APMA News - November/December 2021 - 31

Have You Received Your Benefits Renewal Packet?
I
f your practice's group health benefits renew on January 1,
you should have received your renewal packet. Haven't
seen it yet? You may be in for an unpleasant surprise, said
Don Hansen, CEO of The Ark Group, the exclusive APMA
health benefits provider. " Insurance carriers are infamous for
delaying the bad news that your rates are going up to give you
less time to shop a new plan before your annual enrollment, "
Hansen said. " You should be asking for your renewal rates
and doing your due diligence now so you won't be in a bind
come renewal time. "
APMA has partnered with The Ark Group to provide
group benefit plans through APMA Health-Care Solutions.
Group plans are available through The Ark Group for practices
of any size. As you review your options this fall, be sure to
get a quote from The Ark Group. " In order to change the
broken process of group health coverage, we have to change
the way we approach group benefits, " Hansen said. " The
way to keep rates steady is to spread the risk across insurance-
and non-insurance-based plans. By doing this, we can
spread out claims, driving utilization away from the major
medical plan. "
Each state has its respective regulatory challenges with
non-fully funded plans, and The Ark Group is aware of these
challenges. The Ark Group also provides solutions for APMA
members in New York.
The Ark Group does the underwriting up front to understand
your practice's needs and ensure they are met. They
select plans using reference-based pricing when available and
right for your needs, eliminating the need for in- or out-ofnetwork
rates. The Ark Group offers outstanding customer
service and a customized approach to your benefits.
To get started on a quote, visit www.myvipbenefit.com/
apma. To learn more about APMA Health-Care Solutions, visit
www.apma.org/healthcaresolutions. n
Remembering Joanne Gagnon
T
he APMA family recently lost long-time friend and
APMA employee Joanne Gagnon. Joanne worked as
a part of the APMA Membership team as the assistant
to the director of Membership. Members may
remember Gagnon for her role in helping to facilitate
APMA college visits.
Gagnon should be celebrated for her remarkable 27-year
tenure with the organization; she was an ever-present part
of APMA staff. She is remembered by friends and colleagues
for her sense of humor, kindness, and candor, as well as her
commitment to APMA and her institutional knowledge of
the Membership department.
In her spare time, Gagnon was a passionate advocate for
the Warrior Canine Connection, a local nonprofit
organization that provides service dogs for veterans. The
Gagnon family asks that anyone who wishes to make a
donation in her memory consider contributing to Warrior
Canine Connection. Donations can be made online at
https://warriorcanineconnection.org or via mail to:
Warrior Canine Connection
Attn: Jennifer Wilder
14934 Schaeffer Road
Boyds, MD 20841
APMA News November/December 2021 31
http://www.myvipbenefit.com/apma http://www.myvipbenefit.com/apma http://www.apma.org/healthcaresolutions https://www.warriorcanineconnection.org
APMA News - November/December 2021

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