The California MRMIP (Major Risk Medical Insurance Program) has apparently received some additional funding and has cleared the backlog of applications.
As of today (5/19/10) there is no waiting list for MRMIP enrollments.
I am working on obtaining specific information regarding the federal temporary risk pool which is scheduled to open July 1. In the meantime eligible uninsurables may enroll in the MRMIP without an enrollment waiting period.
More MRMIP information here
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
Large Companies Contemplate Dropping Employee Health Coverage
The Dallas Morning News is reporting that several very large companies "have concluded that they might be financially better off canceling their health care coverage and moving their workers to government-subsidized exchanges that will be available in four years".
At least four companies have investigated to varying degrees the impact of dropping health care coverage and pushing their workers onto the new exchanges, where they will be able to buy their own insurance.
While doing this would subject companies to fines, the size of the fines would be substantially less than the cost of providing health insurance to their workers.
The four companies identified so far are:
*AT&T
*Verizon Communications, Inc.
*Caterpillar, Inc.
*Deere and Co.
If these four are looking at this option, it is a pretty safe bet that other large employers are doing the same.
At least four companies have investigated to varying degrees the impact of dropping health care coverage and pushing their workers onto the new exchanges, where they will be able to buy their own insurance.
While doing this would subject companies to fines, the size of the fines would be substantially less than the cost of providing health insurance to their workers.
The four companies identified so far are:
*AT&T
*Verizon Communications, Inc.
*Caterpillar, Inc.
*Deere and Co.
If these four are looking at this option, it is a pretty safe bet that other large employers are doing the same.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
HIPAA Enrollment Change (Yet Again) - Anthem
Anthem Blue Cross (CA) has made another enrollment change to the HIPAA plans.
Under the prior change, all enrollments in HIPAA were subject to approval followed by a premium notice. The notice would allow payments in two 15-day periods (1-15th, 16-31st paid or postmarked) to start on the first of the following month. Example:
*Premium paid or postmarked 1-15 June would start July 1 (30-day gap)
*Premium paid or postmarked 16-30 June would start August 1 (60-day gap)
Under the latest change, the premium payment period has changed as follows:
*Premium paid or postmarked 1-15 June would start June 1 (slightly retroactive)
*Premium paid or postmarked 16-30 June would start July 1
Also, Anthem Blue Cross CA has indicated that it will accept certain "substitute" documents in lieu of the Certificate of Creditable Coverage which is not issued until after the expiration of continuation coverage.
Under the prior change, all enrollments in HIPAA were subject to approval followed by a premium notice. The notice would allow payments in two 15-day periods (1-15th, 16-31st paid or postmarked) to start on the first of the following month. Example:
*Premium paid or postmarked 1-15 June would start July 1 (30-day gap)
*Premium paid or postmarked 16-30 June would start August 1 (60-day gap)
Under the latest change, the premium payment period has changed as follows:
*Premium paid or postmarked 1-15 June would start June 1 (slightly retroactive)
*Premium paid or postmarked 16-30 June would start July 1
Also, Anthem Blue Cross CA has indicated that it will accept certain "substitute" documents in lieu of the Certificate of Creditable Coverage which is not issued until after the expiration of continuation coverage.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)