Insure Me Kevin

Content focused on health and life topics. Pictures out and about and fun stuff.

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Health Net Closes Their Full Network PPO Health Plan

Health Net Closes Their Full Network PPO Health Plan

Health Net will close their PureCare HSP, PureCare EPO, and off-exchange Full Network PPO plans at the end of 2022 in California. The Health Net Full Network PPO was the only individual and family plan that included Stanford Health Care primary care physicians. Health Net of California Health Net is consolidating and rebranding many of their health plans in California for 2023. CommunityCare…

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Parents Can Be Added To Covered California Health Plan for 2023

Parents Can Be Added To Covered California Health Plan for 2023

New for 2023, Covered California will allow parents and stepparents to be added to individual and family coverage. There are numerous conditions the parent or stepparent must meet before they can be included on a health plan with other family members. New for 2023, families can include a parent or stepparent on their Covered California health plan if the adult meets the definition of a…

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Active Renewal vs. Passive Renewal for Covered California 2023

Active Renewal vs. Passive Renewal for Covered California 2023

Consumers already in Covered California for 2022 will have their enrollments passively renewed into the same for 2023, if the plan is still being offered. Individuals and families can actively renew their coverage for 2023 either before they have been passively renewed or after. Active, Passive, Open Enrollment 2023 Covered California. Active Covered California Renewals Begin October 18, 2022,…

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What is Covered California?

What is Covered California?

Covered California is an internet based health insurance market place where individuals, families, and small businesses can enroll in health insurance. Covered California is market place for health insurance, similar to a farmer’s market that allows you to compare products and prices. Is Covered California health insurance? Covered California is not a health plan or health insurance. Covered…

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Creating a spreadsheet to compare Medicare Advantage plans

Creating a spreadsheet to compare Medicare Advantage plans

In some counties, Medicare beneficiaries will have over 15 different Medicare Advantage plans to choose from. Many of the plans look virtually identical. One way to sort through the weeds is to create a spreadsheet of benefits and costs. Medicare Advantage plan comparisons The first filter for selecting a Medicare Advantage plan is to determine which ones have your preferred doctors, hospitals,…

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Non-MAGI Medi-Cal Asset Limit Increases to $130,000

California's asset limit to qualify for extra help for Medicare and long-term care expenses has increased to $130,000 beginning July 1, 2022.

The asset limit for Non-MAGI Medi-Cal eligibility will increase to $130,000 per person beginning July 1, 2022. The increased asset limit has nothing to do with Covered California or MAGI Medi-Cal. The higher Non-MAGI Medi-Cal asset limits supersede the previous limits of $2,000 for an individual. The specific programs impacted by the higher asset limit of $130,000 are the Medicare Savings Program…

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The Health Care Hole: Patient Support and Advocacy. Can a mobile app help?

Can a mobile phone app fill the health care hole? HeyRenee hopes to coordinate and manage care, track prescriptions, and help caregivers support their patients.

For all of the miracles available in our health care system, there is a glaring hole involving patient support and advocacy. Short of employing a patient advocate, mobile phone technology may help with health care reminders and care coordination. A new company, HeyRenee, is developing a mobile phone application to assist patients and caregivers with coordinating a variety of health care…

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Do The Star Ratings for Covered Health Plans Have Any Relevance?

Do The Star Ratings for Covered Health Plans Have Any Relevance?

The star ratings assigned to Covered California health plans have only nominal value to the prospective consumer. The star ratings are weighted heavily toward the quality of health care delivered. Health plans do not administer health care. It is somewhat unfair to affix a low star rating to a health plan when the poor care was delivered by people beyond their control. Do the Covered California…

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Hitting the Dental Insurance Jackpot

Hitting the Dental Insurance Jackpot

I hit the dental insurance jackpot. You are a winner if the dental plan pays more for the dental services than the annual premiums. The jackpot is if you hit your maximum annual dollar benefit before the year is up. I did that with an expensive cubic zirconium crown. If you meet your annual maximum dental dollar amount for the year, you’ve hit the dental insurance jackpot. The Dental Insurance…

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Mid Century Modern Home Bathroom Remodel

Mid Century Modern Home Bathroom Remodel. A modern treatment, nothing splashy, it retains functionality with more light and storage space. Hexagonal tile to the ceiling adds a n

With our child out of college, it was time to direct the discretionary income at some necessary maintenance, upgrades, and remodeling of our 1968 mid-century modern home. After replacing the deck and air conditioning unit, the next item was the ‘70s vintage family bathroom. Late 1960s vintage bathroom in a mid-century modern home. Bathrooms in old mid-century modern homes of our size – 4…

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Blue Cross EPO Expands with Sutter for 2022

Blue Cross EPO Expands with Sutter hospitals and doctors for 2022 in California.

Anthem Blue Cross will expand their individual and family EPO health insurance plans in California for 2022. EPO expansion will also include Sutter hospitals and medical groups. The Blue Cross EPO rates can be substantially less than the Blue Shield PPO plans. Anthem Blue Cross adds Sutter to their EPO plans in Northern California. Blue Cross and Sutter Doctors for 2022 Prior to this Blue…

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Competition Increases Health Insurance Premiums in Contra Costa County for 2022

Competition Increases Health Insurance Premiums in Contra Costa County for 2022 through Covered California.

It is counterintuitive, but for 2022, increased competition in the health insurance market for Contra Costa County will increase the premiums for Covered California members in the region. How is this possible? The subsidies are based on the Second Lowest Cost Silver Plan. Bright HealthCare, a new health plan, will offer Silver plans in 2022 with rates lower than the previous Second Lowest Cost…

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$1 Dollar Covered California Member Bonus for 2022

$1 Dollar Covered California Member Bonus for 2022. Why? Everyone will get a $1 credit per month to reduce their health insurance premium.

If you buy health insurance through Covered California, each member of your household will get a $1 dollar bonus every month for choosing Covered California in 2022. That’s right, $12 for the whole year. That extra dollar will take the sting out of the rate increase you received for growing one year older. What will you do with your $1 Covered California credit bonus? $1 Credit Per Enrolled…

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Unique Blue Shield Bronze Plan for 2022

Unique Blue Shield Bronze Plan for 2022. A hybrid between bare bones Bronze and full benefit Silver plan.

The biggest complaint I hear from consumers is that most health plans either cover nothing or are loaded up with benefits they don’t need. The extra benefits drive up the rates – Thanks Covered California – and make enrolling in a plan with basic office visit coverage too expensive. Finally, Blue Shield has designed a health plan for the average individual who just wants protection for unexpected…

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Covered California To Flip Consumers From Bronze to Silver

Covered California To Flip Consumers From Bronze to Silver. The switch will happen without the consumer's consent. Certain conditions must be met and incurs a higher subsidy on the part of the tax payer.

Without your permission or knowledge, Covered California may change your metal tier level plan from Bronze to Silver. At the September 16, 2021, Board meeting, the Covered California Board members affirmed that they know what is good for you and your family by passing the proposed Bronze to Silver plan policy. If this new policy leaves you having to repay a whole bunch of excess subsidy to the…

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Dramatic Premium Increases for some Covered California Households in 2022

Dramatic Premium Increases for some Covered California Households in 2022

While Covered California has announced very modest health insurance rate increases for 2022, some consumers will see premium increases on the order of over 1,000 percent. How is this possible? Households who were granted the extra subsidy for collecting unemployment insurance in 2021 will see that enhanced benefit evaporate in 2022. Plus, many people who had been offered the Silver 94 health plan…

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It’s About Time Abortion Was Banned

It’s About Time Abortion Was Banned.

With the passage of the Texas abortion bill and the U. S. Supreme Court’s refusal to intervene, it is about time abortion was banned. There is no constitutional protection for abortion. Just as there is no specific protections for adultery, gay relationships, acquiring a tattoo or any number of human activities that pique religious conservatives. The door will now be opened to criminalize any…

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