California Department of Insurance detectives, assisted by multiple law enforcement agencies, arrested Chris Bathum and Kirsten Wallace on multiple felony counts of grand theft, and identity theft for allegedly conspiring to defraud patients and insurers out of more than $176 million through an elaborate conspiracy. Simultaneously, search warrants were also executed at 15 locations throughout Los Angeles and Orange County.
Health Net 2017 Californnia Individual and Family Plans
For 2017, Health Net is offering a variety of health plans throughout California. There are EPOs, HSPs, HMOs, and PPOs plans. Some of the plans are offered through Covered California and some, like the PPO plans, are only offered off-exchange direct from Health Net.
Kaiser Releases 2017 Individual and Family Health Plan Information
Kaiser Permanente has released information pertaining to their individual and family health plans for 2017. Most of Kaiser’s health plans are available through Covered California and are eligible for the monthly tax credit subsidy. These standard benefit designs are also offered off-exchange, in addition to several non-standard benefit design plans only offered direct through Kaiser.
Department of Insurance Receives Health Plan Compliance Grant
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services announced today it awarded a $1.84 million grant to the California Department of Insurance to enhance enforcement of key market reforms under the Affordable Care Act.
Covered California 2017 Individual and Family Dental Plans
For individuals and families who enroll in a health plan through Covered California they may also select a family dental plan. Any monthly subsidy awarded to the family for health insurance is not applied to the dental plan. Only household members eligible for the APTC monthly tax credit are able to enroll in an on-exchange Covered California dental plan. This means children who are Medi-Cal eligible or adults who have other coverage such as Medicare can’t be included in the family dental plan.
Beware of deceptive sales practices during Medicare’s enrollment
The California Department of Insurance is alerting seniors and their advocates to be on their guard against improper sales practices during the annual open enrollment period for Medicare Advantage plans (Part C) and the Medicare Prescription Drug (Part D) Program.
Sutter Health Plus 2017 Sacramento and Bay Area plans
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.
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.
Covered California 2017 rate increases and health plan expansions
Covered California announced the rates for its health plans in the individual market for 2017. The statewide average weighted increase of 13.2 percent, while higher this year, amounts to a three-year average of 7 percent, which is less than the rate increases before the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was enacted.
Family caregivers urged to explore insurance options and resources
Caregivers may want to consider obtaining a life insurance policy to help provide support to others in case something happens to them. Another consideration is disability income insurance, which offers protection by replacing a percentage of one’s previous income if they are unable to work due to a disability. If a caregiver plans to leave a job to be a full-time caregiver, they need to ensure they will have access to healthcare.