Ask Colleen King

One of the big things that was to be emphasized by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) was removing cost barriers to many preventive services. July 14th the announcement was made by the White House as to what those services are–click here for what is the current comprehensive list: Covered Services These services [...]

Read more »

Remember the old phrase ‘be careful what you ask for, you just might get it?’ Well, Anthem Blue Cross put out an email yesterday to agents advising us that due to the new changes resulting from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), also known as health care reform, if you are looking [...]

Read more »

The news came out last week that Leslie Margolin was leaving Anthem Blue Cross and I had to wonder why. Of course, there’s the obvious, the blow out earlier this year when the rate increase craziness hit. But that was months ago, and things had toned down considerably. Click here for a short story on [...]

Read more »

I came across an article last month that was published by USA Today on April 30th that to me, outlines just a part of the big wake up call we have coming in 2014 when the bulk of the health care reform measures go into effect. If you can find it, check out the article [...]

Read more »

A few days ago I wrote about how convoluted the small business tax credit for group health plans was going to be. Here’s a reminder. Now here’s a commentary on why the bill was bad for small business, and a very eloquent one at that. The National Federation of Independent Business’s (NFIB) president, Dan Danner, [...]

Read more »

As with most things that came out in the health care reform bill, the devil is in the details. The small business tax credit most assuredly included. I am not a tax expert by any means, but my wonderful tax guy, David Marton in Westlake Village, passed this on to me from the Kiplinger Tax [...]

Read more »

In my last article I talked about the impending herd of new graduates, high school and college, and that people are now needing to address what to do about their health insurance. Again, If your high school grad is going to college, then of course they can stay on your group health plan if you [...]

Read more »

May into June is such a great time for families as their kids are getting ready to graduate from high school or college. A time of pride, sense of accomplishment, it’s great. As I drive around the LA area I see the signs of upcoming graduation ceremonies and it takes me back. We won’t go [...]

Read more »

Okay, health care reform–woo hoo! now what? Today’s Los Angeles Times has a good brief overview of some major points of change and I’ve included some of them here. Along with some questions that I feel still need to be answered. WITHIN A YEAR * Provides a $250 rebate to Medicare prescription drug plan beneficiaries [...]

Read more »

Now that I’ve heard this from three different sources, I believe it. Because of all the flack from Anthem Blue Cross has received from the impending rate increase on individual health insurance policies. At the request of State Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner Anthem will hold off this current round of increases until May 1. During [...]

Read more »