Is Guarantee Issue Health Insurance for Children going into effect on Sept. 23rd ?

Some of you have been asking us about this feature of the HCR (Health Care Reform) bill. I’m going to share with you a clarification that I received from Anthem Blue Cross. This one aspect of the massive HCR law, which will take effect on Sept. 23 applies only to the following:
1) If an overage dependent has been dropped from a health plan in the past due to having attained age 23, this dependent will be allowed to enroll, guarantee-issue, back onto the parent’s plan after Sept. 23rd, as long as they are not yet age 26.
2) The no pre-existing condition rule for children means that children (under age 18) will no longer have to be subject to the 6 month pre-existing condition waiting period (which currently applies to all PPO plans for individuals who did not have continuous coverage, or did not have prior creditable coverage making them eligible for the 6 month pre-existing condition waiting period waiver.)
3) Rule #2 above does not bar insurers from still denying coverage or ‘rating up premiums’ for dependents (with pre-existing conditions) who do not satisfy Rule #1 above.
4) Rule #4 above has since been revised by the regulators after further discussions and negotiations with insurance companies.  The rules now mandate Guarantee Issue as well as the elimination of Pre-Existing Condition waiting periods for children.

© Philip W Lee, www.health-insurance.com, www.healthplantalk.com

Small Business Health Care Plan Tax Credits

Did you receive a small  postcard in the mail from the IRS notifying you of the existence of the Small Business Tax Credit for Health Care provided for by the recently passed Patient Protection and Affordable Care  Act or Health Care Reform Act?   The links below give you the official Dept. of Treasury, IRS, definitions and guidelines for qualifying for these tax credits.

IRS Overview:

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=223666,00.html

Frequently Asked Questions:

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=220839,00.html

In particular, the following 3 Simple Steps Chart helps you to determine if your company may qualify for these credits.

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/3_simple_steps.pdf

For more information on Group Health Insurance, please go to www.health-insurance.com or call 800-286-7445.

© Philip W Lee, www.health-insurance.com, www.healthplantalk.com

Retail Health Clinics: Good way to save money, especially if you’re using Health Savings Accounts

I just learned that Anthem Blue Cross expanded their network of providers to include Retail Health Clinics: small, walk-in clinics located inside retail outlets, like pharmacies and supermarkets.  For those of you on HSA-compatible health plans, this is another way to reduce your medical expenses, leaving more in your tax-free account for retirement.  For more details …

(Below article from Anthem Blue Cross News Flash, 6/3/2010)
[Read more…]

Differences Between Individual and Group Health Insurance

For those individuals or family members who are not covered by an employer group health insurance plan, the individual health insurance market is the most popular first place to shop due to the attractive and affordable premiums. The monthly premiums for these plans are generally lower than what employers pay for group health plans, and therefore also lower than Cobra premiums. In addition there is a wide selection of plans with lower benefit levels (i.e. higher deductibles and fewer bells and whistles) and thus lower premiums for those with smaller budgets. The most important thing to know about the individual health insurance plan market is that you have to have good health to qualify. There is an application and underwriting process that determines your eligibility for these plans. There is generally no risk and no obligation in applying. Depending on your individual circumstances, the application process may take anywhere from a few minutes to several weeks. The application process and medical approval may involve the insurance underwriter having to obtain medical records from your physicians. The end result is that you may be either accepted, accepted at a higher rate level, postponed or declined for coverage.

Find Rates and Quotes for Affordable Health Insurance Plans at www.health-insurance.com.

© Philip W Lee, www.health-insurance.com, www.healthplantalk.com

Learn about California’s Efficient Health Insurance Market

California regulates health insurance to protect consumers, but does not overly restrict competition and free market forces.

California has a good number of insurance carriers each offering a wide selection of PPO and HMO type plans to consumers, small business and large corporations, in a free market environment.

All the rates, the plans and the benefits offered by all the health insurance carriers in California are pre-approved by the state’s regulatory agencies: the Department of Managed Care and the Department of Insurance.  All rate increases are also pre-approved by these state agencies.

Consumers in California can find affordable individual and family health insurance plans that are often one half, one third or less than those offered in states like New York and Massachusetts where well-meaning but misguided state regulations have driven out affordable health insurance plans.

California has a much larger network of physicians and hospitals than most other states.  Also, a very high percentage of doctors and hospitals participate in PPO and HMO Networks.

© Philip W Lee, www.health-insurance.com, www.healthplantalk.com

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Lee Health Insurance Services | Healthcare Insurance Agency, Individual Health Insurance, Family Health Plans, Group Medical Insurance, Small Business Health Insurance, Whole & Term Life Insurance, Dental Insurance, Health Care Reform Assistance, Covered California Insurance Exchange Plans, Medicare Supplement Insurance, Medicare Advantage, Medigap Plans, Anthem Blue Cross, Kaiser Permanente, Blue Shield of CA, Health Net, Cigna, Aetna, Contra Costa County CA, Pleasant Hill, Danville, Concord, Berkeley, Martinez, Albany, Oakland, San Ramon, Alameda, Santa Clara, Campbell, Milpitas, Cupertino, Sunnyvale, Saratoga, Fremont, Palo Alto, Newark | 935 Moraga Road, Suite 240, Lafayette CA 94549 (925) 284-2000 or Toll-Free, (800) 286-7445