Starting Oct. 1, Covered California will expand choice in its Small Employer Health Options Program by allowing employers to offer a choice of plans in two contiguous benefit levels.
Currently, business owners can offer only one benefit level, although workers can choose from a variety of plans at that level. Other states generally don’t allow even that much choice.
The Los Angeles Times (6/13, Terhune) reports that “industry giant” Anthem Blue Cross said on Thursday “its California premiums for individual coverage will increase less than 10% of average next year.” The article calls this “the strongest indication yet where Obamacare rates are headed.”
Trying on new shades, while visiting one of our fabulous clients!
On May 9, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a 60-day Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for anyone who has COBRA group health benefits continuation coverage. With this announcement, COBRA enrollees have until July 1, 2014 to change to an Affordable Care Act (ACA) compliant plan. In California, they have until July 15, 2014 to change to an ACA-compliant plan and this SEP is also available to Cal-COBRA enrollees.
To take advantage of this SEP, COBRA and Cal-COBRA enrollees must apply for an on-exchange plan on Covered California (the state-based exchange) or for an off-exchange ACA plan by July 15, 2014.
Under COBRA (the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act), people who lose their jobs can buy the coverage they had with their employer. But they have to pay the full cost. In many cases, and especially when they qualify for subsidies, people can get more affordable coverage through the health insurance marketplaces, also called the exchanges. They may also find more affordable coverage options off the exchange.
When filling out either a paper or online off-exchange application, COBRA or Cal-COBRA enrollees should mark the box designated as the Involuntary Loss of Minimum Essential Coverage as their qualifying life event during the SEP. And they should put in the date they are applying as the qualifying event date. For off-exchange plans, the effective date will be the first of the month after the date the application is received. Covered California determines the effective date rules for its on-exchange plans.
The Kaiser Health News (3/13, Rovner) “Capsules” blog reports that the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate penalty could cost millions of Americans “a lot more than $95,” which is merely the minimum for its first year in operation. The article points people toward the Tax Policy Center’s online calculator to get an idea of how much foregoing insurance could cost this year.