In general, everyone is required to have insurance starting in 2014, even people who are unemployed. But you’ll be exempt from the requirement if your income is below the tax-filing threshold (in 2009, that amount was $9,350 for singles under age 65), or if buying even the lowest cost plan on the new health insurance exchanges, set to open that year, would exceed 8 percent of your income.The post also includes details about potential options for Medicaid coverage or subsidies on the exchanges.
Senin, 31 Mei 2010
Will the unemployed be required to buy health insurance, too?
The New York Times' "Prescriptions" blog describes some of the rules around this. (The short answer is that there are exemptions built into the legislation for people who cannot afford it.) From the blog:
Jumat, 28 Mei 2010
Medicare to start sending out $250 Rx rebates on June 10
One of the first benefits to take effect under the new health reform law is for seniors with Medicare's prescription drug benefit (Part D). If you have Part D and fall into the drug coverage gap - otherwise known as the 'doughnut hole' - and you don't qualify for Medicare's Extra Help, you'll receive a one time check of $250 to help you with your Rx costs. The first checks are scheduled to be mailed on June 10 and will be mailed monthly after people enter the coverage gap.
There's no paperwork to fill out or form to send in - Medicare will automatically send you a check when you qualify. Seniors should beware of potential scammers. If someone contacts you and tells you to fill out paperwork or to give them your personal information before you'll get your check, call 1-800-MEDICARE and report the activity.
There's no paperwork to fill out or form to send in - Medicare will automatically send you a check when you qualify. Seniors should beware of potential scammers. If someone contacts you and tells you to fill out paperwork or to give them your personal information before you'll get your check, call 1-800-MEDICARE and report the activity.
National flood insurance to lapse May 31st, for the fourth time in less than a year
Insurance & Financial Advisor is reporting today that the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) will lapse after midnight May 31st. From the article:
Claims Journal has more on the attempted dealmaking to head off this latest lapse, as well as what it means (and doesn't) for property owners. The short form: If you don't have it -- this is particularly relevant to folks trying to get financing to buy a home in a mandatory-flood-coverage area -- you won't be able to get the coverage until the program is renewed. But if you have the coverage, the insurance is still in effect. From Claims Journal:
This would be the fourth time in the last six months the program has been allowed to lapse, with Congress reauthorizing the program retroactively.The federal program protects more than 5 million property owners nationwide.
Claims Journal has more on the attempted dealmaking to head off this latest lapse, as well as what it means (and doesn't) for property owners. The short form: If you don't have it -- this is particularly relevant to folks trying to get financing to buy a home in a mandatory-flood-coverage area -- you won't be able to get the coverage until the program is renewed. But if you have the coverage, the insurance is still in effect. From Claims Journal:
NFIP has previously issued a memo with guidelines for operations during a hiatus. During its suspension, agents will not be able to issue any new or renewal flood insurance policies or increase limits on any existing policies. The hiatus will not affect claims paying.
Rabu, 26 Mei 2010
Our little-known run-in with the late Mr. Linkletter..
TV funnyman Art Linkletter has died at 97, which brings to mind our little-known regulatory run-in with the broadcast legend nearly 40 years ago.
In 1972, Linkletter was a pitchman for mail order health insurance. Even for the times, the policies were very limited, paying $15-$30 a day for a hospital visit, for example. And there were waiting periods.
Insurance commissioners in more than a dozen states, including ours, were unhappy with the use of celebrity endorsers for such coverage. Linkletter, for example, advertised coverage with National Home Assurance Co.
The state insurance commissioner at the time, Spokane attorney Karl Herrmann, ordered the ads halted in Washington, on the grounds that Linkletter wasn't an insurance agent. The company was allowed to resume the ads after changes, such as disclosing the fact that Linkletter was on the company's board of directors and spelling out the benefits by the day, rather than the month. The ads -- with Linkletter as spokesman -- resumed.
In 1972, Linkletter was a pitchman for mail order health insurance. Even for the times, the policies were very limited, paying $15-$30 a day for a hospital visit, for example. And there were waiting periods.
Insurance commissioners in more than a dozen states, including ours, were unhappy with the use of celebrity endorsers for such coverage. Linkletter, for example, advertised coverage with National Home Assurance Co.
The state insurance commissioner at the time, Spokane attorney Karl Herrmann, ordered the ads halted in Washington, on the grounds that Linkletter wasn't an insurance agent. The company was allowed to resume the ads after changes, such as disclosing the fact that Linkletter was on the company's board of directors and spelling out the benefits by the day, rather than the month. The ads -- with Linkletter as spokesman -- resumed.
Where to find information -- and file claims -- re: the American Trade Association
The officials in charge of the liquidation of the American Trade Association, Inc. and several affiliates have set up a website that includes claim forms for unpaid medical bills, http://www.americantradeliquidation.com/.
We are aware of dozens and perhaps hundreds of Washingtonians who purchased purported health insurance products from a Tennessee-based company known as the American Trade Association.
We and a number of other states ordered the company to stop selling these illegal products. (Here's our cease-and-desist order, issued in January.)
On May 10, a Tennessee court ordered the liquidation of ATA and several connected entities: American Trade Association LLC, Smart Data Solutions LLC and Serve America Assurance. From the website:
"All policies of insurance or other benefits not previously expired, terminated or replaced by you with other insurance will end at 11:59 P.M. Central Time on May 31, 2010," it says. You can call the liquidator at 1-800-591-6764 for an update and to obtain a "creditable coverage letter," which can be a very important step in finding other coverage that's affordable, particularly if you have pre-existing medical conditions.
There are several key points in the website and recording:
We are aware of dozens and perhaps hundreds of Washingtonians who purchased purported health insurance products from a Tennessee-based company known as the American Trade Association.
We and a number of other states ordered the company to stop selling these illegal products. (Here's our cease-and-desist order, issued in January.)
On May 10, a Tennessee court ordered the liquidation of ATA and several connected entities: American Trade Association LLC, Smart Data Solutions LLC and Serve America Assurance. From the website:
"All policies of insurance or other benefits not previously expired, terminated or replaced by you with other insurance will end at 11:59 P.M. Central Time on May 31, 2010," it says. You can call the liquidator at 1-800-591-6764 for an update and to obtain a "creditable coverage letter," which can be a very important step in finding other coverage that's affordable, particularly if you have pre-existing medical conditions.
There are several key points in the website and recording:
- Leslie A. Newman, the Tennessee Commissioner of Commerce and Insurance, is developing a liquidation plan for court approval.
- No claims will be paid until the court approves a payment plan, which Tennessee officials say could take a year.
- The deadline for filing claims is Aug. 31 at 4:30 p.m. Central Time. And the claims must be received -- not postmarked -- by that date. Here's a copy of the claim form, including the address to send it to.
- Although some ATA customers have been getting letters telling them that they're being switched to other coverage, neither Newman nor the court have approved any such transfer of coverage.
Selasa, 25 Mei 2010
$19 million verdict in case involving Bellevue, Wash. insurer
A federal jury in Seattle has issued a $19.3 million verdict against three people and a company for wrongfully siphoning off millions of dollars owed to a Bellevue insurance company.
“You cannot do this in Washington state and get away with it,” said Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler. “This was the worst sort of predatory behavior by people who clearly had no qualms about misrepresenting the facts to get what they wanted.”
Jurors on Friday rendered a verdict against Danny Pixler, Anthony and Sheri Huff, and Midwest Merger Management LLC. for a combined $19.3 million to Cascade National Insurance Company. A written ruling from the court is expected soon on remaining claims.
Pixler is in federal prison serving a 5-year sentence for conspiracy to commit wire fraud; the Huffs and Midwest are both based in Kentucky.
Kreidler assumed control of Cascade National in 2004 when the company was placed in receivership by Thurston County Superior Court after failing to meet financial requirements under state law. State officials decided that the company’s deteriorating financial condition meant that it couldn’t be saved or sold. In 2005, at Kreidler’s request, a judge declared Cascade National insolvent and ordered it liquidated.
Kreidler has been overseeing the company’s liquidation since then, ensuring that the company makes good on claims. He filed the lawsuit in 2006, charging that Pixler, the Huffs and their company had defrauded Cascade National.
Money recovered as a result of the lawsuit will be used to reimburse the insurance guaranty fund that has paid the company’s workers’ compensation claims.
Cascade National focused principally on auto and commercial trucking coverage in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, California, Mississippi and Louisiana. In 2004, it provided coverage for approximately 4,600 auto and commercial trucking policyholders.
Its demise followed within a year after it began providing workers’ compensation coverage to nearly 15,000 workers in California.
In 2003, due to its financial woes, Cascade National became a target for takeover and control by Pixler and the Huffs, who were longtime business associates. The defendants were seeking a workers’ compensation insurer licensed in California – which Cascade was – in order to provide coverage for the defendants’ business clients.
Among other manipulations, however, the defendants positioned themselves so that they would collect all the workers’ compensation premiums from their approximately 140 business clients, covering nearly 15,000 California workers. That both concealed the payments and put them out of reach of the workers’ compensation insurer, Cascade National.
Despite not getting those premiums or other payments due from the defendants, Cascade was and is obligated to pay all covered claims to injured workers.
(Note: Updated at 2:08 to fix link to lawsuit document.)
“You cannot do this in Washington state and get away with it,” said Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler. “This was the worst sort of predatory behavior by people who clearly had no qualms about misrepresenting the facts to get what they wanted.”
Jurors on Friday rendered a verdict against Danny Pixler, Anthony and Sheri Huff, and Midwest Merger Management LLC. for a combined $19.3 million to Cascade National Insurance Company. A written ruling from the court is expected soon on remaining claims.
Pixler is in federal prison serving a 5-year sentence for conspiracy to commit wire fraud; the Huffs and Midwest are both based in Kentucky.
Kreidler assumed control of Cascade National in 2004 when the company was placed in receivership by Thurston County Superior Court after failing to meet financial requirements under state law. State officials decided that the company’s deteriorating financial condition meant that it couldn’t be saved or sold. In 2005, at Kreidler’s request, a judge declared Cascade National insolvent and ordered it liquidated.
Kreidler has been overseeing the company’s liquidation since then, ensuring that the company makes good on claims. He filed the lawsuit in 2006, charging that Pixler, the Huffs and their company had defrauded Cascade National.
Money recovered as a result of the lawsuit will be used to reimburse the insurance guaranty fund that has paid the company’s workers’ compensation claims.
Cascade National focused principally on auto and commercial trucking coverage in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, California, Mississippi and Louisiana. In 2004, it provided coverage for approximately 4,600 auto and commercial trucking policyholders.
Its demise followed within a year after it began providing workers’ compensation coverage to nearly 15,000 workers in California.
In 2003, due to its financial woes, Cascade National became a target for takeover and control by Pixler and the Huffs, who were longtime business associates. The defendants were seeking a workers’ compensation insurer licensed in California – which Cascade was – in order to provide coverage for the defendants’ business clients.
Among other manipulations, however, the defendants positioned themselves so that they would collect all the workers’ compensation premiums from their approximately 140 business clients, covering nearly 15,000 California workers. That both concealed the payments and put them out of reach of the workers’ compensation insurer, Cascade National.
Despite not getting those premiums or other payments due from the defendants, Cascade was and is obligated to pay all covered claims to injured workers.
(Note: Updated at 2:08 to fix link to lawsuit document.)
Jumat, 21 Mei 2010
Congressional Health Plans, Inc. ordered to stop sales in Washington
A company calling itself "Congressional Health Plans Inc." has been ordered to stop selling illegal insurance-related products to Washingtonians.
Company officials "have represented their product as health insurance and have acted in concert to sell unauthorized health insurance to Washington residents," according to a cease and desist order issued this week by state insurance commissioner Mike Kreidler.
The order names Congressional Health Plans, Inc., also known as Insurance Group USA, Inc., and Rdk Insurance, Inc., based in Hallendale, Fla. The order also includes corporate officers Dan Kaleky, Kevin Caricato and Matthew Herman.
Neither the company nor any of the three men are licensed to act as an insurer, agent or broker in Washington. Nor are they licensed to sell discount health plans in Washington.
They were ordered to turn over a list of all customers in Washington, premiums paid, and to replace any improperly sold insurance with an authorized policy upon any customer's request.
The Better Business Bureau gives the company an F rating, based on 6 unanswered complaints over the past three years.
Company officials "have represented their product as health insurance and have acted in concert to sell unauthorized health insurance to Washington residents," according to a cease and desist order issued this week by state insurance commissioner Mike Kreidler.
The order names Congressional Health Plans, Inc., also known as Insurance Group USA, Inc., and Rdk Insurance, Inc., based in Hallendale, Fla. The order also includes corporate officers Dan Kaleky, Kevin Caricato and Matthew Herman.
Neither the company nor any of the three men are licensed to act as an insurer, agent or broker in Washington. Nor are they licensed to sell discount health plans in Washington.
They were ordered to turn over a list of all customers in Washington, premiums paid, and to replace any improperly sold insurance with an authorized policy upon any customer's request.
The Better Business Bureau gives the company an F rating, based on 6 unanswered complaints over the past three years.
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