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For the most part, applicants should provide their gross income, which is their total income before taxes and other deductions are applied. Applicants may have the option to provide their income estimate as either monthly or yearly. Household income doesn’t just include the estimated income of the person filling out the application. It also consists of the income of their spouse (if they have a spouse) as well as their tax dependents—even tax dependents that aren’t in need of coverage. The Types of Income Used The following are the types of income that applicants will have to include in their estimate: Federal taxable wages—If the applicant’s pay stub includes federal taxable wages, they should use that number. If it doesn’t, then they should use the gross income number and subtract the amount taken out by the employer for health insurance, retirement plans and child care. Self-employment income—Applicants should include their net self-employment income, which is what they made minus their business expenses—they will be asked what type of work they do. Social security—The full amount of both taxable and non-taxable social security income needs to be included before any deductions. Social security disability income should be included as well; however, supplemental security income should not be included. Retirement income—IRA and 401(k) withdrawals should be included. Other forms of income that have to be included include tips, unemployment compensation, alimony, capital gains, investment income, rental and royalty income, and excluded foreign income. For additional information and advice regarding a marketplace application or about health insurance in general, be sure to visit us at The Benefits Store today.

Covered California Open Enrollment Process The following is the process that residents will go through in order to sign up for health insurance via Covered California: Shopping and comparing plans—Residents simply need to enter some personal information in order to receive an estimate for how much health insurance will cost. The less a resident makes on an annual basis, the more financial assistance they will receive. Applying for an insurance plan—Once a resident finds a plan that suits them, they can apply through Covered California. Residents will need to provide personal information that includes their ID, income information, social security number, zip code and proof of citizenship or lawful presence. Anyone that needs assistance during this step can simply click on the Find Local Help button located on the home page. Review choices—Once residents have applied, they can review their private insurance options. Companies included in Covered California include Anthem, BlueCross, Blue Shield of California, CCHP, Health Net, Kaiser Permanente, LA Care, Molina Healthcare, Oscar, Sharp, Valley Health Plan, Western Health Advantage and United Health Care. Begin payments—Residents will be able to make their first month’s payment online or they can choose to wait until a bill comes to their home via the mail. Covered California can help ensure that all of the state’s residents get the healthcare insurance that they need at an affordable rate. Be sure to visit the Benefits Store today in order to receive more information about Covered California enrollment or about health insurance and the Affordable Care Act in general. Remember, the open enrollment date will end this month on January 31st.

The Common Cold If you have a cold, the first symptom you’ll typically have is a sore throat, which usually only lasts for a day or two. Following the sore throat, you’ll experience nasal symptoms, such as congestion or a runny nose. This is usually accompanied by a cough during the fourth and fifth days of your cold. Expect your mucus to take on a darker and thicker appearance. Unfortunately, there is no cure for the common cold, and it is very contagious in the first three days; however, it should go away within a week. The Flu Symptoms of the flu are similar to those of a cold, but they come on much more quickly. They include sore throats, coughs and congestion. However, unlike the common cold, the flu will typically also cause symptoms such as a fever, headaches, muscles aches and muscle soreness. Once you develop these symptoms, it’s a good indication that you have the flu. More severe versions of the flu virus can also result in diarrhea and vomiting. Some of the lesser symptoms, such as the cough and sore throat, will usually improve within two to five days. However, if you started off with a fever, it can return after a few days if you have the flu. The flu will also cause you to feel fatigue and weakness, and sometimes even extreme exhaustion, which never occurs with a cold. Although the common cold and the flu share a number of symptoms, you can usually identify the flu by a fever and exhaustion. We advise you to get your flu shot soon and to contact The Benefits Store for professional service for all California Medical Plans.

The Importance of Dental Health for Pregnant Women Pregnancy hormones can actually affect a woman’s dental health. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the physiological changes that women experience during pregnancy can result in the following dental health issues: Gingivitis Gingival lesions Tooth enamel erosion Loose teeth Periodontitis There’s also the risk of infection, including gum disease and tooth decay, and all of these issues can in turn affect the health of the baby. Then there are some of the daily routines that pregnant women often go through that can affect their dental health.  This can include taking certain prescribed medications, such as medications for high blood pressure, asthma or diabetes, which dry the mouth and can in turn result in gum disease, bacteria growth and tooth decay. Why Maternity Plans Should Include Dental Coverage The Cigna study showed that 63 percent of the surveyed pregnant women believed they had excellent dental health before pregnancy—this number dropped to 55 percent during their pregnancy. Also, 43 percent of those surveyed didn’t even bother going to the dentist for a check up during their pregnancy period. The main reason? They were worried about the costs. This is a problem since pregnant women are more likely to develop a dental health issue—which, left untreated, could grow into a bigger problem that will be more costly to treat. By including dental coverage in your maternity plans, you’ll be encouraging pregnant women to get a dental check up. Dental health is often ignored during pregnancy—but it shouldn’t be, as pregnancy can affect the health of women’s teeth. For more information about maternity plans and California medical plans in general, contact The Benefits Store today.

Getting a Flu Vaccine The best way to prevent the flu is by getting vaccinated with a flu shot as soon as you can. Ideally, you should go get your flu shot during the fall—early fall if possible. However, you can still get vaccinated any time during the winter as well. The only danger is that you might catch the flu before you get a chance to get vaccinated. Remember, getting vaccinated for the flu is a lot different than getting vaccinated for other illnesses. Unlike many other vaccines, you’ll need to get the flu vaccine every year. This is because the vaccine is designed differently each year in order to combat the flu strains that health experts believe will be most widespread. There are different flu strains that are more common in certain areas every year, which is why even though you may have been vaccinated for a certain flu strain last year you will need to get vaccinated again this year. Other Flu Prevention Tips In addition to getting your flu shots, you should also take care to be extra clean during the flu season. Because so many people may be carrying the flu virus, you should always wash your hands after you touch potentially dirty surfaces or shake hands with somebody. When you do touch potentially dirty places, avoid touching your face afterwards. You should try to get vaccinated for the flu before winter hits. We will continue to provide you with advice concerning your health insurance, so be sure to contact The Benefits Store for information concerning all California medical plans.

Avoid balloons: Balloons may seem like a lot of fun as a child, but they can be quite dangerous for children under the age of eight. This is because they can easily choke on or suffocate on balloons that are broken or deflated. Avoid toys with small parts: If you are buying a toy for a child under three, avoid giving them toys that contain small parts so that they won’t swallow them, as they can cause choking. Provide safety gear: If you are getting a riding toy for a child, such as a skateboard, a scooter, or roller skates, then make sure you also provide safety gear (such as a helmet and knee pads) that properly fit the child. Throw away packaging: The packaging or plastic wrapping for many toys can become a safety hazard if you don’t discard it immediately. Supervise battery charging: If you give a young child a toy that requires batteries, make sure that they understand that they need an adult to supervise the battery charging. Always read the instructions and warnings on any toy that comes with batteries. Some chargers don’t have mechanisms to prevent overcharging, which can be dangerous if a child attempts to charge a battery. These are a few safety tips to keep in mind for National Safe Toys and Gifts Month. We want to provide you and your family with important health and safety information, so contact The Benefits Store for advice and information concerning all California Medical Plans.

While the risks associated with these mosquitoes is still rather low, it is still imperative that precautions are taken to limit their spread. Both species, which can be identified by a distinct black and white striped pattern on their legs and thorax, are also more aggressive than typical mosquitoes, heightening the danger. They carry infectious diseases such as the dengue fever, chikungunya and yellow fever. Neither chikungunya or dengue fever have any treatment or vaccine. Most recently they have turned up in 10 of California’s 58 counties. The typical California mosquito will become most active at dusk and dawn, but the two new species to be on the lookout for will often stay active throughout the day. They will also readily enter buildings. To keep themselves safe, and also help keep these two species at bay, the public should take the following steps: Apply mosquito repellents to your skin when you plan to be outside. Effective deterrents need to include DEET, picaridin, IR3535, and/or oil of lemon eucalyptus to both clothing and skin. You should wear long-sleeved clothing, long pants, socks and shoes during the times when mosquitoes are most active. Make use of air conditioning to cool your home or business; eschew open windows or doors that could allow mosquitoes entrance. Eliminate potential mosquito-breeding grounds, such as any source of standing water. These species need only a teaspoon of standing water to lay eggs. At the Benefits Store, we know that keeping your family happy and healthy involves a large measure of prevention. Keeping you informed on the latest health news and information helps us all take better care of one another.

The Prenatal vaccination for whooping cough is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for all expectant mothers. In the past, the CDC recommended the vaccine was only given to mothers who had not previously been vaccinated. Studies such as the one conducted by the CDPH are responsible for this change, making it clear that a simple vaccination can potentially save the lives of thousands of infants. Pregnant women should be given the vaccine during the third trimester, starting at 27 weeks. Exposure to the vaccine will cause the mother’s body to produce the necessary antibodies to fight off the disease, while also passing off some of these antibodies to the unborn child. These antibodies will then provide crucial early life protection against the disease until the child receives additional vaccinations at two months. While the vaccination may not prevent the disease itself, the antibodies will provide protection from more serious complications and significantly reduce the child’s risk of death. A whooping cough vaccination can be given at vaccination clinics, doctor’s offices, and pharmacies. Providing adequate health care to both mother and baby during the course of the pregnancy is vital to the lifelong health of the child. For more information on this and other important medical and insurance issues, contact The Benefits Store today.

The biggest problem with unregulated colored contacts is that folks who do not normally wear contact lenses do not know how to properly care for them. Because of this, they may not be cleaned correctly, and when this happens, dirt and germs get in the eye when the lenses are inserted. This can cause some pretty severe infections, and if even microscopic particles get between the contacts and your eye, they can scratch the surface of your eye. It is not unheard of for people to have severe damage to the cornea which can cause pain and even blindness. There is also an issue with the legality of non-prescribed contact lenses. As of 2005, it is illegal for anyone to sell contact lenses to a customer without a prescription. This hasn’t stopped greedy retailers from continuing to offer them for sale however. They are also available online, but they have been made illegal for a reason. If you want to wear colored contacts, the only way you should go about getting the product is to see an optometrist and get an actual prescription. You do not need to have corrective lenses; the eye doctor will just want to make sure that you will be fitted with a pair that will correctly fit your eye. This will also allow you to eliminate the possibility of getting an improperly manufactured pair from an unlicensed seller that could cause you pain and even blindness. If you have any questions regarding vision insurance, or whether colored contacts will be covered under your plan, please contact The Benefits Store and we’ll be happy to help you.

Assurant, the large insurance company that caters to businesses, employees and homeowners, is about to get out of the health insurance business. The announcement was made in May 2015, but its impact is just beginning to be felt by tens of thousands of people in California who relied on Assurant Health for medical, dental and vision coverage. Today, people previously covered by Assurant Health are looking for other insurance options—and finding that there are a lot of questions to be answered. Here’s a look at what health insurance consumers in California need to know about Assurant leaving the state: Assurant leaving California? It’s not personal Assurant isn’t exclusively calling it quits in California. The company is actually doing away with its entire health insurance operation. According to media reports about the decision, Assurant decided to shutter its health insurance unit because it was losing incredible amounts of money, including between $80 and $90 million in the first quarter of 2015. Consumers might receive a rebate Depending on when payments are made and when a plan will be terminated, consumers may be eligible for a rebate from Assurant. According to the company, rebates are based on customers’ 2014 coverage. Assurant is encouraging all customers with questions about their coverage to contact their representatives. Consumers need to take care of their Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) People with HSAs through Assurant will continue to own the funds—but they will need to appoint a new custodian. Anyone who has questions about HSAs is encouraged to call 1-800-800-1212, ext. 8886, to speak with an Assurant representative. There are other options available Luckily, California is home to an array of companies that offer medical, dental and vision insurance to people in all stages of their lives. Unfortunately, understanding the Affordable Care Act and how it affects which type of health insurance coverage is right for individuals and families in California can be confusing. For help understanding all of the insurance options available in California, contact the experts at the Benefits Store today.

The charges involve two indictments in which a number of individuals, including attorneys, referred patients to the medical clinics that were run by Munir Uwaydah, a physician. In exchange, these individuals were paid upwards of $15,000 a month. Uwaydah documented evaluations at these clinics that never actually happened and his staff justified surgeries that were performed by falsifying records. Additionally, these surgeries were performed by a physician’s assistant who had never attended medical school. Nor were any of the surgeries overseen by an actual surgeon. As many as two dozen patients that had these surgeries performed on them now have lasting scars—and many of these patients have had to undergo additional surgical procedures in order to repair damage caused by the initial surgeries. Those charged in the case, including Uwaydah, are facing 132 felony charges. Uwaydah is currently awaiting extradition in Germany while 11 of the other individuals charged have plead not guilty to the charges. The felony charges include aggravated mayhem and capping, insurance fraud and conspiracy. One of the physicians working for Uwaydah, David Johnson, has been charged with overbilling insurance companies for medical exams that were never performed as well as for prescription drugs. Several others have been charged for falsifying documents that are related to the case. Uwaydah had his license cancelled in 2013 due to a case brought against him by the California Medical Board back in 2009. He has also been charged in a separate indictment for illegal patient referrals, filing false tax returns, laundering money and for conspiring to commit insurance fraud. Uwaydah and 11 of the others that have been charged could face life in prison if they are convicted. We want to keep you informed of important medical and insurance issues as they occur. Please Contact The Benefits Store for Prompt, Professional Service for all California Medical Plans.

Some California residents might think that medical procedures will cost the same no matter where they live within the state. This, unfortunately, isn’t true. For example, the costs of having a baby in California can be drastically different depending on where someone lives—even if they have health insurance. For example, the out-of-pocket costs of having an uncomplicated birth in Orange County is an average of $1,800. In San Mateo County it’s around $920. The California Healthcare Compare website is incredibly helpful in that it provides information about five of the most common medical conditions and procedures. These include childbirth, colon cancer screenings, hip and knee replacement, back pain and diabetes. The only drawback at the moment is that the site focuses on comparing information about either the costs associated with these conditions or procedures, or the quality of care provided by the hospitals treating these conditions or offering these procedures, and not both. However, this information can still be incredibly helpful for people since it will help them determine how much they can expect to pay for medical care and procedures where they live, thereby allowing them to plan accordingly in choosing a health insurance policy that will fit their needs best. Before choosing a health insurance plan, check out the California Healthcare Compare website for helpful information about the costs and quality of medical procedures within the area you live. For more information about healthcare insurance, be sure to contact us at The Benefits Store today.