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We made it! Open Enrollment is OVER!

Hello, Insurance Mom family –   Phew!   Open Enrollment for individual health insurance ended 1/31/16.     The Insurance Mom and her Helper Elves have been very busy taking care of everyone, and now we’ve got more time to talk about insurance-y stuff through our fabulous blog posts.   Open Enrollment is the time when anyone… Continue reading We made it! Open Enrollment is OVER!

More thoughts on doc shortage problem …

We did this little blog post not long ago that still has me thinking: https://theinsurancemom.com/aca-woes-hospitals-and-docs-feel-it-too/ Alan Katz said something really interesting about the shortage of doctors in the USA. “The shortage of American doctors is something that predates the ACA. It’s easy to blame the ACA for every ill in America’s health care system. The… Continue reading More thoughts on doc shortage problem …

The Insurance Mom’s Handy Cheat Sheet!

Are you confused and frustrated by your health insurance?  Having health insurance can be like eating your broccoli … necessary but not fun. But now, you can understand more about how to make your insurance money work for you!  Here it is … your one stop guide to health insurance cheat sheet: The Insurance Mom Cheat… Continue reading The Insurance Mom’s Handy Cheat Sheet!

Big changes are coming for small business owners….

CALLING ALL SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS!!! Are you aware of the big health insurance changes coming in 2016??  The Affordable Care Act (aka ObamaCare) will create a tsunami that may really change your health insurance benefits. Small Groups used to be classified as 2-50 employees.  In 2016, it will change to 1-100 employees. This major shift… Continue reading Big changes are coming for small business owners….

The DOL says Insurance companies are SOL denying certain lady stuff!

On May 11th, The Department of Labor issued a statement clarifying the terms the Affordable Care Act outlined in regards to preventative services covered AND lady visit stuff.  It made sure that these terms are no longer ambiguous.  THAT means insurance companies can’t jump around covering a few things they were denying before this statement… Continue reading The DOL says Insurance companies are SOL denying certain lady stuff!

Assurant is going WHERE!?

Big news across the nation.  Assurant Health, a big player in health insurance, will be closing up shop at the end of the year.  This means everyone with an individual Assurant plan will need to get a different plan in place for January 1st, 2016.  But my Assurant friends, we can’t do anything for you until… Continue reading Assurant is going WHERE!?

Good news for people with pricey $$ prescriptions!

Good news… perhaps!   If you have health insurance through Covered California (the CA exchange/marketplace), new limits have been set on how much you’ll pay for those expensive monthly “specialty” drugs.  Starting January 1st, 2016, you’ll see some upgrades in your prescription benefits. Covered California ruled that Silver, Gold, and Platinum plans will have a… Continue reading Good news for people with pricey $$ prescriptions!

Big changes for Blue Shield 2014 and onwards.

Chad Terhune is a favorite author around this office.  He writes great articles like this one about what’s going on in the health insurance market.  https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-blue-shield-audit-20150705-story.html#page=1  In it, he breaks down what happened with a recent audit on Blue Shield’s funds.  Here’s the Mom’s boiled down version. Blue Shield has been a non-for-profit since 1939.  In recent… Continue reading Big changes for Blue Shield 2014 and onwards.

ACA woes?  Hospitals and Docs feel it too!

Life since the Affordable Care Act is an interesting environment.  Everything is changing at such a rapid pace, no one knows how to keep up.  Hospitals are in the same boat, too! In a recent study, 75% of hospitals have reported an increase of emergency room traffic since the ACA started.  Not only that, but… Continue reading ACA woes?  Hospitals and Docs feel it too!

Good news for the ladies!!

Hurray! On 5/11/15, the Department of Health and Human Services (ObamaCare)  told insurance companies they HAVE to give ladies access to  ALL federally approved methods of birth control.  NO EXCEPTIONS! Women’s groups have been reporting that IUD’s, Plan B, the patch, and the ring have been refused by many insurance companies.  According to the White… Continue reading Good news for the ladies!!