Archive for the ‘State’ Category

Healthy Families Coverage Losing Financial Support in California

Tuesday, September 8th, 2009
The State of California has been in financial crisis as of late and now is going to hit home for many families whose children are enrolled on the Healthy Families program. This is a low cost state run plan that offers affordable medical, dental, and vision coverage for California children. Unfortunately, due to a lack of financial support from the state, they are planning on disenrolling children from the program starting October 1, 2009.
 
Budget cuts that totaled over $128 million dollars caused a major financial strain, and further enrollments were halted this July. This resulted in a waiting list of over 55,000 children, and a prediction of the removal of nearly 670,000 children having to be removed from coverage.
 
It is important to keep updated on these proposals, to ensure that California’s children maintain comprehensive medical, dental, and vision care. With too many children already forgoing vital preventative care, we have to find a way to keep our future healthy. Please visit the California Major Risk Medical Board for updated information and ways to become involved.

SB 810 (LENO) The California Universal Healthcare Act

Wednesday, July 1st, 2009

Senate Bill 810, the Universal Health Care Act, proposes methods to provide affordable and attainable healthcare to all Californians. In a time where there are more uninsured individuals than ever before, and more stringent medical underwriting requirements (leaving those with pre-existing conditions ineligible for coverage), this bill could bring some much needed relief to our strained economy.
 
Under SB 810, eligibility would be based on residency. All residents would be covered, regardless of health status, employment status, or income level. Would this mean an increase in taxes? Well, theory states that over $200 billion dollars were spent in California on healthcare last year. By utilizing this enormous cash flow already being spent on healthcare by Federal, State, and County funds, such a plan is possible. By changing the way the funds are directed, such as purchasing prescription medication and durable medical equipment in bulk, California can save billions in the first year alone.
 
Ensuring fair reimbursements to providers, allowing consumers to choose their own doctors, and relying on a shared source of financial support, may be the answer to one of the biggest issues facing our State and Nation as whole.

The Argument Against Government Run Health Plans

Sunday, June 14th, 2009

While many people think the answer lies in a Government run health insurance plan, but there is also a negative side to the theory. While the idea of health coverage for all is a dream worth pursuing, we need to make sure the quality of coverage is not sacrificed in doing so.
 
Currently, there are state and government run plans in place, such as Medicaid and children’s health insurance. While these programs benefit many people who would normally not have any coverage at all, concerns lie in the fact that there are lower reimbursement rates to providers, thus resulting in less access to doctors.
 
Obama’s plan is to allow those who have a plan they already like to keep their current coverage. However, should Employers have the choice between current higher premiums, or a lower cost option of the Government run plan, the lesser of the two would be elected. Therefore, employees would now be subject to a plan with more limited access to providers, and could possibly lose their current doctors altogether.
 
In terms of the doctor’s themselves, they may refuse the low reimbursement rates altogether and decide not to accept any insurance. Lower compensation would also means cuts in care and staff at your doctor’s office. Would-be physicians may decide to pursue more lucrative careers, instead of dealing with the red-tape of a government dictated medicine.

Insurance Policy Rescissions versus AB 1945

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009

AB 1945 (amendment to Section 10384 of the Insurance Code) recently passed in the State of California in light of all the recent publicity from insurance policy rescission’s. This Bill “prohibits a health care service plan or health insurer from engaging in post claims underwriting, defined to mean the rescinding, canceling, or limiting of a plan contract or policy due to the plan’s or insurer’s failure to complete medical underwriting and resolve all reasonable questions relative to an application for health care coverage before issuing the plan contract or policy“.

Help for Uninsured Californians!

Wednesday, May 20th, 2009

Many Californians don’t have medical coverage, and are unable to qualify for health coverage due to pre-existing conditions. However, it is important to know that there are options you may qualify for:

Medi-Cal

Medi-Cal is California’s version of the federal Medicaid program.  This program will pay for health services for California residents that qualify based on income and assets.  Eligibility is determined by the Department of Health Services through its sub-agency Department of Public Social Services.

Access for Infants and Mothers (AIM)


The program is designed primarily for uninsured low income pregnant women and their infants who do not qualify for Medi-Cal.  Since individual health plans will not approve you for coverage if you are currently pregnant, this provides an excellent opportunity for coverage.

Healthy Families Program


© 2009 Abrams California Health Insurance Agency. All rights reserved.
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