Benefit Insight

If are already a client of Benefit Insurance Services (or another quality broker), you already know the value of providing a quality employee benefit package to your employees. But what about everyone else? The Governor wants everyone in the state to have insurance and it’s a noble cause that I believe in.

The challenge is in getting everyone to accept that change is necessary to solve the problem. Bruce Bodaken, CEO of Blue Shield of CA said something like, “the Governor’s proposal has a lot of things for people to hate, but on the whole, has plenty to like”.

Doctors and hospitals will have to pay a portion of their revenues, insurance companies will have to provide guarantee issue to all applicants, businesses with 10 or more employees will have to provide insurance or pay into a state pool, individuals will have to enroll or face tax penalties.

There’s plenty of pain to go around, and we’ll have to see how much of it survives the debate this year. The state legislature is now debating these issues in conference committee and forming legislation. Change is coming, it’s just not clear as to what it will be.

The fallacy of the uninsured is that of the 6 million in California currently uninsured, more than half are eligible for a public program but do not enroll. Two million are illegal immigrants. That leaves one million that either choose to self insure or are legitimately unable to get insurance. If you know people who are uninsured or may be eligible for insurance, please refer them to the Foundation for Health Coverage Education at www.coverageforall.org or call 800.234.1317 to speak with an expert able to help them determine their eligibility for various programs for them and their children.

- Vinny Catalano, Principal, Benefit Insurance Services