Non-communicable diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and lung disease account for 7 of every 10 deaths in the U.S., according to the U.S. State Department. These are often called “lifestyle diseases” because, to some extent, they can be prevented by lifestyle behaviors and changes. One thing is certain—America has become …
The Affordable Health Care Act Makes It Possible for Everyone to Have Access to Insurance Coverage
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was designed to make health care coverage available for all individuals and families. Currently, there are a large number of people who do not have any health insurance, for various reasons. They might work for a small business owner who does not have an employer …
Technical Problems Keep SHOP Enrollment Numbers Low
In addition to the individual healthcare exchange, the Affordable Care Act established the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) specifically for small businesses with 50 or fewer employees. As with the individual health insurance exchange, an online portal was developed for SHOP through which the employees of eligible businesses can …
Use the California Health Insurance Coverage Exchange to Learn More about the New Plans
The Affordable Health Care Act takes effect on January 1st, 2014. Under this Act, most people are required to have health insurance coverage, either through plans obtained on their own, or one sponsored by their employee. Employer-sponsored plans should be updated to ensure they cover the 10 Essential Health Benefits, …
HRA vs HSA: What’s the Difference? (Part 2 of 2)
Unlike a Health Reimbursement Account, which is entirely funded by an employer, a Health Savings Account (HSA) can be funded by an individual, their employer, or a combination of the two, either through an employer-sponsored plan or an individual plan. HSAs allow individuals and their employers to set aside money …
HRA vs HSA: What’s the Difference? (Part 1 of 2)
Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRA, also known as Health Reimbursement Arrangements) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA) sound very similar, but there are some significant differences between the two. Below, your trusted California health insurance agent discusses the differences and benefits of HRAs and HSAs. A Health Reimbursement Account is entirely employer-funded …
How Can I Keep Health Care Costs Down?
Medical costs can quickly add up, and managing these costs is important in order to prevent financial problems, down the line. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to keep healthcare costs down—below we’ll highlight things you can do to manage costs. Preventive Care –– The importance of preventive care cannot …
Find Out Your Options by Using the California Health Insurance Exchange
The California Health Insurance Exchange was created as the result of the Affordable Care Act. In fact, California was the first state to set up the required exchange once the bill was passed and became law. The purpose of the exchange is to help individuals, families, small business owners, and …
What Is a Health Savings Account (HSA) and What Are the Benefits?
You may have heard about a Health Savings Account (HSA) and wondered what exactly it is and how it works. Below, your trusted California health insurance agent highlights the benefits of an HSA for everyday consumers. A Health Savings Account allows you to set aside money for qualified healthcare expenses …
Kinks with Covered California Still Ongoing, But Enrollment Numbers Are Strong
Covered California, the health insurance exchange created in California as part of the Affordable Care Act, has had its fair share of problems in the last six months. The site had multiple technical issues after enrollment began in October 2013 that prevented consumers from enrolling. Reports of understaffed and uninformed …