Open Enrollment Deadline Looms: Make Certain You’re Covered

The Affordable Care Act has made healthcare available to anyone who needs it and has created penalties for those not enrolled in a healthcare policy.  Make certain that you’re not fined for failing to acquire the proper insurance in 2014; check your coverage before the March 31st open enrollment deadline.

After March 31st, you will have to wait until the next open enrollment period to enroll in, or change, a policy.  You also risk paying a fine for failing to acquire insurance.  This is particularly important if you have a family; you’ll want to make certain that you are covered in the event of an emergency before the emergency occurs.  The last thing you need in a stressful situation is to find out that your coverage isn’t what you thought it would be.

For more information about individual health insurance or Covered California, contact a certified agent with Bernardini & Donovan Insurance

Covered California Deadlines Nearing

Important deadlines for the Affordable Care Act are just around the corner. It’s not only the ACA deadlines that California residents should be aware of but another deadline in the quest for proper health insurance coverage is creeping up as well.

Covered California Deadline is Approaching

If you are a California resident who wants to be eligible for coverage through the ACA you need to be enrolled with Covered California by December 23, 2013 for a January 1, 2014 effective date.   Many of the people who have submitted applications have not fully completed enrollment only 85,000 of the 385,000 people who submitted applications have completed the process and chosen a coverage plan.

Consumers have until March 31 to sign up without paying a penalty.   Not purchasing coverage by this time will mean an entire year without any sort of health care insurance and the possibility of being charged a penalty fee by the federal government.

For more information on the Affordable Care Act and Covered California deadlines please contact Bernardini & Donovan Insurance Services to speak with a certified Covered California agent today.

What is an Individual Health Insurance Exchange

Now that the end of the year is approaching, California and other states are making sure they comply with provisions of the Affordable Care Act. One of the main provisions is providing Health Insurance Exchanges for individuals. What does this mean?

It means that people can purchase individual health insurance plans to cover their medical expenses. The exchanges allow individuals to compare pricing and services, making informed decisions on what will work best for them according to the four levels of coverage offered. These plans will be available for purchase in a variety of ways: mail, web, by phone or in-person. Additionally, the exchanges will have information you need in relation to premium costs and possible subsidies. It is important to understand the intricacies of selecting a provider and how the exchanges work.

Starting January 2014, everyone is required under the Affordable Care Act to carry a health insurance policy. For more information on the Affordable Care Act and the Health Insurance Exchanges, contact Bernardini & Donovan Insurance Services.

What Every Small Business Owner Needs to Know about the Affordable Care Act in 2014

New policies related to healthcare have many small business owners concerned of what is to come in 2014. News reports are tossing around penalty figures of $2000 per person per year. And that is just the start of the penalty scale. Bernardini & Donovan Insurance Services explains what a small business owner needs to know about his or her responsibilities under the Affordable Care Act:

  • Small businesses won’t be penalized. Businesses that employ less than 50 full-time employees will not be held to the employer responsibilities outlined in the Affordable Care Act.
  • However, you can qualify for a tax credit. A small business that pays average yearly wages of less than $50K, has less than 25 full-time employees and offers affordable health insurance could receive incentives in the form of a small business tax credit. Beginning in 2014, this credit could be up to 50 percent and will help offset group health insurance costs.
  • You may have more buying power than you think. According to HealthCare.gov, the average small business pays  18 percent more for group health insurance than a larger company would. Small businesses that employ less than 100 people on average will have access to the Health Insurance Marketplace, reducing costs by giving access to plans seen by larger corporation.

Contact Bernardini & Donovan Insurance Services at 877-251-2447 today for more information on group health insurance for small businesses.

Employer Responsibilities Under the Affordable Care Act

Beginning in 2014, employers may face large penalties if affordable health insurance is not offered to employees. Bernardini & Donovan Insurance Services helps you determine your responsibilities as an employer under the Affordable Care Act.

Which type of group healthcare is considered affordable under terms of the Act?

Affordable care means that less than 9.5 percent of the employee’s gross income goes toward health insurance premium. Additionally, the employer must pay at least 60 percent of the policy premium.

I have a small business; will I face fines if I don’t offer affordable healthcare coverage?

If you have less than 50 full-time employees, you will not have to pay penalties.

I have a company with 50 or more employees, what happens if I don’t offer affordable coverage?

If your company with 50+ employees does not offer affordable coverage, you will face penalties that begin at $2000 multiplied by the total number of employees, minus 30.

Companies that offer group healthcare plans conforming to the terms of affordability under the Act will not face any fines, according to information provided by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.

Please contact Bernardini & Donovan Insurance Services at 877-251-2447 for more information about how the Affordable Care Act will affect businesses in  Redlands, CA ,and throughout California.

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