Aetna will work with customers to extend coverage to their medical plans’ currentdependents ahead of schedule. This means current dependents under the age of 26would not have to leave their plans when they would otherwise age out or are nolonger full-time students (including those who would have lost eligibilityeffective May 31, 2010).

Note:that this would not include reinstatement of dependents who previously aged outof their plan. It also does not affect dental, vision, standalone pharmacy orother benefits.

For individual medical plans

Aetna will continue coverage effective June 1, 2010 for dependents under age 26 currently covered on a parent’s medical plan. Aetna will not change the plan’s premium until renewal.

Regardless of whether a plan makes this change ahead of schedule, health care reform is bringing changes to all plans soon. On the next renewal date on or after September 23, 2010, all medical plans must cover all dependents up to age 26 (and older for plans in states that mandate coverage above age 26). This may include dependents who are not currently enrolled in the plan, in accordance with regulations.

For a Aetna health insurance quote, click here.

Effective June 1, 2010 Blue Shield policyholders who have covered dependents on their plans will be able to keep them on their individual/family (IFP) and group plans until they turn 26 (regardless of full-time student status).


Individual and Family Plans: Blue Shield will allow dependent coverage up to age 26 (regardless of full-time student status)for any existing covered dependent scheduled to age out of their parent's IFP plan as of June 1st or later.

Small Groups (2-50): The extension will be implemented for all Blue Shield small groups so that employees will not have existing dependents “age-out” of their parent's plan as of June 1st or later.

Large Groups (51+ and LPS underwritten groups): Just as for small groups, the dependent coverage extension will be implemented for Large Groups as of June 1, 2010. However, your Large Group Clients can elect to opt-out of this early implementation by notifying us in writing.

San Clemente, CA  - Many Californians have questions about the proposed March 1, 2010 rate increases from Anthem Blue Cross. To recap, in February Anthem-Blue Cross gave notice of their agreement with the California Department of Insurance to postpone the March 1, 2010 rates to May 1, 2010. To avoid confusion, they also delayed implementing the rate increases for Individual health plans offered by Anthem Blue Cross.

Today, Anthem Blue Cross has notified agents that they are not adjusting their rates on May 1, 2010. Policyholders with March 1, April 1, or May 1, 2010 renewal dates will continue paying their current premium until further notice. Anthem-Blue Cross will provide policyholders a 30-day notification of any future rate adjustments.

Any new policyholders who are enrolled on or before May 31, 2010 in any of the plans originally scheduled for a March 1, 2010 rate adjustment will receive 2009 rates Policyholders with March 1, April 1, or May 1, 2010 renewal dates will continue paying their current premium until further notice. Rates will remain in effect until the first of their enrollment month in 2011, for example until May 1, 2011 for original effective dates in May 2010.

Californians with questions can call Health Insurance Agent Michael Kortz at (949) 226-8390 or visit his website at http://www.tfp8.com

Thisis breaking healthcare and insurance news from a broker's perspective,assembled from a wide range of leading daily and trade publications.Stories are selected on the basis of their potential impact on thosedealing with medical insurance and do not reflect any sort of politicalor social opinion.

In this special issue, important questions will be answered such as:

1. I own a small business. Would I have to buy insurance for my workers? What help could I get?

2. How much is all this going to cost? Will it increase my taxes?

3. I don't have health insurance. Would I have to get it, and what happens if I don't?

Click here to read the entire report.

Tensions Increase Between the President and Congressional Republicans: After last week's health care reform summit, which displayed deep rifts between both Democrats and Republicans, the President sent a letter Tuesday to Congressional leaders. In the letter, the President offered to incorporate a handful of Republican ideas into his bill including the expansion of health savings accounts; increases to Medicaid reimbursements to doctors; the implementation of undercover investigations to combat fraud in the Medicare system, and increases in funding for grants to states to explore alternatives to resolve medical malpractice lawsuits.

Republicans rejected his proposal, calling his bill "unsalvageable," and asked him to listen to the American people and start the process from scratch.

See the latest press release for Michael Kortz.

Michael Kortz Insurance Agent Featured San Clemente Health Insurance Agent Receives Prest... February, 2010 @ 1888PressRelease.com

Today a select group of health insurance professionals completed a year-long educational program and received the prestigious Health Insurance Professional (HIP) designation .

Is Guaranteed Issue health insurance coming to California?

Technically, California already has a form of guaranteed issue health insurance through its Major Risk Medical Insurance Program. However, this program provides a very limited health insurance benefit and is quite expensive. The fact that it insures ONLY sick people makes that no surprise.

Personally, I am against the Obama healthcare plan. More goverment is never a good thing. However, his healthcare reform includes a provision for guaranteed issue health insurance, which I am in favor of. This means insurance companies would have to accept everybody, not just healthy people. This in turn would spread the risk among a large pool of people, which keeps the costs predictible.

This would be a good thing for Californians who currently do not qualify for underwritten health insurance.

Call Michael Kortz for all of your health insurance questions at (949) 226-8390.

If you are interested in a reasonably priced HMO, Health Net has a product called its Health Net Salud product.

Call me to find out more (949) 226-8390 or visit health insurance information.

Anthem Blue Cross, despite their impending rate increase, continue to provide the broadest range of individual medical insurance for residents of California. On April 1st they will roll out their Premiere Portfolio of Individual Health Insurance plans. Smoe key features of the plans:

• Unlimited doctor office visits with predictable copays, before the deductible
• A broad range of preventive benefits to focus on keeping members healthy
• Annual routine eye exam
• Generic, brand and specialty drug coverage
• $7 million per member in lifetime benefits

These plans look similar to Anthem's Solutions small group plans, which I really like. Call me at (949) 226-8390 if you would like more information.