IMK - Page 53 of 166 - Kevin Knauss: Health, History, Travel, Insurance

Major Covered California Online Application Update for 2018 Open Enrollment

September 24, 2017 By Kevin Knauss 11 Comments

Previously, the CalHEERS application collected the same information for all consumers in a systematic, if non-user friendly process. The navigation and messaging provided in CalHEERS lead to frustration for many users. Also, there were some federal regulations that were not being met regarding the collection of information for some groups, such as veterans.

Now, the interface is easier to read and questions are user-friendly. Since not all questions are needed for all consumers, the application is now “dynamic” meaning questions that do not apply to a user are not displayed. This results in fewer questions and additional time savings for everyone.

Covered California Marketing Report Shorts Agent’s Service To Consumers

September 21, 2017 By Kevin Knauss Leave a Comment

By assuming that Covered California is one big selling machine, the report also paints agents as little more than clerks at a supermarket. Agents do more than just ring up the consumer’s purchase and then watch them take their goods out the door. Agents, just like Covered California customer service representatives, are available all year to help with reporting changes to Covered California and assist with health plan problems. Some agents have complained that Covered California helps enroll the easy cases and the agents must work with individuals and families who have more complicated households, immigration issues, and income questions that require more time.

Health Care Sharing Programs For Short Term Medical Coverage

September 18, 2017 By Kevin Knauss 2 Comments

I know people hate health insurance companies and their health plans. But once you read some of the restrictions contained in the health care sharing and short term medical plan, you begin to get a sense of how comprehensive creditable health insurance really is. Seriously, I could have a couple beers, hop on my motorcycle; lay the bike down at 35 miles per hour going around a corner in a 25 MPH zone, and my Affordable Care Act health insurance would cover my injuries related to my stupidity.

You Must Report Bribes You Receive As Income For Medi-Cal Eligibility

September 12, 2017 By Kevin Knauss 4 Comments

If Bribes are a legitimate source of income for Medi-Cal why not for Covered California I thought? When I checked the 2016 Covered California Countable Sources of Income table, Bribes was suspiciously missing from the list. Why is Covered California hiding this significant source of income for many politicians from their consumers?

Molina Covered California Rate Increase of 50% in Los Angeles County for 2018

September 6, 2017 By Kevin Knauss Leave a Comment

If you review the 2018 Covered California rate booklet, which doesn’t actually have any rates in it, you notice that many of the carriers are having modest rate increases. Most of the rate increases are around 10% or less. Some carriers such as Blue Shield, Health Net, and Oscar are dropping rates in some regions. What jumped out at me was Molina which was identified as having rate increases at a minimum of 16% and up to 51% in the regions they offer health plans.

How Will The Covered California Monthly Subsidies Be Effected By Blue Cross Exit?

September 1, 2017 By Kevin Knauss Leave a Comment

If a consumer was in a market where the only choices were Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and Blue Cross was the SLCSP (Blue Shield necessarily being the least expensive Silver plan offered) then these consumers may see their relative tax credit subsidy decrease. This will hold true if the Blue Shield plan, and now the only plan available, continues to have a rate lower than what Blue Cross would have had in 2018.

Covered California’s Voter Registration Numbers Don’t Add Up

August 30, 2017 By Kevin Knauss Leave a Comment

After sifting through all the reports and data, I’m not sure if either agency is accurately reporting voter registration inquiries through Covered California. While the online registration numbers look comparable between the Secretary of State and Covered California, it is unclear if the data is a measurement of a click to open an online registration web page or an actual complete voter registration action. The voter registration card requests from Covered California seem wildly inflated compared to what the counties are reporting to the Secretary of State. However the Secretary of States figures may also be corrupt by potentially erroneously high requests posted by San Bernardino County and the lack of requests from huge counties such as Los Angeles.

Why I Decided To Apply For the San Juan Water District Board Vacancy

August 26, 2017 By Kevin Knauss 4 Comments

Am I the right person to fill the board vacancy? That is a decision for the San Juan Water District Board of Directors. All I can do is offer my background, experience, knowledge, and understanding of the wholesale and retail divisions of the water district. I will admit that I have developed a unique interest in the district because of its history beginning as a water project to deliver water to gold mining operations along the American River and its current and future role to sustain and enhance water reliability for south Placer and northeast Sacramento counties.

Sacramento Business Consultant Offers Recommendations For Fixing Obamacare

August 24, 2017 By Kevin Knauss Leave a Comment

Based on the data I’ve seen, the ratio of the actuarially fair cost differential of insuring someone in their 20s and someone in their late 50s or early 60s is roughly 5 to 1. Setting the ratio at 3 to 1 causes distortions that unfavorably impacts young adults and, as a result, degrades the risk pool. Insurance companies are reluctant to put themselves in a position in which they risk losing money with additional customers and will set prices for older adults so that they can recover their costs in that age group. The 3 to 1 ratio limits how much they can reduce premiums for young adults. The resulting premiums represent “unfair” insurance for young adults and discourages them from purchasing insurance. Discouraging young adults from purchasing insurance exacerbates the adverse selection problem in the insurance market and reduces the incentive for insurance companies to compete for older customers.

I Lost My Blue Cross Health Insurance, How Do I Find A Replacement?

August 8, 2017 By Kevin Knauss 2 Comments

If you reside in any of the above counties you will be able to keep your EPO plan. If you reside in any other county, and you have an Anthem Blue Cross EPO or HMO plan, through Covered California or off-exchange, you will need to select a new insurance carrier for 2018. The exit of Blue Cross from the individual and family market does not affect employer group health insurance plans or their Medicare Advantage plans.

« Previous Page

Menu