ACA

2020 Open Enrollment is Around the Corner!

The 2020 Open Enrollment period is around the corner and we wanted to ensure that you began to prepare for this season.  Starting November 1st, we'll be able to examine new plan options and have a chance to change health plans.
While the carriers have not announced all their changes we do have a few key pieces of information we'd like to share.

Higher Out of Pocket Limits
As we've come to expect we will see another increase in the Maximum Out of Pocket (MOOP) to $8,150 per person.  The family MOOP will also increase to $16,300.

Frustrated With Your Insurance; Get Help With Plan Research Before You Buy!

Buying without research will get you a bad plan and lots of frustration.

I Just Bought A Plan I Could Afford!

I have had several conversations in the last few weeks with clients of other agents or purchasers of health insurance plans that dealt directly with the carrier that needed help.  In each instance the person lamented that they purchased a health plan based on the price and they didn't take much time to consider other important items in the plan like physician networks, deductibles, or co-pays.

New Tax Implications of Obamacare! What You Need To Know.

Subsidies From Obamacare May Make Filing Your Taxes Even More Costly This Year!

I wanted to highlight several key developments this week as clients and new friends are finding that they haven't fully understood the implications of the financial subsidies they received from the Marketplace and Obamacare.  Over the last few days we've heard from clients that have received 1095-A Forms which show how much they received in subsidies from the US Government and they are now wonder what they need to do with their forms and what they mean.

4 Days Left To Buy Health Insurance! 5 Facts You Need To Know To Finish Strong

The end of the Open Enrollment race - crossing the finish line

With only 4 days left in the 2015 Open Enrollment cycle the pace of calls into our offices has increased dramatically.  New clients and old friends that have never emailed or called us back suddenly want to talk about health insurance!  In order to help you in the final stressful days we wanted to provide you some key pieces of information to help you get your enrollment completed and finish this Open Enrollment marathon!

5 Health Insurance Facts You Need To Know Today!

Call volumes are increasing as we get to the last few days of the 2015 Open Enrollment season.  I wanted to provide a few answers to questions we are receiving and wanted to put them in one post.  Can you believe that January is already in the rear view mirror?  We've had several great calls this week and all of them have common themes.  I spoke quite a bit about taxation and the impact changes of income will have on subsidies in last week's post.  If you have questions about these items, please refer to Taxing Questions for 2015.  Let's dive in!

Examining Plan B - Short Term Health Insurance Solutions To Long Term Unaffordability

Short Term Health Insurance Plans may be a viable alternative to an Obamacare policy

The healthcare system is now at a breaking point.  The ACA or Affordable Care Act is proving it is now created a situation that is unaffordable.  Clients have been pushed into situations where they must make tough decisions as they are now unwilling or unable to make premium payments for plans they feel are too expensive or simply lack enough benefits for the cost.  Many clients express what we've discussed for some time now that premiums are more than double what they used to pay and their deductibles are twice as high as well.  Finally, because the expense is so high, many are trapped in plans that offer no benefits other than catastrophic coverage at a very high price.  The truth is these clients are frustrated and searching for alternatives to their real financial problems.  In the last month, Texas Health Design has had conversations about Short Term Health Insurance with more frequency and it is important to describe the benefits, limitations, and potential nasty pitfalls of this approach.

4 New Changes Impacting Health Insurance and Your Taxes - Paying Uncle Sam

We've hit January and the time has come for many of us to turn our attention to a subject we often dread, taxes.  This tax season many of us will face new filing requirements or even receive new forms in order to remain in good standing with the government.  In this post we'll quickly summarize the items you'll need to look and that you'll encounter as we head toward April 15th.

5 Secrets You Need To Know During Open Enrollment

5 Secrets For Open Enrollment

 

You may have missed the deadline to sign up for health insurance coverage that will begin 1/1/2015, but all is not lost.  There still may be an opportunity for you to add coverage in the next few days as there are special circumstances that will permit you to buy coverage if you meet several criteria.  We wanted to highlight a few key "secrets" we've seen this year that you need to know that may help you get coverage or at least avoid trouble in 2015.

Top 5 Questions About Health Insurance in 2015

Top 5 Questions About Obamacare (Affordable Care Act) in 2015

 

It seems as though the days are flying by and the Open Enrollment Period is slipping by quickly.  Insurance shoppers that desire to have coverage that is effective on January 1st of 2015 only have about 19 days left to obtain their coverage.  Yes, if you miss the 12/15/14 deadline you'll still be able to buy coverage for the 2015 calendar year, but your coverage will start at the beginning of February!  There is a significant price for procrastination in this new health insurance shopping environment, so don't put off this important decision.

Top 5 Questions About Health Insurance in 2015

I have received 5 or 6 questions consistently over the last month and I felt like they deserved to be highlighted as an article in our Texas Health Insurance Blog.  Let's dive in and we'll review these common questions and ensure we've documented the answers.  Remember, these are our opinions and each client and shopper's situation is different.  Make sure to call us at 713-422-2935 and we'll help you discern the best approach for your unique set of circumstances.

Navigating the Financial Assistance Maze - Obamacare Subsidies

Get Help Navigating the Financial Assistance Process in Obamacare - Get Subsidies

Confusion Reigns                                                                                                                            NPN #7644850

The Affordable Care Act continues to be a source of confusion and consternation for many of our clients and readers.  Many of the questions we are receiving are centered on financial assistance and the need for clarification from shoppers if they qualify for government help in paying for the high price of health insurance.

 

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