What Is So Special About California State Medical Insurance?
One of the great things about California state medical insurance, and something which makes it different from medical insurance in other states, is the fact that everybody can get health insurance. California has worked very hard to set up a network of health insurance providers to make sure that everyone that wants health insurance can get it.
State law required that certain provisions are included in plan written by a health insurance company in California. Additionally, it is also the state's aim to see that health insurance plans are made available to all California residents, regardless of their income. The state requires that all health insurance plans in California are renewable and that pre-existing conditions cannot preclude you from getting health insurance. So, once you have a policy then, regardless of what happens to you, the insurance company cannot merely cancel it and must give you the option to renew it.
So what exactly does this mean?
Well, let's say that you are a young professional just starting out in your own small business. The state allows you to buy affordable health insurance which you might not have been able to afford otherwise but you look at your new policy and wonder why you are paying for some of the benefits that you are getting. You simply cannot see why you would need some of them, even if you can get them at a fair premium, and wonder if it is not really a waste of money.
Then suddenly one day your life is turned upside down by a tragic car accident and you are facing a very long recovery period. Suddenly the benefits which you did not think you needed come into play and your long-term care needs are covered. You can relax and focus on getting healthy again in the knowledge that whether it takes five months or five years you will continue to be able to get health insurance to cover the costs. Health insurance after all should be designed to cover the cost of being sick, getting healthy and staying healthy.
We never know what is going to happen to us and, while certain things may seem to be a waste of time or money, things can change in an instant. You may be young and living a healthy lifestyle and that is great for you and you will benefit from that, but there is always the possibility of accident or illness that can have a profound impact on the quality of your life.
The California state health insurance system gives residents of California some very much needed peace of mind. They know that regardless of their job, finances or health they can get California personal health insurance and their policy will protect them no matter what happens.
We never think that a young healthy person is going to end up needing long-term care but it happens every day and, by ensuring that everyone can get cover, California can keep its own state costs down. It should also help in reducing the total cost of health care for the residents of the state.
Remember the next time you look at your policy that you may not think that you need some of the things that you are covered for now but you might one day and you will be very glad that you retained your cover.
California life and health insurance quote
Carve-out companies: Organizations that have specialized provider networks and are paid on a capitation or other basis for a specific service, such as mental health, chiropractic, and dental.
Ethics in Patient Referrals Act: A federal act and its amendments, commonly called the Stark laws, which prohibit a physician from referring patients to laboratories, radiology services, diagnostic services, physical therapy services, home health services, pharmacies, occupational therapy services, and suppliers of durable medical equipment in which the physician has a financial interest.
Medicaid: A jointly funded federal and state program that provides hospital expense and medical expense coverage to the low-income population and certain aged and disabled individuals.
Quality: In a managed care context, an MCO's success in providing health care and other services in such a way that plan members' needs and expectations are met.
The state-based single payer strategy - Washington Post (blog)
10 Mar 2010 at 2:40pm
The state-based single payer strategy
Washington Post (blog)
Presumably, it just means a state can create its own health insurance company. If so, what is to stop a state from doing so already? ...
and more »
Calif. regulators defend rescission settlements - BusinessWeek
10 Mar 2010 at 6:24pm
Calif. regulators defend rescission settlements
BusinessWeek
California insurance regulators on Wednesday defended their actions against health insurers after a report showed few consumers who ...
Insurance Regulation Expert Calls for Freeze of Healt...
White House continues to slam insurers - CNN
10 Mar 2010 at 4:13pm
New York Times (blog)
White House continues to slam insurers
CNN
St. Charles, Missouri (CNN) -- President Obama took his increasingly populist health care overhaul pitch to the political battleground state of Missouri ...
Sebelius addresses health ins...
Senate OKs unemployment, COBRA extensions - Central Valley Business Times
10 Mar 2010 at 3:44pm
Senate OKs unemployment, COBRA extensions
Central Valley Business Times
A bill that extends unemployment insurance and subsidies for COBRA health insurance was approved by the US Senate on Wednesday on a filibuster-proof vote of ...
Senate passes job...
|
