Health insurance is an important topic for families in the United States. Most immigrants who are California residents can qualify for health coverage. Additionally, anyone can apply for health insurance in California, and some people could get short-term health insurance in California. It would be better for you to get a full plan, and it would cost less in the long term than a short-term health insurance plan. The importance of health insurance for immigrants is unmatchable, two-thirds of undocumented immigrants under the age of 65 lack health insurance. However, California was the first state in the country to grant undocumented immigrants’ health insurance coverage for ages 50 or above.
In this article, we will explore the details of California health insurance for immigrants.
Contents
Short-Term Health Insurance in California
Let’s talk about short-term health insurance in California in more detail. Short-term insurance is an option for anyone who needs a small coverage plan for a transition period. This coverage will depend on the plan you may choose. Most plans include the coverage of emergency hospital visits, certain prescriptions, and doctor visits. Some of the pros of short-term medical insurance plans is that it can cover unexpected injuries and illnesses, inpatient and outpatient hospital services, and emergency room visits. On the other hand, the cons are that it does not cover cosmetic treatment, dental and vision care, spinal manipulation, or even pregnancy and maternity. These California short-term health insurance companies are popular amongst individuals who have exceeded their tax limits.
Many companies will help you find private or short-term health insurance plans in California, as long as you don't have major pre-existing conditions, and these plans are designed to comply with all affordable care acts regulations and to minimize out-of-pocket expenses for individuals and families. Short-term health insurance plans provide quick coverage for emergencies and are generally more affordable than ACA-compliant plans.
California Health Insurance Companies
There are some health insurance companies available in California, but we have narrowed it down to four major companies that dominate the market and have a strong track record. These companies include Blue Shield of California, which holds a 31 percent market share, Kaiser Permanente based in Oakland, Calif. With a 24 percent market share, Health Net, based in Woodland Hills, Calif. With an 11 percent market share, and Molina Healthcare, based in Long Beach, Calif, with a 5 percent market share.
There are three major plans that most companies offer, and that people tend to use: employer provided plans which you get from your employer, individual and family plans that could be purchased through government marketplaces, and plans directly from California health insurance companies. Also, there are government-assisted plans which you can get like Medicare or Medicaid.
4 Factors to Consider When Choosing a Health Insurance Company
1. CSR
First, the claim settlement ratio known as the CSR (equals number of claims settled / total number of claims received) which gives you an idea of the possibility the insurance companies settle a claim that you are likely to make.
2. ICR
The incurred claim ratio (ICR) which refers to the total amount paid by insurance companies to settle insurance claims within a year with respect to the total amount collected by companies.
3. Hospital Network
The third thing to consider before choosing your insurance plan is the network of hospitals. Most insurance companies nowadays come with a list of hospitals they are affiliated with. This involves cashless treatments, meaning that the insured patient doesn’t need to pay for the treatment they are getting.
4. Business Volume
Lastly, business volume refers to the total number of active customers, who are paying monthly or quarterly premiums to the insurance company. Naturally, the companies with a larger business volume are considered to be more trustworthy, simply because they are likely to have the resources required to pay for claims.
California Health Insurance Penalty
The implementation of California’s Individual Mandate started in January 2020, making it mandatory for all residents of the state, as well as their dependents, to acquire minimum essential health coverage. Failure to obtain such coverage may result in a penalty. California’s residents are required to provide details about their health coverage on their tax return when they file it. The California Individual Shared Responsibility Penalty (ISRP) can be calculated in two ways: either as a fixed penalty for each member of the household or as 2.5% of the total gross household income that surpasses California’s filing threshold, whichever amount is greater.
Since 2019, there hasn’t been any federal law stating that there is a penalty for not acquiring health insurance, although some states have enacted their own health insurance mandates. Some of the places that enacted these mandates are New Jersey, Massachusetts, Vermont, and the District of Columbia.
If you’re not eligible for marketplace coverage, or you can’t afford a health plan, you can get low-cost health care at a nearby community health center. Community health centers provide primary health care services to all residents, including immigrant families, in the health center’s service area.
Covered California Health Insurance
Covered California functions as the state’s health insurance marketplace, ensuring that individuals and families can obtain affordable healthcare coverage. It was created to implement the Affordable Care Act and offers a variety of health insurance choices. One of its important features is that Covered California guarantees access to health insurance for immigrants, regardless of their legal status.
Eligibility requirements for health insurance in California can vary based on aspects like how much money you make and your immigration status, so if you want to sign up for health insurance, you can either fill out an application on the Covered California website or call them. They also have people who can help you in different languages.
Conclusion
In summary, this article talks about different things related to health insurance in California. It explains what is covered by short-term health insurance in California and what restrictions you might face while also talking about the Individual Mandate in California, which is a necessity to have health insurance. Finally, it cites Covered California, which is a place where you can find reasonable health insurance options, and it makes sure that immigrants can get coverage no matter their legal status.
