Observations (continued from home page)

June 2011

We have been receiving many inquiries into new Colorado state law affecting maternity and child only individual health insurance plans. See below for information taken from the Colorado Department of Insurance website.

When is the maternity coverage on individual health insurance policies available?

Any NEW individual policy sold on or after January 1, 2011 must include maternity coverage. For any individual policy that is RENEWED on or after January 1, 2011, the coverage begins on the first day the renewed coverage is in effect.
As of January 1, 2011, any pregnancy for which conception occurred prior to a policy’s issuance date or renewal date can be treated by the carrier as a preexisting condition and therefore, benefits can be denied.

The Colorado Division of Insurance has issued an Emergency Regulation titled: Mandatory Open Enrollment Periods for Carriers Issuing Child-Only Plans.

This year, the open enrollment period for child-only polices will begin on Aug. 1, and end August 31, 2011. The legislation also sets the open enrollment periods for child-only policies to the months of January and July for subsequent years. Coverage obtained during an open enrollment period becomes effective 30 days after the end of the open
enrollment period.

A child-only health policy means there is no adult on the individual policy. There can be many scenarios for this type of policy: the parents may be insured through an employer-sponsored plan which does not offer dependent coverage; or the family may not be able to afford coverage for all members, and is seeking coverage for the children only. Life events such as divorce or job loss may also affect insurance coverage. Children who lose coverage due to a qualifying event can obtain child-only coverage by applying within 30 days of the event. Outside of a qualifying event, a child-only policy can be applied for only during an open enrollment period. Qualifying events include birth, adoption, marriage, dissolution of marriage, loss of employer-sponsored coverage, loss of Medicaid or Children’s Basic Health Plan coverage, entry of a court or administrative order mandating coverage, etc.

New Government Website Focuses on Health Care

A new federal government website focusing on health care is now available to the public. The new website, HealthCare.gov, is a tool to help consumers, including employers, understand and "take control" of their health care. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) manages the website.

HealthCare.gov is the first central database of health coverage options--from Medicare to the new Pre-Existing Conditions Insurance Plan, which was announced earlier this week. The website also provides information from over 1,000 private insurance plans.

Their website also provides information on how to access state specific information.

Staci Griffin

Staci Griffin, businesswoman, mother and friend,

How sad that her life has come to an end.

Most of us joined BNI in hopes of receiving meaningful leads,

But meeting each week with people in the group fills deeper needs.

It’s relationships and friends that make life worthwhile,

Something to think about when we consider this news so vile.

Staci was a respected and active member of our team,

Who often took on the difficult roles with vigor and steam.

She lived her personal and business life following the same train,

Always applying our adage, that "Givers Gain."

Sean and Staci’s passing gives us time to reflect the ultimate command,

A reminder again that tomorrow is promised to no man.

So as we go from this experience into our day,

Let us remember by example how Staci showed us the way.

Honor and adore your family and friends each day and night,

Hold them close and love them with all of your might.

Health, accident or short-term insurance, whatever your preference,

you'll find Colorado Afffordable Health your best place of reference.

Or maybe its travel or dental coverage you seek,

we've got lots of options at which you may peak.

PPO's, copays or maybe an HSA,

it will only take a moment to show you a way.

Our experience is deep and product offering is wide,

with all of these choices, you'll find it easy to decide.

Attention to Ben Franklin’s adage about laws and sausage should be paid,

Anyone who loves them, should not watch them being made. 

Late one Sunday night while honest men slept,

Our Washington heroes did again, that at which they are so adept. 

New health legislation was passed in a mess,

But the convoluted results are anyone’s guess. 

Please don’t ask me now for any explanation,

To sort out all their shenanigans may take a generation. 

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