Under Age 65 Health Insurance Have You Spooked?

Happy Halloween All! 

This Blog Post is directed to under 65 clients and future clients. 

We know many of your are feeling very anxious about your health insurance options for 2017.

In 2017 those UNDER AGE 65 not receiving a tax credit and not on a grandfathered plan will be experiencing rate increases averaging 25 percent. In states such as Texas it will be higher in the 60 percent range for most. In Arizona 116 percent rate increases have been announced. As it stands at this moment in some counties in the United States insureds may only have one health insurance carrier option. 

Unfortunately some of the rates provided by insurance companies and CMS (Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services) to us in the pre-enrollment preview are not accurate. As they are being downloaded to our quoting systems revisions are being received the next day and beyond. 

Open enrollment begins tomorrow November 1st 2016. We want to provide you with accurate information and details in our proposals. We don’t want you making decisions regarding your 2017 health insurance based on inaccurate information. This would be upsetting for you and time consuming for all of us. 

***Another very important point is the upcoming election on November 8th is going to drive the future of health insurance in 2017 and for years to come. We highly recommend you take NO ACTION until after the election. 

As licensed agents we are receiving invitations from multiple health insurance carriers to attend post election webinars the week after the election regarding the future of health insurance. We will be attending all of these webinars and providing information on what we learn so our clients can make informed decisions. 

Remember you have until December 15th to make your elections for January 2017. 

We will be updating our blog as we learn more (the link is on our website). 

Thank you very much for your business and the opportunity to be of service. 

Coleen M. Elkins

24-7 Health Insurance

2017 Obamacare Explained In 400 Words

24-7 Health Insurance










Please follow the link to an article that sums up Obamacare for 2017. It is an easy read and makes clear what the future holds if the law remains. If you are in the 17 percentile mentioned in the article this is painful.

Read here

1.4 Million To 2.5 Million Consumers May Lose ACA Plans In 2017

By Coleen Elkins        24-7 Health Insurance 

Some of you may be feeling frustrated and confused by the upcoming changes in health insurance for 2017. Many people are going to get blindsided because they have not been paying attention at all.

Remember you are mandated by the Federal Government to purchase health insurance regardless of the options made available to you.

In some counties in various states there will be zero or one option for people under age 65 to insure themselves for 2017. What does that mean for most Americans?

The Federal Government is suggesting they will automatically move you to a plan of their choosing.

A few legislators are feverishly trying to write law to remove the mandate to purchase health insurance because of the flood of carriers leaving the market. This would open the market for consumers to enroll in plans such as short term plans (that do not meet the requirements of the law) without paying a penalty.

How will you be impacted for 2017?

1. Prepare to wait weeks to see a doctor and have a limit set on the time the doctor will spend with you. If you need a procedure if it is non-life threatening you could wait months.

2. You may very well lose your doctor. Doctors are not required to contract with any insurance company and within their contracts they can pick the network plans they want to contract. For example if your doctor is contracted with ABC insurance company they are not forced to contract with the network that insures individuals. They can choose to only see those with employer sponsored benefits.

3. Networks are narrowing and you may have zero benefits outside your service area.

4. Out of pocket maximums are increasing to $7300 per person in 2017 $14600 per family.

Sadly in many situations agents we may not be able to assist consumers at health insurance companies have cancelled agent contracts. Some are refusing to pay agents for the services they have provided consumer for years. However they will allow the agent to work uncompensated and enroll consumers. There are 100,000 health insurance agents in the United States impacted by this change. Some will be leaving the under age 65 market and some will be charging a consultation for to provide guidance and customer service to their clients moving forward.

Agents will not be able to share benefits or rates with you until on OR after November 1st. We can not provide you any specifics of availability because they have not been released by the Federal Government. 

Lastly: Buyer beware. There are companies cropping up and engaging in unethical practices praying on consumer fear. You may find yourself enrolled in a plan that does not meet the requirements of the law and be forced to pay a penalty on top of your premiums if the carrier can not issue you a 1095 tax form. People selling these products may not be fully disclosing this to their prospects.

Please take 5 more minutes and continue reading here.

An Outspoken Message Posted To Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Arizona's Website

By Coleen Elkins               24-7healthinsurance.com 

Blue Cross of Arizona has posted a very outspoken message to their own website regarding Obamacare.

Please read AZ Blue's Message here Their message has another article from Fortune Magazine dated August 28th that will provide you with more detailed information. Keep in mind however since that Fortune Magazine article Aetna has made the decision to only insure in a few counties in a handful of states "off-exchange".

It is our opinion the future of health insurance is going to be driven by the results of the November election. Mrs. Clinton plans to "fix" Obamacare. Mr. Trump plans to repeal and replace it.

Whether you believe Obamacare is redeemable or broken please make your voice is heard by voting. This ensures you have had your say in the future of YOUR healthcare in America.