California Health Care

Innovations in technology have changed the health care landscape, and telehealth services are an increasingly popular option for patient convenience and comfort. In California, nearly 47% of adults reported using telehealth services to seek care in 2022.

California law has recognized telehealth as a legitimate form of health care delivery since 1996. Let’s explore the state laws and standards surrounding telemedicine.

In short, yes — California allows telemedicine. State law recognizes telehealth as a mode for delivering health care services via technology to facilitate the consultation, diagnosis, treatment and management of a patient’s health and wellness.

The two most common modes of telehealth services within California are:

California physicians and health care providers are permitted to use telehealth technologies to provide care to patients located in the state. In most instances, they must be licensed by the Medical Board of California.

Beyond that requirement, California’...

Posted: March 27th, 2024

Not every health issue requires a trip to your doctor’s office. Instead, many health concerns can now be addressed from the comfort of your own home.

Telehealth use has risen dramatically in recent years. Remote services do have limitations, so it’s important to know when to use telehealth appointments and when to see your primary care physician in person.

Telehealth appointments use technology to connect patients with health care professionals remotely. Using your computer or smartphone, you can see your primary care physician for medical advice, diagnoses and even treatment without having to venture out.

Your doctor should give you tips on preparing for your telehealth appointment. A few common types of telehealth appointments include:

Telehealth can also take the form of secure messaging through an online patient portal.

For many people, telemedicine is a safer and more convenient alternative to in-person medical visits. However, the appropriateness of telehealth depends on the pat...

Posted: March 20th, 2024

Vision insurance can help you save on eye exams, glasses and contact lenses — if you use your plan wisely. Learn how to maximize your plan’s benefits, whether you have VSP, EyeMed or another type of vision coverage.

The first step to using your benefits is understanding what your plan covers. That way, you can determine how eye care fits your budget and how often you can use your insurance. For example, you can use your VSP benefits once a year if you want coverage for an exam.

It’s best to check your member benefits to see what your specific plan will cover in a year.

What is your reason for needing an eye appointment? If you’re ready to use VSP benefits to order contacts or get new glasses, your vision insurance will come in handy. Vision insurance typically offers allowances to help cover the cost of these helpful products.

However, if you’re concerned about a medical issue with your eyes, you may need to visit your primary care doctor. This doctor can diagnose problems like...

Posted: March 13th, 2024

If you are looking into dental health care coverage options, the two you have probably run across are savings plans and insurance. Both of these options can help you save after a trip to the dentist — it’s only a matter of which one is right for your needs.

Dental savings plans are membership programs with discounts on dental care from participating dentists. These are ideal if you know you need extensive dental work done, as they can save you more than their membership fees each year.

Here’s how they work:

Traditional dental insurance plans are when an insurance company pays for your dental services in full or partial amounts. The exact plan you choose will determine what services or procedures they will cover — however, most insurance plans will take care of preventive care cleanings or exams.

As the insurance holder, you will have to pay a monthly fee to stay enrolled. Most insurance plans also come with a deductible or copay. A deductible is a fixed amount you need to reach o...

Posted: March 6th, 2024

In short, yes — health insurance providers have the ability to terminate your coverage. Whether the issue is on the provider’s or holder’s end, there must be a reason for the cancellation. Otherwise, it is considered frivolous, and there are laws in place to protect holders from those actions.

Your health insurance can be terminated for several reasons. Whatever the cause, most reasons can fall under either voluntary or involuntary terminations.

Voluntary terminations are those from the holder’s end of the equation, like when a policy holder decides to stop making payments during or after the end of a contract.

Involuntary terminations are those where the health insurance provider decides to drop your plan. This can happen on the anniversary date or in the midterm. Midterm cancellations are coverage cancellations done any time before your policy’s contract renewal period. These are possible if you are found to have:

In any termination situation, your provider must notify you at...

Posted: February 28th, 2024


As a generally healthy individual, you may see health insurance as a “just-in-case” form of protection in the event you get injured or become sick. While your plan can provide that coverage in your time of need, you should know that your health care benefits likely go much further than helping with emergency room visits and primary care checkups — and you can use them even when you don’t necessarily need them.

Ultimately, your health insurance is important and can be a major resource for keeping you mentally and physically fit. To get the most out of your plan and fully justify your monthly premium, you should know the ways you can use your benefits when you’re healthy.

Every health care plan comes with basic components that make up how much and what the insurance covers. As you consider how to use your benefits throughout the year, you should understand each part of your plan to know exactly what you can and can’t do.

While different kinds of health insurance exist, the gen...

Posted: February 21st, 2024


In California, nearly one in seven people experience a mental illness. This makes it one of the most common health conditions in the state. If you’re experiencing mental health or substance abuse issues, the costs for care and treatment can rack up pretty fast. This is why it’s beneficial to have mental health insurance.

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), all insurance plans cover mental health and substance use disorders in California. It’s important to note that an insurer can’t deny you coverage for an existing condition, and they can’t limit you or charge more than they would for other health services. There are multiple insurance options to choose from, no matter your financial circumstances. We’ve compiled a list of tips to help you select the one that best supports your mental health needs.

If you’re searching for a new insurance provider or are looking to switch, consider your mental health needs so that you can choose the right plan to cover your treatm...

Posted: January 31st, 2024


Health insurance plans have many terms and conditions that may be challenging to understand when shopping for insurance. For many, the most confusing health insurance terms are the out-of-pocket costs not covered or reimbursed by your insurance provider. These typically include deductibles, copays and coinsurance, which are health care costs you continue to incur even after you’ve paid your monthly or yearly insurance premiums.

Out-of-pocket health care costs vary depending on your insurance plan and add up to your total medical bills. These costs are set up to ensure cost-sharing between you and your insurer to keep medical expenses manageable. Below, we discuss the common out-of-pocket expenses you can expect to incur to help you choose the best insurance plan for you and your family.

A deductible is a dollar amount you pay for your covered health care expenses before your health plan starts to pay its share. Your health insurance plan determines your deductible, which is reset...

Posted: January 24th, 2024

Blue Shield of California has been providing the state’s residents with health insurance since 1939. If you are a senior looking for new dental insurance coverage, Health for California can help you find the right Blue Shield dental plan to suit your needs.

Growing up, our parents always told us to take care of our teeth, and these words of wisdom still ring true for us in retirement age. Dental coverage makes regular oral care affordable and encourages seniors to take preventive and proactive steps needed for their overall wellness. It is especially helpful in emergencies for painful tooth conditions or for loose or lost teeth.

Blue Shield offers two dental plans through Health for California for seniors — the Dental Standard HMO and Enhanced Dental PPO 1500. Here is an outline of services for each plan.

In insurance, health maintenance organization (HMO) plans are designed for pre-determined dental costs and lower monthly premiums. The dental standard HMO plan encourages preventive...

Posted: January 17th, 2024


Did you know that as many as 11 million Americans need vision correction? A vision insurance policy is essential to help maintain eye health and reduce eye care costs.

Unlike a regular health plan that only covers unexpected vision costs such as eye injury or disease, vision insurance helps you maintain eye wellness. It gives you access to routine eye exams, vision-related treatment and preventive care, depending on the insurer and plan.

Vision insurance remains a gray area for many Americans. Use this guide to learn about what it is, how it works and what you can expect it to cover.

Vision insurance is a type of policy that covers specialized eye care. It’s separate from health insurance and covers eye care expenses as opposed to general eye health. It’s important to distinguish between vision discount and vision insurance  — two types of plans that offer similar benefits and are often confusing. Here’s an overview:

Vision insurance works similarly to health insurance pl...

Posted: January 10th, 2024

Not sure how Obamacare affects your health care plans in California? Learn how the ACA works in California, including benefits, costs and enrollment.

Covered California is the Golden State’s official health exchange marketplace where individuals, families and small businesses can find high-quality, low-cost California government health insurance.

Learn about Obamacare income guidelines in California using our income limits chart, and see if you’re eligible for government assistance.

Learn about the Covered California website. Find easy online enrollment. Set up your account, log in, buy insurance and more on the California health marketplace website.