Numerous individuals with income below the ACA threshold to receive tax credits must weigh the consequences of selling assets in order to be eligible for the tax credits to purchase a private plan through a Marketplace exchange like Covered California. The prospect of selling retirement assets early in order to qualify for affordable health […]
Archives for February 2015
Killing grass with wrapping paper and mulch
In the winter of 2015 the time had come for me to make my front yard grass disappear. After researching various labor intensive methods of removing turf, I finally settled on smothering the grass with wrapping paper and shredded cedar mulch. While this isn’t a full proof method, killing the grass in place is […]
What is Dental for Everyone?
If you thought health insurance was confusing, try comparing individual and family dental plans. The insurance industry has taken a simple concept and turned it over to their marketing departments which created too many plans without proper explanation. However, most dental plans are surprisingly similar and with a little bit of filtering it is […]
1095-A reveals excess ACA tax credits paid to Blue Cross from Covered California
Information from a consumer’s 1095-A Marketplace Statement reveals that Covered California continued to credit Anthem Blue Cross with Advance Premium Tax Credits (APTC) even after the consumer had transitioned to Medi-Cal. While there doesn’t appear to be any fraud, Anthem did receive at least $647 for an individual who was no longer a member of their […]
New ACA special enrollment may not prevent 2015 penalties
It’s great news that both Healthcare.gov and Covered California are offering a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for individuals that are becoming aware of the individual mandate penalty for not having health insurance. Unfortunately, there will still be individuals and families that enroll during this SEP that will get hit with the IRS Shared Responsibility Payment (SRP) for […]
ACA prompts depression, thoughts of suicide for frustrated individuals
The Affordable Care Act has helped provide health insurance to millions of America’s citizens and residents. The accompanying bureaucracy has also created mental health meltdowns for thousands of individuals and families. Through a series of website glitches, bureaucratic rules and purposely designed narrow provider networks, the ACA is delivering unparalleled amounts of stress, anxiety, and for […]
My dead beat dad: Covered California SHOP
It’s been over seven months since I heard anything from Covered California’s SHOP program and the commissions they owe me from the small group I helped enroll in their small business health options program. The lack of communication from SHOP is a flash back to over forty years ago when I wouldn’t hear from my […]
Adjusting Covered California’s monthly tax credits
Most people are under the impression that if they purchase health insurance through a Marketplace exchange such as Covered California they have to accept all the monthly tax credit offered. Individuals and families don’t have to have any of the tax credit applied to their monthly health insurance premium. Covered California has introduced a new link on consumer’s […]
Covered California sours liberals on health care reform
It was in February 2013 that I wrote a glowing post about the imminent launch of the Covered California website. Thousands of individuals and families across California were full of hope and optimism as Covered California looked to be on track to fulfill the long awaited promise of access to health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. Two […]
Covered California places sales above consumers
From the earliest marketing of Covered California it was obvious that this new health insurance Marketplace exchange would be more of a sales organization as opposed to a consumer advocate for health insurance. A recently published document entitled Sales and Outreach Skills directed toward Certified Enrollment Counselors and Navigators reinforces the appearance that Covered California […]