Sunday, October 23, 2011

Low Income Health Insurance California For Adults

Low Income Health Insurance California For Adults
If you're young, cash-strapped, and healthy, Low Income Health Insurance California For Adults might seem expensive and pointless. It's not. An ankle-twisting fall on a hiking trail, a broken arm in a friendly soccer game, bronchitis that turns into pneumonia—you're potentially talking thousands of dollars in medical expenses. Who do you think will get the bill? See which of the following eight categories describes you, and check out experts' recommendations. Our Low Income Health Insurance California For Adults glossary will help with unfamiliar terms.

You're moving from high school into the workforce:

If your parents are covered through an employer, try to stay on their plan, says Kathleen Stoll, director of health policy at Families USA, a healthcare consumer advocacy group. It'll cost less than getting individual Low Income Health Insurance California For Adults on your own. If you're under 26 and unmarried, you can be insured as a dependent on your parents' insurance (unless you can get your own job-based coverage). Some states require insurers to extend parental coverage to adult children past age 26; in New Jersey, for example, eligibilty lasts until you're 30. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) estimates that about 1.2 million young adults will elect to stay on a parent's health plan in 2011.

Downside:
Coverage under a parent's plan has its cost. The average policy will cost about $3,380 for each person enrolled in dependent coverage in 2011, according to HHS estimates.

You're headed for college:

Most public and private four-year colleges offer Low Income Health Insurance California For Adults plans for students who aren't covered through their parents. Yearly premiums could run as much as $2,400, but the average is about $850, about one-fourth the cost of premiums for employer-sponsored group plans.

Downside: Part-time students may not be eligible.

You're covered by a parent who has just been laid off:

As long as the company that laid off your parent is still in business, you can retain the same coverage under COBRA, a federal law, for as long as 18 months.

Downside: It can be expensive. You are typically responsible for the full premium and a 2 percent administrative fee. This is all about cons of Low Income Health Insurance California For Adults California For Adults.

You're jobless:

Your parents can carry you on their policy until you're 26. If you're a college grad, your alumni association might offer a plan that'll cover you for up to six months, occasionally longer. New grads may get a discount.

Downside: Short-term plans are relatively pricey and coverage may be limited. They should be viewed only as a temporary bridge. If you sign up with no job in sight and get sick, you'll be in trouble if your policy runs out before you're better. You might get some more handful information from search engine by using term "Low Income Health Insurance California For Adults California For Adults".

You're self-employed:

Some health insurers target young adults with plans that cost less than other typical options; a consumer representative at your state insurance department can tell you which plans are available. Remember, the lower the premium, the stingier the coverage is likely to be, and the more you may pay out of pocket. The deductible may be high, and the copayment—how much you have to shell out on the spot for an office visit—as much as $40 or $50. Fit the plan to your situation. You may want the lowest possible copay, for example, even at the cost of a higher monthly premium, if you tend to run low on cash in your wallet or checking account.

Downside: Online quotes don't factor in medical history or lifestyle. If you smoke or have a chronic health problem, for instance, you may be rejected or charged far more than the amount shown. And watch out for discount plans disguised as insurance—getting a percentage off the price of a doctor's care is not the same as having Low Income Health Insurance California For Adults, which covers all or most medical expenses over a fixed amount.

You just got a job:

Most employers pick up a share of the premium, making this the least expensive form of coverage. If you're generally healthy, a high-deductible plan may be less of a drain on your paycheck, but you'd better be able to pay the entire amount of the deductible if necessary. A "health savings account" will make saving up less painful and is tax deductible as well.

Downside: Plans and plan options may be limited. To avoid paying a higher premium than necessary, buy only the coverage as you need. Many employers provide online tools to help figure this out. This is the downside of Low Income Low Income Health Insurance California For Adults California For Adults.

You're a newlywed:

If both of you can sign up for employer-sponsored health coverage, review both sets of options to see which is a better fit.

Downside: It's easy to forget about maternity coverage when you pick a plan. If you're thinking about a baby, get the coverage.

You're strapped and not earning much:

If your income is no greater than an amount defined by each state and pegged to the federal poverty level (currently $10,830 for a single adult), you may qualify for Medicaid coverage. It can be comprehensive and have little or no cost. You can see whether you qualify at Benefits.gov.

Downside: Many states set the income bar so low that unless you're a dependent, a parent, or disabled, it is difficult to qualify.

This is a well covered information about Low Income Health Insurance California For Adults California For Adults. Hope you you get enough information.

Content Source: http://health.usnews.com/health-news/health-plans/articles/2011/01/13/best-affordable-health-insurance-options-for-young-adults

How to Compare Blue Shield of Low Income Health Insurance California Plans


 This is awesome video we are providing on How to Compare Blue Shield of Low Income Health Insurance California  Plans.

What is Blue Shield Of California - A Non Profit Low Income Health Insurance California Service?

Blue Shield of California, then known as California Physicians' Service, was created by the California Medical Association on December 18, 1938,[2] and was incorporated on February 2, 1939. The organization began offering coverage on March 6 of that same year. In 1946, the organization was among a founder of the National Association of Blue Shield Plans, which later became the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Today, Blue Shield of California is an independent licensee of the national association.

The Blue Shield of California health plan was the first in the nation to offer catastrophic coverage in 1950, provide coverage for a heart transplant in 1984, offer online benefit and enrollment information in 1996, and offer an online enrollment system for agents in 1998. In 2006, the National Committee for Quality Assurance, commonly referred to as NCQA, recognized Blue Shield as an "excellent" health plan for service and clinical quality.[3]

Health reform

In 2002, Blue Shield of California became the first health insurer in the country to propose a specific plan for universal health coverage. Called "Universal Coverage, Universal Responsibility," the proposal would require individuals, employers, and government to share responsibility for achieving universal coverage.

Quality of care

In the California Healthcare Quality Report Card 2011 Edition, Blue Shield of California received 3 out of 4 stars in Meeting National Standards of Care.

Content source: wikipedia.org



California's New Low Income Health Insurance Programs - LIHPs

California's Bridge to the Affordable Low Income Health Insurance Care

California's new 1115 Medicaid Waiver allows counties to receive federal reimbursement funds for programs that serve low-income childless adults who are not eligible for public health benefit programs like Medi-Cal or Medicare. These programs are called Low Income Health Programs (LIHPs). In 2014 under the Affordable Care Act most of these childless adults will become eligible for Medi-Cal, or for subsidies in the Health Insurance Exchange.

Right now, counties already have a legal duty to provide subsistence health care services to this population under state law (Welfare & Institutions Code ¡± 17000 et seq.). The counties pay for these programs with some limited funds from the state and their county general funds. As budgets are shrinking, counties are under pressure to cut their programs that serve low-income childless adults. Under California's previous 1115 Medicaid Waiver, ten California counties were selected in 2007 to receive Federal funds to expand care to low-income childless adults. Those programs are called ¡§Coverage Initiatives. Starting this year, all counties will be eligible to receive federal funds for programs that serve low-income childless adults if they meet certain requirements. This new source of funding will help counties maintain, improve and expand their health care services for low-income childless adults.

What counties will implement LIHPs (California's New Low Income Health Insurance Programs)?


We expect that all counties will implement LIHPs at some point between now and 2014! As of March 14, 2011, twenty-four counties have applied to implement LIHPs. The remaining thirty-four counties currently join together to offer health care to low-income adults as a collaborative called the County Medical Services Program(CMSP). They are expected to submit a joint application later this month.

What are counties required to do to get Federal money for their LIHPs?

Counties must serve lower income people before serving those with higher incomes.

The counties can receive unlimited funds for programs that serve childless adults with income up to 133% of the Federal Poverty Line ¡V these programs will be known as Medicaid Coverage Expansions (MCEs). The counties can receive a certain amount of additional funds to serve those with income between 134 and 200% of the Federal Poverty Line based on an allocation set by the state and Federal governments ¡V these programs will be known as Health Care Coverage Initiatives (HCCIs). Counties can set income eligibility for their LIHPs anywhere up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Line, but they can¡¦t serve higher income people unless they first serve lower income people.

Counties must provide certain services.


The counties must offer people who enroll in their LIHPs a broad range of services, including emergency services, prescription medications, and mental health services.

Countries  programs must meet certain requirements.


To be eligible for federal funds, counties must show that people who enroll in their LIHPs will be able to access care in a timely manner. The counties also must show that they have enough medical providers to get the people who enroll the care they need.

Counties cannot charge unaffordable premiums or co-payments.

The LIHPs cannot charge any premiums or co-payments to people with income below 134% of the Federal Poverty Line except for nominal co-payments like those allowed in Medi-Cal. LIHPs can ask those with income between 134% and 200% of the Federal Poverty Level to pay some premiums or co-payments, but cost sharing cannot exceed 5% of a persons monthly income.

There are other, more technical requirements, too. To read more about the LIHPs, you can go to the Department of Health Care Services’ LIHP

website: http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/provgovpart/Pages/lihp.aspx.

Low Income Health Insurance California - Tips and Sources

Low Income Health Insurance California
There is a substantial rise in the number of young people searching for low income health insurance California and suffering from ailments owing to various factors such as improper lifestyles, stress, and lack of exercise. The medical field has progressed rapidly and giving many insurance options such as low income health insurance california. There are solutions for most of the physical disorders. But at the same time, health insurance expenses are continuously rising, making it increasingly difficult for people belonging to low-income groups to seek timely medical help. Many people believe that obtaining a low income health insurance California is beyond their means. Health insurance offers financial security to people in case of sudden health problems. There is a plethora of health insurance companies in the state of California, making the market extremely competitive. It is mandatory by law for every individual in California to have some form of medical coverage. The state has health insurance programs to provide affordable insurance or low income health insurance California to people belonging to low income groups.

Low income health insurance California and Federal Government

In California, low-income individuals can opt for the Medicaid program. This program is developed by the federal government to bring maximum number of uninsured people under the health insurance cover we usually call it as low income health insurance California.


Low income health insurance California and MRMIB

California Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board (MRMIB) strives to provide affordable and quality health insurance to people in other means it is a perfect low income health insurance california service. The Healthy Families Program (HFP) of MRMIB offers inexpensive health, dental and vision coverage to children belonging to low-income groups. The state and federal government financially supports this program. The Access for Infants and Mothers (AIM) program of MRMIB offers affordable health insurance coverage to uninsured pregnant women from low-income groups. Their infants are also covered under this low income health insurance California program.

It is advisable to do some research to find the best affordable health coverage plan before opting for one.
services. The state and the federal government provide funds to run this program. Individuals can obtain an application form from the office of Division of Family services. Individuals are required to provide some documents to qualify for this program. This program takes care of various health insurance requirements of the individuals and their families in California. Some employers do not provide insurance or health insurance to the families of their employees. Medicaid program is a viable option for such employees and they can search in Google using low income health insurance California term to get more information.

low income health insurance California provides detailed information on California Health Insurance, California Health Insurance Quotes, California Health Insurance Plans, California Health Insurance Policies and more.