Can I still Enroll in Health Insurance?

Right now, no one can enroll in health insurance through the marketplace and receive a subsidy...unless

A) You are turning 26 years old this year
If you are turning 26 this year then you are aging off your parent's insurance(if you haven't already purchased your own health insurance plan). Aging off a parent's plan is a Qualifying Life Event. Within 60 days of this event, you can enroll in a health insurance plan of your choice through the Marketplace, and receive a subsidy if you qualify.

B)You are Getting Married this year
If you are taking the plunge into matrimony(CONGRATS!!), then you and your fiance can and should be shopping for health insurance. Engaged, but your date is set for next year? You may want to consider pushing up the date if you don't have health insurance, or want to change your health plan.

C)You are Having a Baby
If you are having a baby this year, you can and should be shopping for a health insurance plan. You can see what your premium will be with the little one added on. When I added my daughter to the group plan I used to be on, I was shocked at the increase in premium-better check out your options! You may NOW qualify for a subsidy that you didn't before. Dependents make a big difference! Oh, and call me-we need to talk about life insurance too.

D)You are Losing Group Coverage(I.E. Losing your Job)
If you are losing your job, you are probably panicking about how you are going to be able to get affordable health insurance. Don't worry! Group insurance is NOT always cheaper than individual insurance! Plus, your income has now changed, and you may be eligible for a subsidy now. You have an alternate to COBRA that may be much more affordable.

E)And Speaking of COBRA...
COBRA lasts for 18 months, and once COBRA has ended, you have to start shopping for health insurance. Losing COBRA is another Qualifying Life Event, and you can go to the Marketplace and pick a new health insurance plan.

F)You are Getting Divorced
If you are getting a divorce, then your income could be changing and your tax filing status is changing. You are eligible to go to the Marketplace and shop for a new health insurance plan.

G)You are Getting a New Job
If you are starting a new job, you can shop for an insurance plan on the Marketplace too. Your new job may not offer group coverage, and even if it does, you usually have a waiting period before you are eligible for group coverage. Also, your income is changing once again, so you can adjust your estimated income for the next year and get a new list of plans and rates.

H)You are Moving To a new Zipcode
Because different plans are available in different areas, moving to a new zipcode enables you to apply for health insurance on the Marketplace. If you didn't sign up for health insurance this year, or if you want to change plans, moving to a new zipcode may be a feasible option for you.

I)You are Becoming a US Citizen
Newly Naturalized? You are now eligible for health insurance on the Marketplace.

All of these Qualifying Life Events give you a 60 day window in which to shop around and enroll in health insurance, and possibly qualify for a subsidy. We are available to help you select a plan that covers what you need, and fits into your budget(hopefully!). We work with Blue Cross an Blue Shield, which sells plans on the Marketplace, and we can help you find out if you qualify for a subsidy. Call our office(336-342-4438), or email me!

Why Do I Need Pet Health Insurance?

I remember the day I went to get my Brittany Spaniel puppy, Landon. Poor Landon got carsick on the way home and threw up several times in the back of our Taurus Station Wagon. We had everything ready for him at home-a kennel, a collar, a leash, food, bowls, brushes, and toys. I thought I was ready for the responsibility. As much as I loved that dog, I had not realized just how much time I was not at home(I was in high school and playing sports) and the rest of my family was just as busy. Landon needed a lot of exercise because he was bred to be a hunting dog, and I just wasn't home enough to give him all the attention and stimulation he needed. He developed some destructive habits because he was wound up and bored. Landon eventually went to a new home on a big farm with another Brittany Spaniel, and I believe he is a happy dog to this day.

Taking on a dog or a cat is a big responsibility and will change your life in big and small ways. They become a part of your family, and you do your best to take care of them. Unfortunately, dogs and cats are susceptible to many health issues just as we are, and they almost always happen unexpectedly. From small incidents, like your dog ingesting something that makes him sick, or a urinary tract infection, to major illnesses like cancer-you will inevitably end up at the veterinarian's office for something or another.  Vet bills are starting to look more like your bills from your doctor. Procedures can costs hundreds up to thousands of dollars. A lot of times this puts a pet's family in a very difficult situation. Not everyone can afford to pay thousands of dollars on treatments for their beloved dog or cat.

This is why pet health insurance is essential when you have a furry family member. Pet insurance can help you afford the procedures, treatments, and medications your pet needs when they are diagnosed with an illness or have an accident.The policy can cover genetic and chronic illnesses, as well as imaging, specialist treatments and alternative therapies. It will also pay on minor issues, like ear infections or having a tooth pulled. Pet insurance companies typicially will not cover pre-existing conditions, so this is not something you buy after you find out that your pet has cancer.  Pet health insurance is best purchased when you first bring home your new dog or cat. The younger your dog or cat is when you purchase a policy, the lower the rate, and the rate doesn't increase as they get older.

No one wants to be faced with the decision of whether to come up with money for an expensive procedure, or to have their pet euthanized. With a pet insurance plan, a dedicated pet parent can have peace of mind, knowing they are truly prepared(unlike me when I brought Landon home) to take care of your dog or cat, no matter what happens.

For more information on pet insurance, and to get a quote for insurance for your furry family member, go to KeepYourPetCovered.com.

The Black Hole in North Carolina's Affordable Healthcare System

North Carolina is one of the many states that did not accept funding from the federal government to expand our medicaid program. Expanding the medicaid program would have broadened the qualifying income levels so that more people would be eligible for free health insurance. North Carolina opted out of this because the funding was only guaranteed for 3 years, and then NC would have to either fund the expanded program itself, or drop those people off the program. NC has had trouble funding the state medicaid system in the past, and the idea of trying to come up with the funds to support an expanded program seemed like a terrible idea.

The problem now is that we have what I have named,  the "Black Hole" in our healthcare system in North Carolina. There is this big void between medicaid eligibility and qualifying for a federal subsidy on the Exchange.

If you are single(file as single on your tax return) and are not on disability or of Medicare age, you are not eligible for medicaid. If a single person make less than $12,000 a year, then they do not qualify for a subsidy on the Federal Exchange. It doesn't matter how old you are, unless you are eligible for Medicare, in which case you won't be purchasing insurance on the Exchange.

Earlier this year I had a man come into the office to get a quote for health insurance. He was 62, so he was not old enough for Medicare, he had no dependents, and was not legally disabled. He had some health problems, and he only worked sporadically. He brought in his tax forms from the year before showing that his total annual income was $1,800. He received food stamps, and that's what he lived on. I was incredulous that this could be the only money he had made. I questioned his daughter, who was with him, about whether she paid for more than 50% of his bills(therefore qualifying him as a dependent on her taxes), but she insisted that she did not, that $1,800 was what he lived on. In this situation, if $1,800 was truly all of his income...there was nothing I could do for them. This man did not qualify for medicaid because he was single, and did not qualify for a subsidy because he made too little money. The monthly rate for this man would have been $400-$500 a month for health insurance, which he clearly could not afford.

Fortunately, there is a a Free Clinic in  Rockingham County that can assist this man on a basic level. A person can qualify to go to the Free Clinic if they have no health insurance(no Medicaid or Medicare), if they are a local resident, and if their income falls within Federal Poverty Guidelines. Their services are limited, but they are wonderful people that do anything and everything they can to get help for their patients.

I was pretty humbled by this man's situation. I personally feel I pay too much for health insurance for my daughter and I, but I realize now that I should be grateful for my situation because there are some people that can't afford health insurance at all. Health Insurance in the next couple of years will get only more chaotic if the Supreme Court decides that states without their own exchange cannot access the federal subsidies that residents are currently getting. While I do not want to offer my personal opinions on the Affordable Care Act, I am eager to see the chaos die down so that people will feel more secure about their health insurance.

Open Enrollment for 2016 will begin November 1st and end January 31st. If you have questions about how to navigate health insurance in the coming year, call our office(336-342-4438) for a quote or contact me by email. We work with Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Humana, and Assurant Healthcare, as well as Medicare Supplement plans.