If you’re one of the 1.2 million California residents currently enrolled in a health insurance plan through Covered California, renewing your plan for 2015 may be a bit of a mess. Here’s what’s coming.
It’s a bulky two-step process that could confuse you and cause a minor panic attack.
If you’re already insured through Covered CA, you’ll be getting two different notices… one from your insurance company and one from Covered CA. Expect them in October and November. READ them!!
The first step: A letter from your insurance company will tell you about your 2014 premium and subsidy (if you got one). It will also include info about your 2015 total premium. It will NOT include info about your 2015 subsidy (if you’re eligible), so it will look like you’re about to face a huge rate increase.
The second step: To re-qualify for a 2015 subsidy you’ll have to document your anticipated income for next year. A letter from Covered CA will follow with info about your subsidy for 2015.
Bottom line: You’re going to get two letters. One letter (from your insurance company) will tell you about the new 2015 coverage info. Another letter (from Covered CA) will tell you how much your subsidy will be (if you qualify) and what you’ll actually be paying every month in 2015.
If you do nothing, you will automatically be re-enrolled in your current plan. Or, you can look at any other plans during the open enrollment period starting 11/15/14, for new coverage starting 1/1/15. If you want a new plan by 1/1/15 you have to enroll by 12/15/14.
The open enrollment period will end 2/15/15.
For insurance companies selling through Covered CA, the average increase for 2015 is 4.2% — or so we’ve been told so far. However, rates and doctor networks will vary from one insurance company to another. Rates will be finalized for Covered CA plans by 9/30/14 — we hope.
We got a lot out of this LA Times article. I want to hear what YOU think, those of you in Covered CA plans and those who are not. Why did you make the decision you did this last year? What are you planning on for next year?
