May 3, 2022HSA Limits Increase for 2023Each year, the IRS announces inflation-adjusted limits for health savings accounts (HSAs) and high deductible health plans (HDHPs).
May 3, 2022Michigan Planners Now Offers Individual Medical and Medicare AdvantageFor more information about these new services, please call 800-674-9235. We are happy to help...
May 3, 2022Common Pain Points During Open EnrollmentThere's no question that the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the workforce as we know it. As a result, it's become...
March 2, 20226 Tips for Reducing Your Health Care Costs in 2022Health care costs continue to rise each year, and 2022 will likely be no exception. In the new year, experts predict a 6.5% increase...
January 31, 202229 Ways You Can Make the Most of Your Flexible Spending AccountsWhoever first came up with the concept of flexible spending accounts is a pure genius. We absolutely love this option!
December 22, 2021Employee Wellness Ideas for 2022: A Month-to-Month GuideAs a manager, you may notice things throughout the year that your employees do that make you proud. And then there are other...
November 16, 2021Mental Health & Wellness in the Workplace: Why You Should Add an Employee Assistance ProgramWe’ve all heard it: the holidays are the most wonderful time of the year. But for some people, the months of November and December...
October 5, 20217 Ways to Engage Your Employees Before, During, and After Open EnrollmentAt the time of open enrollment, all employees hear and think about are the words “insurance,” “benefits,” and “cost.” They typically...
September 28, 2021Definition of Benefit Brokers: What Can They Do for My Small Business?As you are looking for employee benefits, you may come across the term “benefit brokers.” It’s a small phrase that encompasses...
August 11, 2021Who Needs Life Insurance?Not everyone needs life insurance. For example, you may not need life insurance if you’re single and financially independent...
August 11, 2021Are You Ready for Open Enrollment?Renewal season for your insurance benefits is just around the corner. Is your company ready for open enrollment? We...
July 12, 2021Do My Medicare Benefits Cover My Spouse?Anyone born after 1929 will need at least 40 work credits to be eligible for Medicare benefits. Since you can earn up to...
July 12, 202110 Group Health Insurance Terms You Should KnowHealth insurance can be intimidating, especially if you’re worried about an injury or illness. That’s why we want to make...
June 29, 2021Claims & BenefitsIt is probably safe to say that we have all received a bill for medical services at one point in time. You take a moment...
June 29, 2021Now Playing at a Horizon Near YouOn average, each of us should get around 29,000 sunrises if we make it within the range of 80 years old. Each sunrise...
June 9, 2021How to Bring Back Remote Employees During the PandemicReturning to the office is not the same as returning to a pre-pandemic sense of “normal.” A lot has changed since the...
June 8, 20213 HR Mistakes to Avoid During Open EnrollmentIf you work in Human Resources (HR), you know that you carry a big responsibility for your team. Everyone is counting...
May 4, 2021When Am I Eligible for Medicare?Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people who are age 65 or older. But you may enroll in Medicare...
May 4, 202110 Reasons to Register Online With Your Insurance CarrierHave you gotten a chance to register online with your insurance carrier? If not, you could be missing out on tools...
April 13, 2021Shopping for Life Insurance? Here’s What the Pandemic Changed.Wondering if you should get group life insurance for your business? You’re not alone. The COVID-19 pandemic has...
April 13, 2021How Will COVID-19 Affect Group Health Insurance?A pandemic is the worst time to lose your group health insurance. But that’s exactly what happened for many...
April 8, 2021The Basics of HDHPsEnrolling in your employer’s company-sponsored, high deductible health plan (HDHP) means lower premiums and the...
April 8, 2021Understanding Patient Privacy and HIPAAThe trust that you place in your health care provider is critical to receiving high-quality care. However, with the...
April 8, 2021Using the Emergency Room WiselyMore than 10% of all emergency room (ER) visits could have been better dealt with in either an urgent care facility...
March 26, 2021Distribution Notification: COVID-19 VaccinesWe have been receiving inquiries about how employees and their dependents can obtain a COVID-19 vaccination...
March 2, 2021How to Train Remote EmployeesYour new hires need to feel supported throughout the training process. That way, they'll feel confident in their...
February 5, 2021COVID-19 Vaccines: What You Should KnowDoses of the first COVID-19 vaccines were administered Dec. 14, 2020, kicking off a massive effort during 2021...
February 5, 2021How Does ACA Reporting Affect My Business?ACA stands for the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. President Barack Obama signed the act into law...
January 8, 2021What are the Different Types of Disability Insurance?Shopping for disability insurance? As a group insurance brokerage company, we understand that disability can be...
January 8, 2021How to Design an Employee Benefits ProgramDesigning an employee benefits program can be intimidating. But it doesn’t have to be! Our insurance brokers would...
December 21, 2020What Benefits Do Employees Want the Most?Looking to hire new talent? A competitive benefits package will help you attract qualified candidates. According...
December 21, 2020Should You Offer Employee Group Benefits?Does your company have a high turnover rate? Are you losing talent to your competitors? If so, it may be time...
December 1, 2020We’re Virtual! Here’s How Our Insurance Brokers Are Serving YouAs insurance brokers, it’s our job to help clients prepare for the unexpected. But no one could have anticipated...
December 1, 202010 Most Common Types of Employee BenefitsAren’t sure what types of employee benefits to offer your team? As a group insurance brokerage firm, we completely...
November 9, 2020IRS Temporarily Relaxes Section 125 RulesNotice 2020-29 allows employers to adopt one or more changes to existing cafeteria plans for the 2020 plan year...
July 22, 2020Introducing ALEXALEX transforms benefits from something you offer into something that delivers results for your business...
April 30, 2020Michigan Planners Meal A Mile ProgramMichigan Planners Meal A Mile Program! For every mile, our Michigan Planners employees walk we will donate...
April 5, 202030 Days To Slow The SpreadListen to and follow the directions of your state and authorities. Do you part to slow the spread of Coronavirus...
March 29, 2020COVID-19 We Are Here To Help!It is no surprise that you are facing a number of concerns related to business continuity, employer relations...
March 29, 202015 Days To Slow The SpreadListen to and follow the directions of your state and local authorities. Do your part to slow the spread of coronavirus...
March 24, 2020Virtual HR Roundtable – COVID-19There’s a good chance your Inbox has been flooded with information about the COVID-19 pandemic...
March 12, 2020COVID-19 Insurance UpdateWith continually evolving news surrounding the COVID-19 Coronavirus, we wanted to bring you up to date...
March 4, 2020Michigan Auto No-Fault Insurance ReformJuly 1st is the effective date for the eagerly awaited revamped auto insurance law that was signed by Governor...
February 27, 2020Coronavirus ResourcesChinese official figures released 2/24 showed there had been 409 new cases of the novel Coronavirus and...
February 14, 2020Ready To Write A New ChapterMi Planners Insurance Ready New ChapterMichigan Planners would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to...
January 21, 2020Healthcare Facts, Myths, And The Everchanging Landscape…Recently a client of ours was approached by a competing broker who came up with, what they believed...
January 13, 2020Looking For Extraordinary People To Join Our TeamMichigan Planners is one of Michigan’s premier and most unique insurance agencies, specializing in...
November 11, 2019National Diabetes MonthMore than 100 million Americans live with diabetes or prediabetes, and each year more than 1.5 million will...
October 2, 2019Stay Well This FallFall is here, which means cooler temps, shorter days, & flu season! Here are tips to stay happy and healthy...
September 30, 2019Create A Culture Of WellnessYou have probably heard of wellness or worksite wellness programs. But what exactly is wellness, what are...
February 4, 2019Northern MI: Unstoppable!We have experienced unbelievable growth since opening doors in Traverse City nearly five years ago. Later ...
February 4, 2019Well Hello, East LansingOur goal is to maintain excellent customer service via personal touch no matter where throughout the state...
January 15, 20192019 Michigan Planners Educational SeriesCheck out this year’s Educational Series being presented at various Michigan Planners’ locations. Please contact Laura...
December 5, 2018Don’t Ignore This Years Open Enrollment Period, Review Your PlanA lot of people hear the words “open enrollment” and their eyes gloss over. It’s not the most exciting way to spend...
November 15, 2018Promoting Health After Gestational DiabetesIt’s National Diabetes Month. This year’s theme is promoting health after Gestational Diabetes If you’ve had gestational...
October 5, 2018Michigan Planners Best and Brightest In Wellness!Congratulations!!! Michigan Planners was named one of Michigan’s Best and Brightest In Wellness® winners! Looking...
September 25, 2018Michigan Planners Wins Metro Detroit’s Best and Brightest Company to Work ForMetro Detroit’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For Symposium and Awards Gala was a success! Learn More...
August 27, 2018Precious Angels Visit Michigan PlannersOn 8/17, we hosted 30 students, ages 4-12, from the local Precious Angels Christian Academy for an office tour and present...
July 18, 2018Not Practicing What I Preach…And it Cost Me $5,000!For those who have followed my articles, I spend a great deal of time talking about aligning employers and employees with...
July 3, 2018No HR department? Understand Your OptionsThe payroll and benefits mode of operation within the auto dealership segment has predominately been likened...
June 26, 2018Summer is Here…Now is the Time!Spring has officially ended, bringing forth time for outside fun with family and friends, as well as an upcoming celebration...
June 21, 2018MPI Expands its Talent and Resources to Provide Exceptional Service Within the Banking Community!A familiar face to the banking community, Kathy Richardson has joined the Michigan Planners Banking division...
June 12, 2018Welcome to the Michigan Planners FamilyAt no surprise to financial stakeholders, the banking industry will continue to experience disruption, as the...
March 8, 2018The Transformed ArenaAt no surprise to financial stakeholders, the banking industry will continue to experience disruption, as the...
February 27, 2018New Year…New You, Right?It’s hard to believe we are almost at February’s halfway mark. Who is still going strong with their resolutions...
October 23, 2017HMO or PPO?In today’s health care landscape, many employers have moved to a dual product offering, which consists of both HMO and PPO...
October 17, 2017Health Care Executive OrderLast Thursday on October 12, 2017, President Trump no longer sat on the sidelines to wait and see the fate of health care...
October 12, 2017Are You in Good Hands?In today’s world, we have access to more data than we know what to do with. Have you leveraged this information to make...
September 18, 2017You Have 6 Weeks…It’s hard to believe that with 80+ degree weather in the air that we are just a few weeks away from the start of the 4th quarter in 2017...
September 13, 2017Let’s Come Together…As I began to write this morning, my mind kept shifting back to the recent devastation of hurricanes Harvey and Irma...
August 30, 2017‘Tis the Season for Open EnrollmentOpen enrollment is a big undertaking for companies, regardless of size, industry, or location. Viewed as an...
August 29, 2017A Brief History Lesson…This week we pay tribute to the upcoming national holiday, Labor Day. As we enjoy our time off next Monday, I wanted to...
August 22, 2017Traverse City E3 SeminarThis year’s Blue Cross Blue Shield E3 series was a hit! Educate. Engage. Enroll. #bcbsm Learn more from MI Planners...
August 21, 2017Are You Blinded By the Light Today?As the country attempts to view the solar eclipse, we can be sure of a few things. Keep reading to learn more!...
August 7, 2017Gym Memberships, Cell Phones, and Groceries…Let’s Start Saving Some MoneyWhat do I mean? I am talking about reaping some of the many financial benefits that come with insurance cards these days...
August 4, 2017Real Men Wear Pink of Metro DetroitOur very own Vice President of Client Strategy, Matthew Cole, is one of 25 elite men selected to raise money for the Real...
August 2, 2017Toastmasters Advanced Communicator Gold RecognitionThis recognition is the highest award within the Toastmasters International Communication program!...
July 31, 2017Back to the Drawing Board…Back when the House narrowly passed a Healthcare Bill set to repeal and replace the ACA, or otherwise known as...
July 27, 2017Michigan Planners Summer InternWorking at Michigan Planners...Is it all that it’s cracked up to be? Let’s find out. Meet Jonathon DiLorenzo...
July 25, 2017Voluntary Products via an Online Enrollment PlatformFrom my experience, the adoption of voluntary programs falls into three categories: People hate them. People love...
July 20, 2017Maxwell Health WebinarThank you for attending the Maxwell Health Webinar! Michigan Planners is here to support you! Learn more here...
July 19, 2017Advantages of Online Enrollment SystemsSources state that consumers spend up to five hours per day on their phones – and we believe it! Walk into any restaurant...
July 17, 2017Drugs Where Do We Begin?Pharmacy spend continues to be a hot topic for employer groups as they attempt to flatten the cost trends, but specialty...
July 12, 2017Health Insurance: Programs Aren’t That Complicated…or are They?Some people cringe at the sound of screeching. Others, at the sight of blood. Some, at the thought of health insurance...
July 12, 2017National Cherry Festival 2017Michigan Planners was proud to be a part sponsor of the 7th Annual Carter’s Kids Festival fun run. Special shout outs to our...
July 10, 2017All Brokers Are Not Created Equally Part 4A few weeks ago we talked about the importance of stop-loss as it relates to self-funded groups and the lack of attention this product often receives...
July 10, 2017All Brokers Are Not Created Equally Part 3This week we continue our focus on reporting and plan strategy by honing in on self-funded customers. Customers who...
June 20, 2017All Brokers Are Not Created Equally Part 2Last week we spoke about the importance of compliance support offered to groups by agents and how this can vary...
June 13, 2017All Brokers Are Not Created Equally Part 1Today we begin a series of conversations discussing how to understand and assess if your broker partner is...
June 12, 2017Life Insurance BasicsWhile most people agree that life insurance is a necessary purchase, selecting a policy is something that they’ll “get around to...
June 7, 2017We Welcome Summer…and Men’s Health Awareness Month!As we welcome the summer breeze and sunshine (if we are lucky here in the Midwest), we also welcome another less known event...
June 1, 2017Adopt-A-RoadALEX transforms benefits from something you offer into something that delivers results for your business...
May 23, 2017Using Life Insurance as a tool Not just protection in case you passStruggling to save for retirement? Are you worried about college expenses for your children? What do these questions have to do...
May 16, 2017Managing Your Medications Including your spendCommercials for the latest and greatest prescription drugs flood our TV sets 24 /7. While the ads do a decent...
May 9, 2017Trumpcare Here to stay? Or going away?Last week the news outlets flooded us with coverage showing the House passing a bill that will repeal and replace...
May 3, 2017Should I self-insure my Medical and Pharmacy plan?As employers look to bend health care trend, consultants are often asked by decision makers, “Should we move...
May 3, 2017‘Just What the Doctor Ordered’ is No Longer the CaseGone are the days when you can take a piece of paper to the local pharmacy and obtain “just what the doctor ordered.” We...
April 25, 2017Making Sense of the Process. We’re ready. Now what?For most school districts, quoting out health insurance is not a hard decision. Unfortunately, consistent rate hikes are the driving force...
April 25, 2017MESSA Matters…errr, does it really?MESSA Matters…errr, does it really? Schools districts throughout the state of Michigan are preparing their...
January 16, 2017LIVE WELL WORK WELLHistorically, one of the top New Year’s resolutions is to lose weight. Unfortunately, many people look to fad diets..
October 13, 2016Plan Now for Changes to Overtime RulesOn May 18, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a rule that would change overtime wage payment for American workers...
October 4, 2016Open enrollment trumps Christmas – This shouldn’t be the caseDo you relinquish Christmas shopping for open enrollment processing? Relinquish no more! Read the below...
October 4, 2016Hiring Great People and Reducing TurnoverThe formula seems pretty cut and dry, doesn’t it? Good benefits + decent pay = a lifelong employee....
July 11, 2016Using Technology to Make Educated Healthcare DecisionsThe stress over medical costs and quality treatment is all too familiar for employees and their families. This reality has led...
May 25, 2016Building Great Teams: Are you creating the next dream team?Nobody shows up for work saying, “I hope I don’t make a contribution today.” Yet, when you examine most company...
April 11, 20165 Ways to Help Employees Understand Employer Sponsored BenefitsThe transformation of healthcare within the past 10 years has impacted the way organizations have unveiled healthcare....
March 23, 2016What makes YOUR Michigan City Memorable?If you, or a member of your staff, will be attending the upcoming MML Capital Conference Annual Expo on March 23rd...
March 16, 2016It takes two, baby!We live in a world where we can literally reach 1,000 people, with an impactful message, in just about 30 minutes via...
February 28, 2016‘Life’s Too Short?’ Think AgainAs of the date of writing this article, the Guinness World Records has the oldest living person surviving to be...
February 12, 201610 Easy Ways to Stretch Your Health Care DollarsYou’ve no doubt noticed that each year, your health care costs go up. This continuing trend can significantly impact your budget...
September 30, 20158 Facts and Figures You May Not Know About the ACAOriginally, the intention of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was to give more Americans access to quality, affordable...
September 30, 2015Eenie, Meenie, Miney, MoeEenie, meenie, miney, moe may be a great way to select what type of ice cream you want for dessert or who is in charge of doing...
September 30, 2015Built for Today’s Financial Professionals and Mid-Sized CorporationsReal-time payroll processing that allows you to input data, make changes, run reports and submit payroll from wherever...
September 30, 2015Has Hell Frozen Over?We’re not your normal insurance brokerage. We actually listen to what’s really a challenge for you and your business...