Kevin Knauss: Health, History, Travel, Insurance
Of course, if the annual premium for the second lowest cost Silver plan increases more than the other plans, it increases the subsidy for all consumers. In this example, the consumer would see monthly premiums for most plans below the 2022 levels. However, the second lowest cost Silver plan would have no increase from 2022 to 2023, even with the larger annual unsubsidized premium increase.
There are many good reasons to include qualifying adults such as parents and stepparents within a Covered California household. There can also be unintended consequences such as making the entire household eligible for Medi-Cal and ineligible for the Covered California subsidies. The best approach is to understand all of the IRS rules regarding a qualifying relative and how the inclusion of the parent or stepparent will modify the eligibility of the household for the subsidies and Medi-Cal.
Consumers can change their health plans even if they have been passively renewed. If a household has been passively enrolled into a new plan, because their 2022 health plan is not offered for 2023, the consumer can change plans. If changes are made by December 27, the new plan will become effective January 1, 2023. Plan changes in January will become effective in February.
Covered California is not a health plan or health insurance. Covered California is more like a farmer’s market. The market place is organized by Covered California. Insurance companies then bring their health plans to the market place for people to review. Consumers enter the market place and purchase health insurance directly from the vendors. Covered California is just creating the space for the health plan transactions.
I have always felt uncomfortable asking the Covered California applicant if they or anyone in the household is pregnant. Basically, it is none of my business. It is additionally awkward asking a mother or father if their adult daughter is pregnant. Now that reproductive health care is under assault in our country, I’ve become even more sensitive to asking the question.
Of course, 1.7 million people is a sizeable number of individuals and most of them are receiving a subsidy to reduce their monthly health insurance premiums. Covered California provided a breakdown of the enrollment by region. There are 19 different rating regions in California, some of which encompass more than one county. Covered California also provided the average health insurance premium rate change for 2023 for each region.
