Ask Colleen King

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 [...]

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We agents really aren’t all bad, money grubbing fiends but unfortunately the insurance industry has had their share over the years. You want your agent to watch out for you best interest, not theirs–i.e. commissions. I kid my clients at times when suggesting a less expensive health insurance policy than one they are looking at. [...]

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This news at least when it comes to health insurance was better than Nutella pancakes on a weekend. I’m surprised I had to read this in the L.A. Times Sunday morning and didn’t get email notification from Anthem, since they are really good about keeping agents in the loop on things. Especially one this important. [...]

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Even though the big, massive health care reform bill has passed, not much will be changing for the next couple of years. So if you’re on your own and needing to buy an individual plan for you and/or your family, how should you do it? Call an independent agent, call an insurance company, or just [...]

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On April 15th, Tax Day ironically, Congress voted to extend the 65% COBRA subsidy eligibility period through May 31. Meaning, if you are ‘involuntarily terminated’ from your job and not for ’cause’ (’cause’ meaning you did something wrong) you will be eligible for this extension. Eligible folks can have the subsidy of 65% up to [...]

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In the recently passed health care reform bill (yes, THAT again) one of the things that was addressed was eliminating co-pays or cost sharing for preventive services. I haven’t heard how that exactly is going to work, but if it’s like other things I’ve seen, not all things labeled ‘preventive’ will be covered. This link [...]

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With all the furor over the Anthem Blue Cross rate increase on individual health plans, and rate increases in general, there’s a lot to keep track of for us independent agents. And up until now, I would have sworn it wasn’t possible. When rate increases on health insurance were coming, used to be you would [...]

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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 [...]

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When people understand them, many like the idea of health savings accounts. They aren’t for everyone, but no one type of health care coverage is. Otherwise, we’d all have the same plan, and health care reform would have hit by now. What does a health savings account (HSA) have to do with tax time? Well, [...]

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Last week Wellpoint, the parent company of Anthem Blue Cross, put out a response to the screaming about their recent rate increase. Click here and check it out. It’s long, but I think potentially worth reading if you’re at all curious. If nothing else, the earnings statement Brian Sassi makes is impressive: “Anthem’s net income [...]

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