Michael Murphy DBA The Murphy Benefit Group

04/13/2022

The Affordable Care Act has clarified the Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for those earning less than 150% of the Federal Poverty level. That's $19,320 or less for a single individual or $26,130 or less for a household of two. The SEP that was created by the American Rescue Act never ended like the rest of the relaxed stipulations. It should continue for the rest of the year. There is an opportunity for those who qualify, to get coverage as soon as the first of the month.

02/16/2022

HERE IS AN UPDATE ON THIS SPECIAL ENROLLMENT

Consumers won’t be able to enroll through this Special Enrollment Period at HealthCare.gov until late March. Until then, the Marketplace will contact people who previously applied and didn’t qualify, but now may be eligible, by phone or email letting them know they may qualify and to contact the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596

Starting in late March, the SEP will be directly available through the Healthcare.gov application as well as applications on approved Enhanced Direct Enrollment websites.

If I can help, please let me know.

02/16/2022

SPECIAL ENROLLMENT PERIOD FOR CONSUMERS AT OR BELOW 150% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL (FPL).

The American Rescue Plan (ARP) created more opportunities for lower-income consumers to access Marketplace health care coverage, including a new Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for consumers with income less than or equal to 150 Percent of the FPL.

The FPL defines 100% to 150% for 2022 as:
Single from $12,880 to $18,320;
Couple from $17,420 to $26,130;
Three members of the household from $21,960 to $32,940;
Four member of the household from $26,500 to $39,750;

This is to encourage consumers with lower incomes who lost coverage or never had coverage to get protected and benefit from the assistance that is available to offset the premium expense. There also are special Silver plans with very low deductible and copays to encourage use of the plan.

02/16/2022

FLORIDA BLUE HAS JUST POSTED A NOTICE FOR THIER UNDER AGE 65 ACA CLIENTS:

It’s important for IU65 members to know that their coverage starts after they’ve paid their binder. Binders for February 1 coverage are due by February 1.
New members and those who switched between On and Off Marketplace plans or between PPO and HMO plans owe a binder payment. Once payment is received, we’ll send their member ID and other documents. Agents should remind clients to pay their binder as soon as possible so they don’t risk having a delay in getting care in February.

Update: In one final effort to ensure our new members activate their plans, IU65 binders for February 1 effective dates will now be accepted through February 19.

08/28/2021

Short Term Medical has been a vehicle by which higher income, healthy people without the need for maternity, prescription drugs, or mental nervous disorders nor pre-existing condition coverage, to insure for catastrophic health incident without going through the Affordable Care Act.

The Trump Administration expanded the opportunity by allowing coverage for up to 36 months.

The Biden administration declared its intention to go back to the Obama limitation of 90 days or eliminate the opportunity all together. Thus there is an opportunity now to still get STM and potentially get it grandfathered before the restriction is enforce. FYI

09/03/2015

Florida Healthy Kids Corporation is notifying parents that health insurance premiums will increase for thousands of kids starting next month, October, from $140 to as high as $284.

Most families with children enrolled in Healthy Kids get subsidized coverage, for which they pay $15 to $20 a month for all their children. They have incomes between 133 percent and 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Currently, 144,124 Florida children get subsidized coverage, and 34,749 children are full-pay.
The families that pay the full amount for Healthy Kids coverage make more than 200 percent of the federal poverty line. Those families that earn between 200 percent and 300 percent are likely to qualify for subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). The subsidies may result in a lower premium that the new Florida Healthy Kid premiums.

Normally, consumers can't enroll in a new Federal marketplace plan or switch until open enrollment starts in November, but federal health officials granted a special enrollment period (SEP) for Florida Healthy Kid clients that started Tuesday and will run through Nov. 30.

Parents must enroll their children in the new plan on or before Sept. 30 if they want the new insurance to kick in by Oct. 1.

06/10/2015

Special enrollment periods for an Affordable Care Act policy can be triggered by life changes; birth, death, marriage, divorce. But it also can be triggered by a loss of coverage, possibly a renewal of a pre-ACA plan or an increase in premium for either an individual policy or an employer sponsored plan. It also can be triggered by moving into a new service area. However action must be taken within 60 days of the event. It doesn't hurt to ask and I would be more than happy to answer your questions. 941-371-7545

06/10/2015

Monday gave me great deal of satisfaction. A young single-mother gave me a call. Her contribution for her employer sponsored plan was $120/mo. Not too bad compared to many. However it would cost another $300 to add her newborn son. The birth of her son triggered a special enrollment. Her income for a household of two, qualified her for a subsidy and "cost sharing reduction." She was able to apply for a $0 deductible, $400 max out-of-pocket policy for $89 for the two of them. I made sure her doctors were in the network. She was happy and I felt great about being able to help her.

02/12/2015

Just 4 more days of open enrollment for any kind of individual health insurance, unless there is a trigger for a special enrolment. Most of don't have those. Please let me know if you have any questions or if I can be of help. Call me 941-371-7545

11/13/2014

Great news Assurant Health is now in the Marketplace for 2015.

Assurant Health gives you broad network access to more than 1,000,000 doctors and 7,600 hospitals nationwide with the Aetna Signature Administrators PPO Network.

If you are shopping for a new plan or just want to switch you present plan this is the first choice I recommend depending if it is offered in your area or not.

Please feel free to schedule an appointment with me so we can shop this and all new 2015 plans for you and your family.

04/25/2014

http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/features/insuring-your-health/2013/070913-michelle-andrews-on-cost-sharing-subsidies.aspx?referrer=search

When people talk about health insurance affordability, they typically focus on premiums, the sticker price for a policy. For the plans being sold through the online health insurance marketplaces next year, much of the discussion has been on tax credits that can reduce the monthly premium for people…