Covered California

Posts on the development and implementation of the California health insurance market place, application, account, enrollment, termination.

Few Agents Ready for Covered California Launch

September 29, 2013 By Kevin Knauss Leave a Comment

On a recent webinar, Chris Patton, Vice President of SHOP Sales and Agent Management for Covered California, reported that over 15,000 insurance agents have registered to become certified to sell both individual and small group health plans through the California health insurance exchange. Of those thousands of agents, less than 1700 had completed the necessary training for certification only days before the start of open enrollment. In addition, no agents will actually be certified as of the launch on October 1st because agent agreement has not been released.

The COBRA Catch With Covered California Health Plans

September 20, 2013 By Kevin Knauss 19 Comments

The new Affordable Care Act health plans offered through Covered California will help many people move out of an expensive COBRA plan and into an insurance plan with lower premiums. However, COBRA is considered “employer offered” health insurance that meets minimum essential benefits and value. Because of this many people and families on, or offered, COBRA will NOT be eligible for tax credits to reduce the monthly premiums of Covered California plans.

Delay your open enrollment in new Covered California health plans

September 19, 2013 By Kevin Knauss 3 Comments

Open enrollment for the new Covered California health plans launches October 1st. But you don’t have to rush into unknown waters and sign up for coverage that doesn’t start until January 1, 2014. Because these health plans are new, it would be prudent to avoid immediately enrolling until the health plans have been reviewed and all the details are known.

Covered California Certified Trainer Mocks Affordable Care Act

September 18, 2013 By Kevin Knauss 30 Comments

The misguided training was a missed opportunity to explain the importance of Covered California and how the ACA will help millions of people get access to affordable health insurance and quality care. Instead we were told that health plans were expecting lots of sick people to seek care and they were cutting back on their providers. You know, “those people” were going to use the system they had been shut of for years by insurance companies who were just “following the rules” of being able to deny sick people health insurance. It wasn’t the fault of the insurance company, one trainer opined.

Does Covered California offer a fundraising opportunity?

September 16, 2013 By Kevin Knauss Leave a Comment

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!

If you don’t support the ACA, don’t sell Obamacare

September 13, 2013 By Kevin Knauss 4 Comments

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.

Health Net to scrap all California IPF health plans

September 10, 2013 By Kevin Knauss 3 Comments

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.

Employee Enrollment Assistance for Obamacare Health Plans

September 8, 2013 By Kevin Knauss Leave a Comment

Whether your group doesn’t offer a health plan for employees or you’re considering dropping your group plan and letting your employees migrate to the new health insurance exchange established by the ACA, your employees will appreciate some assistance with enrollment. States are setting up In-Person Assistance programs to help individuals and families enroll in the new health plans to become eligible for the premium assistance.

Covered California wants “Boots on the Ground” Assistance

September 8, 2013 By Kevin Knauss 5 Comments

As Covered California ramps up for open enrollment for their “premium assistance” eligible health insurance plans starting in October, Julie Wiegand of Covered California declared they need “boots on the ground” in the form of Certified Enrollment Counselors. Formerly known as Assisters, Certified Enrollment Counselors (CEC) are expected to play a significant part with enrollment in many different communities.

Mandatory Group Health Plan Employee Notification under ACA

September 4, 2013 By Kevin Knauss Leave a Comment

The Affordable Care Act requires that notices about the health insurance exchanges have to be given to current workers no later than Oct. 1, 2013. The notices have to be given to new workers on the day they are hired.

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Covered California