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California Medical Insurance – Health Care Updates – Understanding the Changes on the Way in California’s Health Care

January 20, 2011

 

California Medical Insurance – Health care updates need to include the measures laid out in the health reform bill passed in early 2010. Insurance companies cannot deny children who have pre-existing conditions coverage. The same provision will affect adults with pre-existing conditions in 2014. For adults with pre-existing conditions, each state must create a high-risk pool of coverage to provide insurance to these individuals until the 2014 mark. Another major provision of the bill is the elimination of lifetime caps on benefits. There are limited annual caps in coverage through 2014, when the law finally eliminates them. Another provision is that insurance companies cannot remove insurance from individuals who become sick, if that person can still make payments on their coverage.

Another major part of California Medical Insurance – Health care updates is how the health care reform law will impact California. One of the provisions of the health care bills offers significant tax credits to small businesses that purchase health care insurance for their employees. These tax credits allow many companies to deduct up to 50% of their premiums. This means many small businesses have started purchasing health care coverage for their employees and have boosted the number of insured in California as a result.

Other bits of California Medical Insurance – Health care updates are the new California Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan recently brought into law. The California answer to the conundrum caused by those with pre-existing conditions that cannot get health care coverage. The PCIP program bases costs on the geographical location and the individual’s age. Older people will have higher premiums than younger ones. Big city dwellers pay more than those in smaller towns will. This coverage will go from November 2010 until the provisions eliminating denial of coverage for pre-existing conditions goes into effect in 2014.

In other California Medical Insurance – Health care updates, California is working towards making health care available to more residents. The California health insurance exchange came into existence in October 2010. Between that time and 2014, the state is working to create a workable exchange that will allow small businesses and individuals to purchase affordable health insurance. California is looking to see what other states are doing for ideas on making this work. There are other reforms in the works as California implements the reforms while also balancing financial decisions at the same time. These are just some of the highlights about California’s health updates.

Blue Shield of California HSA Plans – Using Your Health Care Money Tax Wisely

December 20, 2010

 

Did you know that Blue Shield of California HSA Plans are some of the most affordable health insurance plans in California? You might ask what HSA plans are. HSA stands for health savings account. These are the accounts where you can put money aside for health care expenses. There are special health care plans available that tie in with HSAs. These plans have higher deductibles and lower premiums. You can use the money you set aside in the HSA to cover the cost of the higher deductibles. At the end of the year, if you have not touched the money in that account, it rolls over to cover expenses for the next year. That allows you to either add more or keep the amount you have in place.

What are the advantages of using Blue Shield of California HSA Plans for your health care needs? On big advantage is that you have more control over how you spend your health care dollars. Most people put their money into high premiums for plans they do not fully use. They do this through their employers who have to have plans to cover everyone in the company. So everyone in the company pays for the same plan, but most do not use all the benefits. With an HSA plan, that is not a factor. You can select the right plan for your needs and add a high deductible to it. This will give you the right plan at a much lower premium. You can put the rest of your health care dollars into an HSA to cover the expenses that come up.

Another advantage to using Blue Shield of California HSA Plans is the tax savings. All money you put into your HSA is tax deductible like student loan interest or IRAs. So you save money when tax day rolls around on top of the money you save on health care coverage premiums. The money in that account stays there until you need it. And you can add up to an annual maximum each year. Any interest or dividends on that account are also tax-exempt.

If you’re interested in a Blue Shield of California HSA Plan, the best way to get more information is by contacting Fresno Health Insurance Services directly. We can help you find a plan that fit your needs and budget.

Health Insurance in California – New Anthem Blue Cross Plans

December 9, 2010

Anthem Blue Cross  has finally introduced their new Premier plans for  individuals and families who need health insurance in California. These plans will be available with the first effective date starting on December 10, 2010. All of the new  premier plans  are compliant with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) mandated benefits . These plans offer rich first dollar benefits including a $30 copay for physician office visits and a $50 copay for specialist visits. These plans will also include some preventive care benefits without having to pay a copay. The plans will offer prescription drug and maternity coverage as well.

Anthem also announced that they will continuing to work with the California Department of Insurance in order to have the remainder of their PPACA compliant California medical insurance plans completely reviewed and ready for the Individual market as soon as possible. The remaining plans include SmartSense Plus, CoreGuard Plus, ClearProtection Plus and Lumenos Plus.

To request more information on Anthem Blue Cross plans please contact Fresno Health Insurance Services today.

Small Group Health Insurance for California Small Businesses – Basic Plan Options

December 8, 2010

Running a small business involves not only taking care of the business end of daily transactions, but also making your workplace a worthwhile place to invest time for employees. Offering health benefits is one way to maintain long term job satisfaction and draw in a more diverse pool of qualified applicants. If you are interested in purchasing small group health insurance for California small businesses, you may be pleased to learn that there are actually insurance plans out there that fit this niche market. These plans are meant to be affordable enough for small businesses, yet still provide the type of comprehensive group coverage that you would expect from a larger group plan.

However, there are a few eligibility requirements for small group health insurance for California small businesses to take into consideration. These requirements are used as general rules by Anthem Blue Cross and other insurance companies for group plans. To qualify as a small business, there must be a company that contains anywhere from 2-50 eligible employees. It is up to the business to determine whether part-time employees are eligible or not. Of these eligible people, 75% or more of them must agree to buy into the plan, and then the employer is required to pay 50% of the premium.

If your business fits all of these requirements, then you are able to choose from a variety of different plans that suit small group health insurance for California small businesses. There are different levels of coverage, to suit different budgets. Some will ask that the employee pays more fees for their premiums, which can yield a higher discount overall for the company. Many choose the more flexible programs which allow each employee to choose his or her own level of coverage, depending on what is usually available through group insurance plans.

Because this process can be somewhat confusing to set up initially, when you are debating whether or not you may be interested in purchasing small group health insurance for California small businesses, it’s best to first weigh all the different options. By speaking to a health care insurance professional, you can garner a better idea of what most small business owners are doing to make the most of their investment. Be sure to figure out how you can change group plans as your business grows, so that you don’t get locked into one payment plan that no longer applies to your growing company.

Health Insurance in California – Preventative Care

December 4, 2010

 The importance of health care is undeniable, but although you know you should have it, the last thing you want is to actually use your policy to its full potential.  Preventative care is the key to keeping yourself consistently healthy.  You can utilize your health insurance in California by receiving beneficial coverage as you go through actions like doctor checkups, screenings, vaccinations, and teeth cleanings.  In addition to these preventative measures, you should also do things daily that help you stay healthy, like having good hygiene, exercising, and eating well.  Still, even the healthiest person should have annual doctor visits so little preventative costs can prevent expensive illnesses.

Despite the obvious importance of preventative care, many people ignore the formal doctor checkups because of the cost and time required to make such visits.  Indeed, the cost of co-pays has increased in recent years.  Plus, with the popularity of health savings accounts, people are even less prone to use their health insurance in California for preventative actions because they may be responsible for fronting the entire fee.  However, one aspect of the health care reform is an added emphasis on the need to take preventative measures to keep health care costs down.

Think about the fact that one of the biggest problems for people with health insurance is that their coverage is spotty.  To obtain low monthly premiums, people tend to sacrifice a great deal in the coverage they receive.  By taking the initiative to pay a little more now, you can avoid having a big expense not be covered by your health insurance in California.  As of this month, October 2010, the new health care law in California and around the country requires that insurance companies fully cover screenings and vaccinations that are deemed essential.

In order to know which tests will be covered by health insurance in California because of this new law, you should know that they can change so they cannot be directly stated here.  The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force recommends tests that should be considered essential and therefore free to patients with zero out-of-pocket expenses.  Also, the newly-formed Preventative and Public Health Fund will continue to fund California wellness initiatives like healthier school lunches, the construction of wellness centers, and maintained bike paths.  These health care reforms should certainly give you more motivation to perform needed preventative care for you and your family to stay healthy and avoid preventable illness and disease.

Finding Solutions for California Health Insurance for Self Employed – Levels of Coverage

December 3, 2010

 Being self employed has a number of advantages, including the fact that you can oftentimes set your own hours and even work from home, which is attractive to jobseekers. However, there are a few other factors to think about. Many individuals rely on their employers to provide health benefits, for example. If you are self employed and in need of a health insurance plan that will still cover your needs, there are still coverage options out there, without the umbrella of an employer’s network. In fact, through finding solutions for California health insurance for self employed individuals, you may even find better deals on your own.

To begin with, you’ll need to think about what your insurance coverage needs are. A healthy single working adult may only need basic emergency coverage, which is the bare minimum type of policy that is recommended. There are other, more comprehensive options that are surprisingly affordable, however, which should not be ruled out. When you are finding solutions for California health insurance for self employed individuals, take a look at freelancer’s unions or other organizations that allow the self employed to band together to garner greater discounts.

It can be difficult to find these organizations on your own, so if you are interesting in first finding solutions for California health insurance for self employed workers, it’s highly recommended to speak to a local, qualified professional who is aware of these groups. The next step is to compare the different levels of coverage, including co-pay amounts, how much freedom you have regarding choosing doctors in a certain network, and how much your premiums may go up with preexisting conditions. If you are planning on starting a family in the near future, that is another factor to take into consideration, as you will need maternity care and family coverage.

Although this advice holds true for most situations where you must acquire a new health insurance policy, it cannot be stated enough that research is everything. When you are finding solutions for California health insurance for self employed, it’s best to take the time to compare what each plan has to offer. As your company grows, you can then potentially purchase better deals on health insurance for you and your employees through an employer’s network. Be sure to ask about this possibility when you looking at the different options, to help plan a health care strategy for the future.

How Preexisting Conditions Affect your California Medical Insurance Premiums

November 17, 2010

When you are comparing different insurance plans, there are a variety of different factors to consider that could weigh into the premium that you expect to pay for full coverage. One of the first factors that you will face during the approval process is how preexisting conditions affect your California medical insurance premiums. Before current legislation passed, it was difficult to even get approved for medical insurance in the first place, with certain preexisting conditions. These could range in severity and need from terminal illness to pregnancy, but any condition that you had not received treatment for in the past six months could impact the degree of coverage that you received and whether you could be approved or denied.

Getting approved is only one of the ways how preexisting conditions affect your California medical insurance premiums, however. Once you have been approved, despite your preexisting conditions, you could be expected to pay a higher premium. There are several payment tiers that you could fall under, depending on the severity of the condition and the policy of each insurance policy. Premiums may be far higher for certain conditions, which is something to ask about in advance when you are comparing different coverage plans.

Fortunately, the issue of how preexisting conditions affect your California medical insurance premiums has lessened in the past month, due to the Affordable Care act of 2010 which just passed. This is meant to serve as an interim policy until the federal health insurance care kicks in, as scheduled in 2013. The new act stipulates that those individuals who have had no health insurance in the past six months cannot be turned down by insurance companies due to their preexisting conditions, and allows for some degree of federal funding to help offset the cost to the insurance companies as a result of this.

To find the best health insurance program for your needs that takes into account how preexisting conditions affect your California medical insurance plan premiums, it’s a good idea to speak to your insurance representative. Professional advice can help guide you to a plan that is the most cost-effective. There may be differences in between group insurance plans or individual insurance plans, as both tend to have different rules for how they treat patients that have preexisting conditions. These premiums may go down over time, after you have been paying the insurance company for six months or more.

Anthem California Medical Insurance Plans Pending DOI Approval – Anthem’s Plans

November 12, 2010

Recent health care regulatory changes that have been passed on a federal level have yet to affect many health insurance policy holders, but all that could change in the next few years. To be sure that you are prepared for these changes, it’s a good idea to speak to your health care provider and see how they are planning for it and how this will affect you. For example, Anthem is one of California’s largest health care providers, and they have certain Anthem California medical insurance plans pending DOI approval. The Department of the Interior is in charge of reviewing these changes.

For the time being, you may wish to take a look at the various types of plans that are offered by Anthem, to find one that best suits your needs. These will vary depending on whether you are self employed, have preexisting conditions, or have children to take care of. Some individual and group plans will have very similar structures, but these may be subject to Anthem California medical insurance plans pending DOI approval by the year 2013, when these changes are due to go into effect.

If you are confused about whether the Anthem California medical insurance plans pending DOI approval apply to you or not, be sure to ask your agent or insurance representative. The larger insurance companies, such as Blue Shield and Anthem, are well equipped to make the changes necessary to provide their services to a larger percentage of consumers. At the moment, for example, some people with preexisting conditions may not qualify for all of Anthem’s insurance policies, but this may change with the changes that are scheduled to take place. The new restructuring of plans has not passed quite yet.

Yet with the passing of the Anthem California medical insurance plans pending DOI approval, the wording and pay structure of these policies will certainly change at least slightly. To stay on top of these new changes, it’s highly recommended to keep checking their website. This gives a clear rundown of the current plans, and will be updated if approval occurs that changes how they work. Another way to see how the changes affect the existing plans is by asking your insurance agent to give you a side by side analysis of the various features and costs of each plan, and see how they have changed over the past few years.

California Medical Insurance – HealthNet Rate Increases

August 31, 2010

Health Net of California is rasing rate on the following California medical insurance plans. They just released the statment via email to all brokers.

A premium increase for PPO Individual & Family Plan (IFP) insureds will go into effect on
October 1, 2010.

We are keenly aware of the national debate surrounding premiums, and are presenting the increase in a straightforward, matter of fact manner. Insured retention and demonstrating that Health Net is a trusted company working on behalf of insureds are our goals.

We’ve been doing what we can to hold the line on increases by: 

  • Doing our best to keep administrative expenses down.
  • Negotiating contracts with doctors, hospitals and other providers in an effort to contain medical costs.

Despite our efforts, the cost of care continues to increase dramatically. Factors fueling costs include:

  • Increased use of new medical technologies.
  • Higher prescription drug costs.
  • Pressure on health insurance plans and the private sector to absorb higher costs as funding for public programs like Medicare and Medicaid decreases.

Premium Increase Details

  • The average increase is 17.6 percent for PPO insurance plans. 
  • The increase applies to both open and closed insurance plans. 
  • Insureds of all ages and across all regions and tiers will see an increase unless they are currently in a rate guarantee period.

We know that higher prices are never welcome. We are encouraging our insureds to contact their broker or Health Net to explore their options.

California Medical insurance – Anthem Rate Change Effective October 1 2010

August 26, 2010

  Anthem Blue Cross has just announced that they will be implementing their 2010 rate adjustments on California medical insurance individual plan that were originally scheduled for March of 2010 . The new rates were refilled with California state regulators on June 30, 2010. These new rates will take effect October 1, 2010. The resubmitted rate adjustments represent an average increase of 14% with a maximum increase of less than 20%.

Anthem will begin mailing notifications to policy holders on August 25, 2010. The new rates will apply to those who would have received a rate adjustment on March 1, April 1, May 1, June 1, July 1 and August 1, 2010. These rates will also take effect for those scheduled to receive rate adjustments on September 1 and October 1, 2010.

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