Bernardini & Donovan Insurance Services

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How Covered California Will Support your Small Business

Like many small business owners, you probably have questions about Covered California and how it can provide insurance coverage for you and your employees. Covered California is a marketplace developed specifically for small businesses with up to 50 qualified employees. The marketplace, also called the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP exchanges) will make it easier to compare a variety of competing high-quality, qualified health plans from private insurance companies, including small group health insurance plans similar to those offered to large businesses. Covered California will support your small business by: Providing Control. You will be able to choose if or when to participate in Covered California, and to determine your own level of contribution toward your employees’ coverage. Expanding Employee Options. You will be able to offer your employees their Qualified Health Plan choice from several insurance companies. Simplifying Options. Covered California will offer the ability to compare health

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Individual Health Insurance: What kind of health insurance can I buy through Covered California?

Covered California will be offering Qualified Health Plans of the same high quality as insurance health plans being offered on the private market now. Covered California’s Qualified Health Plans will be guaranteed comply with the Affordable Care Act’s consumer protections and provide essential levels of coverage. The individual health insurance plans offered by Covered California will be the same as insurance plans you can find anywhere – even if you don’t qualify for financial assistance. All of the health insurance companies have to provide the same products at a specified cost no matter if they are offered through the open market or Covered California. In addition, Covered California will be offering “catastrophic coverage,” a coverage that protects an individual from financial disaster in the event that they suffer from a serious and costly medical emergency. This type of coverage is not meant for routine medical expenses such as doctor visits,

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Small Group: Covered California Opened for Enrollment Oct. 1st

Due to the signing of the Affordable Care Act, most adults will be required to purchase public or private insurance by the beginning of the new year or face a fine. Under California’s new Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP), Covered California opened for small group enrollment on Oct. 1, 2013, for coverage beginning Jan. 1, 2014. California businesses with less than 50 employees can benefit from better choices, online tools and competitively priced, small group health insurance plans similar to those previously only available to large group employers. While small businesses are not required to enroll in the Covered California’s SHOP, and are not penalized for not participating, the exchanges will allow you to more easily provide health insurance to your employees. In addition, some businesses with less than 25 employees may be able to take advantage of Federal tax credits only available through SHOP. Small business owners can

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Individual Health Insurance: Covered California Opened for Enrollment Today

If you don’t have insurance through your employer you will need to get coverage by January 1, 2014. Covered California, the new health insurance exchange operating throughout the state, will function as a marketplace through which you can compare insurance plans available to you and find the coverage you need. Covered California opened for enrollment today, October 1, 2013, to set plans in place that will begin on January 1, 2014. Failure to establish insurance for the next year may lead to fines or penalties. Many California residents don’t have insurance because they believe it will be too expensive, but under the changes made by the Affordable Care Act insurance coverage will become far more reasonable for everyone. There are also federal programs available to support those that simply cannot afford their medical coverage. Covered California will be serving anyone who is a resident of the state. Insurance can no

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Am I eligible for cost-sharing subsidies?

Many people will qualify for health insurance subsidies once the Affordable Care Act is initiated in January 1, 2014. The Affordable Care Act will require that anyone without health insurance from their employer acquire health insurance on their own. Whether these individuals can get federal subsidies will be based on the size of their families and the amount they make every year. Individuals will be able to find out more about these subsidies at the health care exchanges, which are set to open throughout the United States. In general, single individuals who make less than $27,936 every year will be eligible for federal subsidies for their health insurance. Families of four will have a threshold of $57,636 to qualify for federal subsidies. Most of these federal subsidies may be adjusted based on income levels. Health insurance will no longer be determined based on prior health issues, which means that many

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How Government Subsidies Will Work in 2014 for Health Insurance

As part of the new health care reform that was enacted by Congress under the Affordable Care Act, many lower income persons are eligible to take advantage of financial assistance to obtain individual health insurance when the changes are implemented in 2014. The government assistance generally comes in the form of a tax credit, providing a dollar-for-dollar tax reduction or benefit to persons who spend on health care through a state-operated health insurance exchange. The credit is gained when a tax return is filed after the fact. Additionally, up front individual subsidies will also be made available to primarily aimed at middle and low-income persons who have to pay for their own coverage, the premium payment subsidies can be used by families earning up to $94,200 in a year, or $45,960 for individuals. Those with no tax liability can instead get help up front when buying insurance, and the government

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