New Website Offers Speed and Convenience
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We’re proud to announce that Allied National has a newly renovated
website.
The new site’s updated technology means faster loading and mobile responsiveness. In addition, information that is most important to you is better organized for ease of use:
- The Self-Service Site Login and Find a Provider buttons now are conveniently located on the homepage just below the header image.
- The Employer Resources page provides quick access to downloadable administrative forms and materials to educate your employees about their Funding Advantage plan.
- Connect to the most recent COVID-19 news from the homepage.
Plus, we've added two new features to keep you informed – our weekly
blog and
newsroom page. Stay updated on industry and health news with
The Allied Blog (read more about the blog in this newsletter) and view recent press releases on our newsroom page. These features are located at the bottom of the homepage.
Access to our popular testimonials page is now located at the bottom of the homepage to the right of careers.
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New Search Bar Location
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Use our search bar conveniently located on every page in the footer.
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Deadline Approaching for Federal Form
Filings
– 5500 & PCORI
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Employers who provide health, life and other types of benefits to their employees must file Form 5500 with the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Labor and Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
The deadline to file Form 5500 electronically is the last day of the seventh month following the end of the plan year, unless an extension has been granted. Therefore, the deadline this year is July 31 for calendar-year plans.
PCORI fees have been extended through 2029. For plan years that end on or after Oct. 1, 2019, and before Oct. 1, 2020, the applicable fee amount is $2.54 per person.
Last month, Allied National mailed you a 5500 Filing Information Worksheet to help with your annual federal 5500 filings and payment of the PCORI fee established under the Affordable Care Act.
Although Allied sends out the data and the information necessary to file the 5500 report, you are required to do this filing yourself. Small employers generally are able to file the 5500-SF (short form) version. This filing information also is available on the
Allied Self-Service Site.
In an effort to help employers with these filings, we have an
informational page on our website with detailed instructions on how to complete a 5500-SF filing and more information on PCORI. We hope you will refer to this page for assistance.
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I
ntroducing: The Allied Blog
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Allied National is excited to announce a new blog page filled with valuable content for small business employers like you!
The content of
The Allied Blog
covers topics such as:
- Tips on how to make your benefit renewal easy and painless
- How an employer-sponsored health plan can help you retain employees
- How to support your employees’ mental health during these unprecedented times
- And so much more
These weekly articles are a great way to stay updated on industry news and Allied member perks. Plus, you can learn about unique benefit resources that some of our partner groups offer as part of your Allied Funding Advantage health plan.
Visit
www.alliednational.com/blog and bookmark the page so it’s easy for you to come back and read our new posts each week. If you like what you’re reading, share our fresh content with your employees or on your personal social media channels!
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Allied Provides Support for Those Struggling With Mental Health Issues
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We’re living in a stressful time. A recent Indiana University Bloomington study on the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact shows that mental health issues and instances of psychological aggression within relationships rose from April to June when people first began sheltering at home.
Fortunately, Funding Advantage members like you have access to counseling and support through one of Allied HealthCare Assistant’s partners -- AiRCare. HealthCare Assistant is an umbrella of health care services available to members and their families. AiRCare, a behavioral health care management company, helps Allied's Funding Advantage members proactively manage their health and get on the road to recovery.
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Allied National recently posted a
blog article
that addresses steps employers can take to promote good mental health as employees come back into the workplace. The article highly recommended employers have the resources available that employees need, like counseling, substance abuse programs, and legal and adoption assistance.
The article added, “Some health plans, like Allied National’s Funding Advantage plans, partner with providers who proactively reach out to members who are in a high-risk category. By pairing these members with coaches, the members receive the benefit of regular attention by experienced professionals.”
The article received a
favorable comment from an employer who echoed some of the advice in the article
.
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If you would like to learn more about Allied HealthCare Assistant, check out
this flyer.
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How to Properly Disinfect Your Surroundings
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The coronavirus pandemic has made it more important than ever to disinfect and properly clean your home, office and car to reduce the spread of COVID-19. There are many unknowns about the COVID-19 germ and the surfaces it lives on. According to the
Department of Homeland Security the average influenza virus can survive on surfaces and still infect a person for up to two to eight hours after being deposited on the surface.
Member Connection is the perfect resource to help you and your employees find ways to best disinfect and clean your home, in addition to the added bonus of earning gift cards to places like Amazon and Target! Member Connection is an online, interactive member engagement portal, powered by Benovate, that is available to anyone who has an Allied Funding Advantage plan.
For instance, do you think you have been cleaning and disinfecting the proper way? You might be surprised to learn that you need to wash surfaces with soap and water before you use a disinfectant for it to work properly. In addition, did you know it can take up to 10 minutes for a surface, treated with a disinfectant, to be germ free; or that is must remain wet for up to 10 minutes? This means you may need to apply the disinfectant wipe or solution more than one time to keep wet for the allotted amount of time.
Below are some more everyday cleaning steps you can find through Member Connection, as well as the extra steps that need to be taken when someone in your home or office becomes sick.
Clean
- Wear gloves to protect yourself from germs and the chemicals.
- Clean surfaces with soap and water. This reduces the number of germs, dirt and impurities on the surface.
- Practice routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces like; tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, keyboards, toilets, faucets, sinks, phones, steering wheels, etc.
Disinfect
- View the list of approved EPA-registered household disinfectants along with how long they need to stay wet on the surface.
- Be aware that diluted household bleach solutions may only be used if appropriate for the surface. You should never clean wood surfaces, most metals, granite or stone with bleach solutions.
- To make a bleach solution first make sure the bleach hasn’t expired, and then mix five tablespoons bleach per gallon of room temperature water. Leave solution on the surface for at least one minute. Bleach solutions will be effective for disinfection up to 24 hours.
- Make sure to read directions and labels on all cleaning products so you know if you need to apply additional coats to keep the surface wet for the allotted amount of time to disinfect.
When someone is sick
- The person who is sick should stay separated from other people in the home as much as possible, in a separate bedroom and separate bathroom.
- When possible, the sick person should clean and sanitize their space frequently and clean the bathroom after each use. If a caregiver needs to do the cleaning, try to stay away from the infected area for as long as possible.
If your Allied National health plan includes access to Member Connection, you’ll see it on the back of your member ID card. Your employees can enroll in this free program by:
- Downloading the app from the Google Play Store or Apple Store (search for the Benovate app); OR
- Go to member.alliednational.com to register on their PC or laptop
Members only need the “Allied Member Connection Registration Code” from the back of their health plan ID card to register.
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Download the Member Connection app today!
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