Beat the March 31 Deadline for Health Insurance

Unless you have a qualifying event, March 31 will be your last chance to purchase 2014 health insurance coverage.

You have until midnight on March 31, 2014* to beat the deadline for enrolling in 2014 health insurance coverage.

*A qualifying event will allow you to enroll after March 31

Applying for Coverage Without a Subsidy

If you are not eligible for a subsidy (click here to find out), you can enroll quickly and easily by filing an application directly with the carrier of your choice:

• CareFirst BC/BS
• Anthem BC/BS
• Kaiser Permanente
• Humana
• UnitedHealth Care
• Innovation Health/Aetna

Getting a Health Insurance Subsidy

If you are eligible for a subsidy, you must to apply for coverage through your state’s health insurance exchange in order to collect the subsidy.

So that we may assist you through the life of your policy, please follow these instructions:

Virginia Residents – Visit Federal Exchange

Go to www.healthcare.gov.

On the page that asks:   “Tell us if you’re getting help from one of these people”.
Select “Agent or Broker”; fill in all four of these fields:

a) First name: Jonathan
b) Last name: Katz
c) FFM User ID: JONKATZAGENT
d) NPN Number: 1585616

Maryland Residents – Visit the Maryland Exchange

Go to www.marylandhealthconnection.gov.

Enter our Consumer Assistance Reference ID#:   Jonathan Katz’s ID# = 9000116389.   Click here for instructions.

DC Residents – Visit the DC Exchange

Go to www.dchealthlink.com.

Click on Apply Now and create an account.
Once the account is created please click on “select the trained expert assisting you” in the upper right hand corner.
Enter our reference number  – 5376842
Click search, then next.

Act Now to Avoid a Penalty

If you have not enrolled in a health insurance plan by midnight on March 31, 2014, you will be assessed a penalty tax when you file your 2014 tax return.  So don’t delay!

Please be patient as we manage a high volume of calls and emails.

I Can’t Afford Health Insurance in 2014

What Should You Do if You Think You Can’t Afford Health Insurance in 2014?

If you have searched for health insurance and believe it is too expensive, please let us help you find a solution that meets your needs and fits your budget.  The worst thing you could do is remain uninsured because the premiums feel out of reach.

We can often find a plan that fits into your budget by making adjustments to some of the features of the plan.

For example, we can lower your monthly premium by choosing a policy with a higher deductible.

This is a trade-off, but one we feel is worth it if the other option is to have no coverage at all.  Look at it this way:

What is the known?  The monthly premium is known.  When you select a policy, we know for certain you will be writing a monthly check for the stated premium amount.

What is the unknown?  Your health care needs for the upcoming year are unknown.  We don’t know if your health care expenses for the upcoming year will be $500, $5,000 or even $50,000.

But even if a higher deductible is something you may have trouble affording, you are still better off — way better off — having coverage with a high deductible than no coverage at all.  At least you know the extent of your exposure for covered medical treatment for the policy year will be no higher than the amount of your deductible.

Raising a policy’s deductible is just one example of a way to lower the premium.  There are other tweaks we can make to a plan’s options in order to get the premium into a more comfortable range.

Other Benefits of Having Health Insurance

Being insured affords you other concrete, money-saving benefits, regardless of the pricing or coverage options.  For example:

• Lower negotiated rates for services.  Health insurance companies work with doctors, pharmacies, hospitals, and other medical providers to provide treatment at reduced rates.  If you are not insured, not only will you pay for all care out of your own pocket, but you will pay a higher rate for that care.
• Physical exam component covered at 100%.  Under the provisions of the Affordable Care Act, physical exams are fully covered.  Without health insurance, you lose this important benefit.

Everybody Must Have Health Insurance in 2014.  It is the Law.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) says you must have health insurance.  But, we believe the reason for being insured goes beyond the government mandating it.  Having health insurance protects you financially from the impact of major illness or injury.

Give our office a call today, or send us an email.  Or click the button on the upper right for instant quotes.  We can help you find the right policy to meet your specific needs.

Our phone is 800-867-0800 and our email is jkatz@vamedicalplans.com.

Our services are FREE!

But get in touch today because time is running out to get 2014 coverage.  The deadline is March 31.

Please be patient as we manage a high volume of calls and emails.

Five Myths about the Affordable Care Act

There is a lot of confusion surrounding the Affordable Care Act (ACA).  Here are some myths, and the truths behind them:

MYTH #1:  I must purchase my health insurance on my state’s exchange (or the federal exchange in states like Virginia who are not running their own exchange).

TRUTH:  You only must purchase your health insurance on the exchange if you are eligible for and wish to collect a subsidy on your premiums.  Click here to see if you may be eligible.  If you are not eligible for a subsidy, you may purchase ACA-compliant health insurance from a licensed broker like Virginia Medical Plans.  Click on the buttons to the right or call our office 1-800-867-0800 for an instant quote.

If you are eligible for a subsidy, click here for detailed instructions on using the federal exchange (Virginia residents).  Maryland and DC residents click here.

MYTH #2:  It is cheaper to buy health insurance on the exchange.

TRUTH:  Unless you are eligible for a subsidy, insurance purchased on the exchange is not necessarily less expensive.  Furthermore, our experience is that the plans offered through the exchange tend to be more limited, whereas the plans offered off-exchange are more broad in terms of features and benefits.  Give us a call or click on the buttons to the right for instant quotes!

MYTH #3:  I don’t need to purchase insurance now; I can wait until I get sick.

TRUTH:  Open enrollment for 2014 coverage runs through March 31, 2014.  After that date, you will not have another opportunity to purchase 2014 coverage unless you have a qualifying event like a change in employment or marital status, the birth or adoption of a child, etc.  If you get sick on April 1 or later and have not yet enrolled in a plan, you will be on your own until 2015.  We can’t stress enough the importance of enrolling now!

MYTH #4:  The law has been delayed since the online website had so many problems.

TRUTH:  While certain deadlines surrounding ACA were extended, the individual mandate — the requirement for most Americans to have coverage by January 1, 2014 — did not change.  Likewise, the final date of open enrollment remains March 31, 2014.  You MUST enroll in coverage by March 31 to avoid the penalty tax.

MYTH #5:  It costs more money to buy health insurance through a broker.

TRUTH:  There is absolutely no cost to you when you use the services of a licensed broker to select and enroll in health insurance — on or off the exchange.  And when a broker helps you, you get the benefit of that assistance for the life of your policy to help with claims issues, administrative questions, policy changes, etc.

Don’t leave yourself and your family exposed.  Get coverage for 2014 and do it today!  Call our office 1-800-867-0800 or send us an email jkatz@vamedicalplans.com.

Please be patient as we manage a high volume of calls and emails.

Three Reasons Why You Should Enroll in Health Insurance Now

Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), open enrollment for 2014 health insurance runs through March 31, 2014.

We are well into February.  If you have not yet enrolled in coverage, you may need some convincing as to why you should not wait until the last minute.

Here are three compelling reasons to enroll in health insurance before March 31:

1. Avoid the Rush
   If you think back to the days leading up to the end of 2013 when everyone who wanted their coverage to begin on January 1 was trying to get enrolled, then you understand the mess that can result from everyone flooding the system with applications at the same time.  Insurance companies struggled to keep up with enrollments and some people even today have not gotten confirmation of coverage.  Enrolling now will help avoid that rush.
2. Get Covered as Soon as Possible
   The date you enroll in coverage determines the effective date of that coverage (see chart below).  If you enroll on or before the 15th of the month, your coverage is effective the first day of the next month.  Enrolling between the 16th and the last day of the month means you will wait until the first day of the month after next for your coverage to kick in.  Why take the chance of getting sick before you’re covered?
3. Enroll Before February 15, 2014 to Avoid Filing an Exemption
   ACA dictates that a penalty tax is assessed if you go for three consecutive months without coverage. Therefore, if you don’t yet have insurance, you have a grace period — until March 31, 2014 — before you will be assessed a penalty.  But, here is where it gets a little complicated. The date you enroll is not the same as the date the coverage is actually effective:

   If you apply between …	Your coverage will be effective …
   January 16, 2014 – February 15, 2014	March 1, 2014
   February 16, 2014 – March 15, 2014	April 1, 2014
   March 16, 2014 – March 31, 2014	May 1, 2014

   Enrolling after February 15, 2014 means your coverage will be effective — at the earliest — April 1.  If you are not actually covered by March 31, 2014 you will need to file a hardship exemption on your 2014 income tax return to avoid being assessed the penalty tax.

As the image above states, Go on, DO IT NOW!   Give us a call today so you can get enrolled in coverage right away.  You can also click on the buttons in the upper right hand column to get instant quotes.   Virginia residents, if you think you may be eligible for a subsidy, click here for more information.   Maryland and DC residents click here.

Reach us by phone 1-800-867-0800 or email jkatz@vamedicalplans.com, but don’t delay!