Covered California announced today the rates and expansion plans for its small group health insurance exchange, Covered California for Small Business. The statewide weighted average rate increase is 5.9 percent, for employers and their employees beginning Jan. 1, 2017, which is down from the 7.2 percent increase in 2016.
Gaining employer-sponsored health insurance and Covered California
The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a review of the rules regarding when a family becomes ineligible for the Covered California subsidy after being offered employer-sponsored health insurance. While the presentation is geared toward health insurance agents, there is good information relevant to everyone in the file. As CMS notes, gaining employer-sponsored health insurance while enrolled in Covered California is a Common Complex Situation.
2017 Covered California Regional Rate and Plan Information
Covered California has released their 2017 Regional Rate and Plan Information summary. This summary has a more in-depth focus specific consumer market information than does their 2017 Health Plan Booklet. While the target audience is Certified Application Counselors and Agents, there is also some very useful information for consumers.
Covered California health and dental plan changes for 2017
Covered California hosted a webinar where they went over the numerous changes to the health plans for 2017. This included the expansion of some health plans into more counties, the conversion of PPO plans to EPO for one carrier, and the addition of a HMO plan for another carrier. They also reviewed the minor and major cost sharing changes to their metal tier level plans offered by all the carriers.
Covered California Primary Care Physician Assignment Guide
Covered California has released their Primary Care Physician Assignment Quick Guide to inform agents about how health plans will be assigning a Primary Care Physician to members of PPO and EPO plans in 2017. The Primary Care Physician assignment will not apply to small employer group with Covered California health plans.
Eligible for Medicare, lose Covered California birthday letter
Beginning in August, 2016, Covered California will send a notice to those consumers approaching or are over their 65th birthday who may be eligible for Medicare. The notice advises them that they may no longer be eligible for Advanced Premium Tax Credit or Covered California coverage. If the consumer receives the notice, it will be displayed in the online application (CalHEERS).
Covered California to contact employers of exchange health plan members
Covered California will begin contacting employers of Covered California individuals and families notifying them that their employee is receiving Obamacare premium assistance. Only employers for whom enrolled Covered California members have provided employer contact information will be sent the notification. The letters will alert the employer that they may be subject to the employer shared responsibility payment if they have 50 or more employees.
Covered California update removes income assessment for unmarried pregnant women
Covered California will implement several changes to their online application program known at CalHEERS on August 1, 2016. One significant change is no longer assessing unmarried pregnant women’s income for determining Medi-Cal eligibility. The previous version automatically determined Medi-Cal eligibility based on a woman’s income and pregnancy status. Because Medi-Cal considers a pregnant woman a household two at a minimum, many women were tracked into Medi-Cal and not eligible for private health insurance with the subsidies.
UHC looks to leave California exchange in 2017
Next year UnitedHealthcare will offer individual plans through the Exchange in a limited number of states. This change in market footprint reflects our longstanding goal to offer products that are both affordable for consumers and financially sustainable for our company.
Can’t login into Covered California, new one-time passcode
Covered California will implement a one-time passcode to consumers or enrollers who can’t login to their accounts. The one-time passcode can be sent via text message or email. The new feature for gaining access to the Covered California account will be released on May 16th with other updates to the online enrollment system.
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