Many people have made the argument that income tax is a voluntary or even illegal tax – from a jail cell. Tax evasion is a serious crime, and one that is not worth risking the penalty. There are legal ways to reduce and even eliminate the amount that you have to pay Uncle Sam come tax time. ...read more
By sandisteele April 02, 2014
Thank you Greg for helping me navigate the Obamacare Application. While the government it seems has taken extra steps to complicate the application, ways to answer questions, and the website Greg took the time to help me through the process. My family's application was not the typical family's application. We had many caveats that Obamacare (Affordable Care Act) did not thought through or did not allow a place for on the applicaation. Because of this, we put off signing up until the week before the deadline. Greg was great. He called several time to see if I needed help and to even give out his cell for after hours questions. One day he came to my office and sat with me while we came up with answers and patiently waited as the government website kept crashing. He even followed up the next day to see if I was able to finally get it submitted. If your application is easy or more complicated, I recommend giving Greg a call. Whether you agree or disagree with the politics behind Obamacare, it I something we have to do, so let Greg take help navigate you through the process and choosing a plan. Thanks again~ Sandi ...read more
By JudyHam November 12, 2013
Something is not kosher here. The Obamacare website wasn't even somewhat available until Oct. 1, so, how did these "reviewers" have such a great experience in August? I imagine these reviews will be deleted and reposted with a post-rollout date. ...read more
By patjevanravenzwaaij August 13, 2013
They helped me save hundreds of dollars on drugs!!!!!!!! You guys rock! ...read more
What to Expect for Health insurance Open Enrollment 2016Greetings!Open Enrollment for individuals runs from November 1, 2015 through January 31, 2016. If you are looking to buy your own health insurance plan or change your current coverage for 2016, you can do so during this time.In order to help you better understand your options for 2016, I will highlight the current status of each insurance company we represent in Texas. Today we will take a look at Assurant and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX).Assuranthas had enough and is getting out of the health insurance business. Here is an excerpt from their press release that sums it up.NEW YORK, June 10, 2015–Assurant, Inc.(NYSE: AIZ) has concluded a comprehensive review of strategic alternatives for its health business and will exit the health insurance market as the Company sharpens its focus on housing and lifestyle specialty protection offerings. The Company expects to substantially complete its exit of the health insurance market by the end of 2016.Therefore if you have a policy with Assurant and you have not received your cancellation notice, you will soon. You can select another company during open enrollment or during a special enrollment period when the policy is canceled.Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas(BCBSTX) took it in the shorts in 2014, paying out more than $400 million more in claims than it collected in premiums in the individual market segment. In order to succeed in the new health insurance market BCBSTX is making some bold moves. In their newsletter to agents they made the following statements:“There are some changes in the plans we intend to offer in 2016. Most significantly, we won’t be offering our Blue Choice PPO insurance plans for our under 65 block of business going forward. BCBSTX paid out more than $400 million more in claims than it collected in premiums in the individual market segment in 2014. Losses that high are unsustainable, and we have adjusted our offerings – as many insurers have – to be sustainable in the new market reality.”Here are some of the talking points:Why is BCBSTX discontinuing the Blue Choice PPO?For the past two years, BCBSTX has been the only health insurer offering an individual PPO plan in all Texas markets. BCBSTX found that the PPO is not sustainable at an affordable price due to anti-selection. BCBSTX will continue to offer other plan options in all 254 counties, on and off the Marketplace.What will this mean for individual members who currently have the PPO plan?BCBSTX will be transitioning affected individual members to another plan, so you will not experience a gap in coverage. You will also have the option of choosing a different plan during 2016 open enrollment.Currently, BCBSTX has two provider networks for individual plans: Blue Choice PPO and Blue Advantage HMO. Some providers are only in the Blue Choice network, and some of them have decided not to join the Blue Advantage HMO network in 2016. Therefore with the Blue Choice PPO individual plans going away, these providers will no longer be an in-network option for most of our individual members. If you have a grandfathered plan, you will still have access to the Blue Choice network.I have found the Blue Advantage HMO network to be limited and would not assume your current provider will take the Blue Advantage HMO network. I would suggest talking with all your providers to confirm what HMO networks they will be participating in 2016.In 2015 Assurant and BCBSTX were the only two insurance companies that offered true PPO plans in the Texas individual market, so unless something changes there will no longer be any PPO plans available on or off the exchange for individual in Texas in 2016. Just as predicted, we continue to see shrinking networks for individuals to access providers.Next time I will continue discussing BCBSTX and update you on Cigna.Take Care!Greg Downing ...read more
By Obamacare Made Easy September 04, 2015
NEW YORK, Jan. 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- More than half of Americans (55%) still do not know the deadline to sign up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, according to a new Bankrate.com (NYSE: RATE) report. In fact, about one in four Americans (24%) incorrectly think the deadline already passed on January 1, 2014. And 11% wrongly think they have until December 31, 2014 to sign up, a full nine months after the March 31, 2014 deadline. Many Americans are not taking the deadline to sign up for Obamacare seriously. Sixty-two percent of Americans - more than three in five - think the government will push the deadline back to a later date. "While the Obama Administration has changed many of the other Affordable Care Act deadlines, Americans should not assume that the March 31st deadline will be moved," said Bankrate.com insurance analyst Doug Whiteman. Despite major undertakings to inform young adults about the Affordable Care Act and the upcoming deadline to sign up for health insurance, 18- to 29-year olds are the most confused about the cutoff date and the most likely to think the government will push back the deadline. "Granted, many people who aren't paying close attention already have health insurance through work. But it's especially worrisome that young adults - who are the most likely to be uninsured - are the least informed about the deadline and the most likely to think it will be moved," said Whiteman. "Obamacare's success hinges on young, healthy Americans signing up, so if they continue to procrastinate past the deadline, it could cause insurance premiums to increase." Also, people who miss the March 31st deadline will have to wait until next year's open enrollment period if they decide they want health insurance, unless they experience a qualifying event such as marriage in the interim. Additional findings: Americans with annual household incomes of $30,000 to $49,999 are the most likely to know the correct Obamacare sign-up deadline. So far, about 80% of those who have signed up for coverage under the Affordable Care Act have received a subsidy from the federal government. Bankrate.com has a free calculator that helps consumers determine their eligibility and compare costs: These results comprise Bankrate.com's Health Insurance Pulse, a monthly survey that tracks how Americans are feeling about health care and their personal finances. The survey was conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International (PSRAI) and can be seen in its entirety here: http://www.bankrate.com/finance/insurance/health-insurance-poll-0214.aspx ...read more
By Obamacare Made Easy January 28, 2014
Good Monday,Healthcare.gov is working well and we are signing up folks as well as getting tax credits. I made a step-by-step video that will save you lots of time signing up. Just clickHERE and watch video 4. Feel free to forward this to your friends and family who may need help in deciding what to do and how to sign up. In order to have coverage starting onJanuary 1, 2014you must be signed up byDecember 23, 2013. Call me if I can be of service.Greg Downing(512) 656-9378www.ObamacareMadeEasy.com ...read more
By Obamacare Made Easy December 09, 2013