The Insurance Mom, brought to you by Alison Gordon Insurance Services, Inc, CA Lic. 0780178

So you thought the new Health Care Reform law was on your side, didn’t you?  Ha.  Not so much.   There is nothing in the new law that will stop these unintended (but predictable) consequences.

A provision of the new “stealth” care reform law says that insurance companies must issue health insurance to children, regardless of their health status or history. …

The Insurance Mom wants you to stay pro-active about your preventive care (aka annual check-ups).    Besides keeping some yummy chicken soup handy, having annual check-ups will keep you well-informed about your lifestyle and future health care choices.

Something sort of good has actually been included in the federal government’s “stealth” care reform bill.    As of September 23, 2010, insurance companies…

In March of 2010, Congress passed and President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act—the new health law.  The law creates a new program – the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan — to make health coverage available to you if you have been denied health insurance by private insurance companies because of a pre-existing condition.

A couple of weeks ago, the government…

If you or anyone you know is currently on Medicare and enrolled in a Part D drug plan, the new “Stealthcare” reform laws enacted this year are now starting to offer you a small safety net… really small.   If you reach the dreaded “doughnut hole” — that place where you have to pay full price for your prescriptions until the…

Here’s an interesting opinion piece from the NY Times.   At least they’re willing to acknowledge that the rising health care costs are a primary reason for rising health insurance premiums.

Questions abound!   Here’s an answer:

HOW TO CLAIM THE TAX CREDIT

How does an employer claim the tax credit? The credit is taken on the annual tax return. The IRS will provide information on how tax-exempt employers can claim the new credit.

Does taking the tax credit affect an employer’s deduction for health insurance premiums? Yes. The…

I love this quote:

“We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.”

Hmmm… somehow I just know I can find a way to apply this to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (aka HR 3950, aka health care reform, aka stealth care reform).

If you are:

1.  A parent whose young adult child is about to be taken off of your health insurance plan because they’re all grown up (well done!), or

2.  A young adult who is about to be taken off of your parents’ health insurance plan because you’re all grown up (good job!),

… then this is good news is…

If you own a small business, this is for you.    Did you know that, as a result of the recent health care reform legislation, starting in 2010 you may be eligible for a 35% tax credit?

Eligibility Rules

• Providing health care coverage. A qualifying employer must cover at least 50 percent of the cost of health care

…

I have it on good authority that you’ll be able to contact one of the following newly created federal boards and commissions to get help with your government-sponsored health insurance.  Which one will you choose?

1. Grant program for consumer assistance offices (Section 1002, p. 37)
2. Grant program for states to monitor premium increases (Section  1003, p. 42) Read More…