Three-quarters of California's Obamacare health plans offer narrow physician networks, according to a new nationwide survey. That's among the most restricted showings in the country, the University of Pennsylvania study showed. Narrow networks are defined as those including fewer than a quarter of the physicians working in an area. Insurers often limit the number of health care providers in a network in order to save ... (More)
2016 rate increases average 4%
July 28, 2015 Leave a Comment
Obamacare rate increases in California will pretty much follow last year's script, officials say. Covered California announced an average hike in premiums of 4 percent, just under 2015's 4.2 percent. "This means the majority of Covered California consumers will either see a decrease in their health insurance premiums or an increase of less than 5 percent if they choose to keep their current plan," Covered California said in ... (More)
Marketing shift for Covered Cal
June 17, 2015 Leave a Comment
Covered California has hired a new marketing vendor, with the emphasis on outreach to minorities, young adults and the gay communities. Campbell Ewald has been awarded a three-year marketing contract of $50 million per year, replacing Weber Shandwick, which handled Covered California's first and second years in the health care market. Meanwhile, Ogilvy Public Relations won a three-year contract for $2 million per year, extending ... (More)
Immigrant health plan clears Senate
June 2, 2015 Leave a Comment
The state Senate has approved a plan that would give illegal immigrants the ability to buy health insurance via Covered California. The plan, from state Sen. Ricardo Lara, left, was scaled back to require Medi-Cal benefits for those qualified under the age of 19. Undocumented adults' participation in Medi-Cal would be permitted only if state funding exists, via capped enrollments. The Covered California plan requires a federal ... (More)
Covered Cal cost a burden, 44% say
June 1, 2015 Leave a Comment
As California's Obamacare operation begins negotiations over rates for 2016, a new survey shows many of the newly insured are having trouble paying their premiums. 44 percent of Covered California enrollees told researchers it is "somewhat difficult" or "very difficult" to pay their monthly premium, according to the study by the Kaiser Family Foundation. Three-fourths of consumers who bought their insurance via Covered California ... (More)
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