Many Americans in the individual health insurance market — those who purchase their own health insurance vs. getting it through their employer — are getting their first glimpse into their 2014 premiums. And many are facing sticker shock! Why are some people’s prices increasing in the 2014 individual market? The price increases are a matter of math and statistics. No More Denial for Pre-Existing Conditions A cornerstone of the Affordable
Effective Dates for 2014 Health Insurance
There has been a lot of talk about enrollment for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (otherwise known as “Obamacare”). It may not be clear, however, how the effective dates work for 2014 coverage. Open enrollment for health insurance plans effective in 2014 runs from October 1, 2013 through March 31, 2014. This means that during this time period, any eligible consumer can purchase a health insurance policy that
In-network vs. Out-of-network Care
What is a network? A network (also called provider network or preferred providers) is a group of medical providers (hospitals, doctors, specialists, pharmacies, etc.) that have contracted with an insurance company to provide medical care at an agreed-upon rate. What is in-network vs. out-of-network care? In-network care is medical care obtained from a provider within your plan’s network. Out-of-network care is medical care obtained from providers outside of your plan’s
Extended Deadline for Health Coverage – What Does it Mean?
The Affordable Care Act (ACA — otherwise known as “Obamacare”) has been front-and-center in the news this month, first for its role in the recent record-long, 16-day shutdown of the US government, and now for the technical glitches that have plagued the online federal health insurance exchange since it opened on October 1. This week the Obama administration announced a 6-week extension of the deadline for signing up for health
Why Should I Buy Health Insurance if I am Young and Healthy?
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
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
Virginia Medical Plans Completes Training on Federal Health Insurance Exchange
As October 1 — the start of Open Enrollment for the new health insurance marketplace — gets closer and closer, here at Virginia Medical Plans, we are getting ready! Our own Jonathan Katz recently completed a 6-part online training module offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Successful completion of this training course means that Jon has demonstrated proficiency with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and
What is a Navigator Under Affordable Care?
When you’re on a road trip to some place new, it is helpful to have along a navigator — someone to help you get where you need to go. Preferably, your navigator is someone who, at best, has been there before, but at the very least, has the experience to help you map out the best route and adjust to any trouble spots along the way. When the Exchanges (also
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
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,”
