California Health Care

If you are looking into dental health care coverage options, the two you have probably run across are savings plans and insurance. Both of these options can help you save after a trip to the dentist — it’s only a matter of which one is right for your needs.

Dental savings plans are membership programs with discounts on dental care from participating dentists. These are ideal if you know you need extensive dental work done, as they can save you more than their membership fees each year.

Here’s how they work:

Traditional dental insurance plans are when an insurance company pays for your dental services in full or partial amounts. The exact plan you choose will determine what services or procedures they will cover — however, most insurance plans will take care of preventive care cleanings or exams.

As the insurance holder, you will have to pay a monthly fee to stay enrolled. Most insurance plans also come with a deductible or copay. A deductible is a fixed amount you need to reach o...

In short, yes — health insurance providers have the ability to terminate your coverage. Whether the issue is on the provider’s or holder’s end, there must be a reason for the cancellation. Otherwise, it is considered frivolous, and there are laws in place to protect holders from those actions.

Your health insurance can be terminated for several reasons. Whatever the cause, most reasons can fall under either voluntary or involuntary terminations.

Voluntary terminations are those from the holder’s end of the equation, like when a policy holder decides to stop making payments during or after the end of a contract.

Involuntary terminations are those where the health insurance provider decides to drop your plan. This can happen on the anniversary date or in the midterm. Midterm cancellations are coverage cancellations done any time before your policy’s contract renewal period. These are possible if you are found to have:

In any termination situation, your provider must notify you at...

As a generally healthy individual, you may see health insurance as a “just-in-case” form of protection in the event you get injured or become sick. While your plan can provide that coverage in your time of need, you should know that your health care benefits likely go much further than helping with emergency room visits and primary care checkups — and you can use them even when you don’t necessarily need them.

Ultimately, your health insurance is important and can be a major resource for keeping you mentally and physically fit. To get the most out of your plan and fully justify your monthly premium, you should know the ways you can use your benefits when you’re healthy.

Every health care plan comes with basic components that make up how much and what the insurance covers. As you consider how to use your benefits throughout the year, you should understand each part of your plan to know exactly what you can and can’t do.

While different kinds of health insurance exist, the gen...

In California, nearly one in seven people experience a mental illness. This makes it one of the most common health conditions in the state. If you’re experiencing mental health or substance abuse issues, the costs for care and treatment can rack up pretty fast. This is why it’s beneficial to have mental health insurance.

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), all insurance plans cover mental health and substance use disorders in California. It’s important to note that an insurer can’t deny you coverage for an existing condition, and they can’t limit you or charge more than they would for other health services. There are multiple insurance options to choose from, no matter your financial circumstances. We’ve compiled a list of tips to help you select the one that best supports your mental health needs.

If you’re searching for a new insurance provider or are looking to switch, consider your mental health needs so that you can choose the right plan to cover your treatm...

Health insurance plans have many terms and conditions that may be challenging to understand when shopping for insurance. For many, the most confusing health insurance terms are the out-of-pocket costs not covered or reimbursed by your insurance provider. These typically include deductibles, copays and coinsurance, which are health care costs you continue to incur even after you’ve paid your monthly or yearly insurance premiums.

Out-of-pocket health care costs vary depending on your insurance plan and add up to your total medical bills. These costs are set up to ensure cost-sharing between you and your insurer to keep medical expenses manageable. Below, we discuss the common out-of-pocket expenses you can expect to incur to help you choose the best insurance plan for you and your family.

A deductible is a dollar amount you pay for your covered health care expenses before your health plan starts to pay its share. Your health insurance plan determines your deductible, which is reset...

As an older adult, you face increasing odds of developing dental issues like gum disease and tooth decay. Your likelihood of requiring implants or dentures is also higher, so you need a dental insurance plan that caters to these changes. Dental insurance plans for seniors in California are designed to meet your unique needs.

Various options are available to you, from Medicare to dental discount plans and independent providers. One example of these providers is Blue Shield of California, which has been providing the state’s residents with health insurance since 1939. Health for California can help you find the right dental plan if you are a senior looking for new dental insurance coverage.

Growing up, our parents always told us to take care of our teeth, and these words of wisdom still ring true for us in retirement age. Dental coverage makes regular oral care affordable and encourages seniors to take preventive and proactive steps needed for their overall wellness. It is especiall...

Did you know that as many as 11 million Americans need vision correction? A vision insurance policy is essential to help maintain eye health and reduce eye care costs.

Unlike a regular health plan that only covers unexpected vision costs such as eye injury or disease, vision insurance helps you maintain eye wellness. It gives you access to routine eye exams, vision-related treatment and preventive care, depending on the insurer and plan.

Vision insurance remains a gray area for many Americans. Use this guide to learn about what it is, how it works and what you can expect it to cover.

Vision insurance is a type of policy that covers specialized eye care. It’s separate from health insurance and covers eye care expenses as opposed to general eye health. It’s important to distinguish between vision discount and vision insurance  — two types of plans that offer similar benefits and are often confusing. Here’s an overview:

Vision insurance works similarly to health insurance pl...

Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) is excited to join Covered California in 2024. By participating in the California marketplace, IEHP can help members stay covered throughout the year.

IEHP is a not-for-profit, Medi-Cal managed care health plan. A managed care health plan works with a specific network of doctors, hospitals, pharmacies and other care providers to deliver Medi-Cal benefits.

Since 1996, IEHP has been helping Californians gain access to affordable health care services. IEHP is now one of the largest Medi-Cal plans available, serving over a million members. It also serves individuals enrolled in IEHP DualChoice — a Medicare-Medicaid plan.

IEHP aims to increase members’ access to low-cost, high-quality health care. With the organization’s current process, thousands of IEHP members risk losing their Medi-Cal coverage each year with an income increase. However, joining IEHP through Covered California means they’ll automatically be enrolled in the lowest-cost silver pl...

With almost one in seven Californians dealing with a mental health illness and nearly two-thirds of California adults with mental illness not receiving treatment, getting the right mental health insurance is more critical than ever. California’s amended Mental Health Parity Act requires commercial health insurance plans to cover mental health treatment, but choosing a plan can be difficult. Research is your first step in obtaining the coverage you need to get the treatment you deserve.

Knowing what kind of help your mental health insurance plan will pay for is essential. A good plan should cover many types of consistent treatment, like talking to a therapist, seeing a psychiatrist or getting help for addiction — not just one-time visits. Look for coverage for different kinds of therapy, including talking to someone alone, with your family or in a group. It should also include options for more serious cases where you might need to stay in a hospital or treatment center.

In-ne...

Some Covered California enrollees will see their health plan costs increase in 2024, while others won’t experience any changes. Read below to learn about the expected rate changes in the upcoming year and how they may affect you.

A health plan rate refers to your plan’s cost — the premium you pay each month. The average health plan rate will increase by 9.6% in 2024. However, this is just an average, and rates vary significantly by region and insurance provider.

For instance, Imperial, Inyo and Mono counties will see an average 15.8% increase in Covered California plan costs. By contrast, Napa, Sonoma, Marin and Solano counties will see a 6.5% increase on average.

Rates vary by provider, too. Blue Shield of California will have the highest average increase of 15%, while Aetna CVS Health will see the lowest average increase of 0.2%.

Many different factors contribute to higher health plan costs, including:

Despite the jump in premiums, many Covered California enrollees won’t see any...