Kevin Knauss: Health, History, Travel, Insurance
The calendar of events on the Keep Dignity Health website states that by October 17, 2021, all Dignity providers and hospitals will be out-of-network with Anthem Blue Cross. The contract termination would include Medicare Advantage plans and other HMO groups. The complete termination with Blue Cross assumes that there will be no resolution to the contract dispute. Dignity Hospitals will still be in-network for life-threatening emergency care.
The unemployment subsidy benefit further increased the subsidy. Because everyone was now eligible for the Enhanced Silver 94 plan, we switched this member from the Gold to the Silver plan. The new subsidy of $1,016.53 dropped the health plan rate to $1 per month. The better member cost-sharing for copayments and coinsurance will save the family even more money.
Adverse selection is wanting to enroll in health insurance under adverse conditions. The health plans, and society in general, wants everyone in the insurance pool from the beginning. When people climb out of the pool – drop coverage after getting treatment – the big health care bills must be covered by the remaining people in the pool. That raises the rates for everyone in the pool, and that’s not fair.
From the main exit, where the main trail ends, I walked the short distance to the entrance or opening where Coyote Creek enters. The entrance is more spectacular than the exit. The exit opening is around eight feet in height. The entrance is at least 30 feet and the interior soars even higher. It is this section that most resembles a gothic cathedral. At the entrance, there are several large bedrock mortars, six inches in width and depth that indicate Native Americans were present long before the Europeans arrived.
Covered California will begin processing the extra subsidy increase for applications that indicate unemployment benefits on June 21, 2021. The unemployment insurance benefit could have been for just one week in January. The household income will be taken down to 138.1 percent of the federal poverty level, regardless of the income estimated by the consumer. The 138.1 percent income level will prevent adults from being automatically determined eligible for Medi-Cal. The new subsidy will be based on the lower income and applied to the health insurance premium.
Based on the real-world comparisons I’ve done for individuals and families in small group plans, most would benefit from enrolling in Covered California. Anecdotally, I’ve talked to several employers who either have or are considering terminating their group coverage.
In California there are 32 different Part D plans offered by 11 different insurance companies. One plan sponsor offers six different plans. The only thing that differentiates these plans at first glance are the marketing names like Basic, Choice, Classic, Enhanced, Plus, Saver, Secure, and Value. These monikers are marketing gimmicks and tell the Medicare beneficiary nothing about the benefits of the plan.
If you disenroll from your Covered California health plan and then try to enroll in a new plan, the system won’t give you the Advance Premium Tax Credit subsidy to lower the monthly premium. That is why it is crucial to use the change plan process in the Covered California system.
You don’t have to qualify for a Silver 94 to get a great deal. A 57-year-old individual with an estimated income of $30,000 in Nevada County will receive a subsidy large enough to make the lowest cost Silver plan from Anthem Blue Cross $1, the same as all the Bronze plans. Even the Blue Shield PPO Silver 73 at $85.11 is a better value than either the Gold or Platinum plans offered.
The conspiracy theories that the Bureau of Reclamation is keeping the lake low is based on an incomplete analysis of water discharges for power generation. At first glance, the discharge numbers – water being released from Folsom Lake – is greater than the inflow. The erroneous conclusion is that discharge is to keep the lake low. The reality is that there are numerous reasons why the Bureau of Reclamation is releasing water for power generation greater than the inflows.
