It’s come to my attention that Kaiser Medicare Advantage HMO has raised its Annual Out of Pocket maximum to $6,700 starting on Jan. 1, 2018. This could be a financial burden for many seniors.
As an alternative, Medicare Supplement Plan F has $0 Out of Pocket costs for any Medicare-eligible medical expense (except for a separate Prescription Drug Plan), and allow access to any Medicare provider in the U.S.
For those turning 65 in Contra Costa, Anthem Blue Cross Medicare Supplement Plan F plan premiums can be as low as $115/month, after discounts. (This is compared to Kaiser Medicare Advantage’s monthly premium of $103/month, including Rx.)
If you have any questions, we’d be happy to consult with you on your options.
(The above is meant to be informational. This information has not been approved by CMS or any regulatory agency. This is not sales material and should not be relied upon to make purchase decisions. We recommend that you consult a knowledgeable insurance agent before making any decisions.)
Phil Lee
Lee Health Insurance Services 925-284-2000
www.Health-Insurance.com
Employee Benefits & Health Insurance
(Note: This information concerns those who are on Individual & Family health plans. It does not concern you if you are on Medicare or an Employer or Employee on a Group-sponsored or Government-sponsored health plan. This information pertains only to California and does not apply to other states.)
This is a reminder that if you are currently on an Anthem Blue Cross Individual or Family (IFP) health plan (not Medicare or Group plan), and you received a notice from Anthem that your health plan will not be renewed on Jan. 1, then you need to take action by Dec. 15.
On Jan. 1, Anthem will be withdrawing IFP plans from all regions in California EXCEPT for 3. Those 3 regions and the affected counties are listed below. These include 22 sparsely populated counties in N. Calif., Santa Clara county and 5 counties in the Central Valley.
The IFP plans that are affected include plans within the Covered CA Exchange (On-Exchange), as well as plans outside the Covered CA Exchange (Off-Exchange). They include Subsidized plans as well as Non-Subsidized health plans. Those who are on Grandfathered IFP plans are not affected.
If you need help securing a plan from an alternate insurance carrier such as Blue Shield, Health Net or Kaiser, please contact me at [email protected] or call 925-284-2000 Ext. 101.
Anthem Blue Cross IFP Plans will be discontinued on Jan. 1 from all CA Counties EXCEPT the following:
Sincerely,
Phil Lee Lee Health Insurance Services
925-284-2000 Ext. 101
Employee Benefits & Health Insurance
]]>This is a reminder that we are in Open Enrollment season for several lines of health insurance plans.
(A) For Those Under Age 65 on Individual & Family Plans
• Annual Open Enrollment period (AEP) this year runs from Nov. 1 through Jan. 31.
• You may enroll into or change Covered CA On-Exchange (with subsidy) as well as Off-Exchange (no subsidy) plans.
• Competitive Rate Comparison Proposals for On Exchange as well as Off Exchange plans are now available for Jan. 1, 2018. Please let us know if you would like one prepared for you.
• On Jan. 1, Anthem Blue Cross will be terminating their Individual plans in most counties in California except for some in rural Northern California.
• If you received a cancellation notice from Anthem Blue Cross, please contact us for a proposal to show you alternative plans from Blue Shield, Health Net, Kaiser, etc.
• If you received a large rate increase, ask us for a proposal showing alternatives.
(B) For Those Seniors Over Age 65 on Medicare
• For those on Supplement plans, there is NO Open Enrollment Period. Your supplement plans do not require renewal and continue uninterrupted until you cancel it.
• For those on Supplement Plan F, CMS (Center for Medicare Medicaid Services) will prohibit new sales after Jan. 2020. But those who are already on Plan F at that time will be grandfathered indefinitely.
• For those wishing to switch from a Medicare Advantage HMO plan to a Supplement Plan, there is no Open Enrollment and no Guarantee-Issue (GI) unless you have a Qualifying Event (QE), such as a move from out of state. You will wish to review the 13 Guarantee-Issue (GI) situations in CA that you may possibly qualify for. Even if you don’t qualify, there is no penalty for applying and going through the non-GI underwriting (approval) process. Chances are good that you may still qualify based on your health. The process for this type of transition is tricky and the timing very tight. If you think you may want to do this, start this process early to give yourself enough time to receive approval. We recommend that you seek professional assistance from an experienced agent knowledgeable in this area.
(The above is meant to be informational. This information has not been approved by CMS or any regulatory agency. This is not sales material and should not be relied upon to make purchase decisions. We recommend that you consult a knowledgeable insurance agent before making any decisions.)
Phil Lee
Lee Health Insurance Services 925-284-2000
www.linkedIn.com/in/philwlee
www.Health-Insurance.com
[email protected]
Employee Benefits & Health Insurance