The extraction, storage, and manipulation of your personal online data is akin to the wild west. There are few rules in this relatively young industry and what rules there are, the app gleaners ignore until they are caught violating the law. You can’t see the digital portrait you have created by your own actions on your mobile device and captured by the health insurance apps. In a sense, they own your image. Usually images you create are protected by copyright laws. In this new industry of digital surveillance and capture, you don’t own your own image.
California Health Insurance
Posts specifically related to California health insurance, enrollment, premiums, plans, termination, Covered California, Medi-Cal, Medicare, small groups.
Most California Health Plans Include Abortion as A Covered Health Care Benefit
Does my Medi-Cal insurance cover my abortion? Yes. Is my private insurer required to cover my abortion? Yes for most people. California law is clear that abortion care is basic health care, and most insurance plans must cover basic health care services. This requirement does not apply to employers that provide “self-funded” health care coverage or grandfathered plans.
Covered California Bait and Switch Health Insurance Websites
Most of the links will take you to insurance agencies that can enroll you in a Covered California health plan. Unfortunately, some of the agents push indemnity and health care sharing ministry plans, not Covered California. Why do they do this? The commissions are higher for these plans. Once the consumer is enrolled in some of these plans, and subsequently want to terminate the coverage because they realize they did not enroll in real a real health plan, there is no support from the agency or the carrier.
How To Select A Health Insurance Plan
Health insurance, at a basic level, is asset protection similar to car, life, and home insurance. Most health plans have an annual maximum out-of-pocket amount that limits your liability to outrageous health care bills in the event of an accident or sudden illness. Once the maximum out-of-pocket amount is met, the health plan covers all in-network health care expenses for the rest of the year.
The Longest Mile: Gender Affirming Surgery and Health Insurance
The entire process of gender affirming surgery is intimate. Perhaps the most important relationship that you’ll want to secure is with your surgeon. Your health plan (Medi-Cal, Medicare, individual & family, employer group) will have a network of surgeons in the network. With luck, your preferred providers and surgeons will already be in the network of your health plan. Each health plan maintains an online list of providers for members to search. Healthcare networks are still learning and catching up with how to provide services to the transgender community.
2021 IRS Health Plan Subsidy Calculation With Unemployment Insurance Benefit
Tom received unemployment insurance in 2021. Because of the unemployment insurance, Tom’s household income is 133 percent of the federal poverty level, regardless of his income. That 133 percent of the federal poverty level translates into $0 annual contribution for the second lowest cost Silver plan. Since the second lowest cost Silver plan premiums equaled $15,000 for the year that amount becomes the maximum subsidy allowed. Tom is eligible for an additional $2,318.40 ($15,000 – $12,681.40) in Premium Tax Credit because of the unemployment insurance benefit.
Income and Health Insurance Reporting Mistakes for Covered California
If you indicate that your income in 2022 will begin on January 1, 2022, and you are applying in December, Covered California will determine you have NO income for December and are therefore eligible for Medi-Cal.
Do The Star Ratings for Covered Health Plans Have Any Relevance?
Most consumers would be surprised to learn that their health plans are being rated on how well their doctors treat them. Consumers don’t want their health plan involved in their health care decisions or interactions with their doctors. Consequently, some health plans are paying for the sins of some providers by being labeled with a low star rating.
Who is Bright HealthCare in Contra Costa County?
There is a reasonable expectation that Bright HealthCare individual and family plans will fulfill all of their contractual obligations for paying claims and adhering to the member cost-sharing structure of the health plans. The weak spot for some health plans is the customer service department. An understaffed customer service unit can lead to long wait times on the phone or emails not being promptly returned. There can also be issues with prior authorization for medical procedures, durable medical equipment, and prescription medications.
Covered California 2022 Frequently Asked Questions
The “California Premium Credit Program” is not an eligibility-based program. Starting plan year 2022, the $1 state premium credit will apply to both subsidized and unsubsidized Covered California QHP enrollees, including the catastrophic QHP enrollees but will exclude individuals in a dental-only plan.