Meetings (via Meeting Center software) – WebEx recreates a face-to-face meeting  because it allows a meeting host to combine the convenience of a conference call with the ability to share data, applications and presentations from their desktop.  Meeting attendees dial into a conference call line and login to a website for the meeting.  The host shares their desktop (and any presentations or documents needed) over the secure website while discussing everything over the phone.  It eliminates all the issues associated with meeting with individuals or groups that are in different locations.  The meeting (audio and video) can also be recorded.

Payroll Import (via Support Center software) – The Support Center software allows Pierce Group to easily and remotely access a client’s computer and complete their payroll import into Sartox or ISIS.  The client is present on a phone call while this is happening, but a Pierce Group Benefits IT Specialist “takes control” of the client’s computer.  WebEx’s Support Center eliminates the need to for the client to set up a meeting to complete their payroll import which essentially gets the job done much quicker and easier.

Nevertheless, one part of the reform that is quite clear is that over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, medicines and biologicals will no longer be eligible without a directive from a provider beginning January 1, 2011.  So, whereas before the customer could be reimbursed for say, Tylenol or Claritin, starting in January of 2011 those items will no longer be eligible for reimbursement. The customer or participant may still be able to purchase the item using their Health Care FSA, but in order to be reimbursed for OTC items, the following must be completed:

• Obtain a letter of medical necessity from the provider
• Obtain receipts
• Complete the reimbursement request form and submit all items above to the carrier 

At the surface, the law appears to be pretty straightforward. Unfortunately, nothing is as simple as it appears to be; at least not when you go beyond the obvious cases such as Tylenol, Claritin and the like.  A good example is bandages.  Bandages, by themselves, are not affected by the prohibition, but what about medicated bandages?  Is that considered a medicine or not?  Looking at existing tax regulations won’t help us, given that these regulations define “medicine and drugs” as “items (…) which are generally accepted as falling within the category of medicine or drugs.” Not very helpful.  Additionally, what constitutes a “prescription”?  Are there special forms for the medical practitioner to fill out?  Or, does anything have to be filled out at all?  As of right now, the answers to these questions are unclear. 

There has also been some talk about leniency being granted to plans or plan participants whose plan years overlap the January 1, 2011 date.  Rumor has it that one to six month “transition relief” periods are being considered.  Whether or not this rumor will come into fruition is still a big question.  After all, the law as written is quite clear that the drop-dead date is January 1, 2011, regardless of plan year dates.  

So, what should you do with all this health care reform information?  Nothing but sit and wait.  The good news is that the IRS is well aware of the hardships the new legislation will cause and will likely make every attempt to mitigate the burden imposed by the law.  The more good news is that Pierce Group Benefits is also well aware that the new legislation may bring new issues and questions to the table.  We are fully prepared and equipped to answer your questions and help solve your problems as they arise and will make every effort to ensure that the January 1, 2011 transition (and all future transitions for that matter) is a smooth one.

*Information obtained from Roger Abramson, General Councel at Ameriflex

“I am thrilled to join Pierce Group Benefits as database technician,” said Duckworth. “One of my goals here at Pierce Group is to build and manage systems that help to create a seamless enrollment process.”

Donald Pierce adds, “Utilizing technology in the enrollment process is a significant and essential part of Pierce Group’s client service offerings. Sam’s extensive background in database management blended with her knowledge of custom reporting and experience in customer service will undoubtedly allow her to excel as database technician.”

Previous to joining Pierce Group Benefits, Duckworth worked as a program analyst for Fidelity National Information Services (FIS) from 2006 to February 2010.  In this role, she worked with 3,000+ internal and external customers to provide detailed reporting on check cashing transactions.  From 2003 to 2006, Duckworth worked in the IT department at FIS where she provided administrative assistance to over 200 employees and all levels of IT management.

“I am extremely excited to be joining Pierce Group Benefits as a service specialist,” said Mitchell. “Everyone here has made this such a positive transition and I look forward to working with such a great team.”

Donald Pierce adds, “Customer satisfaction is of the utmost importance to Pierce Group.  With her knowledge and experience in customer service and benefits packages, I have no doubt that Paula will provide exceptional service to Pierce Group’s clients. 

Previous to joining Pierce Group Benefits, Mitchell worked as a customer service representative and agent at Insurance Service Center in Apex, NC.  In this role, she wrote personal lines policies, serviced and retained policies and performed reception work.  Mitchell also gained experience as a receptionist and customer service representative at Michael Haller State Farm Agency, Powell and Powell Supply Co., Inc., and Edwards Brothers, Inc.

For more information about Pierce Group Benefits, please visit www.PierceGroupBenefits.com or call 919-577-0700.

About Pierce Group Benefits
Pierce Group Benefits is a full service provider of employee benefits packages.  The company serves as a “one-stop-shop” to provide clients with the best benefits and prices from the industry’s highest rated companies.  Benefits offered include Flexible Spending Accounts with the “FlexCard,” short term disability plans, supplemental, group life, dental, vision, and medical insurance plans. Pierce Group Benefits serves numerous North Carolina accounts including public school systems, community colleges, private colleges and universities, hospitals, and government entities and services more than 140,000 participating employees.

February 4, 2010 – Benefitfocus® announced today a partnership with Pierce Group Benefits and Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company to provide Benefitfocus HR InTouch^TM, a centralized platform for benefits enrollment and management. As employers increase the number of voluntary benefits they offer their employees, HR InTouch provides one place for all these benefits and synchronizes the paycheck deductions with employer payroll systems.     

In today’s market, consumers demand a deeper understanding of their core and voluntary benefits options to truly value their entire benefits package. Employers want to have one place for their employees to enroll in all of their benefits, and they want one tool that helps them manage the process. 

“Voluntary benefits are a key component of the entire employee benefits package” stated Shawn Jenkins, president and CEO of Benefitfocus. “This partnership with the Pierce Group and Colonial Life will change the way employers and groups enroll in voluntary worksite benefits. We are excited to have the Benefitfocus Platform used in such a unique and powerful way.” 

HR InTouch provides employers with the ability to manage online enrollment as well as human resources (HR) and benefits content, while consolidating reporting and payroll tasks. Payroll integration within HR InTouch seamlessly imports employee roster and demographic changes from HR systems. Once benefit elections are approved, changes that impact payroll are sent to the HR/payroll system.

“At Pierce Group Benefits, we feel it is extremely valuable for our clients to access and utilize their voluntary and core benefits through a single enrollment platform,” explained Donald Pierce, president of Pierce Group Benefits. “Offering the best benefits and prices, and providing a consolidated experience has always been the cornerstone of our business. Our new partnership with Benefitfocus will allow us to continue to expand these services for our clients.” 

Through HR InTouch, employees can evaluate benefit options, compare plans and enroll in their benefits from a single portal instead of logging into several different Web sites. HR InTouch’s One-Thought-Per-Screen design allows users to review video explanations of voluntary benefits terminology and access decision support tools if they have questions throughout the election process, as well.

The integration of HR InTouch with Colonial Life’s Harmony® enrollment system ensures that North Carolina’s public schools and community college employees have an interactive user experience during Open Enrollment. 

“A smooth process with consistent, clear communication is essential to any effective benefits enrollment,” said Ryan Stribling, assistant vice president of Enrollment Technologies at Colonial Life. “The combination of our Harmony enrollment system, the Benefitfocus technology and the Pierce Group Benefits’ outstanding capabilities will give our customers in North Carolina the kind of seamless enrollment experience they want and deserve.” 

The look and feel of HR InTouch can be configured to meet the needs of Pierce Group Benefits and Colonial Life ensuring a seamless experience for their clients. Custom branding, widgets and tools power the site with a look and feel with which the two companies’ clients are familiar. Pierce Group and Colonial Life will also take advantage of video messaging from Benefitfocus to help drive cohesive communications to the more than 150,000 public sector employees in North Carolina the two companies serve in tandem. 

About Colonial Life

Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company is a market leader in providing insurance benefits for employees and their families through their workplace, along with individual benefits education, advanced yet simple-to-use enrollment technology and quality personal service. Colonial Life offers disability, life and supplemental accident and health insurance policies in 49 states and the District of Columbia. Similar policies, if approved, are underwritten in New York by a Colonial Life affiliate, The Paul Revere Life Insurance Company, Worcester, Mass. Colonial Life is based in Columbia, S.C., and is a subsidiary of Unum Group, one of the world’s leading providers of employee benefits. For more information about benefits communication, call Colonial Life at (803) 798-7000 or visit www.coloniallife.com. 

About Pierce Group Benefits
Pierce Group Benefits is a full service provider of employee benefits packages. The company serves as a “one-stop-shop” to provide clients with the best benefits and prices from the industry’s highest rated companies. Benefits offered include Flexible Spending Accounts with the “FlexCard,” short term disability plans, supplemental, group life, dental, vision, and medical insurance plans. Pierce Group Benefits serves numerous North Carolina accounts including public school systems, community colleges, private colleges and universities, hospitals, and government entities and services more than 150,000 participating employees. For more information about Pierce Group Benefits, please call 1-888-662-7500 or visit www.piercegroupbenefits.com.

About Benefitfocus

Benefitfocus is the largest healthcare benefits software provider serving 322,085 employers, 477 insurance carriers and 53.8 million consumers. Our technology solutions reduce costs, expand market share, ensure compliance and improve consumer satisfaction. Benefitfocus gives a competitive edge to carriers, employers and brokers as they help consumers manage complex decisions in an ever-changing healthcare environment. Benefitfocus can be reached at 843-849-7476 or at www.benefitfocus.com.

Student Accident Insurance is a school system-established benefit that provides coverage for accidental injuries that occur during normal school hours or during any school sponsored and supervised activity. The benefit works as a supplement to fill the gaps in existing plans that may not cover all expenses including deductibles, coinsurance and other high out-of-pocket costs. This benefit can also work as the primary insurance in the event there is no other coverage.

There are Several Plans to Choose From:

PRIMARY PLAN: Provides medical expense benefits on a primary basis (payment is made without regard to any other existing, applicable insurance plan).

• Up to $500,000 maximum benefits per accident.

FULL EXCESS PLAN: Provides coverage for medical expenses that are not covered by any other insurance plans.

• Up to $500,000 maximum benefits per accident.

SUPPLEMENTAL PLAN: Parents/Guardians will be given the option to voluntarily extend coverage to a full 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, covering accidental injuries that take place outside of school.

• 24 Hour Accident Insurance
• $10,000 Student Term Life Insurance
• 24 Hour Dental Accident Insurance
• Optional $5,000,000 maximum benefit with either a 10 year or lifetime benefit period for athletes
• Disability limits from $550,000 to $1,500,000 available for athletes

Why Choose Pierce Group Benefits as Your Student Accident Providers?

Pierce Group Benefits designs employee benefits solutions catered to you and your employees. We currently provide benefits for over 100 clients in North Carolina and serve over 150,000 employees throughout the state. It’s our mission to provide you, our valued client, with the best benefits and prices from the industry’s highest rated companies.  When you partner with Pierce Group Benefits, you get a group of dedicated and knowledgeable professionals and a management team that has over 84 years of combined industry experience.   Our firm includes 20 full-time employees and an enrollment team comprised of over 30 hardworking and dedicated professionals. We understand that you and your employees come first.  That’s why we only offer and recommend products that fit your needs—not ours. 

The Student Accident carrier we’re working with is one of the nation’s largest privately owned insurance firms.  Here are a few highlights of the company.

• They are among the top 20 agencies in the nation in productivity and have repeatedly been ranked number one in automation and utilization of technology.  They are an “employee-owned” company with 450 employees in five offices.
• They provide services for over 525 public school districts and 170 colleges and universities.
• They have over 60 years of experience in amateur sports teams and plans are written through A-rated carriers.
• All services are provided in-house including but not limited to underwriting, billing, claims processing and account servicing. 
• Claims are processed within two to three weeks.

Personalized Service.

You will have designated Pierce Group service person to respond to all of your questions and comments regarding Student Accident Insurance. Additionally, the Student Accident Insurance provider we’ve partnered with provides prompt, effective claims services so those making claims can expect a quick and accurate claims processing experience.  You can obtain and distribute claims forms easily by visiting the Pierce Group website and logging into your schools’ custom-created benefits site and clicking on the “Forms and Links” tab.

What to do Next.

Contact David Charland to get more information regarding Student Accident Insurance. 

dcharland@piercegroupbenefits.com

919-577-0700 ext. 405

January 7, 2010 - It’s bad enough needing to go to the emergency room, but then getting there and having to wait two, ten or maybe even 24 hours to see a doctor is even more of a nightmare.  A new Archives of Internal Medicine study states that ER wait time averages increased by 50 percent in the last decade.  Specifically, a 2000-2006 National Hospital Ambulatory and Medical Care Survey revealed that wait time for emergent patients (those who should be seen within 14 minutes) increased 4.6% per year; urgent patients (those who should be seen within 15-60 minutes) increased 2.8% per year; semiurgent patients (those who should be seen within 61 minutes to two hours) increased 3.9% per year; and nonurgent (those who should be seen between two to 24 hours) increased 1.6% per year. 

However, as we move further into the digital age, some emergency rooms are now advertising wait times in efforts to relieve their perpetually increasing wait times.   While there may not yet be “an app for that,” some emergency rooms post emergency room wait times online.  Others “tweet” or send text messages.  Several have begun posting wait times on billboards along the highway. Some are even testing a new service created by InQuickER, an Atlanta-based company.  InQuickER has created an innovative process which allows patients to register online, pay a small fee and hold their place in line while they wait at home. 

While many efforts are being made by emergency rooms to relieve longer wait times, hospitals maintain that wait times should never discourage someone who needs immediate medical attention, as those patients are always given priority.  However, when reminded online or via text or “tweet” of long wait times, patients with non-threatening or minor injuries may begin to reevaluate their need for emergency care.

“I’m thrilled to join the team at Pierce Group Benefits in this role,” said Welle. “It’s truly a privilege to work with such a successful company. Everyone here is extremely talented and dedicated to what they do and I look forward to working alongside such a great team.”

Donald Pierce adds, “Jill joined Pierce Group Benefits as marketing specialist and hit the ground running. With her experience and enthusiasm, Jill has become an integral part of our team and we are all excited to have her join our company.”

Before joining Pierce Group Benefits, Welle worked as a print production manager at Centrifuge Media, Inc., a multi-media company based in Morrisville, NC.  She also gained experience at Hummingbird Creative Group, a creative services firm in Cary, NC, as traffic coordinator and copywriter. Welle earned a Bachelor of Science in mass communications with a focus in advertising and a minor in sociology from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in May of 2006.

For more information about Pierce Group Benefits, please visit www.PierceGroupBenefits.com or call 919-577-0700.

About Pierce Group Benefits
Pierce Group Benefits is a full service provider of employee benefits packages.  The company serves as a “one-stop-shop” to provide clients with the best benefits and prices from the industry’s highest rated companies.  Benefits offered include Flexible Spending Accounts with the “FlexCard,” short term disability plans, supplemental, group life, dental, vision, and medical insurance plans. Pierce Group Benefits serves numerous North Carolina accounts including public school systems, community colleges, private colleges and universities, hospitals, and government entities and services more than 140,000 participating employees

“Pierce Group Benefits prides itself in providing personal attention and attending to even the smallest of details,” said Donald Pierce, President of Pierce Group Benefits. “The new site provides yet an additional avenue for our clients to receive quick, detailed and personalized information—all with a few clicks of the mouse.   We find the site to be extremely informative and user friendly and encourage everyone to experience the new Website for themselves.” 

The site’s “Client Log In” tab allows users to type in their specific account name and choose the plan year they wish to review.  After choosing an account and plan year, users may browse their personal plan information. 

 Information available at www.PierceGroupBenefits.com includes: 

• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) account balances
• How to use and advantages of the Flex Convenience Card
• The Flexible Benefits Plan overview
• Various enrollment options, premiums, co-pays, and coverage
• A complete overview of insurance plan information (including dental, vision, health, cancer, disability, accident, intensive care, life, and many more)
• Claims, request for service, evidence of insurability, service guide, and enrollment forms
• Provider contact information

For more information about Pierce Group Benefits, please visit www.PierceGroupBenefits.com or call 919-577-0700.

About Pierce Group Benefits
Pierce Group Benefits is a full service provider of employee benefits packages.  The company serves as a “one-stop-shop” to provide clients with the best benefits and prices from the industry’s highest rated companies.  Benefits offered include Flexible Spending Accounts with the “FlexCard,” short and long term disability plans, supplemental insurance, group life insurance, dental, vision, and medical plans. Pierce Group Benefits serves numerous North Carolina accounts including public school systems, community colleges, private colleges and universities, hospitals, and government entities and services more than 140,000 participating employees.

Company: Pierce Group Benefits
Contact: Donald Pierce, President
Phone: 888-662-7500
Email: dpierce@piercegroupbenefits.com

Samantha Duckworth has recently joined Pierce Group Benefits as database technician. more

04.08.10

The Health Care Reform: What it means for you and your employees. more

04.08.10

View the FSA changes coming January 1, 2011.  more

03.10.10

View the State Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees plan comparisons. more