Why should the young and healthy have health insurance? The glitches and delays experienced with the October 1 roll-out of the online health care exchanges have left many wondering if young, healthy Americans will give up and simply not enroll in a health insurance plan by January 1, 2014. However, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) — aka Obamacare — makes having health insurance mandatory for most Americans beginning on January
CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield Option to Re-Enroll
If you are currently covered by an individual CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance policy (vs. one you get through your employer) that you purchased or after March 23, 2010, we have some critical — and time sensitive* — information for you. (Update October 31, 2013 – deadline to re-enroll has been extended to November 22, 2013) CareFirst policyholders either already have received or will receive soon a letter from
Should Young Adults Stay on Their Parents’ Health Insurance?
One of the earliest-implemented provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was the requirement that parents be allowed to keep their adult children on their health insurance until age 26. As a result, many families did just that. Even when the adult child was offered coverage through his or her employer, it often made sense for many reasons for the “child” to stay on the parents’ plan. With the next
Who Should I Choose to Help Me Buy Health Insurance — A Broker or a Navigator?
We think the choice is clear. Always turn to a Broker over a Navigator when buying individual health insurance — on or off the Exchange. What is the difference between a Broker and a Navigator? Navigators are short-term contract workers hired — with or without any experience with health insurance — for the purpose of explaining the existence of the Exchange to people shopping for insurance on the Exchange. They
What Does the DOMA Ruling Mean for Health Insurance Reform?
Last month the US Supreme Court struck down Section 3 of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in its ruling in United States v. Windsor. The Court’s landmark decision to overturn DOMA extends federal benefits to legally married, same-sex couples. What does this mean in terms of health insurance reform and implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)? Here are some key points: Eligibility for Federal Health Insurance Subsidies
Three Months Until the Start of Open Enrollment for Health Insurance
Today is July 1. For us at Virginia Medical Plans, the date signifies the start of a three month countdown to open enrollment for health insurance and the October 1, 2013 opening of the health insurance exchanges. Between now and then, we will all continue to see a lot of publicity about the Affordable Care Act (ACA), as both the government and the insurance industry launch widespread campaigns to educate
Great Overview of Affordable Care Act
Much has been written about the Affordable Care Act in advance of the opening of the exchanges scheduled for October 1, 2013. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal provides a terrific overview of what it will be like to buy health insurance after the exchanges open for business on October 1, 2013. Here are some key points from the article, the full text of which you can read
Policies Sold in the Health Care Exchanges May Offer Fewer Providers
Mandatory health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for most Americans starting on January 1, 2014 will cause a flood into the market of previously-uninsured individuals and those needing to get new coverage. Coupled with the fact that insurance plans will be required to cover a comprehensive list of essential health benefits, insurance companies and government officials are trying to find ways to hold down medical costs. Renegotiating
What is a Health Insurance Exchange?
A health insurance exchange (also known as a marketplace) is a new organization established under the provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The theory behind the exchanges is to give people access to an organized, competitive market in which they can research and compare various affordable health insurance options, and ultimately purchase a plan that best meets their needs. Key points: When will the exchanges open? October 1, 2013,