by Barbara Kempen | Dec 17, 2010 | Uncategorized
The “Medical Loss Ratio” is the amount that an insurance company pays for claims divided by the premiums that people paid for insurance . A claim is a bill for medical items or services. For example, if an insurance company pays an average of 80 cents in...
by Barbara Kempen | Dec 3, 2010 | Uncategorized
Gender used to be a factor in determining accurate pricing in the California individual health insurance market. Starting January 2011 accordingly to AB119 the gender rating will be eliminated for any health plan contract, and there are only gender neutral rates...
by Barbara Kempen | Nov 29, 2010 | Uncategorized
Calif. regulator fines insurers for underpayment Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of California each have agreed to pay $900,000 fines. United/Pacificare is being fined $800,000; HealthNet and Kaiser Foundation Health Plan are being fined $750,000 each. Cigna is...
by Barbara Kempen | Nov 27, 2010 | Uncategorized
Why is it so important to raise awareness about long-term care? Because it is an issue that touches so many aspects of our lives. Women, especially, bear the burden of long-term care costs for three reasons: women live longer than men; they require care longer, and...
by Barbara Kempen | Nov 1, 2010 | Uncategorized
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women. Smoking causes 80 to 90 percent of cases of lung cancer. Don’t smoke, and avoid secondhand smoke. Each year, nearly 200,000 people in the United States are told they have lung cancer and more...
by Barbara Kempen | Nov 1, 2010 | Uncategorized
Anthem rate increase has not only hurt their reputation and made millions of clients, non-clients including the CA Insurance Commissioner very angry. Finally the rate increases have been approved for October 1st. (a 6 month delay). To be compliant to the healthcare...
by Barbara Kempen | Nov 1, 2010 | Uncategorized
The AEP ( Annual Enrollment Period ) will start November 15th and Ends December 31st. In this time period Seniors are able to to review and switch from their current medicare plan , into a new Medicare Advantage or Supplemental Plan, or Drug Prescription Plan....
by Barbara Kempen | Oct 30, 2010 | Uncategorized
With all the changes in the Health Insurance Industry there has been never a more important time than now to review with me, your agent in West Los Angeles, your current health insurance. What is your yearly deductible and out-of-pocket maximum, which will renew in...
by Barbara Kempen | Oct 20, 2010 | Uncategorized
Brentwood one of the most beloved areas on the Westside of Los Angeles, will be hard hit with the 2011 Estate Tax Laws. Many of us own home in the 1Mio- 2 Mio range and have 401k savings and other investments. Read this interesting article and see your possible tax...
by Barbara Kempen | Oct 6, 2010 | Uncategorized
Wondering what “grandfather” or “grandfathered plan ” means in the health care reform law. If an employer keeps the same coverage it had on March 23, 2010 – the date the law took effect – the plan may be considered a “grandfathered” plan. This...
