Covered California would like to share that Teladoc is now hosting an Emergency hotline for free telehealth for those affected

I  am truly humbled and grateful to share this Award with you all. Last Monday was an ordinary Monday for

The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued the 2018 guidelines on the maximum contribution levels for Health Savings

President Trump has signed an executive order calling upon the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to consider, among other things,

The Internal Revenue Service has announced the annual contribution limits and High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) definitions for 2018. The Individual Contribution Limit has been increased to $3,450 and the Family Contribution Limit has been increased to $6,900 for 2018.  The maximum Out-of-Pocket Limits and Minimum Deductible Limits have been increased as well. The age 55 and older catch-up remains at $1,000.

Annual HSA Contribution Amounts

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Californians with Medicare coverage would no longer be surprised by huge medical bills stemming from “observation care” in hospitals under legislation that state lawmakers approved overwhelmingly last week and sent to Gov. Jerry Brown to sign into law.

The sticker-shock can happen when people go to the hospital but health care providers are not sure what’s wrong. If the patient is not sick enough to be formally admitted, but still not healthy enough to go home, they can stay in the hospital for “observation care,” which Medicare considers an outpatient service. That can mean higher out-of-pocket expenses for the patient.

Hospitals can bill observation patients for a larger share of the cost of any treatment and tests than admitted patients. Any routine medications they usually take at home may not be covered at all in the hospital. In some parts of the country, Medicare observation patients have been charged exorbitant prices for prescription drugs, including $18 for one baby aspirin.

And because observation patients have not spent the required minimum of three straight days as an admitted patient, Medicare will not cover their follow-up nursing home expenses after discharge. Observation care doesn’t count.

But patients may not even know they have been placed on observation care status when they’re lying in a hospital bed.

Seventy-two percent of California’s previously uninsured gained coverage since the Affordable Care Act went into effect.

The majority of the recently insured say their experience with their current Covered California plan has been positive.

Nearly half of the remaining uninsured are unaware of the financial help available only through Covered California.

The survey found that recently insured consumers are getting access to quality care:

• Seventy-seven percent say their health needs are being met, which is up from 49 percent in the first survey conducted before the launch of the Affordable Care Act and Covered California’s first open-enrollment period.
• Seventy-six percent are satisfied with their choice of primary care doctors.
• Seventy percent say their experience with their current Covered California health care plan has been positive.

June is National Employee Wellbeing Month – an opportunity for companies nationwide to implement, evaluate and refine their employee wellness programs. An estimated 70% of employers already offer wellness programs, and 8% more plan to do so during the next year, according to the Society for Human Resource Management.

Employers are investing in wellness programs because these initiatives can support their employees’ desire to improve their health and create a happier, healthier workforce while reducing costs for employees and the company.

Some of these wellness programs give employees wearable devices at no additional charge, helping provide a more accurate and comprehensive summary of the user’s daily activity, sleep patterns and other health markers. Fitness trackers – usually small devices worn around the wrist or clipped onto clothing – give users a snapshot of actual physical activity.

Employers nationwide are expected to incorporate more than 13 million fitness tracking devices into their wellness programs by 2018, according to technology consultancy Endeavors Partners. That’s important, considering a study published in Science & Medicine showed people tend to overestimate how much exercise they get each week by more than 50 minutes, and they underestimate sedentary time by more than two hours. People who use wearable devices are better able to monitor and hold themselves accountable for their physical activity.

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To enroll in coverage outside of Covered California’s open-enrollment period, consumers must experience a “qualifying life event.” Many different types of qualifying life events are described in the chart below. If consumers experience a qualifying life event, they will be allowed to enroll in a Covered California health insurance plan outside of the normal open enrollment period. Most special enrollment periods last 60 days from the date of the qualifying life event.

In most cases, consumers must report changes and select a plan within 60 days of the qualifying life event to purchase a Covered California health insurance plan outside of open enrollment. Medi-Cal is available all year, and no qualifying life event or special enrollment period is required to enroll in Medi-Cal.

Most ObamaCare customers will find they have to pay more for coverage in 2016 than they did this year, as

The Los Angeles Daily News  (10/11) reported that a California bill requiring health insurers “to update their provider directories with

President Obama yesterday signed legislation “aimed at preventing premium increases that some smaller businesses were expecting next year under his signature health care law.” The new law keeps the ACA’s definition of small business at one to 50 workers but allows states to increase that threshold if they choose. The number was scheduled to expand to 100 on Jan. 1.

Over the weekend, Saturday 08/15/2015, RightPlan had the honor to participate among 30 other government agencies in this special government day over the Panorama Mall.
Assemblyman Adrin Nazarian was welcoming everyone, as shown in photos below.

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For employers who want to improve quality of life of their employees. following Worksite Wellness classes will be available in 2015:

Eat Well – This class reviews nutrition guidelines and appropriate food portion sizes. Tips to building healthy eating habits when dining out and cooking are also highlighted. Interactive visuals are used during the class.

Food Labels – Just about everything we consume has a food label but it’s not very user-friendly. Learn simple tips to make sense out of a standard food label so that you are informed about your food choices.

Weigh Less – Weight-loss is possible for anyone if they follow the key elements to effective and healthy weight management. In this class you will get the basics on energy balance, calorie intake, and Body Mass Index.

Move – More First half of the class describes fitness guidelines and how to safely begin a comprehensive fitness program. Second half of the class; participants engage in a low-impact, chair-based fitness routine. No special attire required.

Stress – Less This class guides you toward building stress management skills by reviewing the effects of stress on the body and how to identify symptoms. The class includes interactive relaxation techniques and aromatherapy music.

Sleep Well – Are you getting enough restful sleep? This class reviews what is healthy sleep, defines insomnia, and provides simple sleep hygiene steps. Sleep is part of a healthy lifestyle so be sure to set your clock for this informative class.

Small Business: 1-50 employees If you enrolled your employees in health care via the SHOP Marketplace in 2015, you’ll qualify

November 15, 2014: Open enrollment began for individual health insurance (i.e. Qualified Health Plans).

December 15, 2014: Deadline to apply if you would like coverage to start by January 1, 2015.

January 1, 2015: Earliest coverage date for plans purchased during the 2015 open enrollment period.

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The draft instructions clarify that forms 1094-B and 1095-B are to be used by organizations that are not reporting to

Thousands Scramble To Prove They Are In US Legally To Continue Receiving Health Coverage.

In continuing coverage, the Wall Street Journal (8/14, Radnofsky, Subscription Publication) reports that ACA supporters are scrambling to make sure thousands of people provide documents to demonstrate that they are in the country legally and entitled to coverage under the law. The Journal notes that the Obama Administration announced Tuesday that it would end coverage for some 300,000 people who enrolled on HealthCare.gov if they do not provide information in the next few weeks showing they are US citizens or legal residents.

Blessings and Best Wishes to You!

We hope you and your families enjoyed your summer and are ready for the upcoming fall season! We are all well aware of the never ending changes and correspondence you are receiving from Covered California, as we are now preparing for the upcoming open enrollment, we need to keep you informed of any crucial developments/deadlines/changes that could affect your health coverage.

There are three very important updates you need to be aware of:

• First, any missing documentation that has been requested or information that was unable to be electronically verified MUST be submitted or addressed immediately, final deadline to avoid loss of coverage is SEPTEMBER 5, 2014. (If you are unsure of missing documents you can either call our office to inquire or call 1-800-300-1506)
• Second, any citizenship or immigration/lawful presence letters requesting documentation you may have received also need to be addressed and or submitted by SEPTEMBER 5, 2014.
• Third, on August 28, 2014, Covered California sent out notices to health plan enrollees asking permission to automatically verify their income for the coverage year 2015. To avoid any confusion, let me give you the bottom line! The page that is titled “Renewal of Insurance Consent Form” is what really needs to be addressed immediately. ****Our recommendation is that you either send us an email with your selection so that we have it writing to be filed, or fax us the completed form you received so that we can update your account immediately. If you have access to your account, you can also confirm that way by logging on and checking the box provided. We highly recommend that you notify us of any changes.

FAILURE TO PROVIDE ANY OUTSTANDING DOCUMENTS OR COMPLETE THE “RENEWAL OF INSURANCE CONSENT FORM” WILL RESULT IN LOSS OF COVERAGE. ANY MEDI-CAL INQUIRIES SHOULD BE MADE THROUGH MEDI-CAL DIRECTLY AT 1-800-578-6762. ANY MEDI-CAL RECIPIENTS THAT NEED TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTS CAN DO SO THROUGH OUR OFFICE UNLESS ADVISED OTHERWISE BY MEDI-CAL.

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by Eric Vaknin

People with inherited diseases, for example, would not be penalized for heredity conditions  or denied coverage. Healthcare reform brings certain fairness to the system.

In March 2010, the United States Congress succeeded in an attempt to pass a reformation of healthcare. It was an unparalleled success compared to it predecessors. However, the legislation continues to cause concern as to whether healthcare reform will provide improvements to the heath care system.

Most individuals living in developed countries support improvements within any healthcare system. People with certain conditions find healthcare insurance difficult and often impossible to  obtain. This is a reflection of the high cost for medical treatments. Health insurance is a product designed to protect some individuals and is paid by all others insured. That is the purpose. Very few individuals in the middle and lower class can afford the high cost of medical treatment especially long-term hospital care. Healthy people will cover the cost of expensive treatments through insurance premiums.

by Patrick Daniels Opinions Vary on Solving The U.S. Healthcare Crisis Compared to other countries, healthcare in the United States is