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Tag: health insurance

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Qualify for Special Enrollment Periods

If you missed the health insurance deadline on March 31, you may still qualify for one of the Special Enrollment Periods to access the Healthcare Marketplace. These are 60-day windows to enroll after certain “life events” that change your individual or family status from the open enrollment time frames.

Special Enrollment Periods

Along with some specified life events, should you qualify for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), you are able to apply for coverage at any time. Otherwise, you need to meet guidelines for special enrollment periods with “qualifying life events.” Examples of these events include the following items.

  • Marriage,
  • Divorce,
  • Birth of a child,
  • Loss of employment, and
  • Moving to a new state.

All of these events change your status, qualifying you for special enrollment periods that allow you to access the Healthcare Marketplace after open enrollment dates. Additional qualification limitations apply, including —

  • The state in which you live or to which you move,
  • Your household size, and
  • Evidence of new disability.

You should check with your state to learn how it interprets qualification rules for special enrollment periods. State requirements can also differ for application to Medicaid or CHIP, so investigate or get expert advice.

If you want some valuable advice, contact Bernardini & Donovan Insurance Services. The professionals at Bernardini & Donovan Insurance Services can answer your questions about special enrollment periods, details of different health insurance coverage, give you quotes and advise you on how to protect yourself, your family and/or your business.

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Open Enrollment: The Next Round

The open enrollment period for 2014 is almost over; after March 31st, any new policy (or additions to your present coverage) will have to wait for the next open enrollment period.  But when, precisely, will that be?

For the general public, coverage starting in 2015 can be shopped for on the marketplace starting in late autumn.  Though an exact date has yet to be officially determined, at present the proposed window is November 15th 2014 through January 15th 2015.

There are a few notable exceptions; certain life events (such as a change in your family size, losing your job, moving to a new state, or large changes to your income) can qualify you for a special enrollment period.  Usually this period is within sixty days of your qualifying life event.

Of course, the best way to determine your eligibility (and the best policy for you) is to discuss your situation with an insurance professional.  For more information about the Affordable Care Act or health insurance in California, contact Bernardini & Donovan Insurance. 

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Qualifying Events: How Can I Obtain Health Insurance after March 31st?

While Open Enrollment for 2014 is nearly over, certain qualifying life events will entitle you a Special Enrollment Period in which to adjust your coverage in accordance with this life event.

A few notable instances which will entitle you to this Special Enrollment Period are: changes to your family size (this may be caused by marriage, divorce, birth of a child, death in the family, etc.), a large change in your income, the loss of a job, the loss of alternate health coverage, a move to a new state, change of citizen status, or change of eligibility for subsidy.

Generally, the Special Enrollment Period will open in a sixty-day window after the event that triggered your eligibility.  The best way to determine said eligibility (and the best policy for you) is to discuss your situation with an insurance professional.  For more information about the Affordable Care Act or health insurance in California, contact Bernardini & Donovan Insurance. 

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Open enrollment deadline approaching for part-time employees and subcontract employees

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) open enrollment deadline for health insurance is rapidly approaching. The last day for part-time and subcontract employees to get health insurance via Covered California, the state healthcare website, is March 31, 2014. Fortunately, if you’re still confused, you can get advice and sign up from a certified agent you trust for the same health insurance as you find online.

Small group employers don’t need to offer healthcare plans to subcontract and part-time employees because the Affordable Care Act specifies required coverage for full-time employees or "full-time equivalents." While independent and subcontract employees are not included in small employer mandatory coverage requirements, these people must qualify as independent contractors.   Subcontractors must meet the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) definition as independent.

Just because an employer calls someone an independent contractor doesn’t mean the IRS will agree. The IRS examines the "substance of the work relationship" to rule on the nature of the employment. If the legal status is that of an independent contractor, the window for open enrollment closes on March 31. The same deadline applies for part-time employees that don’t qualify for small group insurance.

Confused yet? To clear away the "fog," contact Bernardini & Donovan Insurance. Don’t miss the open enrollment deadline because you are confused about your options. You can use Bernardini & Donovan Insurance to get the advice and coverage you need. The firm is a certified agent for healthcare plans listed on the Covered California Marketplace. You’ll get the coverage you want at the same price listed on the Healthcare Marketplace site.

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Small Businesses: Your Options Outside the Exchange

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, or simply the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as it is more commonly known, gives all Americans and small business owners an option to buy private health insurance through state or federally managed healthcare exchanges. The plan is designed to give uninsured and under-insured Americans a way to shop for and compare multiple plans and buy healthcare coverage regardless of financial status, age or previous medical history. The ACA’s health care exchanges are expected to radically transform the manner in which American’s purchase medical insurance. However, such exchanges are not the only option for getting coverage.

Under the ACA, all healthcare plans are required to comply with certain minimum coverage requirements regardless of whether the plans are offered via a healthcare exchange or sold directly to the consumer. All health insurance options outside the exchange have to include the same drug coverage and essential benefits as those offered via a health exchange. As an individual consumer, or as a small business owner, you have the ability to go directly to health insurance websites, insurance agents and brokers and buy the same insurance coverage that you would get via an exchange for exactly the same price.

If you live or operate a small business in Redlands, California and want to learn more about health insurance options outside the exchange please contact the health insurance specialists at Bernardini & Donovan Insurance.

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How to Approach ACA if You Won’t Get a Subsidy

One of the ironies of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is that people who earn good salaries may find it harder to afford health insurance. The ACA has subsidies for people who earn below a certain benchmark (currently less than $50,000 for an individual). Once the income level is crossed, however, the subsidies no longer apply.

Still, there are ways to manage the costs of healthcare even without subsidies:

1) Buy health coverage through an insurance company. If you use an independent agent, you can avoid the exchanges and compare rates and deductibles from many companies. Your agent can help you choose a plan.

2) Juggle your deductibles and co-payments. If you are in good health you may want to select a high-deductible, higher co-payment plan that will come with lower monthly premiums.

3) Look into temporary insurance. Do you expect a life-changing event in the next few months, such as unemployment, marriage to someone with a lower income, a birth or adoption? You may want to buy a more affordable temporary plan, and wait until you qualify for subsidies.

Bernardini & Donovan Insurance can help you find insurance that meets your needs and helps protect your family. To learn more, contact us.

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Health Insurance Choices Instead of Government Exchanges

If you cut through the noise and dissension about the new health insurance government exchanges that don’t seem to work, you may wonder if you have any other options. Unless you live in Vermont or the District of Columbia, you have options outside the exchange.

You can contact insurance brokers, companies or experienced professionals, like Bernardini & Donovan Insurance health plan experts. You can only buy coverage that complies with the Affordable Care Act (ACT), not one of the plans that were terminated as of January 1, 2014.

The main feature of the exchanges, the tax credits or subsidies that can lower your health plan costs, are not available when you choose one of the options outside the exchange. However, insurance carriers selling product on and off government exchanges must offer their plans at the same price.

There is no consensus as yet about the better choice for individuals. Supporters of private plans contend that, if you’re not seeking government subsidies, you’ll have greater varieties of plans to evaluate. Since plans differ from state-to-state, you should make the most informed decision you can.

Still confused? If you live in California, contact Bernardini & Donovan Insurance. Their professionals will cut through the noise and confusion, giving you the information you need to make the best health insurance decision for your needs and budget.

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How to Buy Health Insurance While Avoiding the Government Exchange

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is upon us. The online Health Insurance Marketplace, although its had numerous problems with crashes, is not the only way to get the healthcare plan you need. Fortunately, you have other options outside the exchange to buy the health coverage you need.

As the Health and Human Services Department works to repair their site, here are other ways to buy health insurance while avoiding the government exchange.

  • Contact a trusted health insurance agent. Experienced individual and group health insurance professionals, like Bernardini & Donovan Insurance.
  • Compare and evaluate other healthcare coverage online. You’ll find other options outside the exchange that you might find more desirable.
  • Ask your employer if it will offer health insurance, whether mandatory or voluntary. You may find your employer will offer a better, more cost-effective program that you can find elsewhere.
  • Join an affinity group or trade organization. Once again groups like these sometimes offer better, less expensive health insurance that fits your budget.
  • Contact other health insurance carriers to learn details of their individual plans that comply with the ACA. Assuming you can speak with a live person, call your agent or a company to learn about your options.

If you live in California, contact Bernardini & Donovan Insurance to get their expertise to find the best plan for your situation. You’ll be happy you did.

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March 31st Marks the Last Day to Purchase Health Insurance for 2014

The last day for individuals and families to purchase health insurance for the 2014 year is coming up. The deadline for purchasing any plan off of the open market is March 31, 2014.

What Happens on March 31, 2014?

Health insurance policies are only available for purchase during a period known as open enrollment. Open enrollment is when insurance companies are required to accept applicants for one of their health insurance policies.

Insurance companies that are offering health insurance coverage to individuals and families have scheduled open enrollment to end on March 31, 2014. If health insurance has not been purchased by that date, the individual and/or their family will have to wait for the 2015 open enrollment period – which is scheduled for some time in November 2014.

What Will Happen if Health Insurance is Not Purchased by March 31, 2014?

 Individuals and/or families who have not signed up for health insurance coverage and who have not filed and/or qualified for an exemption, face a possible penalty. The penalty is assessed as part of the Affordable Care Act.

The fine that will be assessed is as follows:

  • 1% of household income – with a maximum of what the average bronze plan premium would have been
  • $95 per person/$47.50 per child under 18 – each family will have a maximum of $285

The penalty will be assessed at whichever is higher.

For more information on health insurance coverage and upcoming deadlines for the Affordable Care Act, contact Bernardini & Donovan Insurance, located in Redlands, California, today.

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How to get health insurance outside of open enrollment periods

Putting aside all the seemingly continuing problems with the new health insurance Marketplace websites, people are now wondering if they can still get health coverage beyond the government open enrollment periods. It is possible if you have a "qualifying event" that create special enrollment conditions.

Qualifying Life Events

The following events are "triggers" that may make you eligible to purchase health insurance even after enrollment periods end. According to HealthCare.gov, these events generate a "special enrollment period."

  • You get married.
  • You have a new birth or adopt a child.
  • You move to a new state offering different health insurance options than those you had previously.
  • You lose former health coverage, other than your voluntary cancellation or for non-payment of premiums.
  • You’re already enrolled, but your income changes or other life events affect your eligibility for tax credits or government assistance to pay premiums.

Special Enrollment Periods

When you have one of these events, you can enroll in a health plan for up to 60 days following the qualifying event. In 2014, open enrollment ends on March 31. After that date, you’ll need to have one of these events to enroll without penalty.

For more information, contact Bernardini & Donovan Insurance, your California individual and group health insurance experts. Their professionals will answer your questions and you’ll get the advice you need to proceed.

let Bernardini & Donovan find the right plan for you

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