Covered California and VSP® Vision Care have partnered to offer consumers a pathway to vision coverage. Beginning February 16, consumers will have access to shop for VSP vision benefits via a specific Covered California link found on CoveredCA.com. This link will go-live on February 16.
2016 Medicare – Medicaid Dual Eligible Income Levels
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released an Informational Bulletin updating the poverty guidelines that are applied to eligibility criteria for programs such as Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Included with this informational bulletin is the 2016 Dual Eligible Standards chart that displays the new standards for the Medicare Savings Program categories.
Blue Shield requests missing Social Security numbers for 1095-Bs
On January 6, 2016, we sent letters to off-exchange plan members who did not provide their Social Security numbers (SSNs) upon enrollment. The letter requests completion of a form as required by an ACA mandate. The ACA mandate requires insurers, including Blue Shield of California, to provide annual reporting of Minimum Essential Coverage (MEC). We sent the January 6, 2016, mailing only to new members with missing SSNs who joined during open enrollment and were not included in the previous mailing.
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Health Insurance Coverage
A new resource, created in pamphlet form, helps consumers and their providers understand protections related to their mental health and substance use disorder (MH and SUD) benefits and take action if their benefits are denied.
Who is exempt from the IRS health insurance penalty?
For any month during the year that you or any of your family members don’t have minimum essential coverage and don’t qualify for a coverage exemption, you are required to make an individual shared responsibility payment when you file your tax return.
How to determine if you can claim the Premium Tax Credit for health insurance
The premium tax credit is a credit for certain people who enroll, or whose family member enrolls, in a qualified health plan offered through a Marketplace. Claiming the premium tax credit may increase your refund or lower the amount of tax that you would otherwise owe.
Home Health Care Company Ratings and Comparisons
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) introduced the first patient experience of care star ratings on Home Health Compare. Known as Home Health Care Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HHCAHPS) Survey star ratings, these measures evaluate patients’ experiences with home health agencies.
Covered California extends agent assisted consumer enrollment until February 6
While open enrollment for individual and family insurance ends January 31, 2016, Covered California is granting Certified Insurance Agents the ability to enroll consumers in health plans until February 6. Covered California sent out an Agent Alert notifying Certified Insurance Agents that they can still help consumers who missed the January 31st deadline to enroll in health insurance for 2016 without a qualifying event for a Special Enrollment Period.
1095-B and 1095-C Forms may arrive late
The IRS has extended the due dates for the health insurance coverage forms 1095-B and 1095-C to be sent out as late as March 31, 2016. The original issue date had been January 31, 2016. As a result, some tax filers may not have either the 1095-B or 1095-C when they file their federal taxes. However, neither a copy the 1095-B or -C need to be supplied with the tax return according to the IRS.
IRS health insurance exemptions to avoid penalties
The Affordable Care Act requires you and your dependents to have health care coverage, an exemption from the coverage requirement, or make a shared responsibility payment for any month without coverage or an exemption with your return. This law will affect your federal income tax return when you file this year.
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