The federal Department of Health and Human Services has published the 2015 federal poverty line (FPL) which includes a modest increase over the 2014 FPL. The FPL is used by Marketplace exchanges like Covered California to determine when an individual or family is eligible for either Medicaid, Medi-Cal in California, or tax credits to purchase […]
Covered California Application
Posts related to the Covered California application, consumer account, estimating income, household size, monthly subsidies, health plans, Medi-Cal, and terminations.
1095-A reveals excess ACA tax credits paid to Blue Cross from Covered California
Information from a consumer’s 1095-A Marketplace Statement reveals that Covered California continued to credit Anthem Blue Cross with Advance Premium Tax Credits (APTC) even after the consumer had transitioned to Medi-Cal. While there doesn’t appear to be any fraud, Anthem did receive at least $647 for an individual who was no longer a member of their […]
New ACA special enrollment may not prevent 2015 penalties
It’s great news that both Healthcare.gov and Covered California are offering a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for individuals that are becoming aware of the individual mandate penalty for not having health insurance. Unfortunately, there will still be individuals and families that enroll during this SEP that will get hit with the IRS Shared Responsibility Payment (SRP) for […]
ACA prompts depression, thoughts of suicide for frustrated individuals
The Affordable Care Act has helped provide health insurance to millions of America’s citizens and residents. The accompanying bureaucracy has also created mental health meltdowns for thousands of individuals and families. Through a series of website glitches, bureaucratic rules and purposely designed narrow provider networks, the ACA is delivering unparalleled amounts of stress, anxiety, and for […]
My dead beat dad: Covered California SHOP
It’s been over seven months since I heard anything from Covered California’s SHOP program and the commissions they owe me from the small group I helped enroll in their small business health options program. The lack of communication from SHOP is a flash back to over forty years ago when I wouldn’t hear from my […]
Adjusting Covered California’s monthly tax credits
Most people are under the impression that if they purchase health insurance through a Marketplace exchange such as Covered California they have to accept all the monthly tax credit offered. Individuals and families don’t have to have any of the tax credit applied to their monthly health insurance premium. Covered California has introduced a new link on consumer’s […]
Covered California sours liberals on health care reform
It was in February 2013 that I wrote a glowing post about the imminent launch of the Covered California website. Thousands of individuals and families across California were full of hope and optimism as Covered California looked to be on track to fulfill the long awaited promise of access to health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. Two […]
Covered California places sales above consumers
From the earliest marketing of Covered California it was obvious that this new health insurance Marketplace exchange would be more of a sales organization as opposed to a consumer advocate for health insurance. A recently published document entitled Sales and Outreach Skills directed toward Certified Enrollment Counselors and Navigators reinforces the appearance that Covered California […]
Should unemployed professionals avoid Medi-Cal?
There has been a strong reluctance among unemployed professionals to enroll in the ACA’s expanded Medicaid or Medi-Cal programs. For most people, being a Medi-Cal member just has a stigma they would rather avoid. However, in certain situations, Medi-Cal can be a great solution to avoiding the high premiums of COBRA while letting the professional focus on getting […]
Covered California Navigators complain about compensation
In response to Covered California Navigators complaints about not being able to fulfill their contractual obligations to enroll individuals and families in tax subsidized health plans the Covered California Board voted at their January 15, 2015, to advance grant money to Navigators just for talking to consumers. The Navigator program was launch in the fall […]