Hey everyone, happy Tuesday! It’s time for another Tidbit Tuesday, and since it’s September, that means I’m deep into training season.
This month is all about attending webinars, in-person gatherings, and training sessions presented by insurance companies to get up to speed on the plan changes coming for 2025. Right now, I’m immersed in learning everything new so that you don’t have to.
One of the big updates is that Ascension Personalized Care will not be offered in 2025, as they are exiting the market. So far, I haven’t heard of any new players entering the market, so it looks like we’ll be sticking with the same carriers—Cigna, Blue Cross, Oscar, and others, depending on your state. Some of these carriers, like Oscar, have become increasingly expensive, which makes it harder for me to recommend them to clients.
This year, there’s also a focus on ensuring insurance carriers comply with the Affordable Care Act (ACA). One of the main goals is to simplify plan options to avoid overwhelming consumers with too many similar choices. Additionally, they’re tightening regulations to ensure that networks meet ACA standards. For example, Blue Cross Blue Shield in Texas has two networks: My Blue Health and Blue Advantage. While Blue Advantage offers a broader network, My Blue Health has been problematic, with a much smaller network that doesn’t meet ACA requirements. I’ve had clients struggle to find in-network providers for essential services like mammograms, even in large cities like San Antonio. The crackdown on these issues is a positive step toward ensuring that available plans truly meet your healthcare needs.
As I absorb all this information, I’m getting ready to help you navigate the upcoming open enrollment period, which runs from November 1 to December 15 for plan renewals starting January 1. If you’re covered now but miss that deadline, your plan will auto-renew, but you can still make changes until January 15, with the new plan taking effect on February 1. If you’re uninsured, you have until January 15 to secure coverage for 2025.
This is also a great time to explore self-employed plans, which can be financially smart for those who don’t qualify for tax credits. These PPO plans are ideal for 1099 employees, LLC owners, licensed professionals like hair stylists, electricians, plumbers, and even those working with companies like Mary Kay or Avon.
If you need to get in touch, please schedule an appointment on my calendar. You can also email me with questions, but if you call, I may not be able to answer immediately due to my busy schedule. I’m training and gearing up for open enrollment season and want to ensure I’m fully prepared to help you find the best coverage.
