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News & Announcements about health insurance in California




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Medicare Plan Finder Website Errors in Anthem Blue Cross California Medicare Advantage Plans

October 6, 2016 By Kevin Knauss Leave a Comment

There are errors on the Medicare Plan Finder website, Medicare.gov, and within the “2017 Medicare & You Handbook” regarding some Anthem Blue Cross Medicare Advantage plans. The errors are limited to the state of California (CA) and include the counties of Santa Clara, Kings, Tulare, Madera, Stanislaus, San Bernardino, Riverside and Fresno. The benefit information for Fresno MediBlue Plus (HMO) Plan is incorrect, and the service area information for Santa Clara, Kings, Tulare, Madera, Stanislaus, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties is also incorrect.

Filed Under: Anthem Blue Cross, Medicare Tagged With: Anthem, Blue Cross, Fresno, Kings, Madera, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Clara, Stanislaus, Tulare

Anthem Blue Cross 2017 Individual and Family Plan Materials

October 6, 2016 By Kevin Knauss 2 Comments

For 2017, we have adjusted our product portfolio to include an exclusive provider organization (EPO) in most rating regions. Rating Regions 10 – 14 (Southern San Joaquin Valley counties) will continue to be offered PPO plans. Members on some 2016 PPO plans and all Tiered PPO plans in these areas will be transitioned to EPO plans effective 1/1/17 (unless they choose a different plan). Members will have access to our Pathway network of doctors and hospitals, but their EPO plan will not cover out-of-network benefits.

Filed Under: Anthem Blue Cross Tagged With: Anthem, Blue Cross, Covered California, Drugs, EPO, Health Insurance, HMO, Medication, Plans, PPO, Prescription

Specialty Drug Management Changes for Anthem Blue Cross Health Plans

October 6, 2016 By Kevin Knauss Leave a Comment

Health care costs continue to rise, and specialty drugs are a big contributor. These prescription medicines are used to treat complicated and chronic conditions, such as hepatitis C, cancer and multiple sclerosis. As specialty drugs become more widely used, we’re looking for new ways to control costs while keeping members healthy. That’s why we created our Right Drug Right Channel (RDRC) program.

Filed Under: Anthem Blue Cross Tagged With: Anthem, Blue Cross, California, Drugs, Pharmacy, Specialty

Determining Eligibility for both Medicare and Medi-Cal Extra Help

October 4, 2016 By Kevin Knauss Leave a Comment

People who turn 65 and may have been receiving a hefty subsidy through Covered California to reduce their health insurance premium can be shocked at the costs of enrolling in Medicare. However, there are a variety of resources to assist Medicare beneficiaries to lower their health insurance and health care costs. Assistance from both Social Security and Medi-Cal may be an option for some Medicare beneficiaries depending on their household income.

Filed Under: Medi-Cal, Medicare Tagged With: Deductible, Drugs, Extra Help, Medi-Cal, Medicare, Premiums

Blue Shield $5 Teladoc Consultations for 2017

September 29, 2016 By Kevin Knauss Leave a Comment

Blue Shield of California will make Teladoc consultations a $5 copayment for members of their individual and family plans. The $5 Teladoc consultation will be available to both Blue Shield’s HMO and PPO non-grandfathered plans in 2017.

Filed Under: Blue Shield Tagged With: Blue Shield, Copayment, Covered California, Family, Health, HMO, Inasurance, Individual, Plans, PPO, Teladoc

Health Net 2017 Renewal and $50 Gift Card

September 28, 2016 By Kevin Knauss Leave a Comment

Health Net of California has announced that all of their 2016 individual and family health plans will roll into 2017. There will be no plan closures making it easier for current members to renew their health plan for the 2017 calendar year. In letters being sent out on September 30, Health Net will be offering a $50 gift card as a reward for certain healthy initiatives on the member’s part.

Filed Under: Health Net Tagged With: 2017, Covered California, EPO, Health Net, HMO, HSP, Plans, PPO, Regions

Covered California Website Updates for 2017

September 26, 2016 By Kevin Knauss Leave a Comment

Covered California has updated and changed various parts of their online health insurance enrollment website for 2017. These changes, launched with the release of the CalHEERS 16.9 build, will affect new enrollments and individuals and families renewing their health insurance for 2017. A high level overview was published by Covered California in their 2017 Consumer Renewal Journey & Features Release 16.9. The slides of the presentation are available for download.

Filed Under: CalHEERS, Covered California Tagged With: Application, CalHEERS, Covered California, Enrollment, Income, Notices, Self-Employed, Verification

Countable Sources of Income from Covered California

September 25, 2016 By Kevin Knauss Leave a Comment

Covered California has released a table of sources of income and whether they are countable toward the Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) for the monthly health insurance subsidy. The foundation for the table is the federal 1040 income tax return. The Countable Sources of Income table includes income for the monthly subsidy and whether the income is considered for MAGI Medi-Cal.

Filed Under: Covered California, IRS Tagged With: 1040, Covered California, Deductions, Income, IRS, Medi-Cal, Subsidy, Taxes

New Covered California Health Plan Selection Page for 2017

September 23, 2016 By Kevin Knauss Leave a Comment

Covered California will have a new Health Plan Selection page for consumers for 2017 health insurance selection. They have streamlined some of the introductory pages, enhanced the filters for plan selection, and dropped some of the legal notices during check out. A video reviewing some of the enhancements has been posted by Covered California called Shop & Compare Walkthrough.

Filed Under: Covered California Tagged With: CalHEERS, Covered California, Enrollment, Health Plan Selection, Website

Sutter Health Plus 2017 Sacramento and Bay Area plans

September 21, 2016 By Kevin Knauss Leave a Comment

Northern California, Sacramento, Placer, Yolo, Bay Area, health insurance, small group, individual, family

For 2017, Sutter Health Plus will be offering individual and family plans that mirror the standard benefit designs outlined by Covered California. These HMO plans, offered only by Sutter Health Plus, are not eligible for the ACA Premium Tax Credits. They will be offering the standard benefit design Platinum coinsurance, Gold coinsurance, Silver and Bronze health plans in the Sacramento Valley and Bay Area counties.

Filed Under: Sutter Health Plus Tagged With: Bay Area, Insurance, Rates, Sacramento, Sutter Health

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