Category: Transit & Parking Benefits

Sterling Updates: Important Changes for 2012

We’re pleased to announce new services at Sterling Health Services Administration, as well as share reminders about important industry changes in 2012.

New Sterling Services:

  • Login Once for Access to HSA, HRA and FSA Accounts – We’ve made it easier for you to access account information online. If you have multiple accounts with Sterling, such as an HSA and HRA, or HSA and FSA, just one login at www.sterlinghsa.com now provides access to account information and transaction tools for HSAs, HRAs and FSAs. You may remember that each product required a separate login until now. At this time, COBRA account access still requires a separate login to our WebCOBRA portal. Product web guides with more details can be downloaded by clicking the buttons below.
  • Fast Account Balances Via Phone – You can get your HSA,HRA and FSA account balances anytime just by calling 800-617-4729, pressing 1 at the prompt, and entering your Sterling account number. The response to this new service has been very positive, making it easy for you to access information on funds available anytime from anywhere.

Industry Updates:

  • HSA contribution limits for 2012 increased to $3,100 for individuals and $6,250 for families, regardless of the health plan deductible. Accountholders over 55 can make a $1,000 annual catch up contribution as well.
  • For Transit and Parking FSAs, the 2012 benefit amounts are $240 per month for parking (a $10 monthly increase) and $125 per month for transit (down from $230).

If you are a Sterling Accountholder or Subscriber, download your web portal guides below:

FSA Employee Guide
HRA Employee Guide
HSA Employee Guide

If you are a Sterling Employer Client, download your web portal guides below:

FSA Employer Guide
HRA Employer Guide
HSA Employer Guide

Questions? Contact Sterling customer service by calling 800-617-4729 or emailing customer.service@sterlinghsa.com. Now through February 2012, we have extended customer service hours and are available to help you from 6 am to 8 pm PT.

No Comments by Sterling HSA on December 9, 2011
filed in Flexible Benefit Plans, Flexible Spending Accounts, For Employers, Health Reimbursement Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Healthcare Flexible Spending Accounts, News, Our Accountholders, Transit & Parking Benefits
tagged , , , , , , , ,

For Our Producer Partners: Early Bird FSA Offer – Respond by November 15, 2011

Your clients interested in adding Flexible Benefit Plans (FSAs) or switching administrators in January 2012 can take advantage of 25% off our initial set-up fees just by getting the completed FSA application and enrollment materials to Sterling Health Services Administration before November 15, 2011. Add COBRA administered by Sterling and we’ll take another 10% off the COBRA annual fee for our Standard services in the first year (annual COBRA renewal fees will not be discounted).

Sterling Health Services Administration offers Healthcare FSAs, Dependent Care FSAs, and Transit and Parking Benefits, as well as Premium Only Plans and Limited Purpose or Post Deductible FSAs to coordinate Healthcare FSAs with other plans. Our pricing is simple and there are no monthly minimums.

Our standard and optional COBRA services include installation and set-up, qualifying event, ongoing administration, and open enrollment support all for one simple price, making it easy to plan and budget.

Sterling is known for expert administration, knowledgeable sales and service staff, and a hands-on approach to help your clients. We’d be happy to provide client references.

Please contact your Sterling HSA sales representative today so we can help your clients save money tomorrow by taking advantage of this offer before November 15, 2011.

Contact us now.

No Comments by Sterling HSA on October 12, 2011
filed in COBRA, Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, Flexible Benefit Plans, Flexible Spending Accounts, For Producer Partners, Healthcare Flexible Spending Accounts, Transit & Parking Benefits
tagged , , , , , , ,

What You Need to Know About Open Enrollment

Along with the return of school buses and shorter days, Fall is open enrollment time – the period in which you can sign up for, or adjust, your participation in your employee benefits package.

A recent study conducted by Harris Interactive and released as part of the Aflac WorkForces Report found that most workers regret their health benefit choices. The study reports that 77 percent of workers say they’ve made mistakes in their benefit decisions in the past, with 42 percent saying they waste money every year.

The most common mistakes include:

  • choosing the wrong deductible
  • not taking advantage of flexible spending accounts (FSAs)
  • passing on coverage — such as vision and dental care

What can you do to make the most of your benefits package?

  1. Visit the Consumer Reports Health website for information on how to choose a plan as well as what changes you should expect due to healthcare reform.
  2. If your employer offers an Flexible Spending Account, sign up for it. See below for more on FSAs.
  3. Make sure you put enough money in your FSA. According to the Aflac report, 43 percent of respondents said they didn’t contribute enough to the account.
  4. Visit the Sterling Resources page for links to companies we’ve partnered with in order to help you negotiate healthcare bills, find the best doctors and medical service providers, comparison shop for prescriptions, and more.
  5. Of course, the best resource during open enrollment is always your Human Resources department. They will have all the information that is specific to your particular benefit offerings.

About Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

FSAs enable you to set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for qualified medical, dependent care, and commuter transportation expenses. Depending upon your tax-bracket, an FSA can save you up to 40% on items you already pay for out-of-pocket – such as co-pays for doctor visits, daycare tuition fees, and even gasoline for your “commuter highway vehicle” (better known as your car)!

Don’t forget that even if you’ve participated in an FSA in the past, you still have to re-enroll in these benefits each year, during open enrollment.

Sterling is led by experts in the health benefits and banking industries for one primary purpose – to put our customers in control of healthcare spending. Please contact us with any questions on Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs), Premium Only Plans (POPs), or COBRA.

http://www.sterlinghsa.com/resources/
No Comments by Sterling HSA on September 29, 2011
filed in Consumer Directed Health Plans, Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, Education, Flexible Benefit Plans, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Healthcare Flexible Spending Accounts, Our Accountholders, Partners and Resources, Transit & Parking Benefits
tagged , , , , , , , ,

“The Best Kept Financial Secret”

Good Money by ABC News recently hosted personal financial expert and author of Get Financially Naked Manisha Thakor. Called out as “one of the best kept financial secrets…”, Manisha discusses Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) in the video below (8:12).

Notably, she also states that of companies with 500 or more employees 85% offer FSAs, yet a surprising “80% of Americans who have access to FSAs don’t use them…because people don’t understand what they are.”

Are you one of the 80% of Americans missing out on “this gem that’s out there that people aren’t utilizing?”

Are you an employer who would not only like to help your valued employees keep more of their pay but also possibly help you to contain your benefit costs?

As part of Sterling Health Services Administration’s ongoing efforts to offer a product suite and create a  “one-stop”  so that brokers and employers can easily and conveniently get their health services administration needs met by one company, we are pleased to now offer Flexible Spending Accounts.

As we move into open enrollment in the fall, Sterling HSA can help you offer Flexible Spending Accounts as part of your benefit package.

Check out this video for more information on FSAs. Please contact us with any questions, and to get started with FSAs today.

ABC News Good Money Video on FSAs

No Comments by Sterling HSA on August 25, 2010
filed in Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, Flexible Benefit Plans, Flexible Spending Accounts, Healthcare Flexible Spending Accounts, Podcasts & Videos, Transit & Parking Benefits
tagged , , , , , , ,
« Older Posts