Kevin Knauss: Health, History, Travel, Insurance
Posts pertaining to issues regarding enrollment in Covered California, Medi-Cal, Medicare, resolving problems.
Compared to existing small group quoting and enrollment systems from the insurers and the Cal Choice private exchange, the Covered California SHOP program seems a little clunky and unfinished. If an employer wants to realize the tax credits for contributing to employee health insurance premiums they have to have a small group plan through Covered California. Except for the option to purchase pediatric dental plans for dependent children, SHOP offers no adult dental or vision insurance.
For a brief window of time, small businesses and nonprofits can enroll in a small group health plan without meeting all the minimum requirements. The Affordable Care Act has a special provision to encourage employers to offer a small group health plan to see if it is right for the employees and the owners. Consequently, some of the rules have been waived so that small groups can test the waters.
There were a total of 43,616 applications for health insurance started in the first week Covered California was open for business. An estimated 16,311 households were able to complete the entire enrollment process representing 28, 699 California residents. What Covered California did not release were the completed applications that were eligible for premium assistance and how many qualified for Medi-Cal.
When I explained the In-Person Assistance enrollment program to one gentleman recently he started to map out how he could generate a nice donation for his favorite nonprofit. Essentially, if he was to become a CEC, enrolled 10 individuals or families, he could let his nonprofit keep the $580 compensation as a donation. Wow, helping people get affordable health insurance and making a donation to your favorite charity or group all at once!
Whether your group doesn’t offer a health plan for employees or you’re considering dropping your group plan and letting your employees migrate to the new health insurance exchange established by the ACA, your employees will appreciate some assistance with enrollment. States are setting up In-Person Assistance programs to help individuals and families enroll in the new health plans to become eligible for the premium assistance.
Covered California hosted another webinar to provide a progress update of the California Healthcare Eligibility, Enrollment and Retention System (CalHEERS) website. In short, this is the website Californians will use to enroll in one of the qualified health plans offered in their area through Covered California.
Before Covered California can really get the IPA training going, they have to have the Assister Enrollment Entities (AEE) in place. The AEEs can be a variety of organizations that have the interest and resources to reach out to targeted populations to help enroll individuals into Covered California health plans. These might be nonprofit groups that serve specific ethnic or cultural populations, social service organizations or trade groups.
Covered California offers a glimpse of their enrollment website for purchasing state health exchange insurance.
Medicare special election or enrollment notice for individual enrolled in a 3 start rated Medicare Advantage plan can switch to a higher rated plan, 2013
