New Version of BASIC Guru
For Immediate Release
New Version of BASIC Guru Enables Agents, Brokers, and their Employer Clients to Simplify Compliance with New SBC Requirements
BASIC Guru, a web-based agency management platform, facilitates the distribution, access, and tracking of Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) documents within branded benefits portals.
Portage, MI — July 23, 2012 — BASIC (www.guru.basiconline.com), a leading provider of HR and Payroll software tools and services, today announces version 4.0 of BASIC Guru, a web-based benefits enrollment and management platform, providing agents, brokers, and their employer clients with a simplified means of distributing and tracking receipt of Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) documents. BASIC Guru enables employees to securely access and electronically acknowledge SBC documents, simplifying and assuring compliance with the Patient Protection Affordable Care Act’s ERISA’s disclosure requirements (the penalty for non-compliance is $1,000 per employee).
BASIC Guru’s suite of agent and broker management tools simplifies a broad range of otherwise labor-intensive processes, including: bulk records import, renewal management, creating customized Employee Benefit Statements, and communicating with employer group clients and prospects via a monthly HTML newsletter. Using BASIC Guru’s drag-and-drop design tools, agents and brokers can build a branded benefits portal for an employer group of 25 employees in under an hour. The new Resource Library allows agents and brokers to create/assign specific resources (forms, documents, or links), which can be assigned on-demand to groups and employees. Agents and brokers can upload an unlimited number of clients, employees, and prospects for one monthly flat fee.
In addition to being able to access SBC documents on-demand, employees can view their network choices and check on provider status, review brochures for other insurance coverage as well as download important forms from the carriers that their employer works with, and access nationwide healthcare costs for elective procedures. They can also communicate with and submit changes to their HR department.
“The tools in BASIC Guru provide agents and brokers with a competitive edge to retain clients and attract new business, as well as improve efficiencies using best-in-class technology,” said Bret Spinks, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, BASIC Guru. “Assuring compliance with SBC requirements is just one instance that can translate into significant savings for employers, while providing agents and brokers with a means to add value to their relationships. In today’s uncertain and changing environment, agents need to redefine their role and focus on differentiating themselves from the competition. BASIC Guru offers a comprehensive solution that can streamline benefits administration and help agents and brokers increase their book of business.”
BASIC Guru also offers BASIC hr, a resource-rich library that includes Federal and State guidelines and how-to information to help employers stay compliant, a downloadable and customizable Employee Handbook, clear explanations of laws (COBRA, ERISA, FMLA, HIPAA), how-to guides on performance reviews, interviewing, hiring and termination, as well as a Job Description Builder and Salary Benchmarking tool. BASIC hr is available as an optional additional service.
About BASIC
BASIC has been serving employers nationwide since 1989. BASIC Guru is our flagship web-based benefits enrollment and management platform, providing agents, brokers, and their employer clients with complete, customizable HR solutions. BASIC Guru provides collaboration, flexibility, stability, security, quality service, and an experienced staff to meet an organization’s integrated HR and Payroll needs. HR solutions should be simple. Keep it BASIC. For more information, contact us at1-800-444-1922, or visit us online at www.guru.basiconline.com.
