traditional group health insurance plan at lower costs. For more information about ZaneHRA, visit http://www.zanebenefits.com.

SAUSALITO, CA (May 17, 2013) – SWA Group, one of world’s leading landscape architecture, planning and urban design firms, announced today 15 projects being honored with regional and international awards.

SWA studio teams in Houston and Dallas walked away with an impressive 13 awards from the Texas chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects. In the “Design Constructed” category of completed work, SWA was honored for Dallas-Ft Worth area projects Deloitte University, Tarrant County College, and Victory Park and for Houston’s new Rosemont Bridge over Buffalo Bayou. In the category of “Design-Unrealized”, Tangshan Fangshan National Geology Park, Sanya Haitang Bay Resort, Sino-Singapore Nanjing Eco-Tech Island, Nanjing AVIC Science and Technology Center, Yuan Dang Lake, and Old River Park were award winners. “Planning & Analysis” winners were Airline Market Mile and Coastal Resilience from the Houston office, and the Dallas team was honored with the “Classic” award for the heralded Mexico resort, Las Ventanas.

Las Ventanas and another SWA-designed resort in the Baja peninsula, Capella Pedregal, were named in the prestigious AAA 5 Diamond Awards, one of the highest-regarded awards in the travel and resort industry. Of the many luxury properties in Cabo San Lucas area, only these two received the 5 Diamond award this year -- both also SWA designs. Capella Pedregal rests at the confluence of desert mountains and the Sea of Cortez, offering guests a design that celebrates both Mexican architecture and garden heritage mixed with modern design. Las Ventanas al Paraiso explores the drama of the harsh desert climate, with design strategies that allow for a low-density site plan to preserve site features and provide every unit with a panoramic view to the horizon.

SWA Group (www.swagroup.com), established in 1957, is an international landscape architecture, planning and urban design firm with offices in Los Angeles, Laguna Beach, CA, Sausalito, CA, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston and Shanghai. Since its inception, SWA Group has worked in over 60 countries, and its projects have garnered more than 700 awards.

Carin Nguyen has recently been named as one of America’s PremierExperts® in recognition of her success and knowledge as an real estate expert.

Orlando, Fla. – May 13, 2013 –Carin Nguyen has recently been acknowledged by America’s PremierExperts® as one of the leading experts in her field. America’s PremierExperts® recognizes leading experts, across a wide array of industries, who are willing to provide information and education to consumers as a public service.

Carin Nguyen takes the business of real estate very seriously and she has the track record to prove it. She is the team leader of The Carin Nguyen Team, which holds the prestigious title and ranking of the #1 Real Estate Team in AZ and #2 in the US for sides as awarded by the Wall Street Journal. Carin is an Arizona native and fully understands the complexities and changing landscape of the Arizona market. A rich resume built with a tireless commitment to her clients, undeniable proven past success create the recipe for complete customer satisfaction.

America’s PremierExperts® LLC is an organization that honors an exclusive group of celebrity experts who are dedicated to spreading knowledge and awareness in their field of expertise and making significant contributions to their industry and the marketplace as a whole. America’s PremierExperts®, was launched by Nick Nanton, Esq., and J.W. Dicks, Esq., the world’s leading experts on business growth through personal branding, and authors of the best-selling book, “Celebrity Branding You®.”

For more information on Carin Nguyen, visit www.SoldByCarin.com.

For more information about America’s PremierExperts® please visit http://www.AmericasPremierExperts.com.

About America’s PremierExperts® LLC:

America’s PremierExperts® is an organization that recognizes business experts for their willingness to promote free expert content in their field of expertise to consumers and journalists alike, while offering business owners, entrepreneurs, professional speakers, authors, professionals and corporate CEOs exclusive, invitation-only, opportunities for further exposure and growth in the marketplace. JW Dicks, Esq. and Nick Nanton, Esq., top agents to celebrity experts around the world, founded America’s PremierExperts® to honor entrepreneurs, CEOs, authors, professional speakers and businesspeople who are dedicated to spreading knowledge and awareness in their field of expertise and making significant contributions to their industry and the marketplace as a whole.

Premium performance eyewear innovator Wiley X, Inc. has announced a sponsorship agreement with Dustin Ellermann, a Texas-born competitive shooter who has captured the imagination of people across the country — and not just with his superior marksmanship.

Ellermann’s recent accomplishments include taking the Grand Prize on the History Channel’s top-rated program “Top Shot”, where leading competitive shooters from around the world showcase their skills in a series of extreme marksmanship challenges. His performance on the show — particularly impressive given that he is largely self-taught — captured the attention of fellow competitors, viewers, and even traditional media outlets nationwide. “Dustin may be the best shooter we’ve ever had,” is how “Top Shot” host Colby Donaldson summed up Ellermann’s run through the show’s third season. It was a sentiment echoed by many of the viewers of the show, who quickly became fans of Dustin’s and expressed their admiration for him throughout the season.

Those who interact with Ellermann come away just as impressed with the 28-year-old’s character. In addition to competing on the national stage, Ellermann is Director of Camp His Way, a summer Christian kids camp and year-around retreat facility. Combining his love for working with youth and passion for shooting, Ellermann will host several weekend Youth Marksmanship Camps at the facility. These events in the fall will focus on safety, marksmanship skills and becoming men and women of character — along with having plenty of fun. Ellermann is also actively involved in speaking at churches, men’s groups and youth events to share his faith, zest for life and inspirational story. A true family man, Ellermann and his wife have three children and serve as foster parents,
as well.

“Dustin isn’t just a winner, he’s a person of character and a great role model for America’s young men and women,” said Wiley X Co-Owner Myles Freeman, Jr. “His is an inspiring story, having no formal training — and through hard work and dedication — competing with and beating some of the best trained shooters in the world. When you combine this accomplishment with his work to positively influence the lives of youngsters through his camps, it’s no surprise that Wiley X is proud to be associated with Dustin and to support his efforts,” added Freeman.

Wiley X is a leading manufacturer of protective eyewear products for shooting sports, hunting and tactical/military use. Wiley X is the only premium sunglass brand with the ANSI Z87.1 High Velocity and High Mass Impact Safety rating on every pair of glasses it makes. In addition, certain Wiley X shooting models — including its popular Changeable Series models with interchangeable lenses — meet the latest GL-PD 10-12 MCEP standard (which supersedes the MIL-PRF-31013 Ballistic Standard) for combat protective eyewear. Even though they may never compete on television to be America’s “Top Shot,” every shooting and hunting enthusiast can benefit from the same advanced vision protection as Dustin Ellermann.

For more information about Wiley X’s sponsorship of Dustin Ellermann, or the company’s extensive line of premium protective eyewear for shooting, hunting and all outdoor activities, visit Wiley X, Inc. at 7800 Patterson Pass Road, Livermore, CA 94550 • Telephone: (800) 776-7842 • Or visit online at www.wileyx.com.