Many PA Medicaid Recipients Losing Eligibility in Spring 2024
Back in January 2020, when the COVID pandemic started, the federal government declared a Public Health Emergency (PHE). As a part of this PHE, anyone on Medicaid was allowed to stay on Medicaid without any income requirements until the end of the month in which the PHE ended. During this time, Medicaid recipients did…
Medicare Options
Medicare can become effective as early as the first of the month in which you turn 65. You can apply 3 months before that date. Medicare Part A has no cost and Part B costs $170.10 (more at higher incomes). Because Medicare has lots of gaps and no prescription drug coverage, you need to purchase…
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…
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…
