Kevin Knauss: Health, History, Travel, Insurance
Consumers who are currently insured in the individual market directly through an insurer “off-exchange” may be eligible to receive financial help if they purchase coverage through Covered California during this new SEP. It is important to note that consumers who earn from 138 percent FPL through 600 percent FPL may receive state and/or federal subsidies which means they would be more likely to retain their coverage.
For most tax payers, the income they estimated on their application for health insurance will not be exactly the same amount as their final Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) on their 2019 federal tax return. Part II of form 8962 compares the subsidy you received (column f) to the amount of subsidy you are entitled to (column e) from data supplied by the market place exchange on form 1095-A.
Is Covered California the only place to buy health insurance? No. You can buy a plan directly from one of the health insurance carriers available in your region. But there will be no subsidy to lower the monthly premiums. Enrollment into a health plan directly from the carrier is called off-exchange, as opposed to purchasing a plan on-exchange through Covered California.
What is interesting is that these 2020 FPL income levels are higher than what Covered California posted in their program eligibility income chart at the start of the 2020 open enrollment period. Covered California listed the single adult Medi-Cal annual income level, 138% of FPL, at $17,237 and for a two-adult household at $23,226. The DHCS 2020 FPL income chart lists a higher amount of $17,609 for a single adult and $23,792 for two adults.
I also had $250,000 term life insurance policy during this period. Seven years into the 10-year term, I just could not rationalize making the policy premiums. I needed that money for other bills. For me, it was more important to pay for my son’s college tuition than the term life insurance policy. It was not an easy decision as I consider myself a very responsible person.
Jacky encounters two giants on the island, Mr. and Mrs. Huggermugger. There is also a small community of dwarves, larger than Jacky, but smaller than the Huggermuggers. Jacky and his stranded shipmates are rescued and then tell their fantastical tale of giants and dwarves to others. One of men who believed Jacky is Zebedee Nabbum, who is out collecting wild animals to be exhibited in the circus of P. T. Barnum.
On the front of the well, near the bottom, are tree horizontal undulating lines. This, I assume, is to convey an aspect of water. Three lines, perpendicular to the water lines rise up and become the stems of vines and flowers in a rectangular tablet. The floral design on the well echoes the flowers on the top of the dial door. To me, the most recognizable flower seems to be a dogwood bloom.
The Medi-Cal HMO plans are very similar to private health insurance plans. The plans have member ID cards, a provider network, and a drug formulary. One of the biggest complaints I hear is that the Medi-Cal HMO plans have few primary care providers and specialists that are accepting new patients. I also hear the same complaint from my clients in private health plans.
Regardless, an advertisement that misleads consumers to think they will just get a health plan for $1 per month is the sort of marketing that reinforces the public’s perception that the health insurance industry is sneaky and deceptive. If you are on Medi-Cal, you cannot get an Oscar health plan for $1. If you earn too much money to qualify for the federal Premium Tax Credit subsidies through Covered California, you cannot get a health plan for $1. If you want an Oscar health plan with UCLA or Hoag providers, offered only in the Circle network off-exchange, you cannot get health plan for $1.
This disparity between penalty and the cost of health insurance is driving people to enroll in indemnity plan, discount health care plans, and the health care sharing programs. None of these programs are a substitute for real health insurance. But if a family can save $20,000, even after paying the penalty for not having coverage, that sort of cash goes a long way to meeting basic living expenses in California, plus a few trips to urgent care. And if the family is not subject to the penalty because the coverage is considered unaffordable, the individual mandate penalty is moot.
