News
For Immediate Release: SDL + GHS, a Patriot Partner Agency: Erin Cooke Achieves Registered Employee Benefits Consultant Designation
SDL + GHS a Patriot Partner Agency: Employee Achieves Registered Employee Benefits Consultant Designation [Hudson, NY] – 7/12/2024 – SDL + GHS, a leading agency in the employee benefit &…
Pride 2024: A Message of Hope
June is here, and with it comes Pride Month, a time to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and reflect on the progress we’ve made. It’s an opportunity to share my journey,…
OHANA: in my own words
By Jael Simonson-Tunick, Assistant Finance Manager – SDL + GHS No one gets left behind. According to the well-known Disney film “Lilo & Stitch,” that’s the meaning of the Hawaiian…
Welcome Karen Bowater to SDL+GHS
Exciting News! 🎉 We’re thrilled to welcome a new team member to our agency! Please join us in giving a warm welcome to Karen Bowater, who will be joining our…
Don’t Miss Beautiful Racket – Summer Festival @ The Waterfront in #HudsonNY July 29 @ 4PM
We are excited to announce that, for a second year, we are a sponsor for Beautiful Racket and their summer festival located at the waterfront in #HudsonNY on July 29. …
Embracing the Colors of Pride: A Leadership Perspective
As one of the Managing Directors of SDL Brokerage + Group Health Solutions, I have the privilege of addressing a topic that holds immense significance for me personally and professionally…
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Elevating Your Psychological Resiliency
Psychological resilience is the ability to mentally withstand or adapt to uncertainty and adversity. Building resilience to life’s inevitable changes and challenges can help you cope with and manage stressors.…
Self-care and Your Mental Health
Self-care is the practice of intentionally engaging in activities that positively impact mental, physical and emotional well-being. This practice has a direct correlation to mental health. For instance, self-care techniques…
What to Know During Mental Health Awareness Month and Beyond
Your mental health includes how you think, feel and act, as well as your emotional and social well-being. Mental health can change over time, depending on factors like workload, stress…
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IRS Announces 2024 Health Savings Account (HSA) Contribution Limits
Each year, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) sets contribution limits for Health Savings Accounts. These limits determine the maximum amount an individual or family can contribute to their HSA for…
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The Trendiest Benefits for 2023
There’s no denying that employees’ needs have changed over the past few years. As such, employers can offer benefits to meet evolving worker needs shaped by lingering effects of the…
How to Read Your Medical Bill
Medical bills are becoming increasingly complex and difficult to read. Charges from clinics and hospitals tend to be lumped together instead of itemized – making it very difficult to see…
Understand Your Rights Against Surprise Medical Bills
The No Surprises Act protects people covered under group and individual health plans from receiving surprise medical bills when they receive most emergency services, non-emergency services from out-of-network providers at…
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March 2023 Work Anniversaries
Please join us in congratulating our March anniversaries! Thanks for all you do Adam & Heather! #TenYears #Silver #YearOneCheck! #Paper
Rob Bujan Earns Professional Recognition from NAHU
Rob Bujan, Managing Director, Group Health Solutions (SDL + GHS), Hudson/NYC, New York recently received the Registered Employee Benefit Consultant® (REBC®) designation from The National Association of Health Underwriters. NAHU…
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HHS Renews COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
On Oct. 2, 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) renewed its determination that a public health emergency exists as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, effective…
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Marijuana and the Workplace
We recently hosted a webinar that dove into Marijuana and the Workplace. Marijuana use is illegal under federal law, but that may not be the case for long. Most states…
Understanding the $900B Stimulus Bill
Last night (12/21/2020), Congress passed a $900B emergency stimulus package for COVID-19-related relief. While the bill has to be signed into law, we can provide a basic overview of what’s…
NYS Extends Marketplace Special Enrollment Period through end of 2020
Governor Cuomo announced on September 16, that New York State residents can enroll in a qualified Marketplace plan using the current COVID-19 Special Enrollment Period (SEP) through the end of…
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Fulcrum Digital
As an organization that transforms their client’s operations via digital innovation – Fulcrum Digital was well-prepared when the pandemic hit. Fulcrum Digital was formed with business optimization top-of-mind – transforming…
COVID-19 Office Protection/Home Office Enhancements
Businesses have had to adjust to incredible change due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Employers have introduced employees to work from home programs. Some employers are slowly bringing them, employees, back…
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Juneteenth 2020
SDL + GHS, an Insurance Agency, is committed to standing with the Black community and helping to create change around social justice. On June 19th, SDL + GHS will be…
Acting & Voice Studios
This week’s client spotlight comes from Acting & Voice Studios. Imagine just moving into a new space and having the COVID-19 pandemic hit? Find out how they adjusted and continued…
The Emmys Will Go On
We’ve all found ways to pass the time, over the last couple of months, with books, online classes, and exploring new television shows. Our client spotlight this week celebrates and…
Bringing Your Employees Safely Back to Work
Are you an employer who is about ready to re-open or have you already reopened? We are hearing from employers who are reopening, some concerns such as: Employees not feeling…
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The Roastery
This week’s SDL + GHS spotlight, focuses on The Roastery, based in Houston, Texas. At the start of the pandemic, The Roastery, like the rest of the hospitality industry saw…
PPP Loans
The Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Department of the Treasury, released the Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness Application & Instructions; along with answers to FAQ. The Treasury/SBA…
Great White Café
As SDL + GHS continues to highlight a client who is doing something different when it comes to managing their business during the pandemic, this week our focus is out…
Thank You Essential Workers!
To all those sacrificing their own safety and well-being in this crisis, we at SDL & GHS are incredibly grateful. We wish you nothing but safety and health as you…
My Virtual “I do”
Some of you may have seen our client, attorney Matt Haicken in the news recently. Not due to a case, but because he got married via zoom on live TV!…
Express Scripts – Parachute RX Program
If you find yourself uninsured and have no access to affordable healthcare, CIGNA and Express Scripts has rolled out a program called Parachute RX, during this pandemic. This is a…
DOL Updates COBRA Time Frames during the COVID19 Pandemic
The Department of Labor (DOL) has updated participant deadlines extensions, one specifically – for COBRA participants – during the pandemic, or ‘outbreak period’. What is the Outbreak Period? The Outbreak…
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Mental Health Awareness Month
What mental health needs is more sunlight, more candor, and more unashamed conversation.” – Glenn Close May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental health is commonly overlooked when in reality…
NY Dept of Financial Services: Premium Payment Deferral
On April 7, 2020, The Department of Financial Services issued Emergency Regulation 62, which requires your insurer to provide a 90 day grace period for certain policies that are written…
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SDL + GHS Health Sciences Scholarship
Dear Hudson High School Class of 2020, The SDL + GHS Scholarship for Health Sciences was established to provide assistance to outstanding students who will fill New York’s health care…
What happens if I lose my job?
Losing one’s job is an incredibly stressful situation and during a global pandemic, it can feel impossible to know what to do and where to start. We’ve gathered some information…
Families First Coronavirus Response Act
The Families First Coronovirus Response Act (FFCRA) was passed by Congress and goes into effect on April 1, 2020, and will sunset on December 31, 2020. There are two components…
New York COVID-19 Paid Leave: Guidance
Until the Federal program (“Families First Coronavirus Response Act”) becomes effective in April to help ease some of the financial strains from the COVID-19 outbreak (the illness caused by the…
Oxford Health Plans & Medicare Part B
Effective for 2020- Oxford is changing its contract to coordinate benefits with Medicare Parts A & B, starting July 1, 2020. If you are an employee and are currently eligible…
COVID-19: HR Guidance and Best Practices – Recording & Presentation
For those who tried to attend the ThinkHR webinar yesterday, we apologize for any technical issues you encountered. The system was overwhelmed as they had over 13,000 HR professionals and…
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Small Business Majority – National Resources and Policy Updates
The Small Business Majority held a webinar yesterday for Small Businesses impacted by COVID-19. We’ve captured the slides from this webinar along with a link to their website to follow…
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Family First Coronavirus Response Act – Signed into Law
The Family First Coronavirus has been signed into law by President Trump. It will go into effect 15 days from being signed into law. Please note – we only know…
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Congress Passes Coronavirus Law Requiring Paid Family Leave
Today, March 18, 2020, the U.S. Senate voted to approve a coronavirus relief bill. President Trump is expected to sign the bill into law. Find details below: Legal Update: Coronavirus…
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MVP Healthcare & CDPHP enter Partnership for Emergency Telemedicine
As we continue to monitor the situation with Covid 19 – we have some updates, if you are enrolled with CDPHP or MVP Healthcare – they have teamed up to…
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New York State of Health Opens Special Enrollment Period for COVID-19
Please see an urgent press release from the NY State of Health. They are opening a special enrollment period due to the COVID 19 virus. We urge all New Yorkers…
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COVID-19 Insurance Carrier Resources
At SDL + GHS, we understand that our clients are faced with numerous articles, news sources, and breaking news. The COVID-19 virus is an ever-changing and evolving situation – and…
6 Ways A Self-Insured Plan Will Benefit You
1.) Pay Only for Healthcare Your Members Consume Self-Insured employers pay for only the healthcare claims their members consume, a low stop-loss insurance premium for catastrophic claim coverage, and an…
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Employers that are looking for peace of mind, a Fully Insured plan might be the way to go
1.) Payments The company pays a premium, typically fixed for a year, to the insurance carrier. The monthly premium normally only changes during the year if the number of enrolled…
Do You Provide Compensation To Employees Who Opt Out of Benefits?
“Cash-in-Lieu” Options Face Compliance Hurdles in 2017by nahucompliance IRS rules further regulating cash-in-lieu (opt-out) programs are effective the first day of the plan year beginning on or after January 1,…
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