California Health News

News & Announcements about health insurance in California




New Blue Shield Billing and Online Payment System

Blue Shield of California will be implementing a new online payment system for their individual and family plan members in 2018. Consumers with off-exchange health plans, those bought directly from Blue Shield and not from Covered California will be transitioned to the new billing system in March … [Read More...]

Proposed Work Requirement For Medi-Cal Beneficiaries

CMS announces new policy guidance for states to test community engagement for able-bodied adults Will support states helping Medicaid beneficiaries improve well-being and achieve self-sufficiency CMS today announced new guidance that will support state efforts to improve Medicaid enrollee … [Read More...]

Individual Mandate Penalty Update Covered California

Covered California Health Coverage Remains You may have questions about the federal tax law that was just passed this week. We want to assure you that the benefits related to consumer's Covered California coverage, including financial help to reduce monthly premiums, has NOT changed for 2018. The … [Read More...]

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  • Optimizing Social Security Income with a Roadmap
    The Roadmap report generates the Maximum Social Security income scenario. We can also enter other age-based claiming scenarios that are detailed within the report. In the sample below, Mick was born in 1963, and his spouse Diana was born in 1977. Because Mick and Diana have children, the analysis concluded that Mick and Diana would […]
  • Covered California Monthly Premiums May Not Increase for 2026
    If the enhanced subsidy lapses, and Covered California must return to the pre-2021 subsidy curve, the consumer responsibility for health insurance increases. For the individual estimating $50,000, based on 2025 federal poverty level, they are still 343 percent FPL, but the consumer responsibility percentage increases from 7.08 percent to 9.78 percent*. (*Consumer Responsibility from IRS […]
  • From Kia Niro to Honda Prologue Purchase
    It was my physical interaction with the Prologue that sold me. The Prologue is 2 inches higher off the ground than the EV6 or Optiq. The ground clearance is in the Subaru Soltera (8.2 inches) range, another EV I considered, but the range was under 250 miles. It was easier for me to get in […]
  • Comparing Medicare Supplement Plan G and Plan N
    When we extrapolate the savings to an annual basis, Plan N rates are $214 lower than Plan G by age 68. This means that at age 68, an individual could incur ten $20 office visit copayments during the year and still pay less than Plan G (annual premiums plus copayments.) The individual could also have […]
  • How Your Social Security Benefit is Calculated
    The next set of calculations are truly mind bending. The SSA has to bend your AIME into a Primary Insurance Amount (PIA.) The PIA is what you will receive at your Full Retirement Age, 67 if born in 1960 or later. The AIME is bent lower by a series of calculations using Bend Points. The […]