BLV Insurance Services

Kaiser update - "Due to the coronavirus/COVID-19 outbreak, we want you to know about temporary changes being made at Minute Clinic and Target Clinic locations so you can share this information with your clients. Target Clinic locations are temporarily closed. Please visit kp.org or call 1-833-574-2273 for information on how to access care at Kaiser Permanente. Minute Clinic is no longer accepting walk-ins. Your clients and employees can still get care at the clinics by making... an appointment online at minuteclinic.com or the CVS pharmacy app. Anyone with a scheduled appointment at a Minute Clinic is prescreened before entering the clinic. If the prescreen identifies someone to be at risk for COVID-19, they’ll receive guidance on finding care in a different health care setting. We’re here for you. For more information, go to kp.org/coronavirus."

Our thoughts, and prayers, go out to all living in Australia.

Starting in 2020, a new law requires all California residents to have health insurance or pay a penalty. For more information, please click below: https://hbex.coveredca.com//PDF/tax-penalty-fact-sheet.pdf

Penalties for not having qualifying health insurance comes back to California, starting Jan. 1, 2020! Penalties: Generally speaking, the penalty will be $695 or more when you file your 2020 state income tax return in 2021. The penalty for a dependent child is half of what it would be for an adult. A typical family of four that goes uninsured for the whole year would face a penalty of at least $2,000.... The penalty will be applied by the California Franchise Tax Board when you file your state tax return. For information about the penalty, including the amount your family could owe for not having coverage in 2020, visit the Franchise Tax Board’s website. Exemptions: Most exemptions may be claimed on a state income tax return while filing taxes. See below for more details about exemption types and how to claim them. If you are looking to apply for an exemption prior to January 1, 2020, visit the healthcare.gov website. Exemptions Processed by the Franchise Tax Board Claim these exemptions on your California income tax return. Visit the California Franchise Tax Board website for more details. * Income below the state tax-filing threshold (you may still choose to file taxes). * A short coverage gap of three consecutive months or fewer. * Health coverage is unaffordable, based on actual income reported on your state income tax return while filing taxes. * Certain non-citizens who are not lawfully present. * Citizens living abroad or residents of another state. * Members of a health care sharing ministry. * American Indians and Alaska Natives. * Incarceration (other than incarceration pending the disposition of charges). * Enrolled in limited-scope or restricted-scope Medi-Cal or other similar coverage.

Penalties for not having a qualifying health insurance plan are coming back to California, beginning Jan. 1, 2020! Be prepared. The California individual mandate (Senate Bill 78) was passed by the California Legislature requiring every California resident to maintain minimum essential coverage (MCE) throughout the year. Under the mandate, those who do not maintain qualifying health insurance coverage could face a financial penalty. Beginning in 2020, California residents mus...t either: * have qualifying health insurance, or * pay a penalty when they file their state tax return, or * obtain an exemption from the requirement to have coverage Many people already have qualifying health insurance coverage, including employer-sponsored plans, coverage purchased through Covered California or directly from insurers, Medicare, and most Medicaid plans. If employees that previously declined coverage during the 2019 plan year, this mandate may affect them. CCSB will allow employees and/or their dependents who previously declined coverage in 2019, a special enrollment period (SEP) through the end of January 2020 for a coverage effective date of January 1, 2020. Help inform your employees, family and friends, about the mandate.

Although #openenrollment ends today, there has been an extension for all plans through Blue Shield and Covered CA until the 21st of December! #healthinsurance #coveredca

Reminder - Open Enrollment for Individual and Family health insurance plans ends next month, Jan. 15, 2018. If you have not signed up for a new plan by then, you will NOT be able to change during the remainder of 2019. AND, if you want a Jan. 1, 2019 start date, you must have your application in by next Friday, Dec 14, 2018.

There is some great information in the California Dept. of Insurances website about how to NOT get taken advantage of after a fire - stay safe everyone! https://www.insurance.ca.gov///03-res/dont-get-burned.cfm

We received a notice today from UnitedHealthCare we wanted to pass along "Keeping the Right Medicare Cards What Consumers Need to Know Starting in April 2018, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) began mailing new Medicare cards with the Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI), a random combination of numbers and letters. These new cards replace Medicare beneficiaries’ old Medicare cards that included their Social Security numbers. There has been some confusio...n about which cards should be destroyed. Help consumers understand which cards they need to keep and which they should destroy using the quick guide below. Your guide to consumers’ cards Old Medicare card:Consumers should destroy (or put away in a safe place if they don’t want to destroy it) their old Medicare card that includes their Social Security number. They should use their new Medicare card that features the MBI when they need to reference their Medicare number. Social Security card: Consumers should not destroy their Social Security card. This is an important government-issued document that should be kept in a safe place. UnitedHealthcare card: Consumers should not destroy their UnitedHealthcare cards. They will need to use this card when they visit the doctor or fill prescriptions. Consumers are encouraged to contact CMS at 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227) TTY 877-486-2048 with questions."

Due to the wildfires in California, Anthem Blue Cross is extending their contract with Enloe Medical Center. Also, Blue Shield of California is reaching out to members to ensure access to care. https://lisibroker.com/news/2018/11/blues-respond-to-fires/

Many homeowners are unaware they may have insurance coverage under their homeowner and renter policies to help them with evacuation and recovery expenses under additional living expense coverage, known as ALE. ALE coverage typically includes food and housing costs, furniture rental, relocation and storage, and extra transportation expenses. Click here for more information on this, from the Calif. Dept. of Insurances website - http://www.insurance.ca.gov//0100-p/2018/release132-18.cfm

Have a Happy & Safe Halloween everyone!

We hope you all had a great #memorialdayweekend!