California Health Care
By Wendy Barnett
Early in January, Blue Shield of California announced that they signed a new 3-year agreement with Sutter Health effective January 1, 2017. This is great news as it allows Sutter Health Hospitals and doctors to remain a part of Blue Shield’s network across the state.
Blue Shield of California members can now rest assured that their Sutter Health doctors and hospitals will still be considered “in-network” providers through 2019. Using in-network providers helps consumers save money. Even with a PPO plan where you can go out-of-network when desired, if you choose to stay in-network, you will have lower costs (think less co-insurance, lower deductibles, and lower out of pocket maximums).
Blue Shield Covered California plans will also continue to have Sutter Health as a part of their network. In certain areas, Blue Shield is sometimes the only insurance company that offers a PPO plan through Covered CA. Many Covered CA members desire the flexibility of having a PPO pl...
by Wendy Barnett
Uninsured Californian’s are receiving notices from the IRS urging them to get health insurance so that they will not have to pay a tax penalty. Notices went out in December ’16 and January ’17; and are the first time the IRS is reaching out to uninsured consumers since the Affordable Care Act went into effect. Consumers are being reminded that they can still apply for Obama Care during the annual Open Enrollment Period to avoid paying a tax penalty or the “Individual Shared Responsibility Payment” again.
Open Enrollment is the only time you can enroll for your health insurance unless you have a Qualifying Life Event. This year Covered CA’s Open Enrollment is from November 1, 2016 through Jan. 31, 2017. That’s why the reminder notices are going out in December and January. Now is the time for uninsured Californian’s to apply. If they don’t get their coverage in place this month, they will have to go the whole year without insurance and be subjec...
by Wendy Barnett
Did you forget to apply for your health insurance for January 1st? Or maybe you encountered difficulties submitting your application and could not get the assistance you needed to complete it. Don’t worry, you still have time to apply for Covered California. Open Enrollment is still open!
If you did not apply in time to start your coverage for January, you can still apply now for February. You can get a free quote and apply on-line at out California Health Insurance Quotes page. Our Covered CA certified agents can assist you with all of your questions and help you see if you qualify for a subsidy or tax credit. Don’t delay, apply by Jan. 20th to get your coverage started for February.
Open Enrollment is the set time period where individuals can apply for their health insurance. Individuals are not allowed to apply at other times of the year unless they have a Qualifying Life Event. During Open Enrollment, individuals can apply for a new health insurance plan or ma...
by John Hansen
Breaking News! – December 14, 2016 – According to Covered California, “The plan selection deadline for a January 1, 2017 coverage start date has been extended to Saturday, December 17.”
The California Health Exchange previously said they would not extend the deadline this time, but they were surprised due to an excessive amount of applications received this week. There has been increased interest in enrollment for the new year.
The Open Enrollment Period continues through January 31st. During this time, you can register for Obamacare without any qualifying life events.
If you complete the Covered California Application by Saturday, then you can still get a January 1st effective date. Plans selected between December 18, 2016 and January 15, 2017 will have a February 1, 2017 coverage start date, and those who apply between January 16, 2016 and January 31, 2017 will have a March 1, 2017 coverage start date.
Today, Covered CA announced the deadline extension and c...
by Jessica Howland
On November 17th the Covered California Website, released the new Help On-Demand tool for consumers looking for local assistance at the click of a button. This tool has been added this year on top of the already successful Covered California Storefront program that allows consumers to find assistance at a local walk-in establishment that is personal and free.
Help On-Demand caters to those consumers that still want the expertise of someone local, but with the added convenience of having a Covered California certified agent/enroller call them. The tool asks the consumer if they are enrolling and if they need help right now an available broker or enroller can call or email them back. This tool is designed for those who are newly enrolling and not for existing Covered California members. Existing members are directed to call their certified agent/enroller who assisted them in enrolling or calling the Covered California Service Center.
To receive a call, a simple form req...
By John Hansen
As a reminder, effective January 1, 2017, some consumers who have Anthem Blue Cross Covered California will have a plan change from a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) to an Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO). Covered California consumers who were enrolled in certain Anthem Blue Cross PPO plans in regions 1 through 9 and 15 through 19 in 2016 are impacted by this change.
If you take no action to renew or change plans through Covered California, your coverage will automatically be renewed 30 days after the date on the Covered California renewal notice, into the Anthem Blue Cross EPO plan available in your area. If you want to make a change to your plan for coverage beginning January 1, 2017, a new plan must be selected by December 15, 2016.
PPO plans are the most desirable because they offer out-of-network coverage. However, they tend to be more expensive and sometimes people don’t use the out-of-network coverage enough to make it worthwhile. On a PPO, your out-o...
By John Hansen
Covered California’s Open Enrollment began on November 1, and the State Exchange kicked off their 2017 tour this weekend, Saturday, November 12 in San Diego. The tour will continue through major areas of California and will conclude in Santa Cruz on November 19.
Learn more about your healthcare options, up-front government tax credits and the future of Obama Care in California by attending one of these events. Also, agents are invited to come to tour events to help support Covered California’s mission in the community. See the updated tour event schedule below.
Political tides are changing, and this has produced some uncertainty in the market. Come with your questions to any of the events below. Your health care matters to you, and it matters to Covered California.
By John Hansen
With the election results and Donald Trump having sworn to repeal Obamacare, many Californians are concerned. Surprisingly, the Republicans kept control of both the House and the Senate, which may give President-Elect Trump the opportunity to make massive changes to healthcare in America. Consumers are afraid they may lose their Covered California plan, or they may lose their health insurance subsidies.
In light of these concerns, the California State Exchange has notified the public:
“Covered California remains focused on open enrollment. We want to make sure consumers know their options. Health coverage options are [still] available to consumers with financial assistance to help pay for coverage. We will be communicating these important messages to consumers during open enrollment, which goes through January 31, 2017.”
Covered California has been one of the most successful state exchanges in the country. And, in the weeks and months ahead, they anticipate being a key...
By Wendy Barnett
The presidential candidates for 2016 are at odds in so many areas. But where do they stand on Obamacare for California? What about other pressing health care issues concerning Californians and the nation?
The chart below shows some of the ways where Trump and Hillary have different stances. They do however have some similar goals. Both Trump and Hillary want to make healthcare more affordable and available to all Americans. Additionally, they both support reforms for improving mental health care and lowering prescription drug costs. But it is in the “how they want to accomplish further healthcare reform” that they show the greatest difference. Trump supports controlling costs by enforcing immigration laws, eliminating fraud and waste and energizing our economy. While Hillary supports creating more government programs and increasing funding for community health centers.
When evaluated by a team of economists at the RAND Corporation, the suggested reforms...
by Jessica Howland
Today marks the start of Covered California’s 4th annual Open Enrollment Period for the 2017 benefit year. Mark your calendar! The dates for this year’s “Open Season” as some are calling it are:
November 1st-January 31st
Effective dates will vary depending on when a Covered California application is submitted.
The last day of the 2017 Open Enrollment Period will be January 31st.
The Open Enrollment Period allows those who don’t have health insurance, or a qualifying life event to sign up on an individual or family health plan for 2017. It’s also a time for those already enrolled with Covered California to renew their existing health plan, or change levels of coverage or insurance companies.
With Covered California’s rates increasing an average of 13.2% statewide, they are heralding the message for consumers to shop around. The PPO plans offered by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield have the highest rate increase, so we can expect to see people looking...