Need health insurance? Better hurry! Open enrollment ends February 15th!
There’s still time to enroll in a plan for 2015 that meets your needs and budget. Your coverage can start on March 1. There are many health care options for you. Contact me if you need assistance.
What’s covered in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Plans:
These essential health benefits include at least the following items and services:
Outpatient care—the kind you get without being admitted to a hospital
Trips to the emergency room
Treatment in the hospital for inpatient care
Care before and after your baby is born
Mental health and substance use disorder services: This includes behavioral health treatment, counseling, and psychotherapy
Your prescription drugs
Services and devices to help you recover if you are injured, or have a disability or chronic condition. This includes physical and occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, psychiatric rehabilitation, and more.
Your lab tests
Preventive services including counseling, screenings, and vaccines to keep you healthy and care for managing a chronic disease.
Pediatric services: This includes dental care and vision care for kids
When we get sick, we don’t always need to go to a doctor’s office, do we? Going to the doctor for a cold that won’t go away versus going to the doctor for an annual exam or cancer screening are much different. The problem is that medical staffs are short staffed. If your appointment is at 3:00 pm, you are expected to check-in at 2:45 pm and may not even see your doctor until 4:00pm. This means, you have to leave work early and miss out on pay.
Today, I want to share how you can see a doctor in a different way – via phone/video! Sounds crazy, but with all advances in technology, it’s genius! Did you know…?
70% of all doctor visits could have been handled via phone/video?
With the Affordable Health Care Act, and Universal Healthcare costs, many Americans are finding themselves in positions that are, well, not so affordable. I’ve personally met with people who say that they would rather take the required fine for not purchasing insurance then pay their insurance premium. There are two sides to every story, but the truth be told:
HEALTH CARE COSTS ARE TOO HIGH.
As a business owner myself, I find that it is difficult to make time to see the doctor, and pay out of pocket office visit fees for a simple infection or cough. Financially, it hurts both me, and my business. If you work full-time, attend school, or have a jam packed schedule, you can relate. Even IF I am forced to enroll in Universal Health Care, what if my doctor is overbooked or I simply can’t afford to take time to go?
While having this conversation with a colleague, he told me about a program which will cover individuals or entire families! Teledoc! I can actually sign up for this program, and use my phone to contact a doctordirectly for minor illnesses. On top of that, he will write a prescription if necessary and fax it to my pharmacy.
While working in this new Affordable Health Care system, I see areas which are causing premiums to rise. You see, most healthy young people, between 18-35 don’t visit the doctor too often. This is what the Affordable Health Care Act is banking on for the funding of the new system. The younger people are required to pay in to the system, but likely won’t use their physician as much. Not just that, I have several clients and family members over the age of 60 years old who’s premiums have also gone up! This is not affordable for any of us.
What if there was another solution for those who find health insurance unafforable, or even for those who already have health insurance, but want a supplement program? There is!
The Open Enrollment period for 2015 coverage is November 15, 2014 to February 15, 2015.
If you haven’t enrolled in 2015 coverage by February 15, you generally can’t buy Marketplace health coverage for 2015 unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
Deadlines if you have 2014 coverage
If you’re enrolled in a 2014 Marketplace plan, your coverage ends December 31, 2014. This is true no matter when your 2014 coverage began.
To continue health coverage in 2015, you can renew your current health plan or choose a new plan through the Marketplace until February 15, 2015.
During 2015 Open Enrollment, if you enroll or change plans:
Between the 1st and 15th days of the month, your coverage starts the first day of the next month.
Between the 16th and the last day of the month, your coverage starts the first day of the second following month. So if you enroll on January 16, your coverage starts on March 1.
Between February 1, 2015 and the deadline of February 15, 2015, your 2015 coverage begins March 1, 2015.
If you don’t have health coverage during 2015, you may have to pay a penalty. The fee in 2015 is higher than it was for 2014 — 2% of your income or $325 per adult/$162.50 per child, whichever is more.
Need health insurance? Better hurry! Open enrollment ends February 15th!
