Small Business Insurance Exchanges

One of the many provisions of the Affordable Care Act is the establishment of state based exchange programs for small businesses, known as the Small Business Health Options Program aka SHOP.

Every state is required to establish SHOP exchanges ready for the first open enrollment period in October 2013 for coverage that will be effective January 1, 2014.

SHOP Goals

SHOP will allow small businesses to pool together to increase their purchasing power to the same level as that of large corporations.

This will make it easier for them to review, compare and purchase health care plans that offer their employees choices in coverage at rates similar to those available to large corporations.

Each SHOP exchange must perform the following functions:

• Selection and certification of the health plans that will be offered
• Consumer education and assistance
• Eligibility determinations
• Plan enrollment
• Premium billing and collection

What businesses are included?

SHOP exchanges will serve small companies, defined as those having no more than 100 employees, on average.

However, during the first two years, states may restrict participation in SHOP exchanges to businesses having up to 50 employees.

Beginning in 2017, states may elect to let larger companies participate.

Do you have to participate?

There is no requirement that small businesses use the exchanges. They will still have the option of buying insurance outside of the exchanges.

Employers may also choose to self-insure to avoid many market regulations and the requirement for community rating, which requires premium costs to be the same for everyone, regardless of their age or health status.

How will SHOP function?

Each state can set up a SHOP exchange as an executive branch agency, an independent government authority, or a nonprofit corporation.

Alternatively, states may partner with other states to form regional exchanges or they may create subsidiaries within a state as long as the geography of the entire state is covered.

If a state chooses not to establish a SHOP exchange, or if it's determined that an exchange will not be fully operational in time, the federal government will set up and operate the exchange.

Tax credits for participating

One of the law's provisions that have many small business owners happy is the small business health care tax credit.

This allows businesses with fewer than 25 full-time employees that pay at least 50 percent of total premiums to qualify for a tax credit of up to 35 percent of their premium contributions.

And that credit increases to 50 percent in 2014.

Private Health Care - What It Covers

Private health care has become very popular among individuals especially because of the fact that they do not have to wait too long before they can see a healthcare practitioner or professionals.

Most people are also concerned about cleanliness in some of the general hospitals and therefore turn to private healthcare for their needs. Most of these individuals seeking private health care have incomes that are disposable and finance is always in order for them to enjoy the services.

The private healthcare covers a variety of medical service among the standard ones being surgery, essential treatments, nursing, consultations and hospital care. The wide variety of the services one can enjoy under the private care is what has made many people turn to the services for their medical situations. It is however very important to remember that PMI does not include covering incurable conditions and drug addiction.

You will however find comprehensive policies some of which provide additional benefits that can range from personal accident cover to complementary medicine. The most common plans you will find are moratorium and fully underwritten kind of policies. The fully underwritten policy will require that you give your complete medical history so that an analysis is made to determine what areas will be covered and which ones will not. As for the Moratorium, blanket exclusions are imposed on the pre existing conditions to several years back.

When faced with the need to have a private medical care policy in place, it is important that you take a look at the different healthcare insurance providers and the policies they have in place. You will then have to go through the policies one at a time till you have chosen the most suitable for the kind of health needs that you have. The comparison is important since it is possible to find an insurance provider with a policy that is most suitable for you and at very reasonable rates for that matter.

Healthcare is of great importance and it is always calming to know that you will be well taken care of as soon as you fall ill or one member of your family is taken ill. With the PMI, you will at least know that you will be treated without having to wait too long for the medical professional. It is actually the best thing you can ever do to cater for all your medical needs.