The California Health Insurance Store

The U.S. Congress has passed and President Trump has signed the $2 trillion Coronavirus stimulus bill. Small businesses that qualify can now apply for a Small Business Administration (SBA) loan to cover salary, wages, and benefits worth 250% of the employer’s monthly payroll, with a maximum loan of $10 million. Loans will be forgiven for qualifying employers using the funds to keep employees on payroll and pay rent and insurance premiums, while also adhering to other guidelines in the legislation. Details are available here https://www.sba.gov/

WHAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE and you need screening or treatment for COVID-19? > Check with your local community health center or hospital to see if fees for testing can be waived > See if you’re eligible for Medi-Cal... > See if you’re eligible for Covered California COVERED CA CERTIFIED INSURANCE AGENTS CAN HELP DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY FOR CONSUMERS. https://apply.coveredca.com/hix/broker/search/individual IF YOU ALREADY HAVE private insurance, Medi-Cal, or Medicare: Consider using telehealth for assessment or treatment for any cold or cough symptoms, including concern for COVID-19 (that is, connecting with a health care provider by phone or video, rather than going in person). All of our health plans offer telehealth services for this purpose, which is not subject to any cost-sharing. Is California able to test for COVID-19? Twenty-two public health labs in California are testing samples for COVID-19. These labs include the California Department of Public Health's Laboratory in Richmond, Alameda, Contra Costa, Humboldt, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Monterey, Napa-Solano-Yolo-Marin (located in Solano), Orange, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Shasta, Sonoma, Tulare and Ventura County public health laboratories.The Richmond Laboratory will provide diagnostic testing within a 48-hour turnaround time. More public health labs will soon be able to test samples for COVID-19. This means California public health officials will get test results sooner, so that patients will get the best care. If a person develops symptoms of COVID-19 including fever, cough or shortness of breath, and has reason to believe they may have been exposed, they should call their health care provider before seeking care. https://www.cdph.ca.gov///Pages/Immunization/nCOV2019.aspx#

DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE? They may be eligible to enroll in health coverage through Covered California right NOW. Since the Coronavirus is in California, it now qualifies as a Special Enrollment qualifying life event. Also, tell them there is MORE FINANCIAL HELP available to pay for health insurance than ever before for qualified Californian consumers. Effective Friday, March 20, Covered California opened the health insurance exchange to any eli...gible uninsured individuals who need health care coverage amid the COVID-19 national emergency. Anyone who meets Covered California’s eligibility requirements, which are similar to those in place during the annual open-enrollment period, CAN SIGN-UP FOR COVERAGE through June 30. The Department of Health Care Services announces new steps to help those eligible for MEDI-CAL sign up easily and GET IMMEDIATE COVERAGE. The moves come amid widespread disruption in the lives and livelihoods of Californians as public health officials seek to reduce the spread of COVID-19. All medically necessary screening and testing for COVID-19 are FREE OF CHARGE, and all health plans available through Medi-Cal and Covered California offer telehealth options. These actions build on increased state subsidies and the implementation of a state penalty, both of which took effect in January 2020. TELEHEALTH All Covered California health plans include telehealth options, so you can get medical advice without leaving home! If you develop symptoms of the Coronavirus, including fever, cough or shortness of breath, or believe you may have been exposed, you should call your health care provider or local health department before seeking care. Report Changes to Your Income IF YOUR INCOME HAS BEEN REDUCED, OR YOU LOST YOUR JOB, you should report changes in your income to Covered California. If you currently receive financial help, you may receive even more financial help through Covered California or qualify for Medi-Cal. If you don’t currently receive financial help, you could qualify. Diane Falcon, CA Licensed Insurance Agent 0C06582. 24 years serving CA consumers and businesses.

QUALIFYING LIFE EVENT: RECENTLY LOST YOUR JOB AND HEALTH BENEFITS? OR HAVE BEEN RECLASSIFIED AS PART-TIME EMPLOYEE, AND LOST YOUR HEALTH BENEFITS?... QUALIFYING LIFE EVENTS allow you to enroll in an individual health plan. You have up to 60 days to enroll. Some consumers may be eligible for Federal Tax Credit and California Premium Subsidy. NEW FOR CALIFORNIA CONSUMERS SPECIAL ENROLLMENT PROVIDES ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO ENROLL IN A HEALTH PLAN, THROUGH APRIL 30, 2020. What is special enrollment? People who experience a qualifying life event can newly enroll in a health plan through Covered California even outside the open-enrollment period. Californians with individual coverage outside of Covered California who experience a qualifying life event can change their coverage or choose a new plan. For a limited time, you can still sign up through April 30 but you’ll have to act fast to avoid paying the penalty. You have until April 30 to apply if you just learned about the new financial help available to almost 1 million Californians or the new state penalty for not having insurance. You can still apply even if you already have coverage through a company like Kaiser Permanente, Blue Shield, Health Net, Oscar or any other plan outside of Covered California. After you enroll, your coverage will start the first day of the next month.