The new year is finally here and also a new round of Federal Government COVID relief. Thankfully, there is help available for your small business.

Get ready for round two of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
 
Smaller businesses that did not receive a PPP loan the first time around could begin to apply on Monday, Jan. 11. Those that did receive one of the original loans can apply for a second PPP loan beginning today, Wednesday, Jan. 13, provided they meet eligibility requirements.

At the beginning of 2020, no one could have predicted what was in store for all of us. However, through these challenging times, Allied still had reasons to be proud. Take a look at our Top 10 highlights of what was quite possibly the craziest year ever.

The holiday season can be the most stressful time of year in the best of years with its office parties and gatherings with friends and family, in addition to extra shopping, holiday festivities and dining out. This year, we can add the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic to the mix and, with that said, it’s time to get creative and change things up in order to stay healthy and enjoy this time of year.

Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs) date back to 1980 when the first PPO was organized to provide contracted rate medical care to a health plan. For providing “steerage” toward the medical providers in the PPO network, the providers granted discounted rates for their services to the health plan.

Over the years, PPOs have changed and morphed into multiple variations, but the end result is the same – health plan members are steered toward PPO providers for their medical care and given favorable discounted rates.

The advantage of this type of arrangement is very obvious – it’s price.

During the height of the pandemic, telehealth visits accounted for 69% of all provider visits, according to national data from Epic Health Research Network. Although that number has dropped to 21%, that is still higher than before the pandemic when telehealth only accounted for less than 1% of all provider usage.

Having health insurance is one of the most important steps you can take to protect yourself and your loved ones. We insure our cars, home and other material items, so why would you decide to put yourself last? Car or home repairs can be very costly, but have you thought about what it would cost to fix YOU if something went wrong? Did you know that in 2020, the average cost to treat a concussion in an emergency room is $18,454?

We all have good and bad habits. Creating a routine for yourself and encouraging healthy habits can help you accomplish your health goals.

There’s no downside to being healthy; it can boost your energy level, improve mental performance, help you reduce your risk of chronic diseases and lead to a happier, more productive lifestyle.
 
So, what happens when you combine healthy habit tracking and gamification?

There’s a reason that 49% of Americans receive their health insurance through an employer-sponsored health plan. It’s a tax-advantaged way for an employer to provide “income” to an employee. It’s not really income--there’s nothing extra in an employee’s paycheck. However, it is tax free additional compensation in the form of health insurance benefits for an employee, and it’s tax-deductible for an employer to provide the benefits.

To understand why we have employer-sponsored health plans, a quick history lesson is needed.

It’s that time of year again for many employers. Health insurance renewals may feel like a pain; however, they may be one of the most important decisions you make each year.
 
Your renewal is the time to start a conversation with your agent or broker about whether your current plan is working well for you and what type of renewal options may be available for your small business.

Short-term medical (STM) plans are extremely beneficial when used as they were intended – for short periods of time. And now, with the coronavirus, these plans are more important than ever.