Here’s the down-low on “short term” health insurance plans in California. Short term health insurance plans were used as an alternative to “Obamacare” (ACA) plans if someone needed coverage for a short period of time (previously less than 3 months, and more recently, less than 12 months).

People who missed the individual and family plan open enrollment could enroll in these plans at anytime throughout the year. Additionally, people who were trying to “bridge a gap” in coverage (example: going from an employer plan to an individual plan, or an employer plan to a NEW employer plan), could utilize these short term plans to cover themselves during that period of time.

Short term health insurance plans are able to exclude certain benefits that “Obamacare” plans are required to contain (these requirements are called “essential health benefits”). For example, a short term health insurance plan can exclude things like maternity, mental health benefits, and can also utilize pre-existing condition exclusions when underwriting the plan. For these reasons, short term health insurance plans have a tendency to be much less expensive than “Obamacare” plans.

Recently, the Trump Administration officially released HHS/DOL guidance that expanded access to these plans nationwide, allowing people to participate in them for up to three years (instead of under 12 months). Also, the federal tax reform bill passed in December of 2017 removed the requirement for individuals to have health insurance, or pay a tax penalty. For these two reasons, there was anticipated to be MUCH more participation in short term health insurance plans, nationwide. 

However in 2018, California legislators recently passed S.B. 910, a bill that banned short term health insurance plans in the state ENTIRELY, starting on January 1st, 2019. The argument is that these short term plans are “junk plans” because they do not include the comprehensive “essential health benefits” that “Obamacare” plans ARE required to contain, as described previously in the blog post. Additionally, it’s the consensus that legislators would like to maintain participation in the state’s “Obamacare” (ACA) marketplace, in order to keep rates/premiums more stable.

Residents of California will have three choices in the individual marketplace in 2019:

• Participate in an Obamacare/ACA plan individually, or at Covered California.
• Find an alternative option to health insurance, like a health ministry plan, or an association health plan (if eligible).
• Go uninsured (because there is no tax penalty anymore).

For further assistance finding affordable options in the state of California, be sure to contact us. We’ll put a comprehensive consultation together for you, so you’re able to see what health plan options are available in your zip code. Our recommendation is always to not go uninsured, when it comes to your health.

Thanks for stopping by, we hope you found our information to be helpful. Check back at our blog to get further information about funding healthcare. Also, please share with your friends, clients, colleagues, and family. Here are a few of our other information outlets:

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Access to affordable prescriptions can be very important. Prescription drug coverage is a common necessity. You may have a simple cold and need an antibiotic, or, you may require expensive, on-going specialty or brand-name drugs that treat chronic illnesses. Whatever the situation, many people need to utilize prescription drug coverage often.

As a result, people have a tendency to “shop” extensively for their prescription drug coverage, when they need it. This is especially true if you’re paying cash, out-of-pocket, or have a large co-pay or cost-share for prescriptions. 

If you’re someone who’s shopping for prescriptions, www.GoodRx.com NEEDS to be your new best friend. With a simple search at their website for the drug you need, you can find discounted prices of 20%, 50%, 80%, and even MORE sometimes. For example, the estimated regular cash price for generic Zocor (which treats cholesterol) is $47.00 per 30 day supply. When you use a Zocor voucher from GoodRx.com, the cost is reduced to $4.80 per 30 day supply.

GoodRx truly does save the consumer (you) money, and it REALLY works. Simply print out your coupon/voucher at GoodRx.com, and present it at your local applicable pharmacy when you fill your prescription.

Thanks for stopping by, we hope you found our information to be valuable. Check back at our blog to get further information about funding healthcare. Also, please share with your friends, clients, colleagues, and family. Here are a few of our other information outlets:

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So you’re passionate about… TRAVEL. We hear you, travel bloggers. And that’s why we’ve put together a portfolio of TOP world-wide, affordable health insurance products for you. They can help you cover your health while you’re globe-trotting. 

We know you like the fun stuff: the pictures, the food, the “must see” tourist destinations, and those OH-SO outstanding “off-the-beaten-path” gems that must be seen. You’re working hard, and sharing those outstanding travel tips and experiences to a global audience. BUT… have you ever thought about the importance of your health while you’re on the go?

Your health is IMPORTANT while you travel. Accidents can happen. Maybe you fall ill. In certain instances, you might even need a medical evacuation. Are you prepared? PolicyAdvantage.com is happy to tell you that we’ve got you covered by HIGH QUALITY mobile travel health insurance plans, that will cover you while you make your rounds throughout the world. All for a few dollars a day. These companies include:

• Cigna Global
• Anthem GeoBlue
• IMG Global
• Allianz Worldwide Care

The BEST part? You can get information, brochures, talk to a licensed insurance agent, and apply for coverage ALL online at our website. Start by visiting PolicyAdvantage.com/NorthAmerica (for travel bloggers with a passport from a country in North America). From here, you can run your own personal quotes, and get information. Need help from an agent? Click the chat box on the lower right hand side. We’re on it for you.

EUROPEAN expats: we’ve got you covered too. Visit PolicyAdvantage.com/Europe, and do the same as above. We can cover European expats from MOST European countries (mainland, and others). Have a question? Hit-up our chat agents.

Thanks for stopping by, we hope you found our information to be valuable. Check back at our blog to get further information about funding healthcare. Also, please share with your friends, clients, colleagues, and family. Here are a few of our other information outlets:

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Prescription drug coverage in health insurance plans can sometimes be confusing. We’ve put together a simple, short guide that outlines the four “tiers” of prescription drug coverage found in most individual health insurance plans, so that you can understand your options better. 

Most individual health insurance plans will have four (4) different tiers of prescription drug coverage. It’s important to understand the difference between these four tiers, and how the deductibles and co-payments work within them. 

We’ll briefly explain the different tiers, and how they function. Keep in mind that this is just a general overview, and if you have questions about your specific plan, contact us. *Remember: most individual health insurance plans will contain these four tiers of coverage. Here are the four tiers:

1. Tier 1 Prescription Drugs: these are usually what are called “generic” prescription drugs. They typically have the lowest co-payments, and most of the time there is not a deductible involved. 
2. Tier 2 Prescription Drugs: these are what are called “preferred brand name” prescription drugs. This tier moves out of generic prescription coverage, and into brand name drugs. “Preferred” means that they are preferred by the insurance companies because of their lower cost. Certain generic drugs can also sometimes be included in this tier. Co-payments are usually higher (compared to tier 1 generic drugs), and sometimes there is an additional annual deducible involved (depending on your plan).
3. Tier 3 Prescription Drugs: these are usually referred to as “NON preferred brand-name” prescription drugs. They are considered higher cost pharmaceuticals, and are therefore “non preferred” by the insurance companies. Many times, your insurer will try to find alternatives in the lower two tiers. Co-payments are usually higher, prior authorizations (doctor approvals) are more prevalent, and sometimes there are additional deductibles involved. Certain specialty drugs (Tier 4 drugs) can also be included in this list. 
4. Tier 4 Prescription Drugs: these are usually what are called “specialty” prescription drugs. They are considered the highest-cost pharmaceuticals, and are most often highly expensive specialty drugs. Prior authorizations (doctor approvals) are highly prevalent, and cost-sharing is the highest. Typically there is what is called co-insurance at this point, where you pay a percentage of the entire cost of the drug, and the insurance company pays the remainder. 

Prescription drug coverage is an important concept to understand. Having a good handle on the concepts above can help you improve coverage, save time, and save money.

Thanks for stopping by, we hope you found our information to be valuable. Check back at our blog to get further information about funding healthcare. Also, please share with your friends, clients, colleagues, and family. Here are a few of our other information outlets:

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At Policy Advantage Insurance Services, we specialize in helping small businesses when it comes to their health benefits planning. Here’s why:

• Many times, small businesses don’t have a Human Resources Department to help them sort-out their employee benefits. Therefore, small business owners can end up spending a lot of time and energy researching all the different options and planning strategies. At PolicyAdvantage.com, we can do the “heavy lifting” for you. We’ll put together a custom program tailored to your fit your budget and necessities.
• With the onset of healthcare reform, there are now many additional options when it comes to health coverage… and many of them are geared towards small businesses. At PolicyAdvantage.com, we know (and understand) how the health insurance industry works. We have broad-based and in-depth knowledge about what programs are available, and how you can put these pieces together to fit your business best.
• Lastly… we like to help our clients grow and improve. Outside of just health coverage, we know that employee benefits can add a lot of value to an organization. We take great pride in taking good care of your employees, helping them find the benefits they want or need. We want to help you attract and retain the quality employees that are going to take your business to the next level.

If you’re an employer between 2 to 50 employees, we want to talk with you. There’s often a misinterpretation that brokerages are looking for the “big fish” clients. Not-so at PolicyAdvantage.com. We can’t wait to help you improve your small business. For a free consultation, please contact us at our dedicated customer service line: 1(800) 617-0089, or shoot us an email at info@policyadvantage.com.

Thanks for stopping by, we hope you found our information to be valuable. Check back at our blog to get further information about funding healthcare. Also, please share with your friends, clients, colleagues, and family. Here are a few of our other information outlets:

Home Page: https://policyadvantage.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/policyadvantage

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/policyadvantage

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/policyadvantage

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/policyadvantage

Word Press: http://www.policyadvantage.wordpress.com