February 4, 2014
Over the years I've had
many callers tell me they just wanted "catastrophic" health insurance
coverage. What they wanted was just a basic plan with little to no bells
and whistles with a high deductible.
Well, the Affordable Care Act provides for an actual "Catastrophic" plan. And, yes, that's the name of it with all carriers. Not only that, but, as far as I'm aware, the benefits are exactly the same with all carriers.
However, Catastrophic (with a capital "c") plans are generally open only to those who are under age 30 or to those who meet specific situations deemed "hardship exemptions."
Posted by Sharon Nuttall. Posted In : Affordable Care Act
January 20, 2014
You've left or are leaving your job. You're eligible for COBRA. What do you do next?
I know it sounds self-serving, but I can't overstress this: One of the very first things you should do when leaving a job is talk with a reputable health insurance agent. With the advent of the Affordable Care Act, it has never been more important to know your options in the decision-making process.
Leaving a job that offers health insurance benefits is considered a qualifying life event, triggering a Special E... Continue reading...
Posted by Sharon Nuttall. Posted In : COBRA
January 18, 2012
A few weeks back we hosted our annual New Year's Day brunch for a few neighbors. The recent experience of one of my neighbors pointed out that even when an employer is picking up most of the tab for your health insurance premium, a pricier plan doesn't always turn out to be the best choice. Here's Joanne's (not her real name) story:Joanne had opted for what she thought would be the best coverage her employer offered: one with a deductible (for the "big" things) and copays for certain services... Continue reading...
Posted by Sharon Nuttall. Posted In : Choosing a health plan
September 21, 2011
If you or a loved one are eligible for Medicare soon, you're probably
feeling overwhelmed at this point with all the "stuff" that's come in
the mail. You may have figured out that you'll need a Medicare
supplement (also called Medigap) policy to cover the things that
original Medicare doesn't cover. But you may be feeling a little
confused about the prescription drug part. The short answer is this:
You'll also need to purchase a separate plan for prescription drug
coverage (a PDP, for ... Continue reading...
Posted by Sharon Nuttall. Posted In : Medicare
August 3, 2011
Posted by Sharon Nuttall. Posted In : Medicare
June 30, 2011
Did you know that having your own health insurance can give you more flexibility when job-hunting?
1) It allows you to accept a part-time or contract position that doesn't
provide health insurance benefits (but that might lead to a full-time
job offer at some point).
2) It may make you more appealing to an
employer who is concerned about the high cost of providing a full
benefits package.
3) Having your own health insurance means you won't have to accept a position that you know really isn'... Continue reading...
Posted by Sharon Nuttall. Posted In : Job-hunting
October 20, 2010
A new term in health insurance with which you should probably familiarize yourself is "grandfathering." Understanding what it means and how it could affect you is important, particularly as it relates to individual health insurance. In fact, because I specialize in individual (as opposed to group, i.e. employer-based) health insurance, I'm not even going to address its implications for group coverage.Do you remember when Pres. Obama kept emphasizing that if you liked your current health insur... Continue reading...
Posted by Sharon Nuttall. Posted In : Health Care Reform
September 22, 2010
I had a situation come up recently that reinforced how important
communication is - in ALL of life of course - but particularly during
the health insurance buying process. I can't stress the importance of
letting your agent in on any and all health-related issues that the
potential insureds either have now or have had in the past that might
impact the underwriting outcome.I'm well aware that it can be uncomfortable to reveal personal health information to a virtual stranger, but we agent... Continue reading...
Posted by Sharon Nuttall. Posted In : Underwriting
August 31, 2010
More often than you would think, I come across potential clients who tell me they can't afford health insurance - or who don't come out and say it, but they just never seem to get around to applying for coverage.
Now, these are seldom people whose premiums for a basic policy would be $1200, or $800 or even $500 a month. I "get" that that could put a serious dent in a budget. (Although, I can say with 100% certainty that here in the Nuttall household even those kind of numbers wouldn't stand i... Continue reading...
Posted by Sharon Nuttall. Posted In : Premiums
July 20, 2010
Bits and pieces of Health Care Reform are beginning to fall into place, although of course the lion's share will not go into effect until 2014. As we agents figure out how to best help our current and future clients get and keep coverage, I'll be keeping you up to date on the latest and how it may impact your health insurance decisions. Decisions which, directly or indirectly, often affect life decisions.There is one particularly crucial point of which you should be aware, particularly if you... Continue reading...
Posted by Sharon Nuttall. Posted In : Health Care Reform
