• QUESTION: With the passage of Health Care Reform.  How does the tax credit work for the small business paying a portion of the employees health insurance premiums?  How do I get those tax credits?  Can I claim them now?  Can I carry them forward?  ANSWER: Federal law allows a small business under 25 employees (full time) to qualify for SMALL BUSINESS HEALTH CARE TAX CREDITS.  We will assist you in completing the IRS form to determine the amount of the credits you can claim as well as explain the details of how it will relate to the health plan we help set up. You can claim them from 2010 through 2013.  You can carry them forward. This is a great avenue to get up to 35% in tax credits from what you pay for the employee portions of insurance premium.  Never before have you had an opportunity to combine a generous tax credit to the traditional tax deductibility of benefit plans.

  This means you don't have to profit as a business to receive the benefit of insuring your employees.

   
• QUESTION: What risk is my business taking by handling COBRA continuation, ERISA compliance and HIPAA privacy internally? ANSWER: Federal law imposes a tremendous amount of risk to a small company including IRS penalties and the potential for litigation.
• QUESTION: How important is it to set up coverage the right way the first time around? ANSWER: Well, the obvious answer is VERY important. A professional agent's assistance is crucial anymore from compliance issues to price negotiation leverage with health insurance carriers. Carrier underwriters listen when I present arguments for lower health insurance rates because I do the required homework that it takes to communicate what an underwriter understands with medical risk. This, by the way, is something an employer cannot do and remain HIPAA compliant.
• Question: How important is it to have a long term plan in place when implementing a benefits package?
  Answer:  The most common mistake I see companies make is forgetting to set a multi year financial plan in place and then struggling to keep the benefits continuous down the road. A good agent will offer advice on a constant basis and negotiate with the carriers to get their clients the best deal possible. 
  
• QUESTION: What sets you apart from the hundreds of other agents out there who sell benefit plans.  ANSWER: Besides my experience and education level, I provide a number of services to keep your business out of hot water. For no additional charge I will keep you compliant with COBRA (Mini COBRA), Section 125, ERISA and HIPAA. We also provide additional services such as payroll processing, HR consulting, the ability to complete forms online and a dedicated service representative on your behalf. We have ancillary products such as dental, vision, life and disability that are unmatched. Frankly, the sales part is easy. It’s the service after the sell that sets the better agents apart.
• QUESTION: With all these additional services, it must be expensive to work with you.
  ANSWER: No more expensive than working with any other agent licensed through the state. The carriers you work with build in a servicing fee for the writing agent. You pay it whether you utilize an agent or not and all are paid the same amount. My organization is just willing to work a little harder and provide more value to our clients than the vast majority of our competition. Its your money that you are spending on health insurance and administration services; you might as well get expertise and value. That is exactly what we provide.

Ernie's Background

• Has over 20 years of experience in the industry.

• Holds the coveted Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) designation and is one of only a handful in the state of Utah to carry this.

• Holds both Producer and Consultant licenses

• Past vice president / president for state board of the Utah Association of Health Underwriters.

• Has volunteered for many charitable and chamber of commerce organizations and is a former member of the International Foundation of Employee Benefits.

• Holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas at Austin.

 By simply visiting with us today, you have the power of respected counselors and health insurance agencies at your disposal. These professionals can many times improve your current costs (even with your current carrier) while increasing your benefits coverage. In most cases, we will be able to lower your costs and or improve your benefits with little to no effort on your part. Or, you may request a group health insurance quote now.