Author: CoreMark Insurance Services

Dec
05
2019

Changes to Independent Contractor Requirements Take Hold In California

by CoreMark Insurance Services | posted in Blog

This is the second in a three-part series brought to you by CoreMark Insurance Services, Inc to address a few of the major changes facing California employers in 2020. If you missed our first installment, you can read it here. The so-called “gig-economy” has made ever-lasting waves in the California employment landscape, and the full effects of these changes are still yet to be seen.  In September of this year, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 5, also known as AB-5, that codifies the “ABC Test” first seen in the Dynamex Supreme Court case. The new law puts a much…
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Nov
25
2019

The Individual Mandate Returns: Help Employees Avoid Tax Penalties

by CoreMark Insurance Services | posted in Blog

This is the first in a three-part series brought to you by CoreMark Insurance Services, Inc to address a few of the major changes facing California employers in 2020. You can read part two here.  A new California state law, SB 78, brings back the health insurance individual mandate, requiring all California residents to have health insurance in 2020 or face tax penalties. You may remember the individual mandate at the federal level as a major part of the Affordable Care Act. The mandate, which stated that most Americans would be required to carry health insurance or face tax penalties,…
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Sep
09
2019

Deadline Extended For Sexual Harassment Prevention Training

by CoreMark Insurance Services | posted in Blog

Recent legislation signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on Aug 30, 2019 extends the deadline for the California state-mandated Sexual Harassment Prevention Training, but what exactly does that mean for employers? SB 778 changes the compliance due date for some parts of SB 1343 we talked about previously, but not all of it. We’re digging into the details of the new changes so you can make any necessary changes to the training timeline for your company. Deadline Extended For Sexual Harassment Prevention Training The basics of CA SB 1343 Before we get into the changes, a quick recap on what the…
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Mar
29
2019

5 Reasons Healthcare Costs Are on the Rise

by CoreMark Insurance Services | posted in Blog

It’s not your imagination. Healthcare is expensive and costs continue to rise. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, costs increased by almost one trillion dollars between 1996 and 2015. The rise in healthcare costs cannot be attributed exclusively to any one cause. Rather, there are a number of causes that, put together, are responsible for the rise. All of the following, plus more, have a role.

Mar
07
2019

How to Combat the Rise in Healthcare Costs

by CoreMark Insurance Services | posted in Blog

Healthcare costs in the U.S. are at an all-time high, and organizations and individuals are continually looking for ways to reduce the rising costs and maintain affordability in healthcare. With spending levels reaching unsustainable highs, there are ways that employees and employers can work together to reduce the overall healthcare liabilities. As individuals bemoan the reduction in their take-home pay due to healthcare costs and employers find themselves digging deep to support their employees, all parties are looking for options they can explore together.

Feb
18
2019

5 Things You Should Do After Open Enrollment

by CoreMark Insurance Services | posted in Blog

Open enrollment is over! Time to take a breather after the chaos, right? Not so fast. There are still a lot of tasks on your plate. Research shows that people who like their health plans are more likely to stay with the company. But, many people do not understand the coverage that they have. To help them better understand the benefits that they have available, put this post open enrollment plan into place. 1. Write an email explaining special enrollment periods and when they might apply to employees. In most cases, employees can only enroll in new health coverage during…
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Jan
31
2019

The Story Of EGPP – Building A Culture Of Excellence

by CoreMark Insurance Services | posted in Blog

When the Founding Partners opened CoreMark Insurance Services, Inc in 2014, we were determined to build an agency that could make a real difference in the lives of our clients, our employees, and our community. Each founding partner had other opportunities prior to venturing out with the CoreMark brand, but after many soul searching meetings with each other and our families, we realized that we share many of the same core values.  Values built on excellence, trust, accountability and professionalism. Those Core values led to choosing the name CoreMark and our EGPP mantra.  What is EGPP you ask?  It’s our…
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Jan
24
2019

5 Tips You Can Use for Open Enrollment Success

by CoreMark Insurance Services | posted in Blog

Open enrollment for the new year’s health insurance plans can be one of the most hectic times of year for you and your human resources department. This is the one chance many employees have to make healthcare decision that will affect them all year long. You want to do everything you can to make your enrollment a success for the people who work for you. 1. Start early. The earlier you begin, the smoother your open enrollment process will be. Begin by reviewing your current insurance offerings with your broker, network partner and third-party administrator to assess your current plan’s…
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Dec
20
2018

New California Law Imposes Additional Requirements For Sexual Harassment Prevention Training

by CoreMark Insurance Services | posted in Blog

The #MeToo Movement is proving to have a lasting effect not just on Hollywood, but the legislative landscape for employers in California. New regulatory changes taking effect in 2019 have many employers looking for access to training and resources to navigate the added requirements. The Changes Under SB 1343, employers with 5 or more employees must have all staff complete at least one hour Sexual Harassment Prevention Training and Education by the end of 2019. Employees in supervisory roles will be required to complete at least two hours of training. These requirements are a noted increase from the previous ones in…
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Dec
18
2018

The Top 5 Free Tools You Can Use to Simplify Open Enrollment

by CoreMark Insurance Services | posted in Blog

Most human resources professionals aren’t fortunate enough to have a line item in their budget for “Open Enrollment promotion,” so you have to get creative! Having a great enrollment season requires a great deal of dedication and perseverance on the part of the HR and benefits team, and that includes finding free or inexpensive ways to encourage people to enroll early (and correctly) to receive the benefits that your organization provides. We have found that these 5 free tools are extremely effective ways to help employees understand their benefits and make their benefits decisions! 1. Create a Benefits Overview Video…
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