California Health Care

Receiving good dental care at a young age can prevent cavities and gum disease in kids and give kids a lifetime of bright smiles. Many parents follow best practices for kids’ dental health, such as regular brushing and flossing. Still, these habits may not be enough to prevent every dental condition. Providing dental insurance for your kids is an excellent way to support good oral care and prevent dental issues later in life.

The Affordable Care Act lists dental insurance for kids as one of its 10 essential health benefits, and many plans in the Covered California Health Exchange include this coverage. However, obtaining dental coverage for your entire family requires adding supplemental dental insurance to your family plan or purchasing a stand-alone dental plan.

If you’re looking for California dental insurance for your kids, this guide provides valuable tips and ideas. Discover more critical things to know about California dental insurance for kids!

The top benefit of dental pla...

Unexpected medical expenses throughout the year can be an enormous burden on your finances. Fortunately, during tax season, you may be able to find some financial relief through the medical expense tax deduction. At the federal level, you may be able to deduct some of your qualifying medical expenses as long as you meet the requirements from the IRS.

Keep your receipts if you or your dependents spend time in the hospital or face costly medical costs during the year. Tax deductions can lower your total tax liability and reduce your taxable income. If you are interested in claiming medical expenses on your taxes, this article is for you. We cover what the medical expense deduction is, what the qualifying medical expenses are, what medical expenses are not tax-deductible and how you can claim medical expenses on your taxes.

The medical expense deduction allows taxpayers to deduct unreimbursed, qualified medical expenses. This deduction lowers your taxable income if you spend more than 7.5%...

If your insurance doesn’t fully cover your medical bills, you may be able to use them to reduce your tax bill. Only some medical costs are tax-deductible, so it’s important to understand which costs you can claim on your taxes. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has specific rules about qualified medical expenses and how to properly deduct them.

Individuals are responsible for covering different amounts of medical costs depending on their insurance plan. Your plan will cover a certain percentage of your medical costs, but you will be responsible for the remaining percentage of costs.

Policyholders are responsible for certain costs based on the following health insurance plans:

Depending on your coverage level, you may be responsible for paying large sums toward your medical expenses. You can claim qualified, out-of-pocket medical expenses as deductions on your taxes and use them to reduce the amount of taxes you pay for the year.

When you enroll in California health insurance through...

Travel is an exciting way to explore the world. Whether you take a trip across the country or the other side of the world, you can learn about new cultures and try new ways of life. Many people take advantage of travel’s benefits, with millions of Americans traveling each year.

When planning for a trip, one factor to consider is travel insurance. Travel insurance offers coverage for potential risks or financial losses during your trip. Depending on the type you select, it could cover anything from lost luggage to travel-related injuries. The insurance keeps you from losing money in case of emergencies.

Many travelers debate whether travel insurance is worth the extra cost. Read on for more information about when to use travel insurance.

One of the biggest questions people pose about travel insurance is whether it’s worth the additional payment. It can sometimes be tricky to understand when you need travel insurance and when you don’t.

Travel can often be expensive, from transportat...

When you lose your job, you’ll often lose the health insurance benefits that accompany it. Many people are unsure where to start when searching for new health insurance. Understanding your options, eligibility, income and medical needs can give you an excellent place to start.

When living in the U.S. as an unemployed or low-income person, health insurance is necessary to help you avoid taking on expensive medical debt. Around 60-65% of bankruptcies are due to medical expenses.

The cost of vital medical services causes many problems for people who have no health insurance and are unemployed. The average rate for a day in the hospital is over $2,600 nationally, rising to over $3,700 in California. If you need to stay overnight, you can expect costs to reach around $9,300 without insurance.

These costs don’t include life-saving surgeries or procedures, including x-rays, labs or scans. While hospitals can’t reject patients because they’re uninsured, unexpected medical emergencies c...

Around two-thirds of Americans take at least one type of prescription drug, making these medications essential components of health care.

Unfortunately, many Americans also find it challenging to pay for their medications. These medications can be expensive and typically need constant refills throughout the year. Many individuals that can’t afford medication choose to go without them, which can be dangerous for their health.

It’s crucial to find alternative payment options for prescription medications so you can manage pain and disease with what you’re prescribed. Read on to see how to pay for your prescriptions.

As the years pass, the cost of prescription drugs keeps rising. The increase is unsettling for many Americans that rely on these drugs to manage daily life.

Why are prescription drugs so expensive? Here are a few reasons:

You might be unable to afford prescription medications for a variety of reasons. The price might be too high when coupled with other expenses and bills....

Health sharing plans are a way for people with similar faiths and beliefs to pool their money, helping members cover their medical expenses. These plans differ from insurance in many ways, and membership in these nonprofit groups comes with both advantages and disadvantages.

Learn the basics of health sharing plans, including the types you may encounter, their advantages and disadvantages and when a health share plan may be the right choice for you.

Traditional insurance plans, provided by companies or government programs, offer guaranteed payments under predefined conditions. Health share plans, on the other hand, are healthcare funding co-ops. These programs are typically faith-based, with members who share a common set of practices and beliefs.

Also known as medishare plans or health sharing ministries, health share plans are nonprofits that serve as alternatives or additions to traditional insurance. Members’ monthly contributions create a pool the group can draw from to help cover...

Preventive care includes healthcare services and procedures that are intended to prevent illness, injury or disease. The goal here is to catch and treat smaller health conditions before they become serious health risks. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) mandates preventive care be free on most healthcare plans to help remove cost barriers and make essential care available to everyone.

Free preventive care means the eligible services aren’t subject to your deductible and there won’t be copays for them. However, there are some exceptions. For example, if your healthcare plan is grandfathered or isn’t regulated by the PPACA, like short-term plans, or if a doctor isn’t in your network, preventive care may not be free.

So what counts as preventive care? The following treatments typically count:

There are extensive lists of preventive care treatments specifically for children, women and adults in general. Over time, these lists are subject to change, and hea...

About one in five adults struggle with mental health disorders throughout America, and 14.4% have received treatment for their condition in the last year. However, it’s estimated that more than half of all Americans with mental health conditions are living without treatment. No matter your economic circumstances, you can always take the initiative to find coverage and start on the path to wellness.

Mental health care is considered one of America’s 10 essential health benefits, meaning all Californians qualify for mental health coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Covered California. Health for California is committed to teaching Californians about accessible mental health care no matter their price point. Learn more about starting your journey to better mental health and find affordable care options with Health for California.

Although not every insurance provider is required to provide mental health coverage, many of them do. If a plan is part of a state- or federa...

Free health insurance in California will become a reality starting on January 1, 2022. Through the California State Exchange, some consumers (based on income and household size) will be able to purchase plans with a $0 per month premium.

Up to this time, the lowest priced plans through Covered California have been $1 a month. Starting next year, for the first-time, qualified Californians will be able to get health insurance for free.

California legislation AB 133 allows for the State of California to pay the $1 PMPM (per member per month) premium that federal law excludes. This legislation passed in Sacramento on July 15, 2021. It was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom twelve days later on July 27, 2021.

Thus, the State of California will be paying the $1 PMPM in 2022 for Covered California enrollees. This new financial assistance will be called the “California Premium Credit”.