Covered California has sent Certified Insurance Agents information and links on sensitivity and sales training for the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual and Transgender community. The sensitivity training presentation and social media icons were developed by Out2Enroll a national organization encouraging the enrollment of the LGBT community into Marketplace health insurance. While the overall information is good, there is underlying sales element that reduces the community down to dollar signs instead of human beings.
California Health Insurance
Posts specifically related to California health insurance, enrollment, premiums, plans, termination, Covered California, Medi-Cal, Medicare, small groups.
How I failed as a health insurance agent
I screwed up big time on behalf of a man with a serious illness. The end result is that he will be without health insurance for the month of December. Even though there are other people who failed in this situation, I have to take the ultimate responsibility that he might have to shoulder thousands of dollars in health care expenses that would have been covered by health insurance. I broke the business rule of never following your heart, and always trust your gut.
Understanding the new California pharmacy prescription drug cap
Individual and family plans offered through Covered California in 2016 will include new pharmacy prescription drug benefits. The benefit, also mirrored in many off-exchange health plans, caps the amount a consumer must pay every month for a particular prescription. While that sounds straight forward, the rules surrounding any pharmacy deductible and tiered drug formulary can be complicated and confusing.
Mixing health plans from Covered California, Med-Cal and off-exchange
Every family is unique in their health care needs. There are situations when each family member may require a different health plan to meet their particular health challenges. Unfortunately, many families who enroll in a health plan through Covered California are unaware that not all the family must be on the same health plan.
The karma of free health insurance advice
You remember the old adage, “You get what you pay for”? Free advice is worth exactly what it costs – nothing! Correct? Maybe, unless you believe in karma. Can you trust free advice on health insurance? I suppose you have to consider the source and your options. ACA health insurance market place is complicated All […]
Five paths to California health insurance
In California there are essentially five different paths to getting health insurance. Each of the different options have varying conditions and restrictions. Below is a summary of the five paths to California health insurance. There is also a short video you can watch titled California Paths to Health Insurance which also explains the five different […]
Hidden fees that support the Covered California budget
Hidden within every health plan sold through Covered California is a fee to fund their operation. This per member per month (pmpm) fee applies to both individual and family plans, small group plans sold through the exchange and adult dental plans if they are ever offered. These fees, paid by the health plans and insurance […]
How is the 1095-A monthly ACA tax credit calculated?
The 1095-A Health Insurance Marketplace Statement doesn’t give a clue on how the Monthly Advance Payment of Premium Tax Credit is calculated. Even though consumers who purchased health insurance through the Marketplace entered their Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) into the enrollment system, this income in not listed on the 1095-A they receive. The MAGI […]
Covered California 2015 rates by region and plan comparison
How health insurance companies and health plans determine premium rate increases is a little bit of a mystery. Covered California didn’t add to the consumer’s understanding of this process when they released their 2015 health insurance booklet. The plan rates booklet is mostly marketing material and fails to provide specific rates by region, carrier, and […]
Covered California 2014 versus 2015 health benefit comparisons
There have been few changes to the standard benefit design between 2014 and 2015 health plans offered through Covered California. A comparison of the metal levels offered in 2014 to the standard benefit design announced by Covered California for 2015 individual and family plans reveals modest changes to copayment amounts for prescription drugs, maximum out-of-pocket […]