Last Friday, the Obama administration pulled the plug on a major program in their healthcare reform law.  CLASS, as it is called, stands for the Community Living Assistance Service and Supports program.

CLASS was a long-term care program that would have allowed working adults the opportunity to have a long-term care plan with lower premiums.  The program would have also allowed participants to collect a modest benefit of $50 a day if disabled.

The program was deemed to be unsustainable and had been flagged by lawmakers for  doubts about its financial solvency. ”The CLASS Act was a budget gimmick that might enhance the numbers on a Washington bureaucrat’s spreadsheet but was destined to fail in the real world,” said Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

There is continued speculation from many analysts that other programs included in Obama’s Healthcare overhaul will follow suit and be discontinued.

Medicare can be confusing, but there is one important thing to note, Medicare’s Annual Open Enrollment period begins this Saturday, October 15 and runs through December 7.  During Medicare open enrollment, one with Medicare can select or change their Medicare part D option, or make changes to other aspects of their Medicare coverage.

The world of Medicare offers quite a substantial number of options to those eligible.  Unfortunately, beneficiaries are far too unfamiliar with the benefits and options available to them.  There are, however, resources available to consumers that help to provide education for those eligible and those who are gathering information in preparation for becoming eligible.  Agents and Brokers are a great source of information to help answer questions one-on-one with Medicare beneficiaries.

There are also a number of websites available providing key information on Medicare.  My Medicare Matters (www.mymedicarematters.org) provides direction to consumers seeking information on Medicare and options available to them.  The Government also offers assistance through its Medicare.gov website.

For help with your Medicare needs, you can also feel free to contact us at 1-800-293-1147.

According to a report by USNews, millions of Americans have become uninsured due to the loss of employment.  The total of uninsured Americans has now topped 50 million.  Many Americans rely on employers to help provide benefits for the employee and their family.

With such a harsh economic downturn, many Americans are finding themselves in a tough situation, not knowing where to turn or even what options they have.  Many believe that with the loss of employment, comes the complete loss of medical insurance. Fortunately, that is not the case.

Most major insurance carriers offer insurance policies for individuals and families.  These policies are very similar to policies that one would obtain through an employer.  The policies also range in premium, allowing for families to pick and choose the policy that best fits their budget.  The one caveat – currently these plans are not guaranteed-issue.  What does that mean?  That means that if you or any particular individual has a pre-existing condition, they can be denied by the carrier.

With that news, you may be asking, “Well, now what?”  There are options.  Carriers also offer guaranteed-issue plans to help cover those who may not otherwise be able to secure an insurance policy.  These plans are typically more expensive, but at least provide coverage to a regularly uninsurable individual.

The other thing that many Americans are not aware of is that Insurance Agents are here to help.  Most agents do not charge a fee for their service and are a liaison between the consumer and the insurance carriers.  Agents help to answer questions and find the plan that best meets the consumer’s need.

For more information on individual policies and how we, as insurance agents, at Gabriel Insurance can help you, feel free to send us an email at info@gabrielinsurance.com or call us, Toll Free, at 1-800-293-1147.

You don’t need to be left without insurance. We can help!

It’s official.  We have finally moved office locations and are settling in quite nicely.  We love our new location in downtown Benicia, right on First Street.  We feel as though our new location will provide better access for our clients, and greater exposure for prospective clients.

Please be sure to update your address book with our new location.  The address is:

376 First Street

Benicia, CA 94510

Walk-ins are always welcome, and we would love a visit from anyone who would love to stop by.

Much of the concern surrounding Health Care is in regards to “access to coverage.”  Health insurance carriers, as with most insurance companies, have a process of underwriting.  In this process of underwriting many persons are denied coverage based on certain health conditions.  In a report provided to members of Congress, Chairmen Henry Waxman and Bart Stupak reportedly found that “from 2007 through 2009, the four largest for-profit health insurance companies… refused to issue health insurance coverage to more than 651,000 people based on their prior medical history.” (Coverage Denials. Memorandum. October 12, 2010)

The Affordable Care Act bans the practice of denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions.  This ban will take effect universally with all insurance carriers beginning in 2014.  In the meantime, a Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) will be providing a bridge for coverage up until the ban is enacted.  The PCIP offers coverage options to individuals that have been uninsured for at least six months due to a pre-existing condition.  For instance, if you applied for coverage in April 2010, and were denied by the insurance carrier based on a pre-existing condition, you may be eligible to apply for a PCIP through your state.  You must be able to provide documentation proving that you were declined due to a pre-existing condition.

Eligibility

Including the prerequisite listed above, the following must be met for eligibility for the PCIP:

• Be a citizen or national of the United States or lawfully present in the United States
• Have been uninsured for at least the last six months
• Have had a problem getting insurance due to a pre-existing condition

Benefits & Premium Rates

As with current health plans, the plans and premiums will vary based on your state and based on age and other factors.  For more information on plans and premiums in your state, contact your state office, or call us at 800-293-1147.

For more information on the PCIP in your state, please visit: www.healthcare.gov