Latest California Healthline Stories
Obamacare Affects Immigrants, Too
California has more immigrants than any other state. At least one in four Californians – more than 10 million people – were born in another country. And they’re a diverse bunch: Some immigrants, like my parents, are naturalized U.S. citizens. Others are green card holders. Some live here illegally. In addition, there are many thousands of people […]
About 130,000 Americans pick up and move somewhere else every single day, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates. And guess who are among the most mobile? We itchy Californians. Perhaps you’re wondering what moving around has to do with Obamacare. Quite a lot, actually. Your health plan options – and prices – vary by geography, and the […]
Good Obamacare News For Veterans And Low-Income Californians
Q: Will deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses, which are quite steep, be subsidized too? Or will the policy holder be responsible for bearing the cost? A: “Tax credit” this and “tax credit” that. You’re probably sick of that term. I know my editor is. Tax credits get the glory because they will significantly reduce health insurance costs […]
Q: I have been on the Covered California website and the calculator asks for family size, which I presume means the taxpayer plus number of dependents claimed on federal tax forms. If a consumer claims non-child family members (like aging parents) do they count as part of family size? A: What’s a family? In our […]
What You Need To Know NOW As Obamacare Debuts
Over the past six months, your Obamacare questions have steadily piled up in my inbox. Now, “steadily” is a description I can only think back fondly on. These days, words such as “barrage” or “deluge” are more fitting. At last count, I tallied more than 800 comments and queries. And the pace has accelerated since […]
Tax Credits? Subsidies? Provider Networks? What These Obamacare Terms Mean To You
Q: Will doctors and hospitals who accept health insurance from companies like Blue Shield accept insurance sold by the health insurance exchange? I’ve heard that Cedars-Sinai, for example, will not accept coverage from Covered California. A: You heard right, Lily. Let’s say you currently buy health insurance on the open market. But you discover that […]
Will You Qualify For Medi-Cal Under Obamacare?
Regular readers of Ask Emily know that on Oct. 1, Obamacare will experience a key rite of passage. That’s when Californians can begin enrolling in coverage through the new health insurance exchange, called Covered California. Many will qualify for tax credits to reduce the cost of their premiums. There’s another important Affordable Care Act milestone taking place that […]
Will Insurance Plans Sold By Obamacare’s New Marketplace Meet Your Needs?
Q: I’m currently on Medicare but pay out of pocket for a Blue Cross supplement policy. Will insurance companies offer Medicare supplement policies and prescription drug policies on the new health insurance exchange? A: I’ve gotten in the bad habit of starting my columns with questions that don’t have simple answers. So much for easing you […]
Changes Coming: When Can You Buy Or Switch Your Insurance Under Obamacare?
Q: Our 24-year-old daughter is employed full-time and her employer offers health insurance. Does she have to enroll in one of their plans or can she stay on ours until her 26th birthday? A: Young adults and college students will have more insurance options in the new health care landscape than just about any other […]
How Will Young Adults And College Students Fare Under Obamacare?
Q: My youngest child is 21 and graduated from college in May. My other daughter is 24 and is still a college student in Stockton. What are my options with them under the Affordable Care Act? A: The good news, Simona, is that your daughters may have several options and their coverage could fall into […]