There are less than 70 days until October 1, 2013 — the date open enrollment begins and Americans can start purchasing health insurance with an effective date of January 1, 2014. How well do you understand the new health reform law? Take our 10-question quiz to find out. Click here or on the owl to test your knowledge! Let us know how you score, and give our office a call
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
Employer Mandate Delayed until 2015
On July 2, the US Treasury Department announced that the employer mandate — a key provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) — will be delayed until 2015. REMINDER: What is the Employer Mandate? Companies with 50 or more full-time or full-time equivalent employees must offer full-time employees and their dependents (i.e., children up to age 26) coverage that is affordable and provides minimum value beginning in
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
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!
Small Employers May be Missing Out on Tax Credit
Attention Small Business Owners Do you employ fewer than 25 full-time employees (or full-time equivalents/FTEs)? Do you provide your employees with health coverage? If you answered YES to both of these questions, you may be eligible for a federal income tax credit on your annual federal tax return! Most people know that under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), small employers (those with fewer than 50 FTEs) are not required to
Employers Must Notify Employees About Health Insurance Information by October 1
Last month, we wrote about the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) requirement that every employer provide written notice by October 1, 2013 to every employee about options for health insurance. In addition, after October 1, 2013, employers must provide the exchange notice to new hires within 14 days of the employee’s start date. We also posted a link to the Department of Labor’s (DOL) model notices that employers can use as
Could Affordable Care Insurance Grace Period Lead to “Gaming the System?”
Several weeks ago, we wrote about possible disincentives for doctors to accept health insurance sold on the marketplace (also known as exchanges). A recent article in the Sacramento Bee highlights a loophole in the law that deserves a further look. For subsidized policies sold in the exchanges, a provision in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) (federal law) provides for a three-month grace period during which the policyholder’s health insurance can