• Inflation Reduction Act – Effects on Healthcare

    In case you missed it, important new legislation was passed by the Senate that included some major healthcare provisions.  The bill goes on to the House which is expected to act on it later this week. MEDICARE The biggest improvement for Medicare members would be the establishment of an annual cap on prescription drug out…

  • Liz Kennon Awarded as Member of Marketplace Elite Circle of Champions

    December 16, 2019 Pittsburgh, PA – Liz Kennon has been nationally recognized for her dedication to helping consumers enroll in and manage qualified health coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace. This nationwide recognition from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as a member of the 2020 Marketplace Elite Circle of Champions highlights Liz…

  • Take Caution with Short-Term Health Insurance

    We are now outside of Open Enrollment.  Unless you have a “qualifying event”, you cannot get individual health insurance with the protections granted by the Affordable Care Act.  You can read about qualifying events and Special Enrollment Periods here.  If you don’t qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, your only other option is a short-term…

  • Simplifying Medicare: Medicare Advantage vs Medigap

    As you or a parent/loved one approaches age 65, you will be inundated with information about Medicare.  We, at Kennon Insurance, can help you narrow down your options without reading all of these very complicated brochures. You can enroll in Medicare as early as the first of the month in which you turn 65. Medicare…

  • Individual Mandate Update

    As you may have heard, Congress repealed the Individual Mandate with their tax bill in December 2017.  This means that, starting in 2019, people who do not enroll in “qualified” insurance under the Affordable Care Act will not have to pay a penalty with their 2019 taxes.  The individual mandate is still in effect for 2018.  If…

  • Fall Enrollment Periods for Medicare and Individual/Family Coverage

    Fall Enrollment Periods for Medicare and Individual/Family Coverage Enrollment season is upon us.  The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period runs from October 15th – Dec 7th.  During this time, you can change your Medicare Advantage plan, your Medigap plan or your Part D coverage.  We currently have rates and plan benefit changes for 2018 Medicare options.…

  • How did our health insurance become tied to our employer?

    Ever wonder how the U.S. health insurance system evolved into this system that largely ties health insurance to your employer?  Most other countries do not have this employer-based insurance system.  The New York Times published a great summary of how we got where we are today: https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/09/05/upshot/the-real-reason-the-us-has-employer-sponsored-health-insurance.html

  • The Future of the ACA (aka “Obamacare”)

    Many of our clients have been asking us about the future of the ACA (Affordable Care Act) or “Obamacare.”  At this time, many ideas have been presented, but no concrete plans have been released regarding the repeal of the ACA.   Accordingly, we are now working with clients for 2017 as if the current regulations…

  • Special Enrollment Periods Under The ACA

    One MAJOR difference brought about by the ACA is in the enrollment process for health insurance.  If you purchase your own insurance through the Marketplace or directly through an insurance company, there are two ways in which you can enroll in coverage: During Open Enrollment: Open Enrollment is scheduled to take place from November 1st…

  • Have a Highmark Plan? Check your January invoices!

    For 2016, Highmark discontinued most of its individual plans available both on the Marketplace and directly through Highmark.  If you were in one of these plans, you were automatically enrolled in their Off-Marketplace Bronze level plan with a $6,000 individual deductible. This means that, if you enrolled directly with Highmark, you want to look at…