Tag: health insurance

Health Insurance, LegalShield

Important Health Care Enrollment Dates

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  • November 1, 2015: Open Enrollment started — first day you can enroll in a 2016 insurance plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Coverage can start as soon as January 1, 2016.
  • December 15, 2015: Last day to enroll in or change plans for new coverage to start January 1, 2016
  • January 1, 2016: 2016 coverage starts for those who enroll or change plans by December 15.
  • January 15, 2016: Last day to enroll in or change plans for new coverage to start February 1, 2016
  • January 31, 2016: 2016 Open Enrollment ends. Enrollments or changes between January 16 and January 31 take effect March 1, 2016.

If you don’t enroll in a 2016 health insurance plan by January 31, 2016, you can’t enroll in a health insurance plan for 2016 unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (see below.)

SPECIAL ENROLLMENT PERIOD

A time outside of the open enrollment period during which you and your family have a right to sign up for health coverage. In the Marketplace, you qualify for a special enrollment period 60 days following certain life events that involve a change in family status (for example, marriage or birth of a child) or loss of other health coverage. Job-based plans must provide a special enrollment period of 30 days.

Health Insurance, Supplemental Insurance

Do You Have Medicare Supplement Coverage?

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Don’t let health care costs drain your savings.

You have spent a lifetime working hard—planning and saving for a retirement that’s carefree.  The last thing you want to worry about when you finally hit retirement age is how you are going to pay for health care expenses.

(NEED ASSISTANCE WITH MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT COVERAGE? CONTACT ME.)

Medicare Supplement Insurance helps share your health care costs.

If you are 65 years of age or older, you are entitled to Medicare, the nation’s largest health insurance program. Because Medicare is a compromise between what is needed and what the government can afford to pay, there are obvious gaps in coverage. That is why a Medicare Supplement Insurance plan is important.

Medicare Supplement Insurance from will help pay some of your health care costs not covered by the Original Medicare Plan, like coinsurance and deductibles. Plus, it’s affordable! Our Medicare Supplement Insurance plans have rates that will not strain your household budget.

To qualify for Medicare Supplement Insurance, you must first enroll in Medicare. You can sign up for Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) by following this link for Medicare online enrollment.  If you enroll in Original Medicare, you also may enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan (Medicare Part D) to add drug coverage.

Get comprehensive coverage with Plan F.

Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan F is our most popular plan, generally because it has very comprehensive coverage available to the senior population. If you purchase this plan, you will rarely pay medical bills because all medical and hospital deductibles and coinsurance amounts for Medicare-eligible expenses are covered. Medicare Part B excess approved amounts may not exceed any charge limitations established by Medicare.

Aflac, Health Insurance

What’s worse? Taxes, dental visit or health insurance?

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What’s worse? Taxes, a dental visit or health insurance? Survey finds Americans really hate shopping for health insurance!

Everyone knows shopping for health insurance isn’t fun, but it’s not as bad as doing your own taxes, right? Wrong. A recent Bankrate survey found that Americans hate shopping for health insurance. Make that really hate shopping for health insurance. They hate it so much that 75 percent of survey participants said comparing health plans is as bad as or worse than doing their own taxes.

Contact me for information about any of your insurance needs (i.e. life, health, dental, vision, home, auto, supplemental, medicare, or commercial insurance.)

Yep, shopping for insurance is apparently beyond awful. It’s so awful that 73 percent of participants said it’s as bad as or worse than being stuffed in the middle seat of an airplane, while 64 percent said it’s as bad as or worse than having a tooth filled. Read more…

Aflac

Want Happier Employees? Offer Voluntary Benefits!

aflac-img1The number of employers offering voluntary health insurance benefits as part of their overall benefits package grew by 9% in 2014 compared to 2012, according to a study by Aflac, a major provider of voluntary options.

Aflac’s release announcing the results of the survey didn’t say whether employee demand or employer plan design changes is the primary driver of this uptick. But Aflac noted that 42% of respondents said they weren’t prepared to pay the out-of-pocket costs associated with a serious illness or accident, precisely the kinds of events voluntary options cover.

CONTACT ME FOR MORE INFORMATION ON VOLUNTARY BENEFITS

Further, the research found that employees who work for an employer that includes voluntary benefits in their plan report being more satisfied with the jobs than workers who don’t have access to voluntary options.

The satisfaction quotient cited by Aflac suggested a true link between voluntary benefits and employee happiness exists.

“According to the Aflac study, when compared to workers who are not offered voluntary insurance options, employees who are enrolled in voluntary insurance are 18% more likely to be extremely or very satisfied with their jobs.”

Other survey highlights include:

  • 38% more likely to be extremely or very satisfied with the overall benefits package offered to them.
  • 19% less likely to be extremely or very likely to look for another job in the next 12 months.
  • 64% more likely to completely or strongly agree they feel fully protected by their current insurance coverage.
Health Insurance

Better Hurry – Open Enrollment Ends February 15th

ACA-open-enrollNeed 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:

  1. Outpatient care—the kind you get without being admitted to a hospital
  2. Trips to the emergency room
  3. Treatment in the hospital for inpatient care
  4. Care before and after your baby is born
  5. Mental health and substance use disorder services: This includes behavioral health treatment, counseling, and psychotherapy
  6. Your prescription drugs
  7. 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.
  8. Your lab tests
  9. Preventive services including counseling, screenings, and vaccines to keep you healthy and care for managing a chronic disease.
  10. Pediatric services: This includes dental care and vision care for kids
Health Insurance

There’s Still Time To Get Health Insurance Coverage for 2015

Exchanges_Open_Enrollment2015-01Need health care coverage for 2015? There’s still time to enroll in a plan for 2015 that meets your needs and budget. Your coverage can start on February 1 or March 1, depending on when you enroll. Open Enrollment ends on February 15, 2015. There are many health care options for you. Contact me if you need assistance.

Health Insurance

Do You Qualify for Help Paying Your Health Insurance?

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Did you miss out on getting help paying for your health plan?

Many individuals and families are eligible for financial assistance that lowers the cost of your plan. Are you one of them? See what you could SAVE by taking a few minutes to use this subsidy estimator.

Need help choosing the right health insurance plan for you and your family? Need assistance with the subsidy estimator? If so, contact me and I will walk you step-by-step through the process and explain the options available for you.

What is a subsidy?

A subsidy is a kind of assistance that helps you pay for something – in this case, health coverage. You can use the subsidy estimator to find out if you may be eligible for financial assistance from the government that helps lower the cost of your health plan. You only need to tell us four things:

  1. The number of adults that will be insured by your plan and their ages.
  2. The number of household members age 20 and younger that will be insured by your plan.
  3. Your household income.
  4. The county you live in.

Knowing if you’ll get a subsidy can make a difference in how you choose individual health insurance. It’s just like shopping for anything else. You have more options when you know you’ll be saving money.

Need help choosing the right health insurance plan for you and your family? Need assistance with the subsidy estimator? If so, contact me and I will walk you step-by-step through the process and explain the options available for you.

Health Insurance

2015 HEALTHCARE OPEN ENROLLMENT

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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

2015 enrollment and coverage start dates

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.

You can enroll in Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) any time.

If you own or operate a small business, you can start offering coverage to your employees any time. Contact me for a FREE GROUP QUOTE!

If you don’t enroll in 2015 coverage

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.

If you need assistance with your healthcare coverage, contact me, I can help!