Sorry! Nevada Health Link is down at the moment!

Is that what you were told when you called us? Well, we are just as frustrated as you are!

We are continuously receiving phone calls from customers who are trying to apply online through nevadahealthlink.com saying "I went online to the exchange and it is telling me there are no plans available". Of course it does bring us more customers, but we want our customers to be happy.

When the site first came up and we had the same issues we blogged asking for patience. Who would have thought we still need to ask the same thing almost two months later!

Well, don't worry...we are here to help and can do the application for you. Stop being patient, and call us. We have done hundreds of these apps and finished them!

Below is another article, featuring Nevada Benefits, in the Las Vegas Review Journal discussing these issues:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/silver-state-health-insurance-exchange-still-plagued-problems

"Essential" Health Benefits?

Have you looked at what is now included in the "Essential Health Benefits" required to be included in the new health plans for Obamacare?  Who is this benefiting? What we are seeing is that these plans are not very universal. People may be paying for many additional services that they will never use. How is that helpful to anyone besides the insurance companies?

Although, if only those who will definitely use the coverage pay for that, the insurance companies will not be able to afford all the cost associated, there has to be some kind of balance. All the extra coverage could even become harmful to many that may get unnecessary testing done. Some of the test may seems like a good idea to get for preventing other illnesses, but that is not always the case. Some test can be harmful if not done when necessary.

Read the article below, featuring Phil Randazzo, to see more information on these issues:

http://www.reviewjournal.com/business/new-insurance-plan-will-cover-lot-things-you-may-never-need

Another News Spot for Nevada Benefits!

Check out Phil Randazzo and our newest team member Linda Montero on Channel 8 News!

http://www.8newsnow.com/category/28259/8-news-now-video

Nevada Health Link...Patience please!

Not only are many Nevadans frustrated at the problems that have been coming up with the Nevada Health Link website, but so are we!

We were here ready to get all our clients the information they need. However, as with many new programs, there are still many bugs that need to be worked out. We are asking you all to please be patient! We are constantly checking for updates and as soon as that happens we will contact our clients.

We appreciate all of the understanding our clients have shown!

Nevada Benefits has the BEST clients! :)

Take a look at this news footage of Phil Randazzo discussing Health Care Reform.

http://www.fox5vegas.com/story/23542717/obamacarre-choices-few-amd-far-between

Anthem, Health coop, HPN Networks and exchanges

Anthem had their exchange broker roadshow yesterday and announced their brand new plans coming for 2014. The big differences? The drug formularies and doctor networks.
This has been a big concern for health insurance companies in deciding how to take on the increased medical risk and still keep insurance costs down. The best way to do it was to decrease the amount of contracts they issue to doctors and hospitals and change the medications they cover on the plans. They are gearing up to focus more on a patient-centered model where they require more referrals and a concentration of care centered around a general practice doctor.
If you wish to participate on the Nevada Exchange and purchase a plan that includes some advanced premium tax credits,  expect to also receive a smaller choice of providers. Be sure to check with the plan's networks and know if that doctor you like will even be participating. Chances are your doctor won't know, so check with the provider directory. Just because they say they accept or are contracted with Anthem, Health Plan of Nevada, etc, doesn't mean they are contracted with your plan. Also, just because your drug was covered with that carrier on another plan, doesn't mean that drug will be covered on your plan either.

This is why it is so important for people to talk with a professional. They can make sure and verify everything and actually guide you according to the plans you actually need.

Why I love Obamacare

These changes are really going to be affecting all of us. As an American citizen, I am a little afraid of what these major changes will do to our budgets and economy, but as a broker, it means great opportunity and will mean a great deal to me. Although I can only imagine that once the system is off the ground, the government will try and push brokers away by cutting payments to us, but I think in the mean time we will all be focusing on new innovative ways to make healthcare more accessible and provide solutions to the problems that arise that will keep us employed.

1. Guaranteed issue for everyone. I have an enormous opportunity as a broker to sign up as many people as I possibly can for health insurance. I no longer have to turn people away and when it comes to finding the right plan, it really comes down to which doctors do you want to see, what medications are you on  and what is your budget? I really dislike spending hours with a client only to find out they were declined. I make no money that way, because my compensation is based upon the policies that are in force.

2. More confusion=More need for professionals who know what the heck they're doing. With additional laws and information available it will be very important for people to consult a professional. Those who purchase from a good friend who also delivers pizza on the side will probably find themselves dissatisfied and possibly in a world of hurt come tax season.

3. People actually are thinking about this stuff. For once we actually have demand for our services and products and people have a timeframe to make a decision- or accept a penalty. Insurance is always last on people's list. The whole goal of healthcare reform was to create increased demand in hopes to decrease prices. This might actually come to pass. The problem that we don't know about are the initial wave of super-spenders on the plans making it go the opposite direction.

4. New products. I used to be in the electronics industry and I loved every new year when new stuff came out. It is always exciting to see the new innovations and get up to speed on the new toys. This is like a new year of new toys for a health insurance broker!

New nexchange rates released!

The department of insurance released the final rates for the new plans starting January 1st. They have a tool that lets you calculate the cost of your health plan and even lists all of the plan names associated with the price. The only thing we are missing is what the plans actually cover. You can click here to access the tool.
I figured I would check and see how much I would be paying for my insurance and it is quite wonderful (sarcasm). I currently pay just under $400/mo for a family of 4. Calculating the price, I will be looking at about $950/mo next year. Isn't that super exciting?!
If my income is less than $94,000 a year and I am not offered affordable coverage through my employer, I can elect to purchase my health insurance through the Nevada Healthlink from me (the broker). If I do that I will be able to choose from a qualifying HMO plan and have the IRS give me some tax credits to help me afford that $950 premium, so that what I pay for my insurance doesn't exceed 9.5% of my income. For lower wage earners, that percentage is lower as well.
So take the time to look into the pricing and decide if today is the time to get a health plan or to wait until January.

Leave it to Nevada health exchange to make things more confusing

"How do spouses and dependents get subsidized?


If you offer affordable, minimum essential coverage to your employees, and you do offer coverage to spouses and dependents, regardless if you contribute to their premiums, those spouses and dependents cannot qualify for a tax subsidy by enrolling in coverage on the individual marketplace.

If you offer affordable, minimum essential coverage to your employees, and you don’t offer coverage to spouses and/or dependents, those spouses and/or dependents may be able to go on the individual marketplace at Nevada Health Link and receive a subsidy.

I am covered by my employer, but my children are not. How can I get my children health insurance?




The Affordable Care Act (ACA) mandates that all health insurance issuers offering qualified health plans through an Exchange must offer a child-only plan at the same level of coverage. That plan is for individuals who have not turned 21 years old by the beginning of the plan year.

All Qualified Health Plans offered on Nevada Health Link will cover pediatric dental and vision services. This is a new provision starting in 2014.

All a parent needs to do is go to NevadaHealthLink.com and select the individual option. The parent will then create an account and answer all questions on the online application. If the household income is at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), the child may qualify for federal subsidies or state financial assistance programs. Once a parent chooses the right plan for the child, that child is covered through the plan year and may start using benefits based on the time of enrollment. "




I copied and pasted these from the Nevada Health Link pages. Yes, these are official documents. As a health broker, this is so confusing. Written in the law is the mandate that if an employer offers health insurance they MUST include coverage for dependents. They do have the right to exclude spouses, but dependents are a must. The website then claims that even though dependent coverage is offered through work, you can go and purchase insurance through the exchange for just the child. This is so confusing and bad information. I think they need to make up their minds.



   

ObamaCare Rates revealed in Nevada!

The Nevada Health Link has released what the pricing is going to look like for both silver and gold plans in Nevada. The rates are what it will cost to insure someone without any tax credits or subsidies. http://www.nevadahealthlink.com/individuals/proposed-2014-rates/
The interesting thing is there are only 4 carriers participating and they are all only offering HMO plans. So, if you have a doctor you really love and want to get the tax credits, you might want to think twice about getting those credits.
The silver level coverage is suppose to have a deductible of about $2,000 and not allow for your costs as an individual to exceed $6,400. The plan is suppose to pay approximately 70% of all medical expenses one would receive in a given year. The Gold level plan will cover about 80% and have about a $1,000 deductible. Since we don't have the exact plan designs yet, there is still much in the air about what they will be covering and how much copays will be.

The Nevada Health Link (name of the state exchange) will not be the only place to purchase health insurance. You will still have choices to purchase a plan just you have always had. The new plans carry the same guaranteed-issue rights, but will not carry with them any tax credits to help various income levels with the cost of premiums. You have a choice of working with a broker and deciding which plan fits you best. You may want to choose an HMO on the exchange where costs might be offset by a substantial amount, or you may want to pay a little more and gain a larger network of doctors. Whatever choice you make, you will be avoiding the possible fine (tax) for not having insurance, which is a whopping 1% of your income (or $95, whichever is greater).

2015 Employer extension

Before leaving my office yesterday I was emailed exciting news. The White House extended the employer mandate and fines that require businesses with 50+ employees to offer health insurance until 2015. Although it is not a full repeal (which I would love) it is a step in the right direction. For some companies, they don't offer health insurance because it isn't affordable to do so and for others it is because their employees just don't want to participate. Employers now have a choice and the personal responsibility will lie upon the individual as to whether or not they want to abide by the individual mandate. If an employer wants to continue to recruit or hire great employees, they will still offer coverage and won't have to be fearful as to whether or not they will be penalized for doing so. Their program can be optional and it can again be a tool and not a weapon.

The new healthcare law was a culmination of thought and debate for many years. It was unfortunately pushed through legislation at a time when one party had complete control to do so, not enabling further discussion and allowance of reality to set in. Thankfully the American people are starting to be heard and some changes are going to be put into place to allow for a better transition. I hope and pray that we truly do see some improvements to our system and that healthcare costs truly do decrease for all American citizens.

Tax Cash Fun

This time of year is always filled with either stress or delight. As companies close out their books and individuals file their taxes they feel the burden of the past year and question whether or not they paid enough or too much to the government. For some, there will be stress of paying an unexpected tax bill, while for others, a refund will be awarded.

So everyone knows we are on the same page- a refund isn’t necessarily a good thing and a tax bill isn’t bad. They just mean you either over-paid or under-paid the government. If you were like most w-2 employees, you probably paid the government your taxes according to your wages and if you gave to some charities and had some education or health write-offs you probably got to see a refund. If this is the case, you need to ask yourself “what will I do with it?”

This year my wife and I decided that our tax return will go to paying off the last of our debt. The temptation to spend the cash on fabulous gifts and toys is extremely tempting. I would love an indulgence into life of fun after being so strict the whole year. I think we all deserve a little reward for doing good deeds and being good tax payers. Being financially fit, however, requires a little bit of restraint. Set aside chunks of money from your return to allocate towards your goals. Know where the money is going. Pay down a debt or two and make sure you still allocate a small treat. You should always reward yourself, but be frugal.

Far too often people get depressed or let down when life doesn’t go their way. Diet programs get destroyed, bad habits return, and people lose hope when they work for a goal that is too far to touch I is out of reach. The small victories and rewards along the way remind you of the end goal and can keep you motivated. By having a small indulgence (maybe a movie night or purchase a new gadget) you can satisfy the natural tendency to enjoy money. By allocating resources accordingly you will make the strides needed and achieve your dreams.

Pre-existing conditions, the Nevada Health Exchange and more

I get calls constantly from people who have been misguided by the media. They think that the new healthcare reform has magicall changed health insurance and now that Obama won his second term that 'ObamaCare' is in full swing. Guess what?- it isn't. We have only seen the small stuff hit so far.

Pre-existing conditions: Thos of you who are un-insurable or have been declined coverage, there is still some hope right now, but not all doors are open just yet. You have the federal PCIP or high-risk pool available. If you've been without insurance for 6 months and been declined, you can get onto that program offered at PCIP.gov. Those who are still insured but want to save some money, can go ahead and apply for coverage with the carriers. All of the companies have the right to decline and rate you, but there have been some major changes. Humana, Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Assurant have all started to lax their underwriting. If they previously declined you or maybe rated you high, you may now be eligible under their new guidelines.
Although it may start sooner, January 1, 2014 all carriers will be required to accept pre-existing conditions. My guess is that we will start to see dramatic rate increases by the carriers as that time approaches as they will be gearing up for more risk than ever. Come January, every citizen will be taxed if they don't have health insurance. Aetna has already announced that they will no longer give 12 month rate guarantees for new clients.
The Nevada State exchange is suppose to be the place everyone can shop for insurance and be able to keep rates within an affordable budget. Rates will be subsidized according to income. Although different income levels vary the percentage, for most they won't be paying more than 9.5% of their earnings towards the premiums. We only have one problem- No carrier in Nevada has decided they want to even participate in the exchange.
So if you are on the fence about health insurance, get off now and think about getting a plan while underwriting is loose and rates are fairly reasonable now. Best case- you pay less come January then everyone else or worse case you had health insurance this whole year and got to change it out Jan 1.