A small earthquake hit San Diego at 10:48am this morning. It was seven miles northeast of Julian. No report of injury or damages have been reported. This is a good time to remember to sign up for the California Shake Out!
Cross border insurance client
Did you know Susman Insurance Agency is licensed to h andle your insurance needs in California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada and Washington? You will receive the same excellent customer service whether you live 6 miles from the office or 600 miles. Just listen to what real life client Tairy Rich had to say about her personal experience.
Health Care Reform changes
Here are some changes that are now in effect:
· Require co-pays or co-insurance for preventive services.
· Cap lifetime benefits. (Caps of $1 million to $2 million are now common.)
· Cancel or rescind a policy, except in cases of fraud.
· Refuse to cover pre-existing conditions in children.
In addition, parents in many health plans can keep their young-adult children covered until the age of 26, unless the child gets a job that offers health coverage.
The scope and timing of the changes, however, depends on the type of plan. Some of these changes don’t take effect until Jan. 1, 2011. Other plans are gr andfathered, and exempt from the changes. For up-to-date information on the new reforms, go to www.insurance.wa.gov and click on the health reform icon.
Gov Schwarzenegger signs health care bill
The governor signed a bill on Thursday that will establish a web-based insurance exchange that will allow consumers to comparison shop for health insurance coverage. This legislation makes California the first state to implement an oversight board for insurance exchange marketplaces since the federal health care laws were approved.
“For national reform to succeed, it will be up to the states to make it work, and California is moving forward on reforms that will provide affordable and quality health care insurance,” Schwarzenegger said in a statement.
The two bills, SB900 and AB1602 are said to promote competition in the health insurance marketplace, according to Assembly speaker John Perez of Los Angeles.
Edwin Garcia, a spokesman for Kaiser Permanente, called the exchange “a promising and important part of health care reform” that would make coverage more affordable for millions of low- and middle-income Californians and small business owners. Kaiser insures about 6.5 million people in the state, Garcia said.
The exchange is said to be active by 2014.
Susman Insurance Agency Pre-Roll
50 Mile Walk for MS
The time has come! A big thank you to all of my friends and followers who sponsored me for the 50 Mile Walk to fight MS.
Thanks to all of you, I reached my goal and am able to participate in the walk, and help to fight MS. Tomorrow I will be walking 20 miles, the next 20 another 20 miles and then Sunday the final 10 miles. I will be posting updates on my progress on Twitter and Facebook, and a daily update on Westside Gadget Guy.
Thanks again!
Karl Susman
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Individual Business to Suspend Child-Only Coverage Effective 9/23/10
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is committed to offering a broad range of products and services that meet customer needs in the changing health insurance market, and to implementing the new health care reform legislation in a way that benefits our customers and members.
We have reviewed the rules regarding the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordability Care Act (PPACA) limiting the application of pre-existing condition exclusions for children under 19. Unfortunately, there remains a great deal of uncertainty as to how the rules will be implemented and what the impacts might be on participating insurers.
While some carriers may continue to offer child-only policies, other carriers have dealt with this lack of clarity by choosing to discontinue new business sales of their child-only policies. Some have cited the lack of an effective m andate for individuals to obtain coverage, as well as ongoing market uncertainty. Unfortunately, this has created an unlevel competitive environment. As a result, Anthem has decided to suspend the sale of child-only policies indefinitely, beginning September 17, 2010.
We will continue to monitor the situation and provide additional details on any changes to our process and policies as they become available.
Please Note: This decision has no impact on any existing child-only policies. In addition, we will continue to accept children on family policies as long as the primary subscriber is 19 or older.
Why is Anthem suspending the sale of new child-only policies?
Anthem is committed to offering a broad range of products and services that meet customer needs in the changing health insurance market, and to implementing the new health care reform legislation in a way that benefits our customers and members.
We have reviewed the rules regarding the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordability Care Act (PPACA) limiting the application of pre-existing condition exclusions for children under 19. Unfortunately, there remains a great deal of uncertainty as to how the rules will be implemented and what the impacts might be on participating insurers.
While some carriers may continue to offer child-only policies, other carriers have dealt with this lack of clarity by choosing to discontinue new business sales of their child-only policies. Some have cited the lack of an effective m andate for individuals to obtain coverage, as well as ongoing market uncertainty. Unfortunately, this has created an unlevel competitive environment. As a result, Anthem has decided to suspend the sale of child-only policies indefinitely, beginning September 17, 2010.
When will Anthem stop selling these polices?
Due to ongoing uncertainty, Anthem has made the decision to suspend the sale of child-only policies and policies where the primary subscriber is under 19 years of age, for effective dates of 9/23 or later. Quoting capability for child-only policies will begin being removed on September 17, 2010.
Will Anthem’s family plans be offered to children 18 and under?
Anthem will continue to offer family policies that have dependent coverage to subscribers who are 19 years of age or older.
Will Anthem participate in an "open-enrollment period" for child only plans?
No, Anthem has made the decision to suspend the sale of child-only policies and policies where the primary subscriber is under 19 years of age, for effective dates of 9/23 or later.
Will this impact all states in which Anthem’s affiliated health plans are currently providing Individual Child-only plans?
The suspension of child-only plans will apply to all states unless a particular state requires the offering of child-only policies. Based on state specific requirements, we will continue to offer Child-only plans in Maine and New York, and in open enrollment periods in Ohio and Virginia. Child-only plans will also be offered in those states requiring such policies for conversion and HIPAA eligible individuals. Existing policyholders will not be impacted by this action and they may continue in their current coverage.
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Susman Insurance Agency App
If you are a Client of Susman Insurance Agency, please email us to get a code for your complementary copy of the application.
Susman Insurance in App Store
By popular request, you can now get the Susman Insurance Agency Application in the Apple App Store! Now for the iPhone, iPod Touch and all iOS devices! Features include updated Video Podcast, archieve of previous Video and Audio Podcasts, easy agency contact and more!
Los Angeles area cult?
According to ABC News, and I quote –
Authorities say five adults and eight children from a “cult-like” group from the Palmdale area have been reported missing by their families.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department officials said the group disappeared Saturday and left behind evidence that they were awaiting the rapture or some catastrophic event.
“They left behind a significant amount of personal belonging and written notes,” sheriff’s spokesman Steve Whitmore told members of the media.
Sheriff’s Cpt. Mike Parker said the husb ands of two of the missing adults from the group was asked to keep a purse, and inside it found identification, personal papers and letters suggesting the group was awaiting the end of the world.
Parker says the group’s leader, Reyna Chicas of Palmdale, is among the missing.
“It is an offshoot of a religious group, but not affiliated with anybody,” Whitmore said. “It’s a group of religious beliefs in and of itself.”
Whitmore said it does not look like they’re planning a trip.
The children, six boys and two girls, rage in age from 3 to 17.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
