Arizona Health Insurance Blog

Are you researching group health insurance plans for small businesses?  If so, you need to understand the difference between group health insurance agents and brokers.

In 2018 Arizona small businesses must put their best foot forward when it comes to attracting and keeping new employees.  One great benefit you can offer your staff is access to a group health insurance plan.

Whether you have just one or two employees or a couple dozen, offering your current and new employees a variety of health insurance plans can provide you with that incentive needed to entice new talent and grow your business.

But sorting through a pile of paper about group health insurance plans for small businesses is no easy task because there are so many variables, plans, options, and jargon.

One of the first things you should understand is the difference between a group health insurance agent and a broker.  This article provides helpful info as you make this first critical choice on your path to offering your employees' group health insurance in Arizona.

Whew! We survived the 2018 Arizona health insurance open enrollment.

Now that the open enrollment is behind us, our attention can now shift to that one topic we all love - Taxes!!

Did you know the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires you to declare your Affordable Care Act (ACA) status when you file your tax return?

That’s right, the ACA is in cahoots with the IRS.

To keep the public informed about it’s collaborating with the ACA, the IRS makes occasional announcements and offers a What’s Trending page with FAQs on the ACA.

You can visit those pages to get the info yourself, or you can keep reading to get a quick summary of what’s new at the IRS about the ACA and your Arizona health insurance coverage.

As baby boomers reach retirement age, the number of people enrolled in the nation’s Medicare program is reaching record numbers.  While Medicare will cover some of the health care expenses for eligible seniors, most of Arizona’s older residents will need to enroll in some form of supplemental insurance.   With so many different plan choices and enrollment deadlines, eligible citizens are often confused about Medicare Supplemental Insurance in Arizona. 

Parents are always looking for the best advice on taking care of their child’s teeth, starting as soon as their first teeth break the gum.  It doesn’t take long for a baby’s toothless smile erupts into a string of baby teeth, and this is a perfect time for the dentist to take a careful look at the development of your child’s mouth.  This also means that it is time for you to get your child on your dental insurance plan.

If you watch too much cable news, you might come away with the idea that the Affordable Care Act has bankrupted Medicare, or that benefits were being pulled from seniors. With more than 40 million people aged 65 and older in the United States, this would be a major concern, but it simply isn't true. In fact, many Medicare benefits are getting better because of the Affordable Care Act. Plans to potentially repeal the ACA may negatively impact medicare.

Well before you turn 65 years old, a number of health insurance companies may have started marketing their Medicare supplemental insurance in Arizona, but how do you know which provider to choose.

For better or worse; for richer or poorer; in sickness and in Wealth?

What are the consequences to employment in the health sector if President Trump follows through on his campaign promise to repeal the Affordable Care Act? That may not be as big a concern as we once thought… Instead of abolishing it, his language has changed from "repealed" to "amended" to "repair & replace" so now, though no one knows exactly what's going to happen, it appears that millions won't be left without coverage.  

Maybe his solution will be worse than former President Obama's plan; maybe it will have the same net-effect; hopefully it will be even more comprehensive and better. We're going to have to wait and see.

According to an article that appeared on Forbes.com ("How Obamacare's Victory Makes it Easier to Raise Medicare's Retirement Age"), the ratification of Obamacare gives Congress the option of raising Medicare's retirement age. Congress could contend that low-income seniors who would normally need Medicare may be able to gain coverage from a state insurance exchange. There are some advantages and disadvantages to raising the age requirement for Medicare as well as some possible issues with President Trump's selection for budget director, Mick Mulvaney eyeing Medicare as a potential spot for budget cuts.

If you are a resident of Arizona who is approaching age 65, it is important that you thoroughly understand how Medicare insurance works. Many retirees are confused about the timing and requirements for Medicare and don’t know whether they qualify for Medicare supplemental insurance in Arizona. 

Also known as a “Medigap” policy, Medicare supplemental insurance helps Arizona citizens close the “gaps” in Medicare by providing for deductibles and coinsurance.  However, there are certain time-sensitive purchasing qualifications that exist in Arizona. 

For example, once a Medicare recipient reaches the age of 65 and joins Part B, they can sign up for a Medigap policy within three months of their 65^th birthday.  This is known as Medigap open enrollment.  If seniors enroll during this period, they cannot be denied coverage for a pre-existing condition, nor can they be placed on a waiting list.  

The Open Enrollment period for 2017 health insurance ends January 31, 2017. You only have a short time to get enrolled for this year's health insurance unless you have a qualifying event. Below are helful links and information to help you choose the right Arizona group health insurance or medicare before Open Enrollment closes.