Comments for California Health Insurance Information and News http://www.benefitscafe.com/blog Thu, 06 Sep 2012 05:46:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 Comment on California Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) vs. California Major Risk Medical Insurance Plan (MRMIP) by admin http://www.benefitscafe.com/blog/2011/05/02/california-pre-existing-condition-insurance-plan-pcip-vs-california-major-risk-medical-insurance-plan-mrmip/comment-page-1/#comment-43324 admin Thu, 06 Sep 2012 05:46:52 +0000 http://www.benefitscafe.com/blog/?p=176#comment-43324 Jerri, I am so sorry to hear about your difficult position. From what you have explained, when your husband retires you will be eligible for health insurance coverage through COBRA or Cal-COBRA. Your husband can enroll in Medicare with a supplmental policy or he can enroll in a senior HMO (Medicare advantage plan.) You should consult your husband's HR department to fully understand your options and premiums under COBRA or Cal-COBRA. As I understand that you are currently insured you would not be eligible for the PCIP plan because of their requirement that a person must have been uninsured for 6 months. Similarly, the MRMIP plan requires that an applicant have no other health insurance option and you would have COBRA or Cal-COBRA as an option. It seems that COBRA or Cal-COBRA is your best option. The pre-existing medical conditions you describe imply that you would likely be declined for a private individual plan. I hope that this information is helpful and I wish you the best of luck. Please call us if you feel that we can be of further assistance. Jerri, I am so sorry to hear about your difficult position. From what you have explained, when your husband retires you will be eligible for health insurance coverage through COBRA or Cal-COBRA. Your husband can enroll in Medicare with a supplmental policy or he can enroll in a senior HMO (Medicare advantage plan.) You should consult your husband’s HR department to fully understand your options and premiums under COBRA or Cal-COBRA. As I understand that you are currently insured you would not be eligible for the PCIP plan because of their requirement that a person must have been uninsured for 6 months. Similarly, the MRMIP plan requires that an applicant have no other health insurance option and you would have COBRA or Cal-COBRA as an option. It seems that COBRA or Cal-COBRA is your best option. The pre-existing medical conditions you describe imply that you would likely be declined for a private individual plan. I hope that this information is helpful and I wish you the best of luck. Please call us if you feel that we can be of further assistance.

]]> Comment on California Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) vs. California Major Risk Medical Insurance Plan (MRMIP) by Jerri Mack http://www.benefitscafe.com/blog/2011/05/02/california-pre-existing-condition-insurance-plan-pcip-vs-california-major-risk-medical-insurance-plan-mrmip/comment-page-1/#comment-43316 Jerri Mack Thu, 06 Sep 2012 01:56:19 +0000 http://www.benefitscafe.com/blog/?p=176#comment-43316 I have been paying for major risk insurancs for a chronic illness since approx. 1998. I am unable to work although I have not been certified as this by whoever is authorized to decide if it is impossible for a patient to work. I am in severe chronic pain, under a doctors care since the late 1990's. At that time my rheumatologist threw up her hands & said you are in more pain than I know how to deal with; I;m sending you to pain management. I have seen an endocrinologist, rheumatolagist, internist, the general feeling is I have one or several autoimmune disorders. I am not going to live through 6 months without health are & medication, forget waiting for 2014. Are you an alternative for me? I am shaking while I write this, the idea of losing my insurance which affords me a quality of life of even the humblest sort. My husband would like to divorce me, which would be a good idea, it would improve my life, however he is not the type who would just leave me on the street. He is retiring at the end of September. I am 58 years old. He is 74. He's had it being my care taker. My & my daughters medical and her university degrees which are paid, & we have no real retirement savings, so I;ll be broke & we will sell the house with a small amount of equity to add to his social security which I am entitled to part of I thin, or my own. Sorry to wander, I am in horrible pain and scared to death. Is there a program you have that would help me? Thanks you sincerely! Jerri I have been paying for major risk insurancs for a chronic illness since approx. 1998. I am unable to work although I have not been certified as this by whoever is authorized to decide if it is impossible for a patient to work. I am in severe chronic pain, under a doctors care since the late 1990′s. At that time my rheumatologist threw up her hands & said you are in more pain than I know how to deal with; I;m sending you to pain management. I have seen an endocrinologist, rheumatolagist, internist, the general feeling is I have one or several autoimmune disorders. I am not going to live through 6 months without health are & medication, forget waiting for 2014. Are you an alternative for me? I am shaking while I write this, the idea of losing my insurance which affords me a quality of life of even the humblest sort. My husband would like to divorce me, which would be a good idea, it would improve my life, however he is not the type who would just leave me on the street. He is retiring at the end of September. I am 58 years old. He is 74. He’s had it being my care taker. My & my daughters medical and her university degrees which are paid, & we have no real retirement savings, so I;ll be broke & we will sell the house with a small amount of equity to add to his social security which I am entitled to part of I thin, or my own. Sorry to wander, I am in horrible pain and scared to death. Is there a program you have that would help me?
Thanks you sincerely!
Jerri

]]> Comment on California Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) vs. California Major Risk Medical Insurance Plan (MRMIP) by admin http://www.benefitscafe.com/blog/2011/05/02/california-pre-existing-condition-insurance-plan-pcip-vs-california-major-risk-medical-insurance-plan-mrmip/comment-page-1/#comment-40696 admin Wed, 25 Jul 2012 04:47:20 +0000 http://www.benefitscafe.com/blog/?p=176#comment-40696 Hi Brad, you would need to apply for a health insurance plan and disclose your medical history. The insurance company would evaluate your medical history including the recent problems that you are having. It sounds like you're concerned that you may need another surgery. Pending surgery is typically an automatic decline. If the insurance company declines to offer you an individual policy, you may be eligible for the PCIP plan. Give us a call if you would like to discuss and/or apply for coverage. Hi Brad, you would need to apply for a health insurance plan and disclose your medical history. The insurance company would evaluate your medical history including the recent problems that you are having. It sounds like you’re concerned that you may need another surgery. Pending surgery is typically an automatic decline. If the insurance company declines to offer you an individual policy, you may be eligible for the PCIP plan. Give us a call if you would like to discuss and/or apply for coverage.

]]> Comment on California Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) vs. California Major Risk Medical Insurance Plan (MRMIP) by Brad http://www.benefitscafe.com/blog/2011/05/02/california-pre-existing-condition-insurance-plan-pcip-vs-california-major-risk-medical-insurance-plan-mrmip/comment-page-1/#comment-34798 Brad Tue, 15 May 2012 20:34:52 +0000 http://www.benefitscafe.com/blog/?p=176#comment-34798 I had a torn meniscus about 6 years ago during high school and surgery 3 years ago during college and I recently graduated, and I have not had insurance coverage or a job for nearly 6 months since. the knee I had the arthroscopic surgery for is starting to bother me again, I believe it may have torn again, would it be considered as a pre-existing condition to insurance companies? I had a torn meniscus about 6 years ago during high school and surgery 3 years ago during college and I recently graduated, and I have not had insurance coverage or a job for nearly 6 months since. the knee I had the arthroscopic surgery for is starting to bother me again, I believe it may have torn again, would it be considered as a pre-existing condition to insurance companies?

]]> Comment on Guaranteed Health Insurance for Children in California by Michelle Vanhille http://www.benefitscafe.com/blog/2010/10/18/guaranteed-health-insurance-for-children-in-california/comment-page-1/#comment-26470 Michelle Vanhille Tue, 10 Jan 2012 22:41:03 +0000 http://www.benefitscafe.com/blog/?p=120#comment-26470 Question, my son has been extremely healthy for his entire 13 years. Only one hospital visit, which happened 2 months ago for an extreme migraine. He is in perfect health. Becuase of this one visit to the hopsital the insurance carried told me that Blue Cross will 'guarantee issue' but they will increase his monthly payment - 325%!!! How does this equate to guaranteed coverage when they are legally allowed to charge to much? It makes the health insurance not affordable. This seems to be excessive. Question, my son has been extremely healthy for his entire 13 years. Only one hospital visit, which happened 2 months ago for an extreme migraine. He is in perfect health. Becuase of this one visit to the hopsital the insurance carried told me that Blue Cross will ‘guarantee issue’ but they will increase his monthly payment – 325%!!! How does this equate to guaranteed coverage when they are legally allowed to charge to much? It makes the health insurance not affordable. This seems to be excessive.

]]> Comment on Small Business Health Insurance Tax Credit – IRS Guidelines by Bruce Jugan http://www.benefitscafe.com/blog/2010/04/02/small-business-health-insurance-tax-credit-irs-guidelines/comment-page-1/#comment-130 Bruce Jugan Thu, 22 Apr 2010 04:00:37 +0000 http://www.benefitscafe.com/blog_news/?p=97#comment-130 Marcus, I disagree with your prediction that the new health insurance tax subsidy will encourage business owners to hold down wages. Personally, I don't think that a tax subsidy of 35% of the employees' health insurance premium is a large enough incentive to create that outcome. My experience with business owners is that those who provide health insurance to their workers, particularly to low wage earners, really care about their employees. In my opinion, the subsidy will help employers partially off-set the high cost of health insurance. Also, in 2014 the subsidy will only have a 2 year duration. Personally, I hope the tax subsidy will not have the dire effect you suggest. However, we'll have to wait and see. Marcus, I disagree with your prediction that the new health insurance tax subsidy will encourage business owners to hold down wages. Personally, I don’t think that a tax subsidy of 35% of the employees’ health insurance premium is a large enough incentive to create that outcome. My experience with business owners is that those who provide health insurance to their workers, particularly to low wage earners, really care about their employees. In my opinion, the subsidy will help employers partially off-set the high cost of health insurance. Also, in 2014 the subsidy will only have a 2 year duration. Personally, I hope the tax subsidy will not have the dire effect you suggest. However, we’ll have to wait and see.

]]> Comment on Small Business Health Insurance Tax Credit – IRS Guidelines by Marcus http://www.benefitscafe.com/blog/2010/04/02/small-business-health-insurance-tax-credit-irs-guidelines/comment-page-1/#comment-128 Marcus Thu, 22 Apr 2010 02:38:18 +0000 http://www.benefitscafe.com/blog_news/?p=97#comment-128 I can't figure how this is a net gain. Employers are incentivized to keep their wages low, and company rolls below a 25 person threshold. If I'm a business owner faced with that situation, the first thing I'm going to want to do is liquidate my mid-range wage earner and replace them with low range wage earners so that I still have the flexibility to keep my top talent incentivized. The next thing I'm going to do is drop my entry level wage from $35k to $25k to further keep that $50k average in check. Ultimately, this reform seems to depress wages. And even worse, it incentivizes employers to keep earnings to themselves instead of offering profit sharing. This seems like a counter-productive reform. I can’t figure how this is a net gain. Employers are incentivized to keep their wages low, and company rolls below a 25 person threshold. If I’m a business owner faced with that situation, the first thing I’m going to want to do is liquidate my mid-range wage earner and replace them with low range wage earners so that I still have the flexibility to keep my top talent incentivized. The next thing I’m going to do is drop my entry level wage from $35k to $25k to further keep that $50k average in check. Ultimately, this reform seems to depress wages. And even worse, it incentivizes employers to keep earnings to themselves instead of offering profit sharing.

This seems like a counter-productive reform.

]]> Comment on Huge Rate Increases in California Small Group Health Insurance January 1, 2010 by Anonymous http://www.benefitscafe.com/blog/2009/11/06/huge-rate-increases-in-california-small-group-health-insurance-january-1-2010/comment-page-1/#comment-2 Anonymous Thu, 28 Jan 2010 21:02:00 +0000 http://www.benefitscafe.com/blog_news/?p=4#comment-2 Hi Bruce - I live in Marin County..my husband and I have an individual PPO Share plan. Jan. 2009 BC notified us of a 35% rate hike. Oct. 2009 they closed our plan to new members. Yesterday, we were notified of another rate hike - this time 40%. That's 75% in one year. the cost of our insurance is now equal to our mortgage - in Marin County, no less. this doesn't count the cost of the plan for our 26 year old daughter, which we still pay. Our total out of pocket is 5k per person, or 10K for both of us...BC blocks most plans, without underwriting. at a higher deductible, our total out of pocket and pharmacy costs are astronomical. Hi Bruce – I live in Marin County..my husband and I have an individual PPO Share plan. Jan. 2009 BC notified us of a 35% rate hike. Oct. 2009 they closed our plan to new members. Yesterday, we were notified of another rate hike – this time 40%. That's 75% in one year. the cost of our insurance is now equal to our mortgage – in Marin County, no less. this doesn't count the cost of the plan for our 26 year old daughter, which we still pay. Our total out of pocket is 5k per person, or 10K for both of us…BC blocks most plans, without underwriting. at a higher deductible, our total out of pocket and pharmacy costs are astronomical.

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