Health Insurance woes

Why would it matter if you are married if you have two single policies rather than a family?

This was almost not true.
BCBS was offering it and then pulled out.
Luckily ELAN that is taking over is keeping the option.
However, they do have a change to existing policies. Its Puerto Rico/VI only.
No option to go to the states for procedures.

This is a change to your existing policy.
Also noone else will do the 2 person business thing if you are married.
At least as far as I have been able to determine.

"Also noone else will do the 2 person business thing if you are married. "

I don't believe this is so. If a married couple sets up a legitimate and duly licensed business enterprise in which both are gainfully employed, there's no impediment to their acceptance and participation in a group insurance policy. I doubt that a "paper business" with no documented income would pass muster. I'd be curious to hear first-hand comments from anyone who's done this as, again, this lack of individual coverage has been status quo for MANY years so if this is a viable option for a qualified married couple I'm sure it's already been done.

Clarification: The majority of health insurance providers canceled policies issued to small (2+ employees including owners) sole proprietorship businesses upon the implementation of the ACA. However, since the territories aren't covered by the ACA this may still be an option here.

"Also noone else will do the 2 person business thing if you are married. "

I don't believe this is so. If a married couple sets up a legitimate and duly licensed business enterprise in which both are gainfully employed, there's no impediment to their acceptance and participation in a group insurance policy. I doubt that a "paper business" with no documented income would pass muster. I'd be curious to hear first-hand comments from anyone who's done this as, again, this lack of individual coverage has been status quo for MANY years so if this is a viable option for a qualified married couple I'm sure it's already been done.

Clarification: The majority of health insurance providers canceled policies issued to small (2+ employees including owners) sole proprietorship businesses upon the implementation of the ACA. However, since the territories aren't covered by the ACA this may still be an option here.

There is an impediment. They simply won't do it. Please tell me who still offers them to a married couple. United won't. They will do 2 person but not to a married couple. BSBS was doing them and ELAN will continue. I could find no other options. The brokers we've visited to discuss this have zero options for a 2 person married couple business. In fact we joked about divorce and she says she's already heard that from clients.

Would love to hear if any others exist.

Why would it matter if you are married if you have two single policies rather than a family?

It was health insurance for a business of 2 where there 2 were married. Which will get larger when we hire more people.

Greetings. ELAN will honor the current benefits platform (e.g. islands only or USA access) as long as the plan is inforce. Exception are 2 person groups, which will be offered the Health Choice plan at the BCBS renewal date.

Health Choice has access in the USVI and in PR through the HIMA centers of excellence. In the US through MyDecision, a program which contracts certain conditions through top 25% facilities (think quality).

For more information contact your agent or broker or ELAN at sales@elan.agency

ELAN will continue to offer insurance to 2 person group - even if they are both married - as long as it's a bona fide business and both work FT in the business.

PR and USVI access with the MyDecision program stateside for certain conditions.

Contact your agent or broker or ELAN at sales@elan.agency

thank you for the info about P R

Very helpful, thank you all. I will call Elan and get info on this option!

Altrua HealthShare is now available in the US Virgin Islands as an alternative to traditional health insurance for individuals. Altrua is already well established and available coast to coast in the U.S. Please contact me to request a PDF brochure for additional information. Feel free to call me Amy Rose Herrick your Certified Altrua Representative on St. Croix at 785-224-8954 or feel free to call the Altrua HealthShare corporate office toll free at 888-244-3839.

The website is www.Altruahealthshare.org

Pricing will be on pages 4-6 of the 16 page booklet in a PDF that I would need to email to you along with a brochure. Please send email requests for the program outline and pricing to Amy@AmyRoseHerrick.com.

It is not possible in this post format to include all available options pricing.

What exactly is an alternative to traditional health insurance for individuals? Please elaborate.

In a nutshell: Traditional health insurance is provided by for-profit insurance companies for groups and at times individuals.

HealthSharing or MediShare programs are via voluntary individual memberships and are sponsored by non-profit organizations that are faith based. There are ways that employer groups can use these programs too in certain arrangements that meet ERISA mandates.

There are five of these HealthShare or MediShare organizations that are exempt from the ACA mandates for income tax penalties for not carrying adequate health insurance. Altrua HealthShare is one of these recognized exemptions.

Does that help make it brief and easy to see the difference?

Feel free to call me if you have more questions at 785-224-8954- Amy

Does anyone know if Blue Cross federal is impacted by BCBS not selling in the VI's?

Thank you Amy, for posting this information. Very interesting.

Does anyone know if Blue Cross federal is impacted by BCBS not selling in the VI's?

Not specifically. But FEP members should be in the same boat as others with BCBS coverage from the mainland. You may find fewer participating providers, so you may have to submit your own claims, you may owe the amount up the the provider's charge, that is in excess of the UCR allowed amount, and you may have to pay the provider up front.

Does anybody know how VI Equicare PPO fits into all this?

I was under the impression - correct me please if I'm incorrect - VI Equicare administrates relationships with a variety of insurance companies, local or otherwise, for its participating physicians.

Does anyone know if Blue Cross federal is impacted by BCBS not selling in the VI's?

Not specifically. But FEP members should be in the same boat as others with BCBS coverage from the mainland. You may find fewer participating providers, so you may have to submit your own claims, you may owe the amount up the the provider's charge, that is in excess of the UCR allowed amount, and you may have to pay the provider up front.

Feel free to call me if you have more questions at 785-224-8954- Amy

Isn't this advertising?

Feel free to call me if you have more questions at 785-224-8954- Amy

Isn't this advertising?

I say yes, it is advertising.

Does anyone know if Blue Cross federal is impacted by BCBS not selling in the VI's?

Not specifically. But FEP members should be in the same boat as others with BCBS coverage from the mainland. You may find fewer participating providers, so you may have to submit your own claims, you may owe the amount up the the provider's charge, that is in excess of the UCR allowed amount, and you may have to pay the provider up front.

Thanks for the info!

Amy: Are you licensed to sell your product in the US Virgin Islands?

The response allowed me share how to obtain free information on a new development in the community on this topic that related to heath care concerns in the territory.

Is mentioning a person to call above or giving out an email for contact such as Elan, Equicare or BC/BS advertising? I disagree. It is helping a person find resources to explore from responses on a question posted.

The reality here is that we have a heath care crisis that includes a lack of coverage options for what I have seen as somewhere between 35-45% of the population, We need options! This is one to explore, or not. Personal choice.

If that reach out has offended someone inadvertently, it was not intended to do so. It was to help on a topic I had info to share on.

Have a blessed day.

Ok I blew it by accident. I reread the rules and it looks like in my filling in blanks my title got in my user name. I tried to fix it on settings but I cannot get in that area again to remove it. I will reach out to help and see if they can assist. Thank you for alerting me to this error.

I hope this is not considered advertising but here is the answer to your question.

For just one area of licensing related to your question, I am licensed to sell life, health, disability, Long term care, air ambulance, critical illness, etc. personal lines of coverage excluding car and home insurance in the territory and several other states. I have been licensed in that area for over 25 years starting stateside.

Altrua HealthShare is NOT an insurance company. It is an alternative to traditional insurance.

You have a membershipt here to participate in the program if you desire to apply to do so and meet eligibility requirements.

Just like you would have a membership to a national Teachers organization, CPA organization, Scuba Diving Club, National Geographic, etc. whatever is a membership type organization you choose to apply and belong to.

Memberships often have benefits for members. This is one of Altrua's benefits, sharing one another's burdens on health care expenses as a faith based alternative,

Does that answer your question?

Is mentioning a person to call above or giving out an email for contact such as Elan, Equicare or BC/BS advertising? I disagree. It is helping a person find resources to explore from responses on a question posted.

The way you posted it looked like advertising to me.

The way to do it is to ask interested forum members to PM you rather than splash you contact info on your posts.

Imo, your posts violate this:

"Messages of a commercial nature whether direct or indirect are not allowed. This includes but is not limited to business owners/representatives using their business name as their author name, posting advertorial type comments, including contact information such as web address, email and telephone number in signatures"

And more...

Thank you for the heads up help., I appreciate it, I am new to this forum. In those cases do I then get an email to tell me the private message is there? I do not see on this response how to make the message "private". Can you help? Thank you.

If you have a PM waiting it will show a note at the top of the screen next to where it says Private Messages. Or you can always just click and look.