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What a difference a week makes! SB 562 Update

Thanks for tuning in for our series on single payer!  What a difference a week makes; big update on SB 562. On Friday, 6/23/17, CA Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) shelved the proposal saying it is “woefully incomplete” and has postponed any further legislative action until January 2018. “If you think health care is expensive… Continue reading What a difference a week makes! SB 562 Update

What’s going on with healthcare today!?

Are YOU confused about healthcare?  We all are!  There are some VERY big things being discussed right now regarding healthcare insurance.  But we read all the articles and boil it down into an easily digestible stew.  Here’s the inside scoop from The Insurance Mom! While a lot is happening in Washington, there’s even more urgent… Continue reading What’s going on with healthcare today!?

Tax Credits

Part of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare),  people get a tax credit to help them pay for their insurance premium.  Tax credit eligibility is determined by the FPL guidelines (your annual household income).

Socialized medicine

Aka universal health coverage, a government-run insurance system combined with private insurance policies.

POS Plans (Point of Service)

No, not THAT POS abbreviation 🙂   Point-Of-Service network model which combines the HMO and PPO models in one plan.

Medi-caid / Medi-Cal

A government program for folks with lower incomes to help them pay for medical care.  In CA, this program is called Medi-Cal.

HDHP / High Deductible Health Plan

An HSA-compatible plan with a high deductible.

FSA / Flexible Spending Account

If your employer offers this, an account in which to put tax-free money to pay for medical expenses, but you can only contribute a certain amount determined by the feds every year.

Federal Poverty Level / FPL

The feds decide the income brackets for Medi-caid, cost-share reduction plans with a subsidy, subsidized plans, or not qualifying for assistance.  The FPL guidelines are based on tax filing household and income.  It changes every year.

EMTALA law (Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act)

A law that says that emergency rooms cannot refuse any patient, regardless of their ability to pay.