We’re your independent, locally owned, trusted health insurance broker, and we’re also now on Facebook.

At Allpointe, we strive to personalize your experience with health insurance and make sure that your coverage best aligns with your specific needs and circumstances. Being your trusted broker is more than just pairing you with the most suitable option, it’s also about keeping you informed.

On Facebook we’ll keep you up to date. Like us and then feel free to post questions, concerns, comments, requests, or to simply contact us. We’re here to help.

Check out our new page and become a fan!

Individuals and small businesses can now pay their Health Net premiums online. You can set up one-time or recurring payments with a credit card or from your checking account.

Registration is quick and simple:

Individuals/Families

Small Group Administrators

We always encourage clients to pay premiums online whenever possible. It’s a simple matter of making sure your coverage isn’t interrupted due to late or missed payments. Once canceled, reinstatement is not guaranteed, and the process can be tedious. So sign up today and help safeguard your family’s or your employees’ healthcare coverage.

]]> http://allpointe-is.com/2012/01/health-net-accepts-online-payments/feed/ 0 http://allpointe-is.com/2012/01/practice-good-health-and-pay-less-for-healthcare/ http://allpointe-is.com/2012/01/practice-good-health-and-pay-less-for-healthcare/#comments Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:46:21 +0000 ksinnette http://allpointe-is.com/?p=659

Getting and staying in shape can be difficult, but what if you had an additional incentive to motivate you to stay on the healthy straight and narrow.

Columnist Beth Kassab writes in the Orlando Sentinel “Why should a person who eats right, exercises, doesn’t smoke and rarely visits the doctor pay as much as a person who has a two-pack-a-day habit, has Type 2 diabetes and is constantly seeing a doctor?” As a solution to this problem, she explains, ”Employers are trying to lower their soaring health-care costs, and wellness is the industry’s favorite new antidote.” Kassab predicts, “more and more companies are laying the groundwork to eventually charge people who are fit and healthy less for health insurance than those who are obese or have unhealthy blood pressure.”

As with any cost saving method, there a pros and cons, factors that are best determined on an individual basis. Some of us will love the added bonus of staying fit and trim, while others will be further alienated. We invite you to share your thoughts: would a financial incentive motivate you to change your personal approach to healthcare?

Reduce the risk of a lapse in coverage due to a missed payment by registering with KaiserPay Online. We have a lot of experience working with clients trying to reinstate canceled policies, and not only is the process a hassle, but the time spent without coverage can be stressful, especially since there is no guarantee the policy will be reinstated.

Registration is quick and simple, and when you finish you’ll be able to check your current balance, view payment history, and make online payments in three different ways: with a checking account, a credit card, or by setting up a recurring automatic payment plan. If you’re not ready to register just yet, you can always choose the “One-Time Pay Only” option to pay your current bill.

Click here to register your Individual / Family Plan Account, or Employer Group Account and take another step towards ensuring uninterrupted healthcare coverage for you, your family, and your employees.

How to…?

Send us an email telling us what we can help you do, and stay tuned for our monthly how-to’s.

This month: Denied health insurance applications

If you’re application for health insurance coverage is denied, it is usually in your best interest to file an appeal. The US Government Accountability Office reports that “in some cases, health insurers reverse their decisions up to 50 percent of the time.” So don’t wait, gather all related paperwork, a pen, some paper and get ready to dial.

How To Appeal?

• Prepare ahead of time — consult a health insurance broker before you apply.  A good broker will guide you through the application and then be available to help in the event you are initially declined for coverage.
• Call the health insurance customer service line. In some cases this may be your only call.
• If not, you will need to file a written appeal. A good broker will be able to help you with the appeal letter. A letter from your physician can also be helpful in an appeal.
• File a complaint with the California Department of Insurance.

Filing an appeal can be a lengthy process, so patience and persistence are paramount. We invite you to give us a call or send us an email if you need further guidance.

“Lurking under the recent improvement in jobs numbers is another challenge for workers: how to cope when the work doesn’t come with company benefits.” The Wall Street Journal reports, “Government data show that about 8.6 million people last year worked part-time because they couldn’t find full-time work, up from just 4.4 million in 2007. As of December, another three million were in temporary jobs, and millions more are self-employed or in full-time jobs that don’t offer benefits.” WSJ’s conclusion: “That means many workers are on their own in finding health insurance.”

The good news is that with so many policies to choose from, we can help you find one you can afford. One of our specialties is working with individuals to determine the level of coverage they need and how to get the most out of their health insurance dollars.

Healthcare IT News quotes HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebellius saying, ”Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, healthcare professionals will spend less time filling out paperwork and more time focusing on delivering the best care for patients.”

The act establishes new standards for how electronic systems should be used to determine patients’ coverage eligibility and to check claims status. Studies show that doctors spend a significant amount of billable time performing a variety of administrative tasks. At Allpointe, we think business owners should spend less time on benefits paperwork, and more time focusing on delivering the best to their clients. Give us a call today and let us help you focus on your business.

The Los Angeles Times reports that in spite of its “slow start, California’s push to extend health coverage to those with preexisting medical conditions — a three-year stopgap effort until federal healthcare reform fully kicks in — has enrolled more than 6,000 patients.” As a result, “California now ranks second only to Pennsylvania with the highest number of enrollees in the temporary federally funded insurance plan. The interim coverage helps people with cancer, heart disease, and other long-term disorders pay for doctor visits, hospital stays, and medications.”

If you have a preexisting medical condition and are concerned about coverage eligibility give us a call to discuss your options.

Too many plans are canceled due to missed payments, and reinstatement is never guaranteed.  In a move to reduce total administrative costs, Anthem Blue Cross recently ended options to pay premiums via credit card.  However, you can still pay online from your checking account.

Anthem Blue Cross of California accepts online payments for both individuals and small businesses. You can set up a one-time or recurring payment from through a quick, secure registration:

Individuals/Families

Small Group Administrators

Register today and reduce the risk of a lapse in coverage for you, your family, or your employees.