Author Archives: JulianC

Communication

When doctor and patient are engaged it creates a better environment for both of them and patients feel that they are getting good health care.

Obama Care Requirements if You Are Under 30

The majority of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, more often referred to as Obama Care or just the Affordable Care Act, was set to go into effect on January 1, 2014. The enrollment period began on October 1, 2013 and was to end on January 1. However, due to problems with the HealthCare.gov website, the date has been extended through March 2014.

Under 26 Years of Age

The Affordable Care Act requires every American to have health insurance or risk paying a penalty, or more specifically, a ‘shared responsibility fee.’ If you haven’t reached your 26th birthday you can still remain covered by your parent’s health insurance: that is as long as they are providing at least half of your income and are claimed as a dependent on their tax returns.

If you are not claimed on someone else’s tax return and your expected income for 2014 is under $15,856, you will probably be eligible for your state’s Medicaid system, as long as your state has not opted out of participating in the expanded Medicaid program.

If you are under 26, are not a dependent and you expect to earn $15,856 to $45,960, you will be eligible for a tax credit that will help ease the pain from the cost of your insurance premium.

Independent and Under 30

If you are independent and under the age of 30, you have the option of purchasing catastrophic coverage. This kind of coverage is available only to people under 30 or those who qualify for an exemption due to economic hardship.

Catastrophic plans under ObamaCare are meant to provide coverage in the case that you suffer an accident or become seriously ill. The plan provides essential benefits only once the deductible has been met ($6,350 in 2014 for a single person). It does offer up to three visits to a primary care doctor without having a share of cost.

The premiums are very low, but the deductible is very high, while at the same time, payout limits can also be very high. If you are young and healthy, this is the least expensive coverage you can purchase. Once you reach age 30, however, you will have to choose from one of the different levels of coverage.

The Plans

There are four plans to choose from: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. Each plan provides the same basic health care benefits. The difference is in the amount of monthly premium you want to pay and how much out-of-pocket you want to pay each time you receive services.

Different insurance companies may offer additional benefits beyond the standards that the government has set. This is one of the ways they will tempt you into going with their insurance over another one.

The different levels correspond to the amount that you pay versus what the insurance company pays. For instance, with the Bronze level, the split might be 40/60, meaning that the insurance will pay 40% of your medical expenses and you pay the other 60%.

More Information on the Individual Mandate

Since the law has come into effect, it means that everyone needs to be insured in 2014. If you do not obtain health care coverage, you will be subject to a penalty, or rather a shared cost fee. In 2014, the shared cost will be $95 each adult for each month you are not covered, and $47.50 for each child, or, 1% of your income, whichever is the highest. For this year, because of the extension, if you are covered by March 31, you will not face a penalty. Whether you pay a monthly premium or a penalty, your money will be collected. Everyone participates in one way or another.

Although it rubs some people the wrong way, the program is designed to make each person responsible for their own health care costs. This will mean that those who have been getting their health care for free (by not having any and then going to the emergency room) will have to begin to pay their part. In return, we get health insurance companies that cannot turn us down for preexisting conditions or charge more based on gender or place of residence, can’t cut off our insurance because we get sick, plus many other benefits.

At Axiom Health Care Marketing, we have a staff of professionals in business and healthcare. We work with you to create strategies to increase your company’s growth. We use the latest methods available and individualized them for your practice. We utilize SEO methods such as keyword research, extensive website analysis, content optimization, social media marketing, competitor analysis, link building and more. Contact us today to set up a consultation and learn how we can get your business moving in the right direction.

Published by Axiom Health Care Marketing

More Information Please

Patients looking for a new doctor want to know more than your location. Axiom Health Care Marketing knows what they want to see on your web page and we will help you put it there with our online marketing strategies.

The Affordable Care Act and Less than 50 Employees

As a healthcare consulting firm, Axiom Health Care Marketing wants to provide you with information that can prove beneficial to your business. We hope that you find the following information helpful as you deal with health insurance companies and the requirements of the Affordable Care Act.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) is an historic piece of legislation. It is the first major change in the United States health care system since 1965, when Medicare and Medicaid were implemented. Whether or not you agree with the changes created by the law, better known as Obmacare, or simply the Affordable Care Act, you will be affected if you live in the U.S., whether you like it or not. If you run a small business with less than 50 employees, there are factors you should know.

Purpose of the PPACA

Most people know, in short, that the PPACA was put in place so that every American would have health insurance. The basic reason for this is to take a large burden off the federal and state governments by requiring that the public provide their own health insurance. Those that have not had health insurance have been a tremendous financial burden on the states and the federal government through Medicaid and other government-subsidized programs when they need medical care. These programs were never meant as a substitute for a person’s own healthcare coverage.

Since the passage of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act in 1986, any hospital that accepts payments under the Medicare and Medicaid programs, virtually all, are required to provide emergency services regardless of a person’s citizenship, legal status or ability to pay. The cost of treating these people has fallen on the government.

Requiring people to provide their own insurance takes much of the burden off the government. In return for being required to furnish their own health insurance, the public is guaranteed reasonable rates, acceptance regardless of pre-existing conditions, and a specific standard of care. Those who cannot afford insurance will receive subsidies; including some businesses. Even with the subsidies, it is believed that state and federal governments will save considerably by reducing expenses normally paid by government programs.

How Many Employees Do You Have?

How the Affordable Care Act affects your business depends a lot on the number of employees you have.

Businesses that employ fewer than 25 – 49 full time or full time equivalent (EFT), people are exempt from the requirement to provide health insurance to their employees. Full time is considered 30+ hours. Two part time employees working 15 hours each would be considered one full time equivalent.

Having started back in 2010, companies with fewer than 25 employees that pay for a major part of their employee’s premiums have received a tax credit of up to 35% of the premiums. That tax credit could be as much as 50% in 2014 if you arrange your insurance through one of the insurance exchanges. These tax credits do not apply if you are self-employed, so you may want to incorporate or become an LLC.

Another requirement that businesses of less than 50 employees avoid is the requirement to show the value of their health care on employees’ W-2 forms.

What is the Insurance Exchange?

If you want to provide health insurance for your employees, there is the Small Business Health Options Programs, or simply SHOP Exchanges. If you do provide insurance, you will be eligible for the tax credit. The amount of the credit will be contingent on such things as how many employees you have and their salary, on average.

Purchasing insurance through SHOP may be cheaper than you have paid in the past. Small businesses can pool together in the exchanges and negotiate group coverage.

As a medical marketing firm, we endeavor to supply medical businesses with the help they need with their marketing. We specialize in Internet marketing specifically for healthcare providers. Axiom Health Care Marketing can provide you with myriad healthcare marketing strategies that will have your practice sitting squarely on the first page of search results.

Published by Axiom Health Care Marketing

Tired of the Same Old Look?

If your web page and marketing could use a face-lift, Axiom Health Care Marketing is here to help you get a whole new look for your Internet marketing.

Are Your Patients Comfortable?

Are your patients comfortable about talking to you about their health? Axiom Health Care Marketing can help get communication flowing by creating a new welcoming website design.