This post provides information about health insurance. Desert Insurance Solutions offers property and casualty insurance in all states, and offers health insurance in California, Arizona and Colorado. If you live or own a business in one of those three states, our in-house health insurance expert Colleen (Coco) Flores is ready to help you with health insurance.
Types of Health Insurance
Businesses provide health insurance to employees using Group Insurance. If you aren’t eligible for group insurance, Medicare or a subsidized plan (ACA/Obamacare), then you need a standard individual plan. If you are eligible for Medicare (age 65 or over), you may want to consider a supplement. We can help with all of these.
If you need an individual plan and qualify based on income, you may be eligible for a subsidized plan. These are accessed by you directly on the web through various exchanges depending on your state:
California: coveredca.gov
Arizona: healthcare.gov
Colorado: connectforhealthco.com
Important Dates
Since health insurance covers pre-existing conditions carriers don’t let you buy insurance the day after you get sick. Instead they have “enrollment periods” during which you can sign up or make plan changes:
Individual Open Enrollment
The 2020 Individual Open Enrollment for will go from November 1 to December 15. If you want to make some changes to your existing plan you should investigate options directly with your health insurance carrier. If you want a new plan, contact us. All plan changes will take effect January 1, 2021.
General Enrollment Period for Medicare
Medicare Part B covers doctor visits, lab testing, medical equipment, etc. If you missed signing up for Part B when you were first eligible for Medicare, or during a later special enrollment period, you can still sign up for Part B January 1 through March 31. Part B coverage will not take effect until July 1, 2021. Note that if you did not sign up during your initial or special enrollment period you may be required to pay a late penalty based on how many years you delayed coverage.
Medicare Annual Enrollment Period
The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period is from October 15 to December 7. This is the time you can review or change your existing Medicare Advantage or Prescription Drug Coverage. You will see any coverage or drug changes from your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC). The Annual Notice of Change will come directly from your insurance carrier and is mailed out in the month of September. If you change your existing Medicare Advantage or Prescription Plan all changes will take effective January 1, 2021.
COVID Related Questions
Earlier this year I issued a newsletter that answered health insurance questions related to COVID-19:
- What if I lose my job and health insurance?
- What if I can’t afford health insurance?
- How is COVID being handled by Medicare?
- What if someone calls and asks for my Medicare number?
- What if I can’t get ahold of my doctor?
- Can Canadians buy US health insurance?
For answers to these questions, click on this link
Other Questions and Help
If you have questions about your specific plan, claim, doctor or medical condition you need to call your insurance provider. They will not disclose patient information to Desert Insurance Solutions because of privacy restrictions.
But if you own a business and want help with Group Insurance, need a standard individual plan or need help with a Medicare Supplement, call or e-mail Colleen Flores.
Email Colleen here
Office: 760.564.6800
Cell: 760.895.7350