If you did not have health insurance in 2014, be prepared to pay a penalty when you file your 2014 income taxes next April. If the penalty for not being covered in 2014 did not seem too high, brace yourself for the dollar amount to rise next year, and the year after. Here are the penalty amounts for 2014, 2015, and 2016: 2014 2015 2016 $95 per adult $47.50 per
I’m Losing My Work Health Insurance. Should I Go on COBRA or Enroll in an Affordable Care Act Insurance Plan?
Before the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) became the law, leaving a job meant either getting private health insurance (which was sometimes impossible because of pre-existing conditions), going without health insurance (NOT a good option!), or paying for coverage under COBRA. COBRA — the Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act — is the federal law that gives you the right to continue your employer-sponsored health insurance coverage for 18 months. The problem
Am I Eligible for a Health Insurance Subsidy in 2015?
Eligibility for a subsidy on your health insurance is determined based upon your household income level and the number of people in your household. The eligibility numbers have been adjusted for 2015 coverage. Here is the most recent data: (Click here or on the image to view larger.) Source: healthcare.gov Virginia Medical Plans Can Help Give us a call at 1-800-867-0800 or send us an email at jkatz@vamedicalplans.com. We can
Health Insurance Cancellation Notices
Help! My health insurance is being canceled! Several hundred thousand Americans — reportedly 250,000 in Virginia alone — either have already been notified or will be notified soon by their health insurance company that their plan is being canceled effective December 31, 2014. The canceled plans are those which do not fully comply with the provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), otherwise known as Obamacare. What should I do
9 Simple Facts about Health Insurance
Fact #1 Open Enrollment for 2015 individual health insurance plans begins November 15, 2014. Fact #2: You may apply for coverage outside the dates of Open Enrollment if you have a qualifying event. Fact #3: All individual and small group health insurance plans effective on or after January 1, 2014 must include coverage for 10 essential health benefits — things like preventive care, well visits to the doctor, hospitalization, etc.
Signing Up for Medicare
Are you about to turn 65? If so, then you probably have Medicare on your mind. And if you don’t, well — you should! First and foremost, you should know you will NOT be automatically enrolled in Medicare on your 65th birthday. Unless you have already been collecting Social Security benefits, you will have to initiate the enrollment process yourself. So, what is involved? Understanding Medicare can be overwhelming, so
Will Healthcare.gov Be Better This Time?
Kevin Counihan, the new CEO of the Federal Health Insurance Marketplace (aka the Exchange or “healthcare.gov”), is predicting a much smoother roll-out of the ill-fated website than we saw last year. Should we be hopeful? Maybe. After all, Counihan was formerly in charge of Connecticut’s state-run health insurance exchange — one of the more successful exchanges out there. And he is touting the new and improved healthcare.gov as being so
My Doctor Says He is Not Accepting Obamacare
What Should I Do if My Doctor Says He or She Does Not Accept Obamacare? We get this question all the time. The answer is a little tricky. The first thing to point out is that the term “Obamacare” is simply another name for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) which is the law passed in 2010 reforming our country’s health care system. Obamacare is not a type of insurance, or
What Are Key Dates for 2015 Health Insurance?
If you purchase health insurance for yourself or your family (vs. getting coverage through your employer), it will soon be time to begin thinking about your 2015 coverage. Here are some dates to keep in mind: November 15, 2014. The start of Open Enrollment for 2015 health insurance. Open Enrollment is the time when you can apply for new health insurance coverage, or, if you already have coverage, you can
Affordable Care Act and Medicare
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has sparked a lot of questions from those eligible for Medicare as to how ACA Marketplace plans and Medicare coverage work together. In a nutshell, they really don’t. If you are already on Medicare, nothing changes for you. You are considered covered under the health care law and do not have to explore other options through the Marketplace. In fact, it is against the law