The Starling Group

10/10/2026

Small businesses deserve strong employee benefits and attentive service. Insurance Business highlights how automation is bringing agencies back to small-group benefits by reducing paperwork, repetitive data entry, and administrative costs. The opportunity goes beyond efficiency: brokers can spend more time helping employers understand coverage and supporting employees. Technology can improve service, but human oversight and trusted relationships remain essential.

The margin economics of small-group benefits have always been punishing. Automation is changing the calculation - and some agencies that gave up on the line of business entirely are finding their way back to it

10/10/2026

**South Carolina: Has your Social Security payment date changed? Here’s what to know.**

When South Carolina begins paying your Medicare premiums through Medicaid or a Medicare Savings Program, your Social Security retirement or disability payment generally moves from the Wednesday schedule to the **3rd of each month**. This follows an established federal payment rule; it is not a new statewide change affecting everyone.

South Carolina’s Medicare Savings Programs help eligible residents pay their Part B premium. Once that assistance is processed, stopping the premium deduction can also leave more money in your monthly Social Security deposit.

**Planning tip:** If the 3rd falls on a weekend or federal holiday, SSA schedules payment for the preceding business day. Review your SSA notice and confirm your payment date and amount before adjusting automatic bill payments.

Check your account: (My Social Security)(https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/)

10/09/2026

**New York: Has your Social Security payment moved from a Wednesday to the 3rd of the month? Here’s why.

When New York begins paying your Medicare premiums through Medicaid or a Medicare Savings Program, such as QMB or QI, SSA generally moves your Social Security retirement or disability payment to the **3rd of each month**. This follows an established SSA payment rule. If the 3rd falls on a weekend or federal holiday, SSA schedules payment for the preceding business day.

There is also a financial benefit: once the state’s premium payment is processed, your Part B premium should no longer be deducted from your Social Security check. The standard Part B premium is **$202.90 per month in 2026**, so stopping that deduction can leave you with more money each month. Your actual deposit depends on any other deductions or adjustments.

MSP enrollment also automatically qualifies you for **Extra Help** with Medicare prescription drug costs.

The Starling Group, LLC encourages you to review your SSA notice, confirm your payment date and amount through (my Social Security)(https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/), and adjust automatic bill payments accordingly.**

10/09/2026

Kidney health deserves attention before retirement.
BenefitsPRO reports that, in a typical U.S. state, about 5% of adults ages 55–64 know they have kidney disease, according to CDC survey data. Its state comparison highlights an important concern for workers approaching Medicare eligibility. For employers and benefits professionals, this underscores the value of health education and helping employees understand their coverage and access to care. Awareness belongs in every benefits conversation.

New CDC survey results show where this devastating condition affects more than 6% of people in the near-retiree age group.

09/18/2026

Access to lifesaving cancer medications should not depend on whether treatment is delivered by pill or infusion. A bipartisan congressional proposal seeks to address coverage barriers affecting oral cancer drugs in some employer-sponsored health plans. Employers, benefit advisers, and plan participants should closely review prescription-drug coverage, pharmacy benefit manager practices, and out-of-pocket requirements. The Starling Group will continue monitoring this important healthcare policy issue.

Read more: BenefitsPRO

Rep. Glenn Grothman, R-Wis., wants to require ERISA plans to close the gap between the patients' cost for the oral and IV versions of chemo drugs.

09/18/2026

Important ACA Update: The White House has announced $500 premium refunds for up to one million ACA Marketplace enrollees who may have been overcharged for coverage. Eligibility is limited; not every enrollee will receive a refund. Consumers should watch for official notices and verify information before providing personal or financial details. The Starling Group will continue monitoring this development and sharing updates as implementation details become available.

Read more: BenefitsPRO

Refunds will be distributed to consumers who don't receive premium assistance under the ACA and therefore paid the full cost of the premium tax.

09/18/2026

HCA Healthcare, the biggest U.S. hospital operator, is having a tough time collecting insured patients' share of their hospital bills.

Mike Marks, HCA's chief financial officer, talked about the shift Tuesday in Nashville, Tennessee, during a conference for health care sector investors that was organized by Jefferies.

The hospital giant's chief financial officer told investors that consumer sentiment is also affecting collections.

08/27/2026

The Fifth Circuit has ordered major changes to the No Surprises Act’s payment rules, finding that insurers may not use “ghost rates” or categorically exclude applicable bonus and incentive payments when calculating the Qualifying Payment Amount. The ruling could reshape out-of-network reimbursement and the federal dispute-resolution process while patient protections remain in place. The Starling Group will continue monitoring implementation guidance and its impact on employers, brokers, providers, and health plans.

Read the BenefitsPRO article

08/27/2026

Rising health care costs, changing regulations, and rapid AI adoption are reshaping employee benefits. For employers, the path forward requires more than controlling expenses it demands data-informed planning, responsible technology governance, flexible benefits, and clear employee communication. The Starling Group helps organizations align benefits strategy with compliance requirements, workforce needs, and long-term sustainability. Learn more in this timely BenefitsPRO article.

08/14/2026

New York Updates Its Surprise Medical Billing Dispute Resolution Process

New York is moving forward with significant changes to the state’s Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) process for out-of-network health care billing disputes.

The reforms are designed to improve efficiency while continuing to protect patients from the financial consequences of payment disputes between health insurers and out-of-network providers. Among the changes, Medicaid Managed Care will be excluded from the state IDR process, while the Empire Plan and Student Employee Health Plan will be added. The reforms also modify dispute-processing requirements and payment procedures for insurers, providers, and IDR entities.

For employers with fully insured, New York-regulated health plans, this is an important compliance and cost-management development.

At The Starling Group, LLC, we continue to monitor regulatory changes that affect employee benefits, health plan administration, employer costs, and the people those plans are designed to protect.

The new law takes effect August 26, 2026, with NYDFS also moving forward with implementing regulations.

Employers are hoping the changes will hold down the cost of the awards made to doctors and hospitals.