California Health Care
by John Hansen
Dave Fear, the Vice President of the California Association of Health Underwriters, introduced Mary Watanabe. He couldn’t speak highly enough about her and the California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC). The DMHC supports agents and consumers with issues related to health insurance in California.
Fear began with a personal story about how his best friend from high school was dealing with a health care problem. The friend was caught between Covered California and the insurance carrier, whom he left unnamed. Both parties were blaming the other. “I went to Mary at the DMHC, and within a week it was dealt with,” says Fear. “[The health plan] said every claim will be paid. Once DMHC got involved, the carrier stopped complaining and said, ‘Whatever you say?’” After that, the carrier stopped fighting and gave the client all the services he needed.
Mary Watanabe is the embodiment of the saying, “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” She’s a sweet, kin...
by John Hansen
Bernie Sanders has been the dark horse of the political primaries this year. He came out of nowhere spouting ideas that for many seemed very radical. He is the first significant presidential candidate that actually claims to be a socialist. However, his ideas like free college and no cost health care for all have had a huge appeal amongst young people in the nation and in California.
On cars across the state of California, Bernie bumper stickers are everywhere. The shocking thing is that the two front runners, Donald Trump for the Republican Party and Hilary Clinton for the Democratic Party are almost nowhere to be seen. Personally, I have seen 100’s of bumper stickers for Bernie Sanders, and I have not seen a single one for Hilary or Trump.
One of the big appeals of Bernie Sanders is this idea of no cost health care for all. Many feel that the Affordable Care Act just didn’t go far enough. And, for many in California, they’re saying, “It’s still not affordable!...
by John Hansen
According to political analyst, Gary Dietrich, 20% of Californian’s have chosen a political affiliation as “Independent” or “Decline to State”. Many of these are young people in their 20’s and 30’s. “Instead of choosing a party, the new voters are looking at personalities [and] personal priorities. Party loyalty is going away,” according to Dietrich.
Bernie Sanders argues for no cost college and free health care for all. That message is attractive to a lot of young people who are scared about acquiring huge education loans and who are struggling of health care that is anything but free.
According to Dietrich, the thinking is no longer the typical “Republican” or “Democrat”, but rather, “Do I like them?” Can I stand dealing with this politician’s personality. Do their values represent my personal priorities?
In the new world of Health Care Reform, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and Obamacare California this rising CA voter block has opinions a...
by John Hansen
At the CAHU Capital Summit, before a crowd of California insurance agents, I asked the following question of political analyst Gary Dietrich: “Can you summarize Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump’s views on the Affordable Care Act (ACA)? And, then tell us how things may be affected based on who is elected president.”
Not missing a beat, Dietrich responded, “Who knows?”, which ultimately filled the room with laughter. Then, he added, “There’s what they say [about the ACA] and what’s likely to happen.” Hilary Clinton says that her views on the Affordable Care Act are closer to President Obama. She plans to continue to support Health Care Reform/Obamacare and work to improve the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).
Donald Trump says he aims to throw out Obamacare and do something better, maybe even Medicare for all. This has led to some comparisons between Trump and Bernie Sanders. Ultimately, Dietrich says, “We don’t really know. Some thing...
by John Hansen
Gary Dietrich spoke to a room full of California insurance brokers on Wednesday, May 18, at the Capitol Summit for the California Association of Underwriters (CAHU). Though California agents tend to be Republicans, he argued against partisanship and said that people are looking to hear both sides. He mentioned talks he has hosted regarding various ballot measures. He had both sides of the argument present, and has garnered interest from California voters in the millions.
Dietrich commented to California insurance brokers regarding the health care industry. He said, “People want to know what’s going on and where it’s going.” He argued to these agents that we need to get back to our united values as a country and make firm commitments to integrity, value and courage. He argued for the life-giving power of altruism to be infused into the health care industry in California.
Dietrich said, “Find something that shows you’re committed to a common good.” He referred...
by John Hansen
Gary Dietrich, at the California Association of Health Underwriters (CAHU) Summit on Wednesday, May 18, argued that strong political winds are coming that will have big implications on health insurance in California and in the United States.
He pointed out that the next generation of Americans is much less tied to either the Republican or the Democratic parties. This will have huge ramifications on the next election as well as on health care in California.
Dietrich referenced www.realclearpolitics.com, which takes US poles and aggregates the information. Dietrich commented that some of the statistics are very thought provoking:
Through this polling and through our own experience, we see that the world of health care is changing. Dietrich commented, “Things used to be so simple. You had one doctor, one hospital and one insurer for your whole life.”
But now that’s radically changing. Consumers of health insurance products are having to learn the health care industry, ge...
by John Hansen
Gary Dietrich, the President and cofounder of Citizen Voice, spoke to a group of California insurance agents on Wednesday, May 18 at the CAHU Capitol Summit. Dietrich is a bipartisan political analyst, and this came through loud and clear in his talk to California health care brokers.
He is a graduate from the University of Santa Barbara and he has a Masters from Harvard. Dietrich has served as staff to state assembly and senate politicians.
Dave Fear, CAHU VP of Legislation, said, “In Sacramento we hear Gary a lot. He is a well-respected voice.” Fear set the bar high and Mr. Dietrich delivered with an informative and inspiring talk to California insurance agents.
Dietrich began by saying, “I want to talk person to person today.” He emphasized the importance of the role of the insurance agent. “You are a in a really important industry.”
Dietrich told a story about his 90 year old mother that has had him thinking more about health care and insurance lately. He tol...
by John Hansen
California insurance agents, consumers and political leaders argue that something needs to be done to relieve the frustrations of low income individuals who have family health plans that fluctuate between qualifying for Medi-Cal and Covered California.
Through 1332 innovation waivers, California (along with every state) can make improvements to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Perhaps Sacramento leaders on Capitol Hill will file such an innovation waiver on behalf of California families, but so far they have not.
The California Association of Health Underwriters (CAHU) has been pushing for an innovation waiver to fix a glitch in the system related to low income family health plans where consumers are moving in and out of Medi-Cal. Depending on household income, a family may qualify for Medi-Cal or qualify to receive subsidized government health insurance through the Exchange, Covered California.
The difficulty comes with family health plans where the insured have fluctuating...
by John Hansen
When Employee-Only Coverage = “Affordable”, High Dependent Costs Often Make Insurance Un-Affordable
How can I get affordable California health insurance for my dependents? Due to Obamacare’s definition of “affordable”, often it’s difficult for employed families in California to achieve true affordability in health care.
Some have called it a glitch in the Affordable Care Act (ACA). When an employee has “affordable” employee only coverage, this disqualifies the spouse and children from getting subsidized government health insurance on the exchange.
If the employee only coverage is less than 9.5% of the household income, then no one in the family qualifies for a government subsidy. Many times when you add in the health insurance California premiums for the spouse and children, the cost of coverage is anything but affordable.
However, since the employee technically has “affordable health insurance coverage”, the spouse and children will not be able to get a...
by John Hansen
All the California health plans offer HSA insurance coverage. However, California is one of three states that do not allow HSA contributions to be deducted at a state level. A bill is brought up every year to remedy this, usually by Assembly woman Beth Gaines. And every year it is struck down. The question that arises is: What does Sacramento have against HSA insurance?
HSA is the acronym for Health Savings Account. HSA insurance allows California consumers to earmark money for medical expenses and deduct that money from their federal taxes. In 47 out of 50 states, consumers can also deduct this money from their income for their state taxes. But not in California!
Covered California offers an HSA insurance plan. Find out more about the Covered California Bronze 60 HSA Plan, or for information related to prescription drug coverage on this Bronze HSA plan, click here.
If enrolled on an HSA insurance plan in 2016, you can contribute up to $3,350 for an individual or up to $6,75...