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Kevin Knauss: Health, History, Travel, Insurance

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Thoughts of Kevin Knauss

Posts by Kevin Knauss on a variety of topics: health insurance, history, hiking, politics, LGBTQ+, railroads, plus whatever piques my interest.

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2023 Covered California Open Enrollment Income Chart

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The income chart uses columns with specific percentages to display the annual income amounts necessary for different program eligibilities based on household size, rows. What can be confusing is that an income chart will be published where the math doesn’t work. For example, the federal poverty level (FPL) income for an individual is the 100% column. The next column is 138% FPL. On the 03/2022 income chart, the annual income amount in the 138% FPL column, $18,755, is higher than the 100% column of $12,880 x 1.38 = $17,774.

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Rejected Because I Was Not Boring and Bland

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That smile means I had climbed out of the hole of depression dug, by me, when I became an insurance agent. Selling insurance, from my perspective, is a soul crushing experience. Until I learned how to reset the table where I stopped selling insurance and started educating consumers, did I find a path in the insurance industry. Because, you see, I’m the guy who will take a phone call in a field of lavender to answer your health insurance questions.

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Will Your Covered California Premiums Increase Next Year?

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Of course, if the annual premium for the second lowest cost Silver plan increases more than the other plans, it increases the subsidy for all consumers. In this example, the consumer would see monthly premiums for most plans below the 2022 levels. However, the second lowest cost Silver plan would have no increase from 2022 to 2023, even with the larger annual unsubsidized premium increase.

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Health Net Closes Their Full Network PPO Health Plan

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As of October 2022, there were no announcements that Stanford Health Care primary physicians would be in-network with any other individual and family plans. Blue Shield HMO states that Stanford hospital is in-network, but not the physicians. Valley Health Plan can make referrals to Stanford specialist doctors, but not for primary care.

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Parents Can Be Added To Covered California Health Plan for 2023

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There are many good reasons to include qualifying adults such as parents and stepparents within a Covered California household. There can also be unintended consequences such as making the entire household eligible for Medi-Cal and ineligible for the Covered California subsidies. The best approach is to understand all of the IRS rules regarding a qualifying relative and how the inclusion of the parent or stepparent will modify the eligibility of the household for the subsidies and Medi-Cal.

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Active Renewal vs. Passive Renewal for Covered California 2023

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Consumers can change their health plans even if they have been passively renewed. If a household has been passively enrolled into a new plan, because their 2022 health plan is not offered for 2023, the consumer can change plans. If changes are made by December 27, the new plan will become effective January 1, 2023. Plan changes in January will become effective in February.

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What is Covered California?

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Covered California is not a health plan or health insurance. Covered California is more like a farmer’s market. The market place is organized by Covered California. Insurance companies then bring their health plans to the market place for people to review. Consumers enter the market place and purchase health insurance directly from the vendors. Covered California is just creating the space for the health plan transactions.

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Creating a spreadsheet to compare Medicare Advantage plans

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Once you know which plans support your providers, you can begin to build your benefit comparison spreadsheet. I have broken this spreadsheet into 3 categories: medical, prescription drug, and supplemental benefits. I created a fictitious plan sponsor, Solar System Health Plans, and fictitious plan names: Mercury 212, Venus 72, and Saturn 25. The benefits and costs are similar to what might be available in your area.

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All Medicare Advantage Telephone Calls Must Be Recorded for 2023

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Part of the blame for the increase in complaints lies with Medicare. First, Medicare allows plan sponsors of the Medicare Advantage plans to offer multiple plans with almost identical names. Second, Medicare is allowing the plan sponsors to offer non-health supplementary benefits – benefits not covered by Original Medicare – within the Medicare Advantage plans. These two elements lead to confusion on the part of the beneficiary and agent when comparing multiple plans.

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J. Neely Johnson Invites Amos Catlin To The Sacramento Valley Railroad

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It will not entail on you any pecuniary responsibility or outlay at all and will be of no disadvantage. I have recommended you to Col. Wilson the representative of the capital and who will be the President of the company and he unites with me in the request that you should consent to serve.

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