Our health insurance brokerage keeps up to date on all state licenses and certifications including to sell medicare affiliated products. However, certification is needed for all agents and brokers to sell through the new Covered California health exchange.Expect us to become formally certified once the CA health exchange allows us to apply and go through the appropriate training.

As promised in earlier blog posts our health insurance agency will consistently update the public on new developments in the health insurance industry including the new California Health Insurance Exchange. Please click on Covered California for extensive information on the new exchange or please contact us with any questions you may have going forward.

The Sacramento Bee -

February 26, 2013:

California's health industry heavyweights, warning that insurance premiums will soon consume a third of people's incomes, today threw their weight behind a plan to revamp the health care delivery system.

In approximately July of 2014 a consumer friendly phone presentation will be available for individuals, families and even small businesses. This phone option will clarify many different questions that consumers have regarding health insurance reform starting in January of 2014 including the ability to enroll in a health insurance exchange beginning in October of this year.

During the upcoming year expect many news releases on the health insurance exchange being set up for both individual and business consumers. One recent development is the name of the state health exchange will be called Covered California.

Moving forward with healthcare reform starting in 2014 small businesses may want to consider another option to providing group health insurance coverage to officers and employees. Instead of offering a single group carrier plan with different plans many businesses are contemplating letting employees shop through the california state health insurance exchange.

Whispers across the country in regards to the new healthcare reform implementation may or may not surprise you. Lets talk about a couple of issues that are coming into focus that consumers need to be aware of going forward.

Here is a brief overview of the 2013 Medicare Advantage plans offered for San Diego County with the monthly premium listed first, the name of the plan, whether an HMO or PPO and finally the rating given by the Center for Medicare Services (CMS).

 $0.00 AARP MedicareComplete SelectHorizons Plan 4 (Local HMO) 3.5 Stars

$69.00 AARP MedicareComplete SelectHorizons Premier (Local HMO) 3.5 Stars

$25.00 AARP MedicareComplete SelectHorizons Value (Local HMO) 3.5 Stars

$0.00 Aetna Medicare Select Plan (Local HMO) 3.5 Stars

The following lists are for preventative services now covered with no copays for any insured individuals under any particular carrier or plan.

The healthcare industry is gearing up for big health insurance reform changes starting in January 2014. We concur at The Compare Health Insurance Agency and would like to help make the transition a little easier going forward and what to expect and how to prepare for these inevitable changes.