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Good Obamacare News For Veterans And Low-Income Californians

By Emily Bazar November 5, 2013

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 […]

Death, Taxes And … Obamacare?

By Emily Bazar October 22, 2013

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

By Emily Bazar October 15, 2013

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

By Emily Bazar October 8, 2013

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?

By Emily Bazar September 24, 2013

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?

By Emily Bazar September 10, 2013

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?

By Emily Bazar August 27, 2013

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?

By Emily Bazar August 13, 2013

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 […]

Help! What Can Obamacare Do For Me Now?

By Emily Bazar July 30, 2013

Q: I am a married, 62-year-old female unable to obtain health insurance. I am retired and financially comfortable and in general good health. My husband is on Medicare/Anthem Blue Cross supplemental, so he is taken care of. Who can I contact by phone to walk me through the process correctly? I have had several insurance […]

Medi-Cal And Obamacare: More Confusing Twists

By Emily Bazar July 16, 2013

Q: If my family of six qualifies for Medi-Cal under the Affordable Care Act, do we have to sign up for that? Or can we still buy subsidized health care plans through Covered California? … I have real concerns about the quality of care we would get on Medi-Cal. I’m hoping for a positive answer! […]