KCAL Health Fair Touches on Important 2020 Health Insurance Key Points

The Individual Health Insurance Open Enrollment Period for 2020 officially began on October 15. With the return of the fine, new regulations, updates to premiums, and changes to plans and benefits, this Open Enrollment has attracted the attention of many individuals.

To help individuals better understand health insurance, KCAL hosted a health fair on October 12. Representatives from Covered California, Medi-Cal, Health Net, Kaiser Permanente, Blue Shield, Blue Cross, Molina, and Oscar were all present to answer any questions the community had about health insurance.

Seminars to discuss health insurance topics were also held. One-on-one Medicare and health insurance consultations were also available for attendees. Free flu shots, spin-the-wheel activities, and discounts on neighboring businesses in the plaza were also available. This two-hour event attracted nearly 500 attendees with much praise from the public.

One of the biggest changes to healthcare in 2020 is the return of the penalty for not having health insurance. The fine for not having health insurance will be 2.5% of the annual household income, or $695/year for each adult, and $347.50/year for children 18 years and younger, whichever is higher.

KCAL would also like to remind those who do not have health insurance to pay special attention! Open Enrollment Period began on October 15! If you’re not insured, enroll into health insurance during this Open Enrollment Period to avoid fines in the upcoming year.

Individuals who are currently using Medi-Cal will need to be careful as with Trump’s new regulation, those who are permanent residents using Medi-Cal may be considered as “public charge.” Those who are concerned can also choose to purchase Covered California health insurance or off-exchange (unsubsidized) health insurance.

In a recent Covered California report, they announced that the premiums for the 2020 individual health insurance market are the lowest rates in history. Furthermore, the government increased the premium subsidies as well which means that many middle-income families who did not qualify in the past may now be able to qualify. A married couple that earns $100,000 a year will still be able to receive federal subsidies. There are even several plans that result in a premium of $1/month.

In 2020, the 11 insurance companies that originally served California will continue to provide services throughout the state, and Anthem Blue Cross is making its return and expanding its services back to Southern California. It’s estimated that in 2020, 99.6% of residents will have at least two or more insurance companies to choose from, and 87% of the population will can at least three or more insurance companies to choose from.

KCAL has been serving Southern California for over 30 years and is well-known for its professionalism, accountability, and quality service. KCAL has established a good reputation in the insurance industry as well as with the community. KCAL has dozens of certified Covered California health insurance agents ready to assist you with your health insurance needs. KCAL is determined in doing what they can to ensure that all their clients get the right protection at the most affordable price.

Whether you want to enroll into health insurance or compare the benefits and costs of different plans, contact KCAL Insurance Agency for expert advice and professional consultations as well as assistance with applying for health insurance. Feel free to call 626-333-1111 or click here to speak with our customer service team directly. KCAL is also on WeChat, so if you’d like to follow KCAL’s official WeChat account, feel free to add WeChat ID: KCAL3331111 to get the most important and latest updates on health insurance.