News & Resources

BCBSM provides COVID-19 FAQs

Blue Cross ® Blue Shield ® of Michigan and Blue Care Network has released a list of COVID-19 FAQs for SBAM members enrolled in a small group plan. Please click here for details.

August 25, 2017

So much has been written about the efforts in Washington to Repeal, Repeal and Replace, Reform, etc., etc., of the Affordable Care Act—all that effort, and so far, exactly nothing to show for it. When our …

July 14, 2017

The Art of Compromise

In 1987, the book The Art of the Deal was released outlining now President Donald Trump’s formula for business success. The book took roughly two years to write, edit and release and sold in the …

June 26, 2017

Combine your Blues, Dearborn, LifeSecure & SBAM Incentives

Going along with the most competitive products and prices we have seen in several years, yesterday afternoon, BCBSM announced a tremendous agent bonus program for new business with effective dates of July 1 through December …

June 26, 2017

Who’s on first?

Scott Lyon, Senior Vice PresidentSmall Business Association of MichiganHaving spent Monday – Wednesday of last week in Washington, D.C. meeting with several members of the Michigan Senate and House delegation, discussion of health care was …

May 31, 2017

Facebook Live Interview: Attract top talent with a robust benefit package

SBAM Vice President Communications Michael Rogers interviews SBAM thought leaders and resource experts in our Facebook Live videos. This week, Mike interviewed Dearborn National’s Daryl Oliver. Daryl provides valuable […]

May 31, 2017

Free COBRA Administration for Current Customers

SBAM is pleased to announce an exclusive offer for your customers currently enrolled in our COBRA administration program!

November 19, 2016

President-elect Trump and the future of the Affordable Care Act

As I write this article, it has been a week since the 2016 election and I have been asked on a number of occasions – what do you think will happen with the Affordable Care …

September 29, 2016

And looming around the corner…

Your small group customers, or said differently, your customers that are not considered an Applicable Large Employer under the Affordable Care Act, escaped IRS Code Section 6056 reporting requirements (Forms 1094 and 1095). But, under …

September 29, 2016

Work smarter, not harder.

Way back when (pick your date), agents had relatively straightforward goals for themselves and their agencies. Stability and predictable growth. There were a lot of market opportunities, agency leaders could deliver on their expectations through …

August 1, 2016

Simplify your customer’s life and protect your book of business.

Employee benefit programs play an important role in your customer's effort to attract and retain great people. Unfortunately, these programs can also eat up a significant amount of internal administrative and managerial time. Not to …

July 8, 2016

Employer Notices From The Health Insurance Exchange

Beginning in late June, some of your customers, considered an Applicable Large Employer (ALE) according to the Affordable Care Act, may have received a notice from the Federal Health Insurance Marketplace/Exchange. This notice is in …

April 27, 2016

Check your email: HIPAA 2016 phase 2 audits are underway

Last week the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR) launched Phase 2 of its HIPAA compliance audits, and this time around every covered entity and business associate, no matter …

January 6, 2016

Is Zenefits Coming After Your Customers?

Is Zenefits coming for your clients? I ask this question, because that is what it looks like to me. If you have not seen their website page at www.zenefits.com/broker/mi/ – Some of the Brokers that Zenefits Competes With …

January 6, 2016

IRS extends filing deadline for ACA reporting & Benepay can help

In what has seemingly become the new normal for the IRS when working with the Affordable Care Act, another deadline has been extended. This time, on December 28, 2015, the IRS extended the deadline for ACA …

November 19, 2015

Don’t Let Your Customer Invite The IRS Into Their Business

With the holidays approaching, chances are that you will have many guests visiting your business or home. Some may even be uninvited guests. While there may be little you can do to keep weird Aunt Martha or …

August 10, 2015

4 HIPAA Documents to Insure Your Agency Against a Breach.

Provided by Michael Ramsby, GRA BenefitsHaving everything documented is maybe one of the most challenging aspects of HIPAA. However, it also is a great way to insure your agency against a breach. Companies we speak with …

June 11, 2015

Employer Reporting Requirements of the Affordable Care Act

Beginning in early 2016, employer reporting provisions of the Affordable Care Act kick in. If you are not working with your clients now to make certain they are up to speed and compiling the data …