Suicide is a worldwide problem that affects over a million people each year, and in the U.S. there are varying age groups that suffer. It can be difficult to know where to begin in helping someone who has attempted suicide, in part because there is such a stigma surrounding it; however, if someone you care about has attempted to harm themselves and you fear it might happen again, there are signs you can watch for and things you can do to help.
Health Care Insurane Coverage
Posts related to coverage, prescription medications, benefits and providers under health insurance plans.
Doctors use bait and switch tactics with health insurance networks
The narrow doctor networks of California’s individual and family health insurance plans are actually smaller than first thought as doctors use a bait and switch tactic to lure in patients and then bill for their services with “out-of-network” providers. The health insurance companies have little control over this practice that has a doctor listed as in-network for their health plan, but the services are actually billed by a facility that is out-of-network. This bait and switch tactic, aided and abetted by confusing online provider search tools and opaque billing statements and codes, leaves consumers paying more for health care services than they should.
Covering the costs of a High Deductible health plan
Even with the Obamacare subsidies, many individuals and families still opt for the least expensive Bronze high deductible health plans. The high deductible health plans require the consumer to spend $4,500 to $6,500 in a medical deductible before any real cost sharing with the health insurance company starts. As more consumers opt for these least expensive Bronze plans more insurance companies are creating insurance products to help cover the high deductible of these plans. But are these indemnity plans worth the money and will they actually pay when you need the money?
It’s not who you know, but what you produce that counts
It took me a long time to realize that the old adage of “It’s not what you know, but who you know” with respect to success was a crock of crap. Regardless of what or who you know, if you can’t produce something that people will consume, you will never be successful. The connections help get in you in the door. But if you can’t produce results, service, or products, you will be of little value to your associates.
Subtle and overt discrimination pervades Covered California health insurance
Both the health plans and the doctors practice subtle and overt forms of discrimination against people with Covered California health insurance. Some of the discrimination is legally built into the health plans. Other discrimination takes place in the form of denying health care services because the prospective patient has a Covered California health plan.
Covered California 2016 tax subsidy will melt away for some families
Covered California is cancelling the Advance Premium Tax Credit subsidy that lowers a household’s monthly health insurance premium for 2016 for some consumers. Through Covered California’s automatic renewal process I’ve seen several families’ tax credits disappear for 2016. Without intervention or explanation, many families who had their health insurance automatically renewed may receive a bill for the full premium amount because the tax credit subsidy was eliminated by Covered California.
Reviewing Covered California’s 2016 family dental plans
Covered California has finally been able to include family dental plan enrollment to consumers who have purchased a health plan through the exchange. The dental plans overall are pretty good but they come with some conditions that limit suitability for all families.
Understanding the new California pharmacy prescription drug cap
Individual and family plans offered through Covered California in 2016 will include new pharmacy prescription drug benefits. The benefit, also mirrored in many off-exchange health plans, caps the amount a consumer must pay every month for a particular prescription. While that sounds straight forward, the rules surrounding any pharmacy deductible and tiered drug formulary can be complicated and confusing.
Mixing health plans from Covered California, Med-Cal and off-exchange
Every family is unique in their health care needs. There are situations when each family member may require a different health plan to meet their particular health challenges. Unfortunately, many families who enroll in a health plan through Covered California are unaware that not all the family must be on the same health plan.
Covered California considers advertising vision insurance plans
At the August 2015 Covered California Board meeting James DeBeneditti, Deputy Director of Plan Management, reviewed the options and challenges for offering vision insurance on the Covered California online enrollment website. The only viable option reported was to put a simple link on the Covered California website to vision insurance providers. For the inclusion of the hyperlink Covered California would charge $10,000 and take a 10% commission. The $10,000 implementation fee is essentially an advertising cost for the vision plan while Covered California acts like an unlicensed insurance agent collecting a 10% commission for selling vision insurance.