Covered California Insurance Options

by Wendy Barnett

When you have lost your job, your medical insurance from your employer can end, too. Being without work can be a stressful time, but understanding your health insurance options doesn’t have to be. Explore your options for health insurance after losing your job with Health for California.

From the day you lost your job and health insurance coverage, you have 60 days to apply for health insurance, regardless of what time of year it is.

Since the Affordable Care Act went into law, most health insurance enrollment is limited to the Open Enrollment period at the end and beginning of every year. When Open Enrollment is closed, you typically have to wait for the next enrollment period to apply for coverage. However, this time is also known as the Special Enrollment Period, meaning you can find coverage if you experience a Qualifying Life Event. Involuntarily losing your job is considered one of these Qualifying Life Events.

It’s also important to know that searching for...

With high deductibles and rising health care costs across the nation, more and more Americans are looking for ways to make their medical care more affordable. One method many Americans are turning to is opening a health savings account, also referred to as an HSA. HSAs are widely considered by financial experts to be one of the best savings options available to consumers.

If you’re considering enrolling in an HSA, you may be wondering — what does an HSA cover? Do I qualify for an HSA? If I meet HSA requirements, how can I open an account? In this guide, we’ll provide answers to all these questions and many more.

A health savings account (HSA) is a savings account used with a high-deductible qualifying health insurance plan. This savings account is appealing to many consumers because money can be drawn from the account tax-free. Thus, consumers can use their pre-tax dollars to pay for their qualifying medical expenses. In California, you can enroll in a high deductible HSA if you h...

Medicare is the United States health insurance program designed to provide coverage to people over the age of 65, individuals with end-stage renal disease and younger people with certain disabilities. One key benefit of Medicare is that it helps control a person’s health care costs as they age.

Although Medicare can cover much of your health care needs, it doesn’t cover everything. For that reason, some people purchase supplemental Medicare coverage, also known as a Medigap policy. There are several reasons why Medigap might make sense for you and provide the most comprehensive form of health coverage. Learn more about what’s covered by Medicare and what you can get from purchasing a supplemental Medicare insurance plan in California.

Medicare is a multi-part health insurance program. Each Medicare part covers a different type of health care need:

Both Medicare Part B and Part D require a monthly premium based on income. Medicare Part B also has an annual deductible,...

Most medical plans cover preventive services that come at no cost to the patient. But what is preventive care? What are the specific preventive care services for women, men and children?

To answer your questions, we’ve compiled some preventive care guidelines so you can know what plans may be available to you, the services you may want to include in your care plan and what costs you may face.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), seven out of every 10 deaths among Americans every year are due to chronic diseases, of which many are preventable. By using preventive care, Americans can stop these illnesses before they become major health problems.

Preventive care refers to services intended to prevent illnesses before you feel sick or become aware of any symptoms. The purpose of preventive care is to shift the focus from treating illnesses to maintaining good health and wellness.

Preventive care can help you stay healthy for longer by preventing or delaying the onset of...

For a small business, navigating health insurance can seem confusing at first glance. There are many options available for insurance plans and tons of rules to sort out.

If your company lacks a human resources department, figuring out health insurance can become part of your job as an owner. You will need to educate yourself on small business health insurance options and everything you need to consider before purchasing a plan.

Providing medical coverage might be one of the best things you ever do for your company and employees alike. Learn more about how it all works with this insurance guide for small businesses.

Many small businesses choose to provide their workers with health insurance. There are some important considerations for finding the best plans for your team. When shopping for coverage, you must understand your employees’ needs and budgets.

Because every company’s needs are unique, finding the right plans can take some time. This is why every small business owner interest...

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...

Choosing a health insurance plan can be complicated. You have to consider many different aspects of the plan and the medical care you typically need. Picking the right plan gets you the coverage you need at a price that fits your budget.

If you need help choosing a health insurance plan, learn your options and other considerations to make.

You may not be familiar with some of the common terms you’ll come across while searching for health insurance. Here’s a quick health insurance plan glossary to get you started:

There are various health insurance plans that have different advantages and disadvantages. These are general descriptions of each plan, so keep in mind that the details may vary depending on your specific options. The most common plans are HMOs and PPOs, but other types may be better for you.

Compare health insurance plans to understand what’s available:

An HMO plan often has lower premiums and lower out-of-pocket costs but fewer provider options. Healthcare providers and med...

Medicare users may find high costs or areas in their plans where they don’t have coverage. Because of these gaps, individuals can seek out Medicare Supplement or Medicare Advantage plans to help fill in areas with little range and decrease their costs. Because you can only use one program, knowing which one works best for you is essential.

It is important to identify what Medicare itself covers for those considering additional Medicare services. Medicare’s policies break down into three different parts, labeled each by a different letter:

Standard Medicare services include Parts A and B, and users can elect to have Part D when they initially sign up for Medicare. However, signing up late for Part D can result in fees.

While Medicare is a fairly comprehensive plan, it does not cover all users’ services. Individuals under Medicare must still pay for 20% of their medical bills, and there is no price ceiling to how much they can pay in one year, resulting in high costs for some indiv...

Open enrollment in California lasts through January 31, 2022, for coverage in 2022. If you need a new health insurance plan or want to switch from one plan to another without having a major life change, open enrollment is the time to do it.

There are often some changes in health insurance options and costs from year to year and 2022 is no different. Take a look at what’s changing in California this year and what’s staying the same.

In 2022, you can expect to have more choices when it comes to health insurance plans. How much you pay for a policy and how much you get from a subsidy are also likely to change this year. Let’s look at the changes and how they might affect you.

Your health insurance premium is how much you pay for coverage monthly. Insurance premiums are based on several factors, including your age, location and the type of insurance policy you buy. Whether you smoke or not also affects your premium. Tobacco users typically pay higher insurance premiums than non-smokers.