Blog
When is Open Enrollment?
This year, Open Enrollment runs from October 1, 2013 - March 31, 2014. The plans will become effective January 1, 2014. That's a long Open Enrollment period, since there will be so many people that will have to be serviced. Starting next year (for plans with a January...
Why Can’t I Keep My Current Plan?
If you do not have a Grandfathered Plan, then why can't you keep your current plan? Because starting 1/1/14, all plans must meet minimum coverage standards - These are called Essential Health Benefits. If you do not have a plan that meets these standards, or if you...
Subsidies – How Much Will I Get?
Subsidies are based on 2 major factors: How many people are in your household? What is your household adjusted gross income? If your income is under 138% of the poverty level, you are Medicaid eligible. If your income is above 138% up to 400% of the poverty level, you...
Healthcare Reform Plans – How Much Will They Cost?
As with all insurance, price depends on how many people will be on the plan, ages and your zip code. Pricing has not yet been published for Healthcare Reform plans, but it has been estimated that plans will cost 30% more than comparable plans today. Exact pricing and...
Should I Buy in the Exchange – or Use a Licensed Agent?
Please note the following: If you are Medicaid eligible, then you must buy in the exchange and you must use a navigator. You cannot use a licensed agent. If you are eligible for a subsidy, you must buy in the exchange - but you can use either a navigator or a licensed...
What is a Navigator?
A Navigator is somebody that will help you enroll if you buy in the Exchange. The navigators are not licensed agents - rather, they are trained in how to enroll Medicaid and Subsidy eligible people into health plans. Navigators cannot make recommendations, they can...
What is a Healthcare Exchange?
Have you ever bought anything online? Well, that website was essentially an "exchange". You go to Amazon.com to buy general merchandise. And you go to Priceline.com to buy plane tickets and hotel rooms. In effect, Amazon and Priceline are "exchanges". And you go to...
Grandfathered Plans
President Obama famously said "If you like your current health insurance plan, you can keep it." Or can you? Here's the answer: You can keep your current plan only if the effective date is March 23, 2010 or earlier. Why? Because that's the date healthcare reform was...