Kevin Knauss: Health, History, Travel, Insurance
Posts on the development and implementation of the California health insurance market place, application, account, enrollment, termination.
One of the confusing aspects of the Affordable Care Act is the interchangeable tax terms people use when defining a household. The federal and state exchanges use the terms children or dependents when describing members of a household. The IRS uses the more accurate, but confusing terminology, of personal exemptions as the true test for […]
In the confusing landscape of health insurance regulations post ACA implementation, numerous health insurance companies have sent out renewal letters to members with errors. Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Health Net and even Covered California have had to send follow-up letters to correct erroneous information. Unfortunately, this incorrect correspondence only leads to more confusion surrounding the benefits and renewal […]
Covered California held their third sales seminar for enrollment partners on November 5th. While there was plenty of information for Certified Insurance Agents, it was apparent that Covered California has developed a marketing strategy to funnel sales to the Navigators. In addition to a media blitz including a bus to tour through the state, Covered […]
It seems as if every time Covered California tries to fix or update their enrollment software, something else breaks. Two weeks before the 2015 open enrollment period begins, their Shop and Compare Tool that quotes rates for consumers, Certified Enrollment Counselors, and Certified Insurance Agents is broken. As of November 3rd, the Report a Change […]
The commission structure for individual and family plans has been on a steady decline since the Affordable Care Act began to be implemented in 2011. As the commissions to agents have decreased, the request from clients for assistance has increased. Now a major carrier has announced a reduction in commissions for small group plans. There […]
Covered California is changing and expanding their dental plans. First, all health plans will include children’s dental insurance. There will be no need to purchase a separate dental plan for dependents 18 and younger. Second, Covered California will begin to offer family dental plans on the exchange. But who are these dental plans and are […]
Covered California held its second in a series of sales seminars for Certified Insurance Agents. The webinar was punctuated by technical glitches and an amateurish quality of the presenters. They did manage to address several questions that had less to do about sales and more about the CalHEERS on-going technical problems and new voter registration […]
After four years in the health insurance business I have learned to read the fine print. Health insurance is like a can of fruit cocktail; the essential elements might be in the package but the manufacturer might be adding something you don’t want. Never trust the marketing of any insurance product because they always over […]
Covered California Certified Insurance Agents (CIA) were informed on October 22nd that they would have to attend mandatory voter registration training. All CIAs must assist consumers with registering to vote after they have completed enrolling them in a Covered California health plan. Mandatory webinar based training will be released later for agents to complete. Agents […]
There is little complete data on consumer experience or ratings of health plans offered through Covered California. The Office of Patient Advocate (OPA) released their latest report cards in early October, but even they are devoid of a complete consumer experience with California health plans in 2014. Covered California, who should be in the lead of producing consumer reports, hasn’t […]
