A Solution to ObamaCare Rate Hikes? Do the Math with Us.

November 1st marks the beginning of open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace. Millions of Americans without employer-sponsored health insurance will go online to find affordable individual and family coverage from a wide variety of insurance providers with various premium, deductible and co-insurance options. Or will they?

We’ve all seen the news; almost three years into the launch of the ACA, insurance providers have been dropping out of the ACA Marketplace left and right. Unable to turn a profit, many insurers have hiked premiums, reduced coverage and raised deductibles. For some, the solution seems to stop offering plans altogether.

So much for “affordable” healthcare. Read More »

Tips For New Immigrants

Immigrating to the United States to live here permanently is an important and complex decision. The US State Department offers excellent guidance for foreign nationals immigrating to the US.  Visit http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/immigrants_1340.html to learn about who may immigrate to the United States, the different types of immigrant visas, the required forms, and the steps in the immigrant visa process.

In general, to apply for an immigrant visa, a foreign citizen must be sponsored by a U.S. citizen relative(s), U.S. lawful permanent resident, or by a prospective employer, and be the beneficiary of an approved petition. Therefore, a first step is filing a petition with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). For information on this step, visit the USCIS website. Read More »

My Broken Bone Didn’t Break the Bank—Insurance Works

It’s funny how having a kid changes things. And when I say “things,” I mean everything. Before our son, Milo, my husband and I didn’t think much about our health insurance. If we had it, great. If we didn’t, we were prepared to tough it out. But when Milo entered our lives, we knew we had to get serious about our health insurance.

A few months after Milo arrived, my husband started a new job. While we waited for his insurance plan to kick in, we decided to get a short-term health plan to cover our son. As a Plan Specialist at Insurance Services of America, I had no excuse but to research and find the best plan for us.

I chose the plan with the best benefits and rates. We had the option to cover only Milo, but my new mom instincts kicked in and we decided to purchase the plan for all three of us. And I’m glad we did. Read More »

Santa Claus to Offer Short Term Coverage for Seasonal Workers

Check out this article I just read in the North Pole News:

For an elf, not having health insurance is risky business. Constantly crawling up ladders to hang mistletoe and candy canes, ice skating to work every day, racing snowmobiles on the weekends. Imagine their relief when Santa announced he would be offering short term medical insurance to his seasonal workers. Read More »