When I explained the In-Person Assistance enrollment program to one gentleman recently he started to map out how he could generate a nice donation for his favorite nonprofit. Essentially, if he was to become a CEC, enrolled 10 individuals or families, he could let his nonprofit keep the $580 compensation as a donation. Wow, helping people get affordable health insurance and making a donation to your favorite charity or group all at once!
Archives for September 2013
Drug Companies Penalized under Part D Coverage Gap Rules
The Affordable Care Act set in motion a series of reforms to slowly close the coverage gap or “donut hole” that Part D members faced after they met their initial coverage dollar amount. Pharmaceutical manufacturers that wanted their Brand name drugs covered in the gap had to sign an agreement with Medicare to cover 50% of the cost of the drug. Medicare has had to assess civil monetary penalties on many companies that failed to cover the discount.
Immigrants Eligible for ACA Health Premium Assistance
The Affordable Care Act and Covered California have made it very clear that undocumented immigrants can not purchase health plans through the new market place or receive tax credits to reduce monthly health insurance premiums. There are a number of different categories of immigrantion status that do qualify individuals and families to receive premium assistance to help pay for health insurance.
Anthem Blue Cross Releases Transgender Health Plan Benefits
Anthem Blue Cross California has released information regarding the coverage of medically necessary procedures to treat gender identity disorder, commonly referred to as a person being transgender. Effective immediately, all new and grandfathered plans will cover surgeries, hormone therapy and counseling associated with transitioning from the birth sex to the sex the individual identifies with.
California tax payers to subsidize Chinese BGI employees
The Sacramento Bee has reported that the University of California, Davis has entered into a partnership with Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI), which is partially owned by the Chinese government, to provide operating space at its medical campus in Sacramento. It was reported that UCDavis had spent $8 million get the space ready for BGI. California should not be supporting a commercial venture partially owned by a foreign government.
Table Mountain Cherokee Hydraulic Mining District
A group of Native Americans from Georgia settled in the area working the exposed auriferous gravel deposit north of Table Mountain and called the area Cherokee. By 1855 there were several small placer mining operations working the ground. By 1873 they had built the largest inverted siphon to carry water across the Feather River.
If you don’t support the ACA, don’t sell Obamacare
If an agent is strongly opposed to Obamacare they should seriously consider not even selling ACA compliant health plans. Clients are better served by those who believe in the product than those who are selling just for the money.
President Obama: a parent’s response to the Syrian tragedy
I don’t know the president. But I do have a child. When the president said that Trayvon Martin could have been his son, I identified with that as I have a teenage son. When the president cited the cruelty administered to Syrian children with the sarin gas attack, I identified with his visceral feelings.
Health Net to scrap all California IPF health plans
In communication with their brokers on September 10, Health Net said they would be closing all their California individual and family plans (IFP) as of December 31, 2013. The closures do not affect their small or large group plans. The announcement cited the development of all new Affordable Care Act compliant plans as a reason for scrapping all the old ones.
Anthem Blue Cross Coughs Up Medicare Rebates
Anthem Blue Cross announced that it will issue rebates to members enrolled in their Medicare Supplement plans in five different states. The rebates are a result of the Medicare supplement or Medigap plans failing to meet the medical loss ratios (MLR). Rebate checks being sent out in September will range from $3.51 to $487.08 per member.