Bernardini & Donovan Insurance Services

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How to Buy Health Insurance While Avoiding the Government Exchange

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is upon us. The online Health Insurance Marketplace, although its had numerous problems with crashes, is not the only way to get the healthcare plan you need. Fortunately, you have other options outside the exchange to buy the health coverage you need. As the Health and Human Services Department works to repair their site, here are other ways to buy health insurance while avoiding the government exchange. Contact a trusted health insurance agent. Experienced individual and group health insurance professionals, like Bernardini & Donovan Insurance. Compare and evaluate other healthcare coverage online. You’ll find other options outside the exchange that you might find more desirable. Ask your employer if it will offer health insurance, whether mandatory or voluntary. You may find your employer will offer a better, more cost-effective program that you can find elsewhere. Join an affinity group or trade organization. Once again groups like these sometimes offer

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March 31st Marks the Last Day to Purchase Health Insurance for 2014

The last day for individuals and families to purchase health insurance for the 2014 year is coming up. The deadline for purchasing any plan off of the open market is March 31, 2014. What Happens on March 31, 2014? Health insurance policies are only available for purchase during a period known as open enrollment. Open enrollment is when insurance companies are required to accept applicants for one of their health insurance policies. Insurance companies that are offering health insurance coverage to individuals and families have scheduled open enrollment to end on March 31, 2014. If health insurance has not been purchased by that date, the individual and/or their family will have to wait for the 2015 open enrollment period – which is scheduled for some time in November 2014. What Will Happen if Health Insurance is Not Purchased by March 31, 2014?  Individuals and/or families who have not signed up

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How to get health insurance outside of open enrollment periods

Putting aside all the seemingly continuing problems with the new health insurance Marketplace websites, people are now wondering if they can still get health coverage beyond the government open enrollment periods. It is possible if you have a "qualifying event" that create special enrollment conditions. Qualifying Life Events The following events are "triggers" that may make you eligible to purchase health insurance even after enrollment periods end. According to HealthCare.gov, these events generate a "special enrollment period." You get married. You have a new birth or adopt a child. You move to a new state offering different health insurance options than those you had previously. You lose former health coverage, other than your voluntary cancellation or for non-payment of premiums. You’re already enrolled, but your income changes or other life events affect your eligibility for tax credits or government assistance to pay premiums. Special Enrollment Periods When you have one

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Medicare Advantage Part D Plans Explained

Chances are, you’re acutely aware of how much prescription drugs cost. Without adequate insurance coverage, you stand to pay hundreds of dollars each month for maintenance drugs and those your doctor prescribes when you become ill. Fortunately, Medicare Part D Plans provide coverage for prescription drugs. If you have traditional fee-for-service through Medicare, you will have to purchase a separate Part D plan to ensure you have prescription drug coverage. However, if you opt for a Medicare Advantage plan, prescription drug coverage is included. Be sure to get an Advantage plan called an “MA-PD” plan. These plans provide Medicare Part A and B coverage as well as prescription drug coverage. You’ll get all your Medicare benefits included in one convenient plan that ultimately saves time and money. There is a wide variety of Medicare Advantage plans from which California residents can select. To learn more, please contact Bernardini & Donovan Insurance

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Costs & Benefits of Medicare Advantage Plans

When considering Medicare Advantage Plans, it helps to take a closer look at their benefits and costs so that you can more easily understand the plans. As you may know, these plans contract annually with Medicare and a fixed monthly amount gets paid by Medicare. That amount can change yearly, based on Medicare, and varies by county.  The nice thing about these plans is that they sometimes offer coverage for things that Medicare does not cover. This can include things like eye exams, prescription coverage and dental visits, but it does vary by county. You should know that there is a monthly premium for these plans and it is in addition to the Medicare Part B premium.  While some services under these plans require co-payment, they are often at a lower amount than the Medicare fees. And legally the amount is not allowed to exceed the Medicare fee amount. If

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Medicare Part D Stand-Alone Plan

Medicare helps provide medical coverage for older citizens as well as some disabled citizens. Medicare Part D is one of Medicare’s stand alone plans and helps cover the cost of prescription medications. Who is Eligible for Medicare Part D? Anyone who is eligible for regular Medicare benefits is eligible for Medicare Part D. This includes individuals who are 65 or older or individuals under the age of 65 with certain disabilities. You must be a US citizen or a permanent resident to be eligible. Enrollment is done when you first enroll or during open enrollment periods. It is done through private insurance providers. What Does Part D Cover? All policies cover every therapeutic category of medications, but not all actual medications are covered. In addition, all plans must cover all or nearly all of the medications in six of the medication categories including antidepressants, antipsychotics, anticonvulsants, antiretroviral, immunosuppressant and anticancer

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