#group health insurance for your small business

[ishapandey2]

The Ultimate Guide to Group Health Insurance for Small Business

In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, providing group health insurance for your employees is more than a perk it's a necessity. Not only does it enhance your company's attractiveness as an employer, but it also fosters a healthier, more productive workforce. In this comprehensive guide, we delve into the intricacies of group health insurance for small businesses, offering detailed insights to help you make informed decisions that align with your business goals and employee needs.

What is Group Health Insurance?

Group health insurance is a type of health coverage provided to a group of people, typically employees of a company, under a single policy. This policy offers a variety of health benefits including medical, dental, vision, and sometimes even wellness programs. Group insurance plans are generally more cost-effective than individual plans due to the risk being spread across multiple participants.

Advantages of Group Health Insurance for Small Businesses

Cost Savings: Group plans are typically more affordable than individual plans because they pool risk among all members of the group.

Tax Benefits: Premiums paid by employers are usually tax-deductible, and employees can enjoy pre-tax payroll deductions.

Employee Retention and Attraction: Offering a comprehensive group health insurance plan makes your business more attractive to potential hires and helps retain current employees.

Improved Employee Health and Productivity: Access to medical care can lead to healthier employees who are more productive and take fewer sick days.

Types of Group Health Insurance Plans

Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)

HMOs offer a range of healthcare services through a network of providers who contract exclusively with the HMO. Employees typically need to choose a primary care physician (PCP) and obtain referrals for specialist services.

Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)

PPOs offer more flexibility, allowing employees to visit any healthcare provider. While there is a network of preferred providers, employees can see out-of-network doctors at a higher out-of-pocket cost.

Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO)

EPOs combine features of HMOs and PPOs. Employees must use the EPO’s network of providers except in emergencies. However, EPOs generally do not require referrals for specialist visits.

Point of Service (POS)

POS plans are a hybrid between HMOs and PPOs. Employees choose a PCP and can access care outside the network, but doing so often requires higher costs and referrals.

How to Choose the Right Group Health Insurance Plan

Assess Your Employees' Needs

Understanding your employees' healthcare needs is crucial. Consider factors such as age, family size, and specific health concerns. Conduct surveys or use anonymous questionnaires to gather this data.

Evaluate the Cost

While offering a comprehensive plan is ideal, you must consider your business's budget. Compare premiums, deductibles, copays, and out-of-pocket maximums. Don’t forget to account for additional costs such as administrative fees.

Provider Networks

Examine the network of doctors and hospitals included in the plan. Ensure that the plan provides a wide range of options, including specialists and hospitals in convenient locations.

Plan Flexibility

Flexibility in choosing healthcare providers and services is a significant consideration. Some employees may prioritize having access to a wide range of providers, while others may prefer a more managed care approach.

Compliance with Regulations

Ensure that the plan complies with all federal and state regulations, including the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Compliance is crucial to avoid fines and legal issues.

Implementing Group Health Insurance

Open Enrollment Period

The open enrollment period is the designated time when employees can enroll in, switch, or waive their health insurance plan. It's essential to communicate the details clearly and provide ample time for decision-making.

Communication with Employees

Effective communication is key. Provide comprehensive information about the available plans, including coverage details, costs, and any changes from previous plans. Use multiple channels such as meetings, emails, and brochures.

Administration and Management

Administering a group health insurance plan involves maintaining accurate records, processing claims, and ensuring compliance with regulations. Many businesses opt for third-party administrators (TPAs) to manage these tasks efficiently.

Maximizing the Benefits of Group Health Insurance

Wellness Programs

Many group health insurance plans offer wellness programs that focus on preventive care and healthy living. These programs may include gym memberships, smoking cessation programs, and health screenings.

Employee Education

Educate your employees about how to use their health insurance effectively. Offer workshops or informational sessions on topics such as understanding benefits, managing healthcare costs, and using online tools for healthcare management.

Regular Plan Review

Review your group health insurance plan annually. Evaluate employee satisfaction, changes in healthcare needs, and cost-effectiveness. Adjust the plan as necessary to continue meeting your employees' needs and your business objectives.

Conclusion

Providing group health insurance for your small business is a strategic decision that offers numerous benefits. From cost savings and tax benefits to improved employee satisfaction and productivity, a well-chosen plan can be a valuable asset. By understanding the different types of plans, evaluating employee needs, and ensuring compliance with regulations, you can select a plan that best suits your business and employees.

[whoslai]

Off The Menu - Lee Heeseung (Chapter 1)

genre: angst, fluff, slow-ish burn, eventual smut!! (you’re responsible for what you consume, read at your own risk)

warnings: none?? reader has anxiety/social anxiety and a few insecurities here and here. major slice of life for you peeps 

send me an ask if you’d like to be tagged! thank you to all my new followers, you guys are amazing for supporting me. please interact and give me as much feedback as you’d like (don’t be an ass tho, no need to spread negativity.

not proof read, sorry for any typos in advance. 

word count: 3.3k 

link to series masterlist or whatever

next chapter

Chapter 1: “Hey, lol.”

✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼✼　 ҉✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼✼　 ҉ 　

Fall wasn’t your favorite season. From the stress of studying for finals to worrying about flight tickets back home when winter rolled around, you were never the biggest fan of the autumn months. With the combination of your busy schedule and your failure to get a refill on your anxiety medication, you felt immensely overwhelmed. Another thing to note was how lonely it got; Your family was across the country. Going to school in California was a conscious decision of yours, but you didn’t consider how tiresome it’d get not experiencing the warm embrace of a loved one in your times of need. To even take a trip back home would take you nearly 2 days, and that was simply not a risk you were willing to take with how dingy your car was. 

Your Friday’s typically consisted of this: Breakfast at the café off campus, lectures from 9 am to 12 pm, lunch at 12:30 pm accompanied with a small break, occasional seminars for an hour or so, then you were done. You’d usually study for a little while, but there were no promises. Being a second year psych student had its pros and cons; Less free time throughout the weekdays but completely free weekends. Though the pros outweigh the cons, you could use a bit more time to yourself throughout the week. As you were far from home, you had to make completely new friends. The vibe in California was completely different. You spent the entirety of your first year in your dorm in online school due to your school’s strict precautions against the pandemic, so you’d be stripped of the chance of branching out. While you weren’t the only one who went through this, it was 10x harder for you to go back to normal; Social anxiety had been something you’d struggled with all your life. The fear you felt when in big crowds, when being assigned to group projects, even merely walking to your class on campus…really…sucked. Tasked with the responsibility of your own finances, health insurance was something you simply couldn’t afford. Therefore, you hadn’t been on your meds for God knows how long. But anyway, you wouldn’t stay on such a depressing topic. 

Moving on, you had the weekend to yourself. You’d finished your last lecture around 2 pm and made your way back to your dorm. Fortunately, your roommate hadn’t made it back from her classes, so you had the space all to yourself. You locked the door behind you and took a breath of fresh air.

“Finally.” You sighed to yourself, plopping down onto your bed. Shoes were thrown about and you laid in your bed, indulging in the feeling of relief. But, as expected, it was cut short almost immediately.

Multiple knocks were sounded upon the door. It was nobody but Ningning, your lab partner in Abnormal Psych Stats 2. She was a sweet girl, she truly was. However, she always found a way to be overbearing. But you appreciate her as she was the only reason you ever left your room.

You slowly but surely got up to open the door, greeted by Ningning with a big smile.

“Y/N, were you lying down?” She asked, leaning against the door frame.

“I was, but now I’m up. Come, come.” You told her, moving out of the way so she could come in.

She walked in, closing the door behind her and sat on your bed as you spruced up your desk.

You glanced over at her, noticing that she was biting her lip and she only ever did that when she was holding back from saying something.

“Oh God, what is it?” You groaned, knowing she was about to say something outlandish.

She smiled and sat up, “Okay, don’t be mad but I booked us two tickets at this restaurant over in Malibu. Yes, I know it’s a long drive BUT…it’s worth it. Please tell me you’ll come with me, pleaseeeee…”

You sighed, rubbing your jaw, “I can’t.” Her smile faded, turning into a frown, “I don’t have the funds for that. I just planned on grabbing a meal from the dining hall…I’m trying to save up for a plane ticket.”

She shook her head, “Don’t worry about the costs, I’ll pay, it’ll be my treat. I wasn’t in town on your birthday and I want to make up for my absence. As your best, and ONLY friend, it’s my job to treat you. So, what do you say?”

You sighed to yourself, again. You hadn’t planned on doing anything tonight. You really were looking forward to having some down time to just relax and catch up on some shows. You also weren’t the type to depend on someone to pay for your meal, but one time wouldn’t hurt, right?

“Alright. Fine. When?” You asked her, stacking papers atop of each other.

“Today, tonight, let’s leave before 6 pm since our reservation is at 8:00.” She said, “I figured we could stay the night? If we left by 6 and got there at 7:30 ish, we could check into our reservation and stay at a nearby hotel. It’d be nice to take a break and be on our own for a while.”

You nodded, ‘That sounds nice…but costly? Where’s all this money coming from, Ningning?” 

She smiled, “Let’s just say…my job is treating me well. Now, pack a bag, be ready by 5.” She hurried up and kissed your cheek as she made her way out of your room, closing the door behind you. 

So, a trip. A mini girls trip for a night. You were excited, actually. It’s been a while since you had a chance to take a break. You’ve never been to Malibu either. This should be fun.

Later on, you finished packing a small bag with a few essentials. You changed into an outfit you thought fit the Malibu vibe: A black halter top with beige flowy pants and matching back sandals. You clipped a mango-ish colored flower into your hair after you slicked it back into a ponytail and grabbed your bag. You touched yourself up a bit before walking out of your dorm and made your way down the hall. You knocked on Ningning’s dorm and waited for her to open it.

Once she did, she met you with a smile and walked out with her bag, locking the door behind her. “You look so cute, Y/N. We’re going to have so much fun, trust me.”

✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼✼　 ҉✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼✼　 ҉ 　✼　

You two soon made it to the restaurant with not a lot of time to spare as it was 8:00 on the dot. Ningning quickly found a parking spot and you both agreed to find a hotel after you ate. 

From the outside looking in, the restaurant was beautiful. It was right beside a beach with a beautiful view of the ocean; Moonshadows Malibu was its name, it truly was something you thought you’d never see in real life. As you two made your way inside, you were hit by the aroma of vanilla and solemn music, only adding to the overall dreamy vibe. A pretty lady at the front greeted you both with a wide smile. She held up two shell necklaces, “Would you ladies like a necklace?” Ningning looked at you before quickly nodding, holding her hands out to grab them. She gave you one as she slipped hers on her head and you followed after her, placing the necklace around your neck.

“We reserved a seat for two?” Ningning remarked towards the lady.

The girl nodded, “What’s the name?”

“Ning Yi Zhuo..” Nigning replied, nodding.

The girl nodded, “Okay, follow me.” She showed you both to the deck of the restaurant, seated outside right above the sand and beside the ocean. You were in awe at how beautiful the sunset was. Ningning thanked the girl as she placed down menus and told you both that your waiter would be over soon.

“It’s so pretty in Malibu…” You sighed, looking at the ocean.

“I grew up right next door to Malibu, actually. I always enjoyed coming here on vacation, such a nice place. Anyway,” She laughed, “What are you getting to drink? I brought my fake just in case…”

You smiled, shaking your head, “I don’t drink, Ningning. You’re always pressuring me to drink.”

She scoffed, “Peer pressure? I’d never!”

You rolled your eyes, “Sure. I’ll probably just get water, I’m trying to be healthier.”

“Aw, okay. I love that for you, but I’m still going to get a Pina Colada.” She sighed, pretending to jut her lip out at you.

You shook your head and looked down at your menu, suddenly feeling your heart dropping. The prices were high! The cheapest thing you saw was $20!

“Jesus, Ningning! These prices are literally so unrealistic.” You told her.

She shrugged, “You pay for the quality, not quantity. They honestly have some of the best food in Malibu, trust me. How about we both share an appetizer and then worry about the entrees later? Sounds good?”

“Okay, well, at least I'll pay for your gas. Deal?” You asked.

“Oh hell yeah, you can definitely pay for my gas.” She nodded to herself.

You closed your menu and took your phone out, capturing some photos of the ocean for later. You wanted to savor the moment. As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting a warm golden glow over the beach, the waves lapped gently against the shore. The sky was painted in shades of pink and orange, while the clouds seemed to catch fire with the last rays of daylight. A few seagulls flew overhead, their silhouettes dark against the vibrant sky. The air was filled with the salty scent of the sea and the distant sound of laughter and music. It was a moment of peace and beauty that seemed to suspend time, as if the world had paused to take in the breathtaking scene before it.

Only, your attention was stricken as you heard Ningning whisper something. You looked back at her and her eyes were wide and signaling to the side of you; A waiter. Your heart skipped a beat as he drew closer, his smile dazzling and his eyes sparkling. He was even more handsome up close, with strong, chiseled features and a confident demeanor. You felt a sudden burst of nervous energy, unsure of how to act in the presence of such beauty. His voice was smooth and charming as he greeted you both. You felt an immense struggle to keep your composure. It was clear that he had an effect on you, and you simply couldn't help but wonder if he felt the same way.

“Evening, ladies…” The young man greeted you both, “Can I get you guys started with anything to drink?”

Ningning eagerly nodded, “You most certainly can…Y/N?” Hearing your name snapped you out of your mini trance and you looked at her in confusion. She widened her eyes at you, signaling for you to talk.

“I’ll just get some water for now.” You told him, clearing your throat. 

He nodded, “Water it is…” A small smile crept on his face as he glanced back up at you and playfully remarked, “But I’ve got a feeling you might want something a little stronger later on.”

 You couldn't help but feel a bit flustered by his comment, but you managed to laugh it off. "We'll see about that," you replied, trying to hide your growing attraction to him. Ningning, on the other hand, was not as subtle.

 "Oh, I think we definitely will," she said with a grin, winking at the waiter. You shot her a look, but she just shrugged innocently, “I’d like a Piña Colada, extra coconut.”

The waiter chuckled, clearly enjoying the attention. "I'll keep that in mind," he said before taking your orders and walking away. Ningning leaned in, a mischievous glint in her eye.

 "He's cute, isn't he?" she whispered.

You rolled your eyes, but couldn't deny that she was right. "Yeah, he is," you admitted, feeling a flush rise to your cheeks.

“He was soooo flirting with you, Y/N.” She laughed, “It’s time you got some action, anyway. 19 and still a virgin? Unheard of.” You shook your head, trying to brush off her comment. But deep down, you couldn't help but wonder if there was some truth to it. You couldn't wait to see what the rest of the night had in store.

As the night progressed, you and Ningning chatted about a multitude of topics. Life, college, boys, parties, homework, etc. You were glad you went out with her, it was just the breath of fresh air you had been needing these past few weeks. 

Oh, and of course, you’d stolen some glances at the waiter. When he brought back your drinks, he made sure to place yours down first even though Ningning was obviously positioned in front of your water. 

One thing he did that made his interest almost completely obvious was when he leaned down on the table to speak to you when you knew he could hear you just fine as he was merely a few inches away. You wouldn’t say you were flirting back. Although Ningning was urging you to do so, flirting wasn’t something you were familiar with. Why would a guy flirt with you of all people? Especially as your much prettier friend sat across from you. For all you knew, he simply could have wanted a nice tip. You wouldn’t entertain him much, you came to get a break from campus, not to find a fling.

Ningning turned her attention back to you when he walked away to retrieve you both some refills, “He wants you.”

You didn’t respond to her comment, choosing to turn your attention to the last sushi roll instead. You rinsed it down with the last morsel of your water, sighing internally when he came back.��

“One filet mignon for Ms. Lily,” He said, placing down your food, “And a scottish Salad for-”

“Lily?” Ningning laughed, confused at the name he referred to you as.

He looked up at her as he placed her food down, “Lily Flower, in your hair,” He glanced up at you, “It’s cute, by the way.”

You awkwardly nodded, “Thanks…”

He smiled and rubbed his hands together, “Well, I’ll be around. Call me if you guys need anything. I hope you enjoy your food.”

“Will do.” Ningning said, “One thing before you go…” He nodded in acknowledgment, licking his lips. “You single?”

The waiter chuckled, clearly amused by Ningning's boldness. "I am, actually," he replied, his eyes flickering over to you for a moment.

Ningning grinned. "Good to know," she said, winking at him. "We'll keep that in mind."

As he walked away, you couldn't help but feel a little jealous of your friend's flirtatiousness. But deep down, you knew that there was something between you and the waiter, something that went beyond just a passing attraction.

As you ate your meal, you found yourself stealing glances at him, meeting your eyes with his own whenever he walked by, feeling a rush of excitement every time he flashed you a smile. Finally, as the meal came to a close, he brought over the bill and once again flashed you a charming grin. "I hope you enjoyed everything," he said, his eyes sparkling. You couldn't help but smile back, feeling a little shy under his gaze. 

"It was great, thank you," you replied, trying to sound casual, knowing damn well that you were nearly shitting your pants under his intense gaze. 

He nodded, walking away to leave you both to the bill. Ningning shook her head, “If you don’t write your number down on this bill, I’m genuinely never taking you out ever again. This is a threat.”

You couldn't help but laugh at Ningning's threat, feeling a little embarrassed at how obvious your attraction to the waiter had been. But she was right, you knew that you couldn't let this opportunity slip away. As you saw the waiter returning to take the bill, you nervously scribbled down your phone number onto a small napkin, placing it beside the bill. You hoped that he wouldn't notice until you left as you didn’t want to make anything awkward. As he collected the bill, you tried to act casual, but your heart was racing with anticipation. You watched as he glanced down at the paper with your phone number on it, and you couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking. Was he interested in you too? Or was this just wishful thinking on your part?

“Thank you ladies, have a nice night.” He said as you both got up. Ningning nudged you to say something but you urged her out of the restaurant, wanting to abort immediately. However, just before you walked out of the door, you looked back at him once more. You saw that he tucked the paper into his pocket without a word, but then he glanced back at you with a small smile, and you felt a surge of hope. Maybe there was something there after all. 

✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼✼　 ҉✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼✼　 ҉ 　✼　

You two made your way into town with the windows down, allowing the breeze to brush through as you listened to the radio. You pointed out a nearby hotel that looked nice, actually. Pool, multiple floors, adequate priced rooms. It wouldn’t hurt to stay for one night in a nice hotel, afterall, you only live once. 

Ningning found a parking spot and you helped her carry her bag in as she made her way to the front to pay for the room. She made small talk in the elevator but you truthfully found yourself checking your phone to see if he had texted. It was already late, nearing 1 am. Surely the restaurant wasn’t open this late. Maybe he only smiled at you out of courtesy, afterall, Ningning had left a nice tip.

As you entered the hotel room, you couldn't help but feel a little disappointed that you hadn't heard from the waiter. Maybe it was a mistake to put yourself out there like that, to give him your number so readily. Maybe he wasn't interested after all.

Ningning caught the look on your face and immediately knew what was going on. "Hey, don't worry about it," she said, giving you a comforting pat on the back. "Maybe he's just busy or something. You'll hear from him soon enough."

You nodded, trying to shake off your disappointment. "Yeah, you're right," you said, forcing a smile. "Let's just enjoy the night." Ningning nodded in agreement, and the two of you settled in for the night, enjoying the comfortable beds and the peace and quiet of the hotel room. 

But as you lay in bed, your mind kept wandering back to the waiter. Amidst all of the doubt you held within your mind, you couldn't help but wonder what he was doing, where he was, and if he was thinking about you too. Maybe it was just wishful thinking, but you couldn't help but feel like there was something there, something that was worth pursuing. 

As you placed your phone down on the nightstand beside you, it vibrated. Your heart dropped, surely…a family member wasn’t texting you at 3 in the morning, right? You took a deep breath, glancing to your side to see Ningning asleep. You reached for your phone, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness as you saw the notification; An unsaved number. Your heart leapt in your chest as you opened the message, feeling a rush of relief and joy when you saw the text.

+1 424-936-2945: “Hey, lol.”

✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼✼　 ҉✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼✼　 ҉ 　✼　

authors note: i hope you guys liked this first part of my ongoing series. i was kinda writing outta my ass. i got this out sooner than i thought i would so, yeah! anyway, let me know how you guys liked it and feel free to send in any thoughts you have. i hope to write this series in you guyses vision, not my own. reblog, likes, and comments are all appreciated haha. lmk if u wanna be tagged in the next chapter.

@voidbeomgyu 

[theknightmarket]

"Who wouldn't be angry?"

In which Wilford's return has less fanfare than what he hoped for. TW: cursing, slight sexual references Pages: 13 - Words: 5,000

[Requests: OPEN]

Closing up the bar was the best part of the night. After everyone had gone home, either willingly or under attack from your broom, and the only sound left was the quiet tap, tap, tap of a faucet someone forgot to turn off – that was when you felt perfectly at peace. The adrenaline of work was fun, of course, but reaping the rewards of a 20-dollar tip and pair of earphones made the 2 o’clock chime all the more satisfying. 

You unwrapped the apron from your waist and tossed it over your bag. A wayward sex on the beach meant it would need washing before you could wear it again, not that you minded it too much. It was, after all, where that tip came from, and the man who spilt it was almost too apologetic. You’d had worse. 

Dimly, as you wiped down the tables for the last time, you lamented the loss of your winter-holiday themed apron. 

You preferred the Halloween one anyway, so it wasn’t a weight on your conscience that drew you to breaking into your bar late at night. The work kept you busy enough that you didn’t, and couldn’t, despair over small things. The taxes, the patrons, the staff – they were all great, but sometimes you did wish you had time for yourself. A Sunday off, once a month, that would be enough. But, as you said, no time to despair. There was still work to do. 

That night, the work entailed taking the cash out of the register and tip jar, counting it, and stuffing it into the safe, locking all the interior doors and windows, and, finally, flicking the light switch. The neon pink sign blinked once, twice, and died out at its third breath, while you brought out your keys to officially lock the front door. The little hole-in-the-wall that the bar was, it didn’t run the risk of getting broken into too strongly, but there was no reason not to take precautions. You’d heard your neighbors tell you that it was so much a safe town that you needn’t bother locking everything. You told them that you quite liked having money, thank you very much, and there was no way in hell that you were going to pay any more for insurance. 

The night’s air nipped at your face, reminding you that you were still standing outside. Your brain, meanwhile, reminded you that you weren’t on your couch, wrapped in a blanket, and watching random nature documentaries. It might have also said something about paying your rent, but you decided to ignore that part. 

So, your frigid breath fading away in front of you, you waltzed down the four blocks between you and your apartment, watching the few other folk out and about make their own ways home. A group of teens scuttled across the road, technically jay walking but you weren’t going to say anything, while a ruffled office worker took off in a hurry in the other direction. Probably wanting to get into a safe place with the baggy of drugs stuffed into his suit pocket. 

The town you lived in wasn’t a well-off one. It was two steps up from rock bottom, and only because the local deli hadn’t been closed down due to health hazards yet. You liked to think your bar made it better, but there were going to be people who didn’t agree. Those teens, for instance, who always threw crude remarks when you denied them a beer. You didn’t hold it against them. How could you, when you had done the same thing once or twice when you were a kid. It didn’t bother you anymore, so why not wait until they reached 21, or found good enough fake IDs.

You fished your keys out of your bag when you were at the stairs inside your apartment building. The little, pink bear was the only thing that distinguished it from any others, and you ran your fingers over the dimples and nicks as your legs moved for you. Fourth floor, second door on the left. Whistling the few beats of a song you could still remember from the radio, you spun the plastic toy around in the air, caught it with your other hand, and pushed it into your door.

The entry was cold. That wasn’t anything out of the ordinary, but you were always reminded of the difference between the welcoming warmth of your bar and your home’s casual wave of air. Bringing a jacket with you was a moot point since you only needed it when you were actually inside. No, you just had to put up with it until you could get out of your work clothes and surround yourself with the fluffiest blankets you could find. You had this down to a fine art at that point, there was no reason why you couldn’t do it from muscle memory alone. 

Your keys clattered to the wooden floorboards.

No anticipated reason. None at all. You should have been moving into your bedroom by now. You should have been leaving the line of sight of your kitchen and heading to your dresser. You should have been doing anything except staring right at the man who had settled himself against your countertop with a bowl and spoon in his hands. 

You weren’t certain if you’d have preferred a complete stranger, maybe someone with a mallet ready to bash in your head. Something told you it would have been better that the mallet he had poised to bash in your heart with. 

Your mouth dropped open and you forgot about the keys on the ground. Eyes scanning his figure, you begged to find any reason that this wasn’t him, but, if there was, you were too shocked to see it. First, came the slow, creeping sensation of confusion, then a dismal sadness washed through your veins, followed within the second by a tidal wave of anger. 

In a single movement, you’d scooped up your keys, singled the sharpest one out, and lunged for Wilford. 

The fucker was lucky he had those teleporting, magic, screw-the-laws-of-physics powers that let him appear behind you before you cut through his arm. That didn’t stop you from whirling around and trying to get at his shoulder, though, but you missed again. And again. And again. 

“Stop moving!” you yelled, skidding into the fridge. It was a poorly choreographed dance that involved the two of you going around in circles, neither graceful nor calculated. The most math Wilford was doing was making sure he didn’t end up on your stove-top, and you were barely thinking, regardless of how many times the counter drove itself into your stomach. 

His response of a stern, “No!” went ignored while you flung yourself towards him for a sixth time. You were considering just chucking the keychain at him and hoping you struck gold, but luck always seemed to be on his side – if not for his evading of your attacks, then for the fact that his bowl hadn’t spiled whatever was inside it. Although, just as you cursed him for it and a bunch of other irrelevant things, he placed it near the sink and watched you fumble with the keys. Your hands were sweaty against the frigidness of the apartment, the exercise was wearing you out quickly, but you didn’t let up. He’d always liked that about you, but he was getting tired, more of the repetitiveness of the situation than the exertion.

So, what else could he do but twist your arm behind your back, hold your other hand down onto the countertop, and ignore the suggestive position it put you both in to disarm you? You didn’t stop struggling, to which he tutted and wrenched your shoulder back further. Nothing to hurt you, too much, he just needed you to calm down. If there was one thing he’d learned in your past encounters, it was that you didn’t react well to simply being verbally ordered around. 

“Now, why are you so angry?” Wilford asked. 

For a second, you stilled. He couldn’t be serious, but, then again, when was he ever? This was the norm for him. Both the prudent ignorance and the method of disarmament. After jostling for moment more, you let out a breath that gave you more wiggle room against the countertop. 

“Who wouldn’t be angry? You ate all my cereal and faked your death for three years.” 

Wilford apparently deemed you pacified enough to let you go, and you fell forward slightly. God, your arms hurt. You turned to face him as you rolled the shoulder that he had pulled behind you. Military man. You hated when he actually used what he was taught.

“I didn’t fake my death,” he scoffed. 

“Oh, I’m sorry, you ate all my cereal and abandoned me for three years. That better?”

“I didn’t abandon you.”

You finally met his eyes. Six feet between you, far out of arm’s reach, you hated that they didn’t betray any lies. More often than not, his emotions were masked by a haze of insanity, but the genuineness was crystal clear, like the spark of lighting across a night sky. It was the kind of purity that meant he fully believed he hadn’t abandoned you, but that just made it worse. 

You forced yourself to look away.  

“You still ate all my cereal.”

“For that, I am sorry.”

You believed him there, and you hated that you did. But that was the same Wilford who left all those nights ago, wasn’t it? No reason to anything, not leaving, not coming back, not a single thing.

Huffing, you gave up. It wasn’t worth arguing about, and you now had one more chore to do before you could settle down for the night. “What do you want?” you asked as you dumped the remainder of the cereal from Wil’s bowl.

“Can’t a man check in on an old friend out of the kindness of his heart?”

You levelled him with a blank stare. His grin cracked for just a second, but it was enough for you to spot, not that you changed your expression any.

“I- well, I thought we could catch up. What have you been up to for the last… what did you say, three years?”

You took a moment to try and figure him out again. Even if it would get you nowhere in the long run, you weren’t going to entertain him if he was there out of boredom. The little voice in the back of your mind reminded you that you didn’t have to play along with him, it reminded you that you had a job and a home and a life outside of whatever Wilford was swept up in. You didn’t have to jingle around the room like a court jester playing it up for laughs.

But you still sighed, ran a hand down your face, and vaguely gestured to the kitchen counter. “Go on, then.”

Wilford waltzed over to one of the stools as though that was just what he expected you to say, and, ashamed as you were, it likely was; it was some kind of routine you used to have, albeit without the giant gap in between. When you got home from working the bar, he would be there at the stove, cooking whatever it was caught his fancy in the books lately. You’d talk about your day and ask him about his, pouring both of you a drink. You couldn’t drink on the job, but your shift ended the minute you stepped through the apartment door.

Then, of course, after solid months of strange domesticity, Wilford up and vanished in the blink of an eye. Magic.

And, what, he appeared in just the same manner, and you fell into the habit, just like that? God, you really were weak.

“So, how’s the family?” was Wilford’s first question. You didn’t answer until you got the bottles out of the fridge and laid them on the countertop in front of him.

“Fine. Youngest brother graduated; parents adopted another dog.”

You turned away from grabbing the glasses only to see your guest wedging the top off the bottle of gin with his teeth. The cork pressed to the side of his mouth a clear danger, you swiped it from him, tossed it to your other hand and grabbed a corkscrew from the drawer in one swift motion.

“You’ll crack a tooth,” you muttered, knowing damn-well he wouldn’t heed your warning as you watched him shrug and remove the cap of the vermouth as well.

You didn’t bother to be surprised when the martini glass you’d seen on a shelf disappeared and reappeared in Wilford’s hand. That little voice, whispering again, reminded you that the magic trick was old hat to you now. You didn’t have to be shocked at the casual manipulation of time and space.

“I didn’t think Danny-boy was still in schooling. What’s he going to be, eh?”

Ignoring the sudden pressure in your chest, you replied, “A pilot.”

“Oh, a ladies’ man, then!” His laugh was more suited to a world war general than the pink-moustached maniac sipping straight from the vermouth in front of you. “I wish him the best of luck.” To which he raised the bottle, and, with a final wink, chugged the thing until half of it remained.

You almost didn’t want to risk finishing the martini you were making for him. You were well aware of how high Wilford’s alcohol tolerance was, but that didn’t make it any healthier. Still, when you had taken back the vermouth and poured it into the glass, you slid it over to him, warily eyeing the rest of the bottles to see if they’d been opened in the meantime. The sight of them all the same as before didn’t bring you much comfort regardless.

“And how’s the bar doing?”

You nodded slightly, your brow still furrowed and avoiding looking directly at him. “It’s doing well. We got a new bartender, she’s… she’s good.”

“Maybe you’ll finally take some time off, then,” he thought for a moment and then snapped his fingers, “there’s a new roller rink opening up on Alto Street. We could go there on your next day off!”

That pressure tightened into a vice grip. “We?”

“Yes, we. I wouldn’t recommend it if I didn’t think it’s good.”

“But you want to go together.”

“Is that a problem?”

Avoiding looking at him didn’t help, but making eye contact wasn’t any good, either. You only got an expression of confusion. Nothing betrayed an ulterior motive. You squinted but found only that. Surprise, maybe. You tilted your head one way and then the other, as though an angle would let you see something you couldn’t before. It was all the same.

“What are you doing, Wilford?”

Only more surprise. He laid down the martini glass, a mere sliver of alcohol left in the bottom, before placing his head in his hand. “What do you mean?”

“What is this? What- what do you want?”

A tut broke the tension for a second until it rose again tenfold.

“You’ve already asked that one.” 

“Yeah, and we’ve caught up. You can leave now.”

“Well, you haven’t asked me what I’ve been up to.”

“Oh, yeah? What have you been up to, then?”

Wilford opened his mouth, paused, and closed it again with a hum. Go figure, he couldn’t tell you. Whether it was because he was bound by some contract, or couldn’t remember, or just plain hadn’t done a thing, you didn’t know, and you never had.

“Look, it was nice catching up with you, but I have to work in the morning—”

“Hold on, hold on!” Your moving away from the counter was blocked by Wilford rushing to stand and securing his hands on your shoulders. He held you in place, a new emotion appearing on his face. Desperation. The smallest amount, but it was there, and it had you changing your mind about shoving him away.

“How do I make it up to you?”

“I don’t think you can.”

You weren’t about to beat around the bush with this, even if it made you the bad guy – the kicked puppy look certainly made you think you were, but you stayed your course; you couldn’t give in so easily.

“I just… how do I know you aren’t going to disappear again?” 

“I won’t!”

“How do I know, though? You don’t have the best track record.”

When he moved his hands from your shoulders, you thought he was going to leave, walk straight out the door into the night. It took only a second longer for you to realise he was grabbing your own hands. “This time I promise I’m telling the truth.”

Damn it. Damn it, damn it, damn it. Damn him and damn yourself and damn it all. You were weak, of course, but you were weak for the man in front of you with the stars in his eyes and sugar on his lips. And if that man was asking for a second chance – for a third time – who were you to deny him?

“Fine. Okay. Sure,” you spoke slowly, coming to grips with everything that had happened in the last half an hour.

You felt Wilford’s grip tighten at your hands and then release, and that was all that you expected, but you were talking about the time-travelling maniac in front of you. His arms were wrapped around you before you knew it, warmth and his moustache tapping at your skin. You supposed this was some kind of thanks, which you still appreciated. Gently, you lifted your hands to pat his back, causing him to squeeze slightly more, until he pulled away a few seconds later. 

“Alright,” you mumbled, barely getting the word out in time for a yawn to overtake you, “I’m heading to bed.”

“Goodnight! Sleep well.”

You returned the pleasantry with obvious tiredness in both your tone and your body. Dragging your feet, you made your way to your room while Wilford cleared up, the clinking of glasses and bottles only making you slightly worried about how much you’d have left come morning. It wasn’t enough to stop you from conking out the very instance that you touched your comforter, ready and poised to forget the last half hour’s shenanigans.

You woke up in the morning. Not surprising. It happened a lot. What didn’t happen a lot, though, was the smell of pancakes stirring you from your sleep instead of the blinding sun through your windows. You cracked your eyes open, only to see complete darkness. Immediately, you jumped from your bed and scrambled to stand up straight. Nothing. You couldn’t see anything. A creeping sense of dread curled in your stomach, wrapped around you heart, and pulled. Where was Wilford? Did he do something, was he okay, why did it still smell like pancakes—

You hand made contact with something covering your eyes. Oh. Pulling it off, you were slowly greeted with the light of the day, as you expected, and an unfamiliar piece of fabric in your palm. It was silky when you ran your thumb over it, something you didn’t think you’d ever touched, let alone owned.

You left the sleeping mask on your chaotic mess of sheets. Overwhelmed by the haze of adrenaline and sleep, you stumbled to get ready – which, given that you still had to figure out that smell, consisted of swapping out the uniform that you’d passed out in for a tank top and shorts. You weren’t fully awake when you got to the door, but you had nothing else to do but get to the kitchen and hope it was nothing you’d have to call emergency services about.

All three of your panic-questions were answered when you stopped at the archway between the mini hallway and the kitchen. The scene of Wilford at the stove, his back to you but clearly flipping something in a pan, quickly greeted you. Sizzling filled the air and disguised your footfalls on the wooden floorboards. They were nearly silent anyway, and yet you were caught as you got close to the countertop’s stools.

“Good morning, sleepy head,” Wilford sang, turning to wink at you so that you could see the ‘kiss-the-cook’ apron he now sported. Something panged in your chest, like a string cut loose; you’d bought that for him years ago, back when he was cooking dinner for the two of you. The face of the cashier stuck in your mind, somewhere between amused and sickened, but you didn’t care. The only time he hadn’t worn it when cooking was after you’d wrestled it away from him to wash. And then, obviously, after he disappeared, it was stashed in the back of the drawer, piled onto by old cloths and semi-broken utensils. You wondered how he found it again.

“Did you put a sleeping mask on me?” You collapsed onto a seat and rested your arms on the laminate surface. 

“I did, yes.” He went back to peeling the sides of a pancake off the edge and said nothing else on the matter.

“…why?”

Wilford flipped the pancake once, twice, a third time, then pressed it down in a ritual you had seen many times before. The crack of batter shocked the air around it. “Given how tired you were last night – too tired to change out of your clothes, at least – I didn’t want the sun to wake you up too early.” 

“And the curtains weren’t enough?”

“Oh, no, of course not,” he tutted, “I’ve seen how much gets through those flimsy things. It’s a wonder how the stars themselves don’t keep you awake.”

He wasn’t wrong. It happened often that you would wake up in the middle of the night, drowsy and blinking, only to realise that it was ten hours earlier than when you needed to be out of bed by. It happened now, and it happened three years ago. You just never put in the effort to fix it.

So, you just sighed, giving up the debate as fast as you’d started it, and dragged your hands down your face. According to the clock on the wall opposite you, there was still six more hours until the bar opened – you didn’t like encouraging day-drinking and four o’clock was the lowest you would go – and, frankly, you didn’t know how to spend them. A routine of stupid conspiracy theories and paperwork was offset with Wilford’s presence, leaving you with the shambles of a normal morning.

You blinked back to life when he set out two plates of pancakes on the countertop, one of them in front of you and the other just to your right at the next stool over. As he rounded the jutted-out edge, he brushed the small of your back with his hand, still warm from being near the stove. You couldn’t help but tense up, entirely focused on that point of contact like you’d been called to attention by a drill sergeant. 

Wilford dropped into the seat and handed you a pair of cutlery. You didn’t notice the toppings spread along the edge until you blinked some more times to rid the blur of your vision. Half of them had been pushed to the very back of the cupboard while the other half you weren’t certain you had ever bought in the first place.

Something stopped you from reaching for any of them. Something stopped you from doing anything. 

It was a shared feeling between the pit of your stomach and your throat. Like you wanted to scream and cry and laugh at the same time. Manic, you guessed was the best word for it, but even that felt wrong. Your heart thundered in your chest and raged against your ribcage, as though it were the only thing stopping it from telling you just what was wrong with you. Maybe this was just what happened what Wilford was around you, or maybe this was just what happened when he left. You didn’t think you were sure of anything anymore. 

“Is this it?”

“What do you mean?”

The words struggled against the rush of blood in your veins. You weren’t angry. You understood that you should have been, but you weren’t, and you weren’t bitter, and you weren’t resentful. It was another feeling on the tip of your tongue. But you held onto that feeling because it was undeniably there. You would have bashed your head against the counter if you weren’t paralyzed with…

You were scared. That was it. You were downright terrified.

“Are you,” you swallowed thickly, “are you here now?”

“Honey, whatever are you talking about?” Wilford asked, facing you with that sugar-coated grin you’d always gotten so hung up over. “I’ve been here since last night.” 

Just those words made you break into an internal panic. The only way that it shone through was in the frantic movements of your pupils, darting back and forth, searching desperately for the truth in his own. Meeker than he had ever heard you before, you asked, “Are you staying?”

And, just like that, he realized what you were asking, what you were going through. The eyes were the windows to the soul, after all, and, as he secured his hands on your shoulders, he saw your soul shattered into pieces. He had left, and the memory of stepping out of that front door was seared into his mind. He couldn’t forget, not even under the cover of discos and murder-mysteries, the way that the click of the lock echoed down the hallway and the stairwell, chasing after him when he was out of the building and seeping into the cracks of the pavement. It was karmic justice that the thought of you prevented him from entering any bar from that day onward. He didn’t want to risk it, and, well, he’d already forgotten so much. The few sane memories that remained were ones he didn’t want to taint with similar experiences and get them muddled up in his mind. 

Now that he was back, Wilford couldn’t imagine leaving again, not when you were staring at him, panicked and desperate for a response.

Slowly, gently, he brought you closer until your chest was pressed against his. The embrace was tight but comfortable. Supportive. A promise he couldn’t yet put into words. He shushed you as you tucked your head into the crook of his neck, your own arms tugging him even closer than that, as if you expected him to disappear at any moment – not that it was unjustified. His grip on your shoulder blades tensed alongside yours.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

You didn’t respond. You didn’t need to. On your part, you were too preoccupied with holding back the floods of tears that threatened to spill over at any second. A few had already escaped and dampened his dress shirt. On Wilford’s, he understood already.

The pair of you sat there for five minutes more. It felt like longer, but the clock was barely passing half ten. The most concrete thought that dragged through your head was that the hug was nice. You hadn’t been held like that since the last time Wilford was there. Sure, you’d been close to other people, but the complete relaxation of your body was a sensation you could see yourself chasing like an addict’s high.

It was practically painful to pull away, though you kept your hands secured around his waist.

“Shit,” you laughed quietly, voice clogged with tears, “I-I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to spring that on you.”

“Pish posh! I think we both needed that, and I’m more than welcome for another in the future. For now,” he rose from his seat and gathered your plates, “I’m going to make some more pancakes.”

As Wilford passed behind you, he leaned around and pecked your cheek with his lips. It must have been an unconscious decision because his eyebrows raised, and he sounded apologetic as he spoke.

“Was that too much?”

Truth be told, you weren’t expecting it, but that didn’t make it any less appreciated. You had gone from trying to stab his with your keys to crying in his embrace in less than a day, you imagined you could handle a little kiss. And, as it happened, a larger one, too.

Wilford watched as you got up from your own stool and took a step closer to him. He was almost worried you would shove him out of the door, but you did something different. Very different.

In one swift motion, you grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled him forward. For a second, he was focused on keeping the plates steady in his hands, before he felt the oh-so-familiar warmth of your lips on his, and, had he forgotten, this was a pleasant reminder. He sighed into your mouth as his shoulders fell from their tensed position and he tilted his head for a better angle. A lopsided grin spread over his lips, only somewhat messing up the kiss, but you continued. 

You lifted a hand up to cup his jawline, smoothing a thumb over the texture of his skin; the other you used to card through his tousled hair. Your reward? A light groan so quiet that you nearly missed it. Luckily, you didn’t, even as he tried to twist it into a hum. He’d missed this, and so had you. And besides, who were you to ignore the order on his apron?

Eventually, you had to separate. Time-travelers and bartenders both had to breath, after all.

“Oh, honey,” Wilford muttered, slowly but not subtly moving closer again.

You accepted another kiss, and then another when you parted, and then another after that. Each of them was slow and sweet, only half like him in that regard. 

“Still making those pancakes, are you?” you managed to get out in the interim.

His chuckle was just as carefree as his other sounds, but he did step back to put the plates by the sink. You moved to start cleaning them as he prepared the next pancakes. The splash of water against the sizzle of batter warmed your chest, and the glimpse of Wilford standing next to you had you grinning ear to ear.

This was good. Making breakfast in a tiny apartment, not yet dressed for the day but content to stay like this for the rest of it – you were happy with this life.

You were certain of it.

[It's weird that this blog has been open for over a year and yet this is the first Wilford one-shot I've done. Side note: this was inspired by @valentivy-makes so you should go and check out their amazing art of Wilford, because, um, you should. Thanks for reading <3]

[lurkingintheback]

So I was trying something for the Tabletop Game Jam going on, but this is way over 200 words. Still liked the concept, so here's this one while I work on another!

Lemonade Mogul: The Corporate Warfare Card Game

A competitive game for three to five players. Might be able to play it with two, but you're probably going to have more fun flipping the table if there are more people on the other side of it. When a group of kids get the exact same get-rich-quick scheme idea to get them through the summer, tensions get high. There isn't enough room in this town for three, let alone six competing lemonade businesses, and you little Timmy/Suzy/Brook, are not going to be the one getting your hopes and dreams bought out or destroyed.

Materials Needed

Three to Five Players!

One deck of Lemonade Mogul themed cards! (Roughly about thirty cards divided into ten Location, Benefit, and Hazard cards)

Play Money! (Real Money not recommended for games with strangers, exes, or any small lemonade stand owning urchins with a mischievous glint in their eyes and nothing to lose.)

A notepad to keep track of winning bids.

Lemonade! (Optional, but who wouldn't want a refreshing glass?)

Playing the Game!

Lemonade Mogul starts with each player being given an equal small amount of play money, hazard cards, and benefit cards, along with one location card at random while the remaining stacks of location cards, benefit cards, and hazard cards each lie face down on the table. Each player is given some time to look over their cards before the first location card is turned over; revealing one of the places you can sell lemonade at!

Or rather, could sell lemonade at. The first thing you have to deal with is the Bidding Phase.

Bidding Phase: Each location card has their own perks and drawbacks; and each one gets you just a little more money each turn, depending on how much the card states. However, locations can be bought by other players if they have the same amount of money as the winning bid. Though players don't get additional money from new location cards on their first turn, each location provides passive benefits; or passive drawbacks. Maybe that country club provides you with a lot of money, but you're having to spend more time there and can't draw other locations. Maybe that graveyard doesn't provide you with much money, but the local necromancer's a big fan of your lemonade, and he'll sic zombies on one of your competitors every three turns to keep them busy. Maybe the church protects you from THE BOGEYMAN.

Development Phase: Now for the fun part. This is where you slam down your benefit cards or toss a hazard card at someone else. Maybe you trash a player's location, preventing them from getting money from it for another turn. Maybe you get a big sale from a wealthy eccentric old lady covered in cats who thinks your small business is the bee's knees. Maybe you commit insurance fraud; discarding a location for a big sum.

Some benefit cards exist only as counters to specific hazards or benefits (siccing the cops on a fraudster and forcing them to drop the location without a cash boost, exorcising the ghost in your refrigerator sent to stall you from getting your money, ensuring your lemonade stand has a clean bill of health), while other benefit cards specifically just benefit you or another player.

Despite the fact that there can be only one Lemonade Mogul, you're free to use your benefit cards on another player's behalf; or work with them! The competition is as friendly or as unfriendly as you make it.

Hazard cards meanwhile, are legitimately just hazards you're throwing at one player for a turn. Though you can only toss one (usually, unless the card has different rules) at another player, you're free to gang up with other players on someone. Maybe you're summoning a spooky ghost to haunt a competitor's fridge to halve their income via taking up their time, or you've tricked a gang of angry punk rock fans into thinking that your opponent hates the indie band they like, and they're trashing the location. Some hazards only last for one turn, while others are perpetual until they've been handled.

Finally, there's the Buying Phase; the point where players can look over previously bid locations and buy them out; putting their play money back in the pile and swiping the location card. It doesn't matter how much money the player has; as long as it's at least a dollar more than the winning bid, it's their own! The objective is to buy out every location the other players have; if a player runs out of locations and can't bid for any more, they're out of luck and on the buying player's team; though they can still play hazards or use benefits, any money they've made is funneled directly towards the player who bought them out.

All you've got to do is buy out everyone else; then you'll take the coveted title of Lemonade Mogul!

[sonicenvy]

I had another conversation with someone who didn't have health insurance today about ACA that she didn't know existed as an option. Ever since I got my first ACA plan last year after turning 26 I have been a big ACA fan because this piece of landmark legislation is the reason I have health insurance instead of being in thousands of dollars of medical debt. It bugs the ever living shit out of me whenever I see internet leftists saying things like "the ACA didn't do anything because it is not medicare for all." It really speaks to me about the privilege that these people likely have because they're not noticing the amount of monumental positive change and harm reduction that was made by the bill.

The ACA is a bill that is comprehensive, and walks, talks, and chews gum at the same time, and I think a lot of people who are either a.) too young to remember how health insurance in this country worked before the ACA or b.) have not had to get government subsidized health insurance because they have always had either their parents' insurance or employer insurance really and truly don't get it. I am obviously too young to remember how healthcare worked before the ACA because I am under 30, but I do have a mom who works in healthcare and lots of older relatives that talk about it a lot so I was pretty familiar with the concept despite this.

I am low-income, in school, and have an employer that doesn't offer me employer subsidized plans, so the ACA quickly became pretty important to me as a person with lifelong disability, higher than normal cancer predisposition and a need for lifelong psychiatric care.

Also, if you are in your 20s but under 26 and still on your parents' health insurance? Bam! You are directly benefiting from the ACA. Before the ACA you would not have been able to be on your parents insurance plan in your 20s.

Some things that the ACA did:

Made it affordable for people who are above the medicaid income limit and/or self-employed to independently purchase health insurance. Before the ACA premiums for independently purchased health plans could be $500+ for individual plans! If you were one of the many Americans who worked multiple part-time jobs that did not provide PT employees with insurance, you were basically fucked and uninsured. If you were a small business or self-employed, you were also fucked. The creation of the healthcare dot gov health insurance marketplace, which is open to anyone was a massive success of the bill, and millions of Americans benefit from it. During open enrollment (or after a specific life event such as "turned 26," or "became unemployed") a person can log on to health care dot gov, see a wide range of plans, and purchase one. The government then provides you with a premium subsidy (which is what your employer does for you if you have an employer plan) to lower the cost of the premium. Subsidies are calculated based on a person's income so people with lower incomes get higher subsidies.

Obviously there is some nuance, and a coverage gap with ACA plans for individuals who make above $60,000 (and are not a small business obtaining a group contract with an insurance company) where premiums are still very expensive because they are ineligible for the majority of the premium tax subsidy, which is a major ACA weakness, but for everyone in the $30,000-$55,000 gap and for owners of small businesses that want to offer plans for their employees, the benefits are huge. I am able to get a PPO with a low deductible, low OOP for less than $200/mo in premiums! There is exactly zero way that I would have been able to do that if I were trying to get insured pre-ACA.

Made it so that insurance companies could not discriminate against patients with so-called pre-existing conditions — so basically if you are disabled, the insurance company can no longer: a.) decline to provide you coverage or b.) increase your premiums/ reduce your plan benefits because you have a disability or get something like, oh, idk, FUCKING CANCER. Like there were people who got cancer and found out that their insurer dropped them because they did not want to pay out for expensive cancer treatment. That was a thing that was legal for health insurance companies to do before the ACA, and they fucking did that. The pre-existing conditions clause was one of the biggest benefits that has been touted since the beginning of the bill's conception and passage. Under the ACA, all health insurance companies are banned from denying plan applications for any reason, or from revoking plan coverage for any reason that isn't "patient stopped paying their premium." Made it so that children could stay on their parents' health insurance plans until they were 26 instead of being booted at 18. Made it so that all plans must provide some level of coverage for a list of specific EHBs (Essential Health Benefits) such as "emergency room care," "prenatal and pregnancy related care," "preventative care such as doctor recommended cancer screenings for patients" "office visits with general practitioners," etc.

If you have an marketplace plan or medicare/medicaid, that plan MUST provide you with contraceptives at no cost to you regardless of whether or not you have met your deductible. Democrats also wanted this to be true for all other plans, but unfortunately in 2014, whacko religious conservatives got themselves an exemption for "companies with fervently held religious beliefs against contraception" from providing this coverage in their employer subsidized plans in the bullshit case of Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., which was decided by a conservative majority vote in the Supreme Court. A case which had other broad and shitty implications btw, and which is yet another example of why allowing weird conservatives to get elected to the presidency is bad for America. btw, in the original intention of the ACA they wanted to also include mandatory coverage for abortion services. Unfortunately, the Republicans (and a group of stupid pro-life dems who suck, and to my knowledge are not in congress now) torpedoed this provision despite Nancy Pelosi's best efforts and refused to pass the bill at all as long as this provision remained in it. Reason #10000000 Republicans suck.

Lots more that I'm not naming here, but I hope you get the idea. My point is that even though ACA was not a medicare for all bill, it was a landmark (and very needed) piece of healthcare reform legislation that changed a lot about the landscape of health insurance in America. Tragically, right wing and far left smearing of it has obscured the truth about the many good things that the bill did do. Was it perfect? Absolutely the fuck not! Even Obama himself admits this. What it was was a major victory against injustices in the system, and a massive piece of harm reduction legislation, and I wish that more Americans credited it for the things it did do.

Dems managed to get the bill passed with the vast majority of their highest priorities still in it despite major republic ratfuckery combined with a minority of independents and dems who sucked. Pelosi walked circles around these fuckers day and night to get this bill passed, and I for one am deeply grateful. Because of the ACA I can get the healthcare that I desperately need as a disabled person with higher than normal cancer risk. I can get my desperately needed medications and see all of my doctors because of this piece of legislation. I was able to get surgery to remove CANCER from my body becuase of this legislation, so yeah, fuck everyone going "the ACA is bad because it's not perfect medicare for all." Girl (gender neutral), I (and many other people) would not be surviving if it were not for this bill, and I for one, think that that is a whole heck of a lot better than all of us dying because y'all want to wait for perfect legislation. Harm reduction is good and is an important step on the road to bigger and better change. Universal health care has risen to more popular and broad public opinion/knowledge because the ACA passed.

Yeah, anyways this is rant about how fucking stupid anti-ACA people are. To deny the gains of meaningful healthcare reform is a clear sign of privilege, ignorance, and tunnel vision that lets perfect be the enemy of good or better.

This is also a post about a clear and obvious way that Dems are infinitely different (and better) than republicans. Voting dem is harm reduction. Not voting, voting third party or protest write in voting is a vote for republicans. And republicans??? They give exactly zero shits about anyone other than themselves. They support stupid and insane religious conservative politics, and look to fuck over the American people (and everyone else abroad) at every turn because they don't believe in helping people; their convictions are all about hate, prejudice, fearmongering, and a right-wing Christian Theocracy. They would rather see millions of people die than give dems a win, because they are spiteful and hateful. They want us to be afraid, disengaged, disorganized and fighting one another, because their ideas, convictions and beliefs are deeply unpopular, and if we organize against them, they will lose.

[sihasah]

Group Health Plans for Small Business Los Angeles: A Comprehensive Guide

Navigating the world of health insurance for your small business in Los Angeles can be a daunting task. However, providing quality group health plans is essential for attracting and retaining top talent while ensuring the well-being of your employees. This comprehensive guide will break down the complexities of group health plans for small business Los Angeles, offering insights, tips, and resources to help you make informed decisions. https://sihasah.com/group-health-plans-for-small-business-los-angeles-a-comprehensive-guide/

[hitechd]

Unveiling the Power of Health Insurance Leads with TheLiveLead

Understanding the Essence of Health Insurance Leads

Health insurance leads serve as the bridge between insurance providers and individuals seeking coverage. These leads represent prospective clients who are interested in purchasing health insurance policies. Whether it’s individuals looking for personal coverage or businesses seeking group plans for their employees, health insurance leads play a pivotal role in connecting insurers with their target audience.

TheLiveLead: Redefining Lead Generation in the Health Insurance Industry

At TheLiveLead, we recognize the significance of efficient lead generation in the health insurance sector. Our innovative approach leverages advanced technology and data analytics to deliver high-quality leads to insurance companies. Here’s how we differentiate ourselves in the market:

Cutting-edge Technology: We harness the power of cutting-edge technology to identify and qualify potential health insurance leads effectively. Through advanced algorithms and data analytics, we ensure that our leads match the specific criteria and preferences of our clients.

Targeted Marketing Strategies: Our team employs targeted marketing strategies to reach individuals who are actively seeking health insurance solutions. Whether through digital advertising, email campaigns, or social media outreach, we engage with potential clients in a meaningful way, driving higher conversion rates for our clients.

Real-time Lead Delivery: Time is of the essence in the insurance industry, and we understand the importance of prompt action. With our real-time lead delivery system, insurance companies receive fresh leads instantly, enabling them to follow up quickly and capitalize on valuable opportunities.

Customized Solutions: We believe in offering tailored solutions that cater to the unique needs of each client. Whether it’s a large insurance corporation or a small agency, we work closely with our clients to understand their goals and objectives, delivering customized lead generation strategies that yield optimal results.

Unlocking Opportunities with TheLiveLead

Partnering with TheLiveLead opens up a world of opportunities for insurance companies looking to expand their client base and increase revenue. Here are some key benefits of choosing TheLiveLead as your lead generation partner:

Increased Conversion Rates: Our high-quality leads are pre-qualified and primed for conversion, resulting in higher conversion rates and improved sales performance for our clients.

Cost-effective Solutions: By outsourcing lead generation to TheLiveLead, insurance companies can save valuable time and resources that would otherwise be spent on traditional marketing efforts. Our cost-effective solutions deliver maximum ROI for our clients.

Enhanced Efficiency: With our streamlined lead generation process, insurance companies can focus their time and energy on serving clients and growing their business, rather than chasing leads.

Continuous Support: Our dedicated team is committed to providing ongoing support and assistance to our clients. Whether it’s refining targeting strategies or optimizing lead quality, we are always here to help our clients succeed.

Embracing the Future of Health Insurance Leads

As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, the demand for reliable health insurance coverage will only continue to grow. By harnessing the power of innovative lead generation solutions, insurance companies can stay ahead of the curve and meet the needs of today’s health-conscious consumers.

With TheLiveLead as your trusted partner, you can unlock the full potential of health insurance leads and take your business to new heights of success. Contact us today to learn more about our services and start generating quality leads for your insurance business. Together, let’s build a healthier and more secure future for all.

In conclusion, TheLiveLead is not just a company it’s a catalyst for transformation in the Health Insurance Leads, empowering insurers to thrive in an ever-changing market landscape. Join us in our mission to redefine lead generation and shape the future of health insurance coverage for generations to come.

[clairical-error]

As someone who's entire job history has been in tourism is some shape or form, please don't fucking come here.

Stop giving our dogshit state government that money.

Stop coming down here for your vacation then going home and shitting all over the state for being weird.

A lot of the reasons Florida is like that ���️ is that our state rakes in the tourism money and luxury properties.

Our government caters to the wealthy in order to draw in that billionaire's vacation home money.

This sort of shit is why despite living on the side of Florida with the shitty beaches our beach is fucking impossible to visit. The fucking business and mcmansions built all the way up past where the dunes should be. The destruction of our native ecosystems that should protect from flooding, all gone for another luxury home or fucking McDonalds.

This a long with the state's policy of climate change what climate change, there's no need to build any protective infrastructure, is why every hurricane I have to worry about my friends and family losing their homes, or worse their lives. And hurricane evacuation is no small task, potentially leaving everything behind to be destroyed.

These policies have lead to a massive pull out of Florida by insurance companies. House destroyed by hurricane winds, fallen trees or flood waters, sucks to suck, have you considered taking the pity money, and selling the lot to a land megafirm so you can move into a tiny overpriced apartment?

And guess what, I've lived my entire life in Florida, and while yes we do have absolutely fucking murderous conservatives, we also have completely normal people, ever some amazing people. I have met some of the most amazing people in the world here. And we aren't unaware of the shit our state does either. When I rallied my friend group to drive 3 hours south just to attend the medical board meeting on the trans health ban I was surprised how many people where there on our side, from all over the state. We outnumbered the conservatives in that room, conservatives who had to fly people out from other states.

Florida is not a lost cause, it's not a place to write off as a conservative hellhole, there are real people here, and we fight tooth and nail to make it a better place. It breaks my heart that so many queer people have had to leave for their own safety, and that for every person who can there are more like me who can't. Escape can't be the solution for everyone, there will always be more queer people born here. Condemning them all to rot in a hell not worth changing while fueling and benefiting from their suffering through tourism boils my blood.

Don't fucking come here and make our home your playground.

This here is why that “cutting Florida off” shit doesn’t sit right with me

People love to use the south as a scapegoat and always end up sounding pretty classist and racist

[reversedout-blog]

Targeted-Impact Link Building | A Complete Guide For Businesses!

Link building enhances traffic and traffic escalates ranking – that’s something that readers, content marketers, and technical SEOs will consent upon. The very next question you may ask is, what is link building? Which ranking is to be done and on which page or website?

Link building is important because links play a major role in ranking your website on Google. The search engine checks the quantity of high-quality inbound links. The higher quality links there are, the better your site will be ranked.

Ranking helps in surging the chance of a click to your website, hence extracting more audience. This will increase the popularity and range of your site.

This is a small guide for you if you are wanting to build links that impact your website and enhance your ranking.

A Complete Guide To Targeted Link Building

Below, we are going to share with you a complete step-by-step guide to targeted link building.

Choosing Pages For A Targeted – Impact Link Building Campaign

Link building campaigns frequently require – clarifying client goals to work efficiently and understanding the demand for work. The first and foremost step is level setting- in which the data available will help in learning more.

For a better understanding, first compare the link metrics against the leading competitors which will help in estimating the level of competition, traffic, page authority, and SEO difficulty.

When we look out for opportunities nowadays, it is complex and time-consuming to go-through hundreds and thousands of pages, so it is more efficient to choose pages for a targeted – impact link-building campaign.

If you choose random pages, then there is a chance that your audience will shift to another website. Try to use links to those pages that correlate with the topic and are catchy. This will help you in interacting with your audience for more time and will increase their interest in your website.

Searching Targeted Audience

Before explaining further, we will start with a simple day to day example: If I want to increase the sales of a product, let’s say anti-dandruff shampoo, now I have to find out where its in higher demand, weather condition, age group to target, how to make our brand of shampoo more reachable and attractive, adding some value to it, plunging its price against rivals, and so on.

The offers made, conditions, and usage is directly related to the targeted URL (uniform resource locator), if the same keywords are used or not to describe them. This means we build our audience based on the particular client URL that we are building links to.

For instance, if we target Reversed Out Creative’s SEO service page, we would start asking ourselves, when will agencies and businesses start thinking about SEO services? How do we make them understand the value of investing in SEO? Additionally, online seminars can be used for agencies in showing them how their business can grow. With both scenarios, online SEO services are essential to increase traffic on websites and rankings. In addition, expert surveys, expert interviews, and off-site informational placements enable targeted link building.

Let’s step out of SEO and think of an insurance sales package. We can start thinking about circumstances that will help us to seek insurance requirements. Life insurance in case of sudden death, health insurance for sudden cardiac pain, etc.

By understanding your audience, you can make a list of websites that your target audience is visiting. Check out your target demographics’ interests and their behaviors. What does your audience want? Which particular product or services are they interested in? Make a list of each and every point to understand them better.

Use brainstorming by trying to find out the problem areas and queries which your target audience is facing and then after discovering, align them to a particular webpage link. This will increase the chances of your audience reading your website and getting all of their answers on your website.

Link Building Strategy

A targeted link-building strategy plays an important role in increasing traffic to your website. There are numerous strategies that help in building an impactful link to enhance Google’s ranking. There are a plethora of digital marketing resources as well to make websites attractive to seek audience attention.

Link Outreach

Outreach means the act of reaching out and link outreach simply means the act of asking a site for backlinks. If you write content that is worth links, then it helps Google understand that your site is full of data regarding that particular topic. These backlinks act as a vote of confidence from one site to another.

What do backlinks actually do? Well when you click on a link given on a webpage it then directs you to a particular page, thus increasing the target audience of that particular page, this is also known as organic traffic. Plus it helps the audience to understand the topic better and retain them on your website for a longer time period. If the site is an external site then it increases the potential customer of that website.

Quantifiable Link Building Wins

This is the most effective and challenging aspect of a targeted link-building campaign to retain clients or budgets if you are a house site.

There are numerous ways to measure the performance of a link-building campaign but which method you want to choose depends directly on the strategy and tactics used.

In case you are focused on the content site and exclusively on earning placements to sales landing pages. We address our evaluation from the viewpoint of SEO-related metrics that will show both prime indicators of advancement and the correct performance indicators once we have had an impact.

In a campaign, you may see a worsening of average position. The cause of this is new keywords ranking on a particular campaign page. If the page earlier ranked SERP (search engine results page) #7 or #8 this will pull down the rank of the page.

The graph above represents one of the risks of concentrating heavily on rank as the prima facie factor. While the average position (purple) line shows a decrease in position. Now concentrating on columns we can see that the number of keywords is growing in positions 1-3 (blue) lines. Just not enough to keep the ranking keywords down in SERPs.

This certainly shows that the ranking of a particular website depends on various factors like links (external and internal), keywords, the share of voice, page authority, etc.

Share Of Voice

The advantage for us of highlighting the share of voice over ranking is that it equates to dramatic shifts in time series outline based on ranking fluctuations from low-volume examination.

Ranking reports can sometimes be a roller-coaster. Share of voice equates with an averaging traffic model, expressed as a proportion of total traffic for a keyword set.

As the graph represents a similar set of the control group; a set that is not a part of the campaign. This second set is selected from the same sections of the site and from similar ranking and visited pages, to quantify the achievement of our link building.

The graph does not show positive growth and when we differentiate between the campaign page and the control group, then the results are even more dramatic.

Page Authority

One of the early indicators of imminent success is page authority. We often see page authority escalating even before we see any improvement in rankings and share of voice.

Another benefit of page authority is the direct impact of third party validation on our work.

There are many other factors of our link-building campaign that may affect our ranking like misalignment, gaps in our content, spelling errors, punctuation marks, grammar mistakes, technical issues, image optimization, and inhibiting a metric that is best influenced by improving the page link.

Bottom Line

In the end, we would like to say that it might seem overwhelming to follow through this process. This is the reason why we examine the quality and performance of links over time. If you have any questions or need help with your link building campaign, feel free to contact us at Reversed Out Creative.

Contact Us

At Reversed Out Creative, we understand the challenges and opportunities presented by AI disruption. Our team of experts specializes in web design, SEO, graphic design, and digital marketing services. Reach out to us through our contact form to learn more about navigating the evolving job market and embracing the potential of AI. Together, let’s shape a future that combines human ingenuity with the power of AI.

Content source: https://reversedout.com/targeted-link-building-guide/

[insurance-brokers-india]

How can you attract potential leads for employee benefits or group health insurance?

Attracting leads for employee benefits or group health insurance requires a mix of strategic outreach, targeted marketing, and leveraging the right tools. Here’s a guide to help you:

Steps to Generate Leads for Employee Benefits or Group Health Insurance

1. Identify Your Target Audience

Focus on HR professionals, small to medium-sized businesses, and industries that prioritize employee retention.

2. Optimize Your Online Presence

Create a professional website highlighting your expertise in employee benefits and group health insurance.

Publish educational content on blogs and social media to position yourself as a thought leader.

3. Offer Free Resources

Provide downloadable guides or calculators for group health insurance costs to generate inbound leads.

4. Leverage Networking Opportunities

Attend HR events, webinars, or industry meetups to connect directly with decision-makers.

5. Use Mzapp Employee Benefits Software

Demonstrate how you simplify benefits management for HR teams through tools like employee self-service portals, claim tracking, and policy insights.

Showcase the advantages of using technology to streamline group health insurance for companies and their employees.

6. Launch Targeted Campaigns

Use Mzapp to segment your audience and create personalized outreach campaigns through email or SMS.

Focus on pain points like claim processing delays or lack of benefits awareness to capture interest.

7. Referral and Loyalty Programs

Encourage satisfied customers to refer new clients by offering incentives.

Why Use Mzapp Employee Benefits Software?

Mzapp transforms how organizations manage employee benefits by providing seamless tools for HR and employees. It ensures:

Better policy management

Transparent claim processing

Improved employee satisfaction

For more details, check out Why Employee Benefits Software is the Key to a Thriving Workforce.

[amarisbella21]

Health Insurance Basics For Small Business Owners

Navigating health insurance as a small business owner can feel overwhelming. However, understanding the basics is essential to making informed decisions that protect both you and your employees. In this guide, we’ll explore the key aspects of health insurance for small business owners and how to find the best options for your needs.

Why Health Insurance Matters

Health insurance isn’t just a benefit for your team—it’s a strategic investment in the longevity and success of your business. For employees, health coverage improves job satisfaction, reduces absenteeism, and fosters loyalty. For you as the employer, offering health insurance can make your business more competitive in attracting top talent.

Beyond these benefits, offering health insurance may have financial advantages. Many small business owners can qualify for tax credits through the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) or other federal initiatives, reducing the overall cost of premiums.

Types of Health Insurance Plans

Small business owners have several options when it comes to choosing a health insurance plan:

Group Health Insurance Plans

These are the most common plans for small businesses. They cover employees and, often, their dependents. Costs are typically shared between the employer and employees, making them more affordable for everyone.

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)

Paired with high-deductible health plans (HDHPs), HSAs allow employees to save pre-tax dollars for medical expenses. These plans benefit both employers and employees by reducing taxable income.

Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs)

HRAs let you reimburse employees for qualified medical expenses or individual insurance premiums. This is a flexible option for businesses that want to contribute to employee healthcare without purchasing a traditional group plan.

Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRAs)

ICHRAs allow small business owners to provide tax-free reimbursements for individual health insurance policies. This is ideal if you prefer not to administer a group plan.

Choosing the Right Plan

Selecting the right health insurance for small business owners depends on several factors:

Business Size

Smaller teams might find ICHRA or HRA plans more practical, while larger teams may benefit from a traditional group health plan.

Budget

Determine how much you can allocate to health insurance. Keep in mind that many states require employers to contribute a minimum percentage toward employee premiums.

Employee Needs

Survey your team to understand their healthcare priorities. Do they value low premiums, broader networks, or specific coverage types?

Compliance Requirements

Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), businesses with 50 or more full-time employees are required to offer health insurance. While smaller businesses are exempt, providing coverage can still offer competitive advantages.

Cost-Saving Strategies

Even with limited resources, there are ways to manage health insurance costs effectively:

Tax Credits

The SHOP Marketplace offers tax credits to small businesses that meet specific criteria, such as having fewer than 25 full-time employees and paying average wages below $56,000 per year.

Plan Design

Consider HDHPs with HSAs for a lower premium option. These plans shift more responsibility to employees but can lead to significant savings.

Negotiation and Shopping Around

Work with a broker or advisor to compare options. Health insurance markets vary widely, so it pays to explore different carriers and plans.

Legal and Administrative Considerations

Understanding legal obligations is crucial when offering health insurance. Make sure your chosen plan complies with federal and state laws. Additionally, communicate the plan details to employees, including enrollment periods, coverage limits, and costs.

Partnering with a trusted advisor or health insurance provider can simplify the administrative process, allowing you to focus on running your business.

Conclusion

Health insurance for small business owners is more than a regulatory obligation—it’s a tool for growth, employee satisfaction, and long-term success. By understanding the basics and exploring cost-effective options, you can provide valuable benefits while keeping your budget in check. Whether you opt for a group plan or an HRA, taking the step to offer health coverage is a decision that can positively impact every aspect of your business.

[gremlingottoosilly]

So, fun story. 

There are like two hospitals working in Prague during weekends. One of them, and the easiest to get to, is the military hospital - it's kind of like a hospital for military medics and students who want to become field medics. It's also the only hospital whose staff mostly speaks English and doesn't make you feel like you have to die because your Czech game isn't perfect. I got to the emergency room because I accidentally took too many antibiotics, which fried my stomach while mixing them with my psych prescription. It was a bit eery when some older military guy tried to calm me down (I think he asked me to calm down in Czech) because I was crying non-stop, and he awkwardly patted my shoulder while searching for a not-busy nurse. 

(I was fine in the end, but it was still embarrassing)

Picture this - sitting in an emergency room of a military hospital because you're a silly foreigner who got to a hospital in another country for the first time, and you're absolutely panicking because you somehow convinced yourself you're going to die from stomach ache. Also not being very calmed down since there is too many guys and girls in uniform running around and strict nurses ushering everyone into military and non-military groups - all while you cry and think this is it, you're going to fucking die in London, or Manchester, and you won't even get to use your health insurance. 

And then there is a cute guy with a bright smile and too wide of shoulders patting you on your head and smiling like thousands suns, telling you're going to be okay, and a cute thing like you shouldn't cry. You aren't sure what to take on the compliment, but you let the guy - Gaz, he explains himself - to sit with you on the bench and let him chat you up while you wait for your number in line. You almost forget that you had convinced yourself you're going to die from appendicitis while he talks about his Captain, a stubborn as fuck motherfucker, who refused to come to the hospital until his wound got critical enough. 

It's nice enough when his friend - Soap, he says, and you're too out of it to even question this weird ass name - slides in and gets a hand on your other shoulder - in a friendly manner, of course, and if his touches are a bit too bruising and distracting, you don't say a word. Soap is friendly, his smile is addicting, too, and he has this funny Scottish accent that makes you giggle at every second word. You ignore the nurse asking if you need some sedatives for your crying - you calm down on your own, letting the guys drag you to the same doctor who is patching up their captain - you aren't sure you really need this one, or just a general emergency practitioner, but you're way too tired to resist. 

And so what if their captain casually slides you into his insurance and promises to pay for the expense that may go above it. He is a good man, and you're too exhausted to really think about the implications of him getting your number, home address, and some other data that must be private, but... come on, they all seem like such nice people, who would ever think that letting them know you live alone and don't have anyone to look after you? And when their final friend - a big-looking guy who doesn't speak, but gets you a small chicken salad from the hospital cafe and makes you eat while he drives you home - says that he will come tomorrow to check on you, you don't say a word. 

You need friends in this country, and so what that they are all in the miliatary and stare as you like a pack of dogs. You already cried in front of them, it's not like this can get even more embarrassing.  And so what that they decide to make your tiny apartment their hang out spot - you don't mind waking up to Soap rummaging through your fridge or Gaz buying you groceries. It's nice, really. Besides, as long as you don't mind and let them do whatever they want - including letting Price put a hand on your thigh and lightly massage it while politely smoking in the window - they won't get a reason for kidnapping you for your own safety. A win-win, honestly.

it’d be a cute storyline if Gaz was working the poison control hotline and received a call from a girl who’d taken the wrong medication or something and he was so concerned for her that he clocked out of his shift and showed up at her apartment to personally see to her safety :(((

[asablogs]

Transformation of Your Business through Their Delivered Extensive Financial as well as Legal Services - By ANISHA SHARMA & ASSOCIATES

Full-spectrum financial and legal support from ANISHA SHARMA & ASSOCIATES.

In today's competitive business world, what is priceless is the availability of a seasoned and trusted firm that can easily care for financial, legal, and regulatory needs. Anisha Sharma & Associates (ASA) is an enlivened consulting company which takes the lead in providing the full spectrum of business solutions. From accounting and tax compliance to legal advisory and digital services, ASA provides customized services meeting the specific needs of each client, so that they can thrive and grow. ASA is known for their professionalism, with reputations built on quality, reliability, and a client-first approach.

The main services of ASA address the necessary pillars on which financial and regulatory support rest, enabling the smooth running and remaining in conformity of the company. ASA Accounting and Auditing services will provide an excellent picture of the company's financial health, giving them an assurance of correctness, both in bookkeeping as well as following the law in regulatory requirements. ASA Trademark Registration would offer businesses a way of securing their brands, thus registering their ROC filings will be a legal status which maintains business position. ASA also makes the process of License & Registration and Loan Facilitation simple, with no paperwork to trouble and aid in finance arrangements for growth. Management of Income Tax and GST for their clients helps their clients minimize tax liability and maintaining compliance. They further support their clients in areas of Consulting for Insurance, Outsourcing Solutions, Digital Signature Certificates (DSC), and Business Software to make their business grow in this competitive market.

Moreover, ASA offers special services to the more complex needs of businesses almost across all categories. For clients interested in Stock Broking & Advisory, ASA provides strategy and investment advice to help clients make the right financial decisions. Their services in website development and digital marketing are of greater use to those businesses that need to develop a much higher digital presence. The ASA team, therefore, has real estate consulting expertise; this allows for valuation of advice to investors and companies looking to venture into the real estate space. The placement consulting allows ASA to connect businesses with experts that are necessary for a successful business, and that can be accessed at the right time. Further, the support has also been provided to the company in areas like Employee State Insurance (ESI), Industrial Provident Fund (IPF), and many more services under Civil and Criminal Law, supported by an experienced group of lawyers who can help out with any regulatory as well as courtroom matters.

With ASA, you have the compliant, excellence, and strategic growth partner. What you would be looking for with Anisha Sharma & Associates are high-level expertise that deals with financial, legal, and business issues, customised solutions addressing specific client objectives, and whatever size the business, whether it is a small venture or a big corporation, ASA's full-service capabilities make it a perfect choice for long-term success and stability in the ever-evolving business environment.

Check our official website : http://www.bpspl.com/

[Some of the above mentioned information has been taken from the internet]

[snappbenefits]

Mark E. Snapp & Associates specializes in small business health insurance in Princeton and Martinsburg, WV. We also offer group life insurance plans in Huntington and Charleston, WV, tailored to your company's needs.

[ishapandey2]

Affordable Group Medical Insurance for Small Businesses

As a small business owner, providing healthcare coverage can be a critical factor in attracting and retaining top talent. However, finding affordable group medical insurance can be challenging, especially with limited resources. Here’s how small businesses can secure affordable group medical insurance and ensure quality coverage for their employees.

1. Understand the Basics of Group Medical Insurance

Group medical insurance is a single policy offered to employees by their employer. Premiums are typically shared between the business and its employees, making it more affordable than individual health plans. Additionally, group plans often have broader coverage options, making them more attractive to employees.

2. Leverage Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP)

The SHOP marketplace, part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), is designed specifically for small businesses with 1–50 employees. SHOP allows businesses to compare and purchase affordable group health plans. You can also qualify for a tax credit of up to 50% of your contributions toward premiums, significantly reducing costs.

3. Consider High-Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs)

High-Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs) can lower your premium costs by offering lower monthly payments with higher out-of-pocket expenses for employees. Pairing an HDHP with a Health Savings Account (HSA) enables employees to set aside tax-free funds for medical expenses, offering flexibility and affordability for both employer and employees.

4. Work with Health Insurance Brokers

Hiring a health insurance broker can help you navigate the complex world of health insurance. Brokers can provide access to various plans and negotiate better rates tailored to your business’s specific needs. They can also guide you in understanding coverage options, state-specific regulations, and network availability, making it easier to find affordable solutions.

5. Opt for Wellness Programs

Implementing wellness programs can help reduce insurance premiums by encouraging healthier lifestyles among employees. Insurance providers often offer discounts for businesses that promote wellness activities like fitness challenges, preventive care, or smoking cessation programs. These programs not only reduce insurance costs but also improve employee productivity and well-being.

6. Shop Around and Compare Plans

It’s essential to compare multiple health insurance plans before deciding. Don’t just settle for the first option; take the time to evaluate different providers, plans, and coverage. Online marketplaces or brokers can provide a detailed comparison, making it easier to find the most affordable option that still offers comprehensive benefits.

7. Offer Tiered Insurance Plans

Tiered insurance plans allow businesses to offer employees different levels of coverage. Employees can choose a plan based on their healthcare needs and financial situations, making it affordable for both the business and its workforce. This flexibility can make insurance more accessible to a wider range of employees while reducing overall costs.

8. Look for State-Specific Programs

Several states offer programs designed to help small businesses provide affordable group medical insurance. Research whether your state offers subsidies, discounts, or special programs that could help lower the cost of providing insurance. For example, some states have expanded Medicaid programs that small businesses can utilize.

9. Consider a Professional Employer Organization (PEO)

A Professional Employer Organization (PEO) allows small businesses to pool their employees with those of other businesses to obtain better rates on group insurance. By joining forces, you can gain access to more competitive healthcare options while also reducing administrative burdens.

10. Review Your Plan Annually

Health insurance costs can change, so it’s important to review your plan annually. Evaluate whether the coverage is still cost-effective, and consider switching providers or negotiating better rates with your current insurer. Regular reviews ensure that you’re always getting the best deal possible.

Conclusion

Providing affordable group medical insurance doesn’t have to be a financial strain on your small business. By leveraging resources like the SHOP marketplace, high-deductible health plans, and wellness programs, you can offer your employees comprehensive coverage without breaking the bank. Keep in mind the importance of comparison shopping, working with brokers, and reviewing your options yearly to maintain a balance between affordability and quality.

By adopting these strategies, small businesses can stay competitive in the marketplace and take care of their most valuable asset their employees.

[shareright]

Group Healthcare Sharing is Simplifying Benefits for Schools and Small Businesses

The traditional healthcare system drains people's savings. They end up paying hefty insurance without exploring other options. That’s when group healthcare sharing comes into play. It offers an affordable option for small businesses and schools. With healthcare sharing, businesses and schools are invited to join a community. Members contribute and share each other's medical expenses. It's a hassle-free healthcare system. If you are looking for healthcare alternatives, you should consider healthcare sharing. A System Built for Freedom Sharing healthcare gives you the option to choose your preferred doctors or clinics. The traditional healthcare system has several limitations, one of which is the inability to choose healthcare providers. Now, you no longer need to stick to the policy. With the advanced features of sharing healthcare, you can choose which doctor is best for you. Small businesses can provide their employees with the best healthcare without investing too much in unnecessary costs. Easy Benefits Management It can be overwhelming for institutions like schools and small businesses to manage employee or student healthcare. The alternative system simplifies the process by offering an easy-to-use system. Sharing healthcare provides a straightforward system. Their system manages employers health care, making it more accessible, more efficient, and less time-consuming. Cost Savings That Matter Healthcare sharing gives people the flexibility to contribute according to their program choice. Community members no longer need to pay a large portion of their income to insurance. Sharing healthcare allows people to save up to 50% on their healthcare costs. Flexible Enrollment All Year Waiting for enrollment periods can be exhausting. If, for some reason, you forgot to apply during the enrollment window, it can result in a long wait. That’s why year-round enrollment provides a convenient option. This is particularly useful for new hires or emergencies. Enrollment is open throughout the year, so people don’t have to wait long. This gives people a sense of control over their time. About ShareRight: ShareRight offers small businesses, schools, and organizations an affordable healthcare sharing program. They also provide easy, flexible, and affordable healthcare options for seniors. Get in touch with ShareRight today and get the best sharing healthcare options for your team. For more information, visit https://shareright.org/ Original Source: https://bit.ly/4dbfry6