October 1, 2013 marks the start of the Open Enrollment period for health insurance. From October 1 – March 31, 2014, Americans will be able to purchase health insurance with an effective date as early as January 1, 2014. And remember, everyone MUST have health insurance by the first of the year! Are you ready? Here are 7 easy steps you can follow: 1 Understand your options. You will be
Important Questions to Ask When Seeking Medical Care
When you visit a doctor or other medical provider, knowing the right questions to ask will make you a smarter consumer when it comes to your own health care. Here are some suggestions: Do you take my health insurance? If so, are you in my network? (Hint: this is becoming increasingly important as provider networks may be shrinking. Read more.) What are my health care options? (Hint: it’s best
Will My Health Insurance Need to Change in 2014?
This is a question we hear a lot. If you currently have health insurance, your plan fits into one of two categories: Grandfathered plans: policies purchased before the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into law on March 23, 2010 and still active. For more information on grandfathered plans click here. Non-grandfathered plans: policies purchased on or after March 23, 2010, with coverage active before January 1, 2014. Because these
Anthem Letter – What Does it Mean?
Anthem recently mailed out letters to thousands of policyholders with non-grandfathered health insurance plans … and, in the process, may have inadvertently confused a lot of people! To read the letter, click here. What does the letter mean? In a nutshell, the letter informs Anthem’s policyholders that the way a policy year is defined is changing from the default of a calendar year (January 1 – December 31) to a
Understanding Health Insurance Premiums
States are beginning to release premium rates for policies that will be sold on their health insurance exchanges beginning on October 1. The news can be confusing, however, and subject to interpretation — and “spin”. On a single day in July, for example, the Washington Post ran this headline: “Maryland Issues Insurance Rates That Are Among the Lowest in U.S.” On the same day, the Baltimore Sun ran this: “Premiums
Health Insurance Changes Coming Your Way Under the Affordable Care Act
Check out this helpful video about the Affordable Care Act. Then give us a call if you have any questions about how the new law will impact you! Remember, Virginia Medical Plans can help you purchase your health insurance — on or off the exchange — at no extra cost to you! [youtube=http://youtu.be/JZkk6ueZt-U] SOURCE: “The YouToons Get Ready for Obamacare: Health Insurance Changes Coming Your Way Under the Affordable Care Act,”
Buying Individual Health Insurance Under the Affordable Care Act
If you currently buy your own health insurance (vs. getting it through your employer), you may be wondering what your next steps will be now that implementation of the next phase of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is getting closer. Here is a quick run-down of your options. If your current coverage is a grandfathered health insurance plan and you have favorable rates and terms on the current plan, then
Pre-Existing Conditions – Five Things You Need to Know
Here are 5 things you need to know about pre-existing conditions under the new health care law (aka Affordable Care Act), for plans effective beginning January 1, 2014: 1. You cannot be denied insurance because of pre-existing conditions All new health plans will be guaranteed issue. This means health insurance can be purchased by anyone, regardless of health status. 2. You cannot be charged a higher premium if you have
Early Renewal for Health Insurance Plans
Why Renew Early? With the next phase of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) going into effect in just under six months, many small businesses that currently provide group insurance for their workers are concerned about the law’s impact on the cost of doing so. Individuals, too, are wondering if their costs will increase under ACA. Under the law, new health plans must cover the essential health benefits, but at the
What Every Business Needs to Know about the Affordable Care Act
We’ve added a new resource — What Every Business Needs to Know about the Affordable Care Act — on our Resources page. This is a terrific, easy-to-use guide that we think will be very helpful as companies and individuals do their best to learn about the new health care law. Take a few moments to check it out! Better yet, bookmark the page and refer back whenever you need to!
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