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Small Business Insurance Articles

Small business insurance updates. Latest news and changes regarding California small business insurance and resources for small businesses

2013 Sep 06

Understanding California Health Care Reform / Obamacare / Affordable Care Act / ACA

By |September 6th, 2013 |Categories: (SHOP) Covered California Small Business Articles, ACA, Covered California, Health Benefit Exchange, Health Insurance Reform, Individual Medical Insurance Articles, Large Group Medical Insurance Articles, Small Business Articles, Videos|Tags: , , , , , , , |

We've prepared easy-to-understand videos that explain the new health care reform law (Affordable Care Ace, ACA, Obama Care). Topics include how to complete the required notices (Exchange, SBC & Glossary); an overview of individual and family coverage including Covered California; and problems of the current system that the ACA solves.

2013 Aug 13

Covered California Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Exchange Rates

By |August 13th, 2013 |Categories: (SHOP) Covered California Small Business Articles, ACA, Covered California, Health Benefit Exchange, Health Insurance Reform, Small Business Articles|

Given the rates SHOP released and the new rules for rating individual and small group health insurance, I am led to the conclusion that some small groups (and individuals) will likely pay much more than they currently do - while some may pay less.

2013 May 17

Health Care Reform Update: Action in Sacramento

By |May 17th, 2013 |Categories: Small Business Articles, ACA, Covered California, Health Benefit Exchange, Health Insurance Reform|

Much is in flux with the ACA and we should accept that many good questions do not have answers – yet. Michael Lujan, Director of Sales and Marketing for Covered California advised us to “get the facts.” We should be comfortable saying: “here is what we know now and here is what has not been determined. We don’t have the information to answer all of the questions… at this time. ”

2013 Apr 08

California Exchange (HBEX) Shocks Insurance Industry with Selection of SHOP Administrator

By |April 8th, 2013 |Categories: ACA, Covered California, Health Benefit Exchange, Health Insurance Reform, Small Business Articles|

California’s Health Benefit Exchange (HBEX)  also known as “Covered California,” sent an email to agents on Friday, April 5, 2013 to announce that they had selected Pinnacle Claims Management, Inc. to run the California SHOP exchange for small businesses. This shocked many in the insurance community including carrier reps, [...]

2013 Mar 13

Enroll in Medicare or Stay on Your Employer’s Health Plan – a Helpful Guide

By |March 13th, 2013 |Categories: Individual Medical Insurance Articles, Small Business Articles|Tags: , |

I've just written a helpful guide for people who continue to work and must decide whether they should enroll in Medicare or stay on their employer's group medical plan. It turns out that the decision is a bit complicated and the answer depends on: •who's paying for the group plan (employer or employee); •whether the employee also has dependents enrolled on the group plan; and - oddly enough - •how much the employee earns... The article is sprinkled with a few funny things - so it's not as dry as you might imagine. If you're in this situation or if you know someone who is, you should read the article. Learn more by clicking on the link above.

2013 Feb 12

Health Insurance Marketplace: the New Name for the Federal Exchange

By |February 12th, 2013 |Categories: ACA, Covered California, Health Benefit Exchange, Health Insurance Reform, Individual Medical Insurance Articles, Small Business Articles|

The Federal government has re-branded its health insurance "exchange" as the "Health Insurance Marketplace." A video on the government's web site suggests that shopping in the Health Insurance Marketplace will be as easy as buying food in a grocery store. The government makes some pretty bold claims

2013 Jan 29

Individual Coverage for Employees: Health Care Reform (ACA) May Create Opportunities for Small Businesses

By |January 29th, 2013 |Categories: Covered California, Health Benefit Exchange, Health Insurance Reform, Individual Medical Insurance Articles, Small Business Articles|

In 2014, when the new market rules take effect, a business owner may be able to choose between the small group and individual market to purchase coverage for employees... Same product in two separate markets offered at different prices. A small business owner’s arbitrage opportunity would be to purchase health insurance for employees in the market with the lowest price.

2013 Jan 28

Waive or Decline – A Huge Difference for California Small Group Health Insurance Plans under Health Care Reform(ACA)

By |January 28th, 2013 |Categories: Covered California, Health Benefit Exchange, Health Insurance Reform, Individual Medical Insurance Articles, Small Business Articles|

"The BIG, hugely impactful decision Covered California, DOI and DMHC must make is: must an insurance company consider an employee enrolled in an individual health insurance plan.. to have a valid “waiver”. or [is it] a “declination” of group coverage."

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