MBA Newsletter – December 2018
We here at the Minnesota Benefit Association wanted to wish you a heartfelt and sincere Happy Holidays. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or something else, we hope you have a great Holiday season, filled with lots of good will, cheer, and precious time with family.
If you are looking for fun activities to do outside with family and friends around the state, we have a found a great list of Christmastime in the Cities activities, feel free to check them out today!
Time of Joy and Giving: Volunteer today!
As we all know, this time of the year is not only dedicated to family, but also giving. Volunteering your time at your favorite charity/organization is a great way to help those who may be less fortunate than you. You never know when you may find yourself in a situation where you require some help, and volunteering is a great way to give back. It is also a great way to teach your children the importance of giving to others.
We have found a list of some of the best places you can volunteer your time this December. Please check out DoingGoodTogether.org for a list of activities. You can also check on your city’s website for activities near you.
There is still time to sign up for Purchasing Power!
Some of you might have beaten the Holiday Rush and have done most of your Christmas shopping online, or on Black Friday. However if you are like a good chunk of Minnesota, some people wait until the last minute or are shopping over the next few weeks. You still have time if you have not checked out Purchasing Power and your employee participates.
Purchasing Power, an exclusive benefit for MBA members, allows you to purchase retail items online, while obtaining the item upfront, and paying it off over time through payroll deductions, at no additional interest! See if your employer participates in this program by visiting the MBA Website. If they do not, we encourage you to ask your HR Representative to consider this option for employees in the future. Don’t delay and sign up today!
Medicare
Even though Medicare’s Annual Enrollment ended, the Minnesota Benefit Association wants to remind you that you may still be able to enroll in a new plan for 2019.
We want to ensure that you are prepared for potential changes to you coverage. Medicare Cost plans are ending in 66 of our 87 counties in 2019 (see Map).
If you, your family or anyone you know have a Medicare Cost Plan that is ending on December 31, 2018, you can still enroll in a new plan. Many of the 370,000 individuals impacted by the Cost Plan exit have already made their selection, however there are clients still needing to make a choice.
Contact our Medicare help line with all Medicare questions, or for information on our in-person meetings, please call 651-259-9000 or send an inquiry to Medicare@LeClairGroup.com for details.
Click here to learn more about the Cost Plan Transition.