Tag Archives: Healthcare Education
Private Pay or Penalties It’s All Your Choice
As we move closer towards the end of the year there is no assurance that folks will be buying insurance under the Obamacare. In a recent survey nearly two-thirds of Americans who currently do not have health insurance still do not know if they will purchase that coverage by January 1, 2014. Nearly 50% of those surveyed believe that the Affordable Care Act will make it more difficult for them to get the care that they will need in a timely manner for tests and other procedures. Also found is that 68 percent of lower income families weren’t sure that they could even qualify for the tax credits that would subsidize their purchase of health insurance. 64 percent of the people also said that they haven’t decided if they will purchase insurance by the January 1st deadline and that they really have no clue on how to proceed. Under the ACA, uninsured Americans have until the beginning of 2014 to purchase insurance through healthcare exchanges being set up nationwide or other venues—or face a financial penalty. That penalty is equal to $95 per adult, and $47.50 per child, up to a maximum of $285—or 1 percent of household income, whichever …
+ Read Full Post7 Key Terms in the Affordable Care Act that Small Businesses Should Know
The Affordable Care Act includes new health care reform terms used to describe parts of the law that affect small business. Understanding what these terms mean can help both self-employed individuals and small employers better navigate the law and take advantage of reforms that are helping to lower premium costs and increase access to quality, affordable health insurance. The agents at “Healthcare Solutions Team” are the most educated in the country when it comes to your well-being. Here are seven terms in the Affordable Care Act that small businesses should know. At “Healthcare Solutions Team” we want to educate you, the small business owner so that you can educate your employees! 1. Affordable Insurance Exchange Also known as the health insurance “Marketplace,” the Affordable Insurance Exchange is a new transparent, competitive insurance marketplace where individuals and small businesses can purchase affordable and qualified health benefit plans. The Marketplace for small employers, known as the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP), and the Individual Marketplace for consumers and those who are self-employed, will open in all states on January 1, 2014. Enrollment begins on October 1, 2013. To get the latest updates on enrollment, sign up for email and text alerts …
+ Read Full PostTWIST & SHOUT!!!!
Let me ask you a question. What comes to mind when you hear the phrase “retail health care?” Perhaps a fast consultation with a nurse at a Minute Clinic or flu shots at the local Target Pharmacy? What is happening is that Blue Cross Blue Shield has put forth the innovative effort to create its own basic health and wellness center. The very first of its kind has opened in “Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania” with the hopes of expanding all over the country. Having health care at our finger tips seems to be popular these days. Instant gratification isn’t always the right thing to aim for is it? With the medical field being impacted with the “Health Care Reform Act” the last thing we as consumers need to do is go the way of the fast and instant, leaving the slow and steady relationships on the side of the road. In all actuality, having an established relationship with a physician that you trust, is the best type to have because of the changes that are coming in 2014, don’t you agree? As the clock shouts loudly on the mandatory health coverage demanded by the “Affordable Care Act,” these coverage requirements will …
+ Read Full PostHow Will The Insurance Exchange Operate?
I bet you’re wondering how this is all going to come together right? On October 1, 2013 an exchange operated jointly by the state and federal governments will become active allowing pre-registration for the plans offered in the “Obama-care exchanges.” In the state of Illinois, lawmakers are considering a bill to create a state-run exchange beginning in 2014. If the legislature does not approve that bill by May 31-the last day of the legislative session-the jointly run program could continue or Illinois could move to the federal only exchange. When the exchange is created, small businesses and individuals form a large pool, opening the possibility of more choices for insurance policies. The exchange will allow consumers to compare insurance plans (including Medicaid) and the rates. Unfortunately, even after all this work there is no guarantee that the rate that you seek will be less expensive then what we can offer. In fact, we have been actively working with the exchange in comparing prices and unless you are 400% below the poverty line there is a very strong possibility that you will end up paying more on your own than you would with us. Healthcare Solutions Team has prepared their agents …
+ Read Full PostFUNDING FALLING SHORT!
Washington announced that the federal funding is running out for an Affordable Care Act program meant to provide temporary health insurance for people with pre-existing medical conditions, forcing some states to stop signing up new participants. The critics of the act said on Sunday, April 7th, 2013, that the $5 billion that they had for the pre-existing condition insurance program was never enough to actually fund the program. The enrollees with very serious medical conditions such as cancer and heart disease are the ones that are very expensive to treat. That is why at “Healthcare Solutions Team” we have given our health insurance agents all the tools to help give you the choices that you need to protect yourself and your family. There are plenty of options that we can offer that will still give you the benefits of the health care reform plans and save you money! About 135,000 people nationwide signed up for the PCIP before the federal government shut down enrollment last month, saying there wasn’t enough money to continue. Some claims had run as high as $225,000. Coverage will continue for people already enrolled, but they now face higher costs. Because of the stall in funding …
+ Read Full PostMEDICAL COVERAGE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE UNAFFORDABLE!
March is the month that transitions us from the bleak, dark days of winter into the sunny and bright days of spring! We long to be outside enjoying the weather and activities that we have to avoid in winter. With each season passing, we try to fit fun into our busy schedules. It is important to protect your home, car and most importantly your health! That is where medical insurance comes into play. Without it you risk losing everything you have worked so hard to build. Medical coverage does not have to be “unaffordable!” At “Healthcare Solutions Team” we make sure that you know that we have plans for “health needs” as well as your “dental needs” that are “affordable! That’s right! Affordable health insurance as well as affordable dental insurance! All it takes is you making that “transition” to a plan(s) that will make sure you are safe and that you do not dread the thought of not being prepared. With the new “Healthcare reform plans” that will be in place by 2014, you can be confident that we have the availability to custom design the plans that you need. With our “affordable dental insurance” it …
+ Read Full PostNOT A THREAT BUT A REALITY ….CHECK!
As 2013 begins it has been announced that health insurance companies across the country are seeking and obtaining double-digit increases in premiums for some customers, even though President Obama’s health care law was to stop the rise in insurance costs for consumers. The ones to be affect by this are the people who do not have employer-provided insurance and must rely on themselves to buy it. Across the country there is a surge in premiums like a tidal wave. In California, Aetna is proposing rate increases of as much as 22 percent and Anthem Blue Cross 26 percent according to the insurers’ fillings. In other states, like Florida and Ohio, rates have already been raised at least by 20 percent for some individual policy holders. Yet, insurers have already paid $1.1 billion in rebates, and rate review programs have helped save consumers an additional $1 billion in lower premiums. If insurers collect premiums and do not spend at least 80 cents out of every dollar on care for their customers, the law requires them to refund the excess. As a result of the review process, federal officials say, rates were reduced, on average, by nearly three percentage points, according to …
+ Read Full PostTHE FISCAL CLIFF AND THE AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE ACT
When it comes to the deal that was signed in regards to the “Fiscal Cliff” and the new “Affordable Health care Act” there will be even more changes in store for us. For some states that have not begun to implement the exchange plans they may be at a loss when it comes to funding for the new “health care compliant plans.” A report for the state of Kansas indicates that funding for the new insurance cooperatives will no longer be available, but funding that is being provided for existing co-ops won’t be eliminated. This means that for states like Kansas who are still in the application phase are in jeopardy. To date, 24 states have received between $33 million and $175 million each to help launch insurance cooperatives. For ranking for the top three states one would expect California to be first with New York a close second but the surprise spot for third goes to Vermont. Vermont has been granted more than $158 million so far because they got an earlier start than many other states. Sound confusing? Yes it is. Healthcare Solutions Team has been educating their agents and staff so that when the time comes you …
+ Read Full PostHAPPY NEW YEAR!
Well we made it! 2013 is on its way to 2014 and the completion of the Affordable Health Care Act! The Affordable Health Care Act has brought some of the most fundamental changes to health care and health insurance in a generation. The biggest cultural change-the individual mandate-will not get underway until next year (2014). However, three major changes are scheduled to take place in the New Year and here at Healthcare Solutions Team we want be your “go to” place for all the information that you will need to make sure that you are taking care of the important changes that will benefit you and your family. The employer mandate took effect on January 1 of this New Year. Companies across the nation are now deciding what kind of health insurance, if any, to offer to employees. One option for employers is to drop the offer of health insurance to their employees and just pay the required penalty. There will be a transition from employer-based coverage to more consumers as purchasers. That is where we come in to help. At Healthcare Solutions Team are agents are well educated in the uncertainty of our times. We can do this for …
+ Read Full PostWE ARE ASKING!
On November 6th of this year we had an election that was truly important to every single person in the United States. The days and weeks leading up to the election created stress not only on the opponents but on all you as well. As you know the agents that we have here at Healthcare Solutions Team want to make one thing clear, and that is that we care about you! We want to make this confusing time a time of relief knowing that our agents are the best in the business when it comes to the healthcare reform act and the many changes that are ahead for us come 2014. But in order to serve you better, we need to ask you a few questions. How did the outcome of the 2012 Presidential election impact your choices on what you wanted to do in regards to your healthcare policy? Are you unsure on what the transition will mean to your coverage? Do you think that you can just wait it out and see what happens when the conversion begins in 2014? Who will you turn to when you have questions in regard to your policy and how to use …
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