Navigating Health Insurance Open Enrollment for 2024 in California and Washington

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As we inch closer to the end of another year, it’s time to start thinking about your health insurance needs for 2024. Open enrollment is your opportunity to secure the coverage that will protect your health and financial well-being in the coming year. If you reside in California or Washington, this blog post is especially pertinent to you, as we delve into the specifics of health insurance open enrollment in these states.

California Open Enrollment:

In California, the open enrollment period for health insurance coverage effective January 1, 2024, is a critical time to review and modify your insurance plan. This period typically runs from October through December. Whether you’re seeking individual or family coverage, now is the time to assess your healthcare needs and make any necessary adjustments. If you’re uncertain about the best plan for you, don’t hesitate to reach out to Ashley Custer, a health insurance expert at Core Columbia Insurance. You can contact her via email at ashley@corecolumbia.com or give her a call at 206-538-3338 for personalized guidance tailored to your unique requirements.

Washington Open Enrollment:

Similarly, residents of Washington can seize the open enrollment opportunity to select health insurance coverage for 2024. The open enrollment period usually occurs in the late fall months, and it’s crucial to act promptly to ensure your coverage begins on January 1st. Ashley Custer at Core Columbia Insurance is ready to assist you in Washington as well. Whether you’re exploring your options for the first time or looking to make changes to your existing plan, her expertise can simplify the process and help you secure the lowest-cost option that suits your needs. Feel free to email ashley@corecolumbia.com or dial 206-538-3338 to get started.

Don’t wait until the last minute to make crucial decisions about your health insurance. Use the open enrollment period in California and Washington to take control of your healthcare coverage for 2024. Reach out to Ashley Custer at Core Columbia Insurance for expert guidance and ensure that you and your loved ones are well-protected in the coming year.

CA Sales Tax

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Many of our clients are California small business owners. I am frequently asked for advice on sales tax, which I usually preface with an overview of some of the following relevant concepts.

The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) is the state agency responsible for administering California’s sales and use tax laws. One of the key responsibilities of the CDTFA is to issue reseller permits to businesses that purchase goods for resale. A reseller permit allows a business to purchase goods without paying sales tax and then resell those goods to customers who will be responsible for paying the tax.

A reseller permit is relevant for businesses that purchase goods for resale. This includes wholesalers, retailers, and other businesses that purchase products with the intent of reselling them to customers. By obtaining a reseller permit, these businesses can avoid paying sales tax on their purchases, which can help them to save money and stay competitive.

It is the responsibility of businesses that make sales in California to file sales tax returns and remit any sales tax due. This includes businesses that sell tangible goods, such as clothing, electronics, and other consumer products. The amount of sales tax that must be collected and remitted varies depending on the location of the sale and the type of product being sold.

To file sales tax, businesses must first register with the CDTFA and obtain a seller’s permit. This permit allows the business to collect and remit sales tax. Sales tax returns must be filed on a regular basis, typically monthly or quarterly, and the tax collected must be remitted to the state. Failure to file sales tax returns or remit sales tax can result in penalties and interest charges.

In conclusion, the CDTFA plays a critical role in administering California’s sales and use tax laws. A reseller permit is an important tool for businesses that purchase goods for resale, allowing them to avoid paying sales tax on their purchases. Businesses that make sales in California have a responsibility to file sales tax returns and remit any sales tax due. By understanding these rules and regulations, businesses can ensure compliance with California’s sales tax laws and avoid penalties and other legal issues.

About Open Enrollment

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Open enrollment is the period of time during which individuals and families can enroll in or make changes to their health insurance coverage. In the United States, open enrollment typically takes place annually, although some states have their own open enrollment periods that differ from the federal timeline. Below is a bit more background on how open enrollment works in the Washington Health Plan Finder and Covered California systems.

The Washington Health Plan Finder is the state’s online health insurance marketplace, where individuals and families can compare and enroll in health insurance plans. Open enrollment in the Washington Health Plan Finder typically takes place from November 1st to December 15th each year. During this time, individuals and families can enroll in a new health insurance plan or make changes to their existing coverage. It is important to note that outside of open enrollment, individuals and families may only be able to make changes to their health insurance coverage if they experience a qualifying life event, such as getting married or having a baby.

Covered California is California’s online health insurance marketplace, where individuals and families can compare and enroll in health insurance plans. Open enrollment in Covered California typically takes place from November 1st to January 31st each year. Like in the Washington Health Plan Finder, during this time individuals and families can enroll in a new health insurance plan or make changes to their existing coverage. It is important to note that Covered California has a special enrollment period for individuals and families who experience a qualifying life event, such as losing their health insurance coverage or getting married.

If you are in Washington or California and are considering enrolling in health insurance coverage or making changes to your existing coverage, it is important to keep in mind the open enrollment period for the Washington Health Plan Finder or Covered California. These open enrollment periods provide a critical opportunity to enroll in or make changes to your health insurance coverage, and missing the deadline could mean having to wait until the next open enrollment period to make any changes. It is also important to carefully consider your health insurance needs and compare plans to find the coverage that best fits your needs and budget.

Reporting Your Lost Wage Assistance FEMA Payment in Washington

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Beginning September 21st, Employment Security Department will begin processing payments of an additional $300 per week to the state base weekly unemployment benefit approved under the Lost Wages Assistance FEMA payment.

Federal Emergency Management Assistance (FEMA) has approved five weeks of payments, for weeks August 1st – September 5th*. The duration of the benefit is undefined (contingent on weekly federal approval) and recipients receive the payments retroactively for eligible weeks. 

*As of September 14th, 2020, the payments were approved on a weekly basis for that time.

The Lost Wages Assistance FEMA payments is not countable for Washington Apple Health (Medicaid) eligibility but is countable for tax credit and cost-sharing reductions. You should not include the $300 Lost Wages Assistance FEMA payment in your weekly unemployment income amount reported to the Washington Healthplanfinder application.

You may choose to adjust your Qualified Health Plan tax credits by adjusting the amount of tax credits applied to your premium in Washington Healthplanfinder.

If you require assistance, or have any questions, give us a call at 206-258-6820.

2021 California Health Insurance Rate Changes Announced

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Covered California announced today that the average rate change for the 2021 individual market will be 0.6 percent. This marks a record-low for the second consecutive year and follows California’s efforts to build on, and go beyond, the Affordable Care Act!

The rate change was driven lower by California’s affordability initiatives, the state subsidy program and state individual mandate penalty, which were designed to improve affordability and encourage enrollment.

All 11 of Covered California’s health plans will be returning for 2021, and two plans will be expanding their coverage areas. As a result, 88 percent of Californians will be able to choose from three carriers or more and 99.8 percent of consumers will have two or more choices.

As always, if you have questions, give us a call at (619) 259-6905. We are here to help.

Tips on Reporting Self-employment Income to the WA Exchange

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Are you self-employed? It is best practice to estimate your self-employment income and expenses for the year based on past earned income, expenses, industry standards and other information. If you filed a federal tax return last year, you could use the Adjusted Gross Income you reported, deduct self-employment expenses, then add or subtract based on how you think your income may change for the current year. 

As always, if you have any questions, do not hesitate to give us a call at 206-258-6820. We are always here for you with free assistance.  

If you are trying to report self-employment income based on prior year taxes:

Adjusted Gross Income – Expenses from Prior Year +/- Anticipated Changes = Current Year Self Employment Income

You should update your estimated annual net income when your business circumstances change. If your earnings are lower, you may be eligible for higher tax credits and Cost Sharing reductions. If your earnings are higher than you reported on your Washington Healthplanfinder application, you could have to pay back some or all of the tax credits you took during the year.

You may report that you are self-employed, and may or may not receive a “wage” or pay stub. Only do this if you do not receive a paycheck from your business (income from a corporation is reported as “earned income”.) Additionally, if you receive dividends from your corporation, this would be considered “other” income.

When you are truly self-employed, follow the guidelines below for how income should be reported. You can report all earned income (through your business), collected from your most current tax return, profit and loss statements, or other income ledgers. Individuals should report their net income, taking into account any allowable business expenses (sometimes called “profit”).

  • If self-employment income is higher than business expenses, report as net income

If business expenses are higher than income, report a net loss

California Extends Special-Enrollment Deadline to Give Consumers More Time to Sign Up for Health Care Coverage During COVID-19 Pandemic

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Covered California announced on Tuesday that it would be giving consumers more time to sign up for health care coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic by extending the current special-enrollment deadline through the end of July. 
If you would like to enroll, or have any questions about your options, give Core Columbia a call at 619-259-6905.

“Covered California is committed to helping people get access to the health care they need, and while California is reopening parts of the state, there is still a lot of uncertainty out there due to the pandemic,” said Peter V. Lee, executive director of Covered California. “We want to make sure that people have a path to coverage, whether it is through Covered California or Medi-Cal, and giving people more time to sign up is the right thing to do.”

Every year, Covered California provides eligible consumers the opportunity to sign up for health care coverage outside of the traditional open-enrollment period if they experience a qualifying life event. These can include events like losing your health insurance, moving, getting married or having a baby.  

 People who sign up will have access to private health insurance plans with monthly premiums that may be lowered due to federal and new state financial help that became effective in 2020. After selecting a plan, their coverage would begin on the first day of the following month — meaning individuals losing job-based coverage would not face a gap in coverage.

The latest data from California’s Employment Development Department shows that 6.3 million unemployment claims have been processed in the state since the pandemic started.

“We know that when people lose their jobs, they often lose the health care coverage that was protecting them and their families,” Lee said. “While Californians who lose coverage can always sign up outside of open enrollment, we want to make sure even those who have lost work and did not have insurance have access to the health care in the middle of a pandemic.”

Medi-Cal and Off-Exchange Coverage

In addition, consumers who sign up may find out that they are eligible for no-cost or low-cost coverage through Medi-Cal, which they can enroll in online. Those eligible for Medi-Cal can have coverage that is immediately effective.

California has suspended Medi-Cal renewal reviews through the end of the public health emergency, ensuring that those already enrolled can continue their coverage and freeing up resources to quickly process new enrollments. The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) also received expanded authority to expedite enrollment for seniors and other vulnerable populations, expand the use of telehealth and take other steps to make it easier to access care.

If you would like to enroll, or have any questions about your options, give Core Columbia a call at 619-259-6905.

Washington Health Plan Finder Unemployment Income Reminder and CSR Information

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As a reminder, the Federal Pandemic Unemployment is countable income for Qualified health plans with tax credits and is not countable income for Washington Apple Health (Medicaid). If you have any questions or need to update your income, Core Columbia Insurance is always here to provide straightforward, up to date answers to all of your questions – give us a call at 206-258-6820.

Cost Sharing Reduction (CSR) Tiers

Changes to income can change eligibility. Much of the recommended Qualified Health Plan shopping are based on eligibility of Cost-Sharing Reduction (CSR) tier per household members seeking coverage. The CSR tiers drives the system to make recommendations for different “Groups”.

What are Cost Sharing Reduction (CSR) Tiers?

Cost Sharing Reductions (CSR) reduce the copay, deductible, and other out-of-pocket costs for individuals and families that are eligible based on many different factors including eligibility for tax credits. These out-of-pocket savings apply only to silver-level Qualified Health Plans. There are no CSRs for platinum, gold, bronze, or catastrophic health plans, and they are not available for Qualified Dental Plans. American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) customers may be eligible for CSRs on additional Qualified Health Plan types.

Washington Healthplanfinder Urges Uninsured to Act Fast to Meet Friday, May 8 Deadline

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In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Washington Health Benefit Exchange (Exchange) today is urging individuals who did not secure health insurance for 2020 to sign up for coverage by 5:30 p.m. on Friday, May 8, the deadline of the limited-time special enrollment period (SEP) through Washington Healthplanfinder for coverage beginning May 1, 2020.“Now is the time to sign up for health coverage if you are currently uninsured,” said Exchange Chief Executive Officer Pam MacEwan, “There are many resources available to help individuals understand their options and secure health coverage before the special enrollment period ends.” Individuals who need help signing up for coverage through Washington Healthplanfinder should contact Core Columbia Insurance at 206-258-6820 as soon as possible to meet the enrollment deadline.

Over 19,500 customers have signed up for coverage since the Exchange announced a special enrollment period in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This includes 7,000 uninsured Washington residents who have come in through the COVID-19 special enrollment period, and 12,500 additional customers who have come in through a qualifying life event.

“An unprecedented number of people in our state are losing their employer sponsored health coverage. Those Washingtonians will continue to have free and low-cost coverage options available to them through Washington Healthplanfinder,” said Chief Marketing Officer Michael Marchand. Additional qualifying life events that may open a special enrollment period include:Marriage, birth of a child, or move within the state, Purchased coverage through a health sharing ministry that has received a cease and desist order from the Washington office of Insurance Commissioner for fraudulent activity or Purchased full price coverage outside the Exchange marketplace, who due to a change in income could now benefit from federal subsidies available exclusively through Washington Healthplanfinder. In some cases, individuals may qualify for free or low-cost coverage through Washington Apple Health (Medicaid) that is available year-round.

Coverage You Can Count On
Insurance companies providing coverage through Washington Healthplanfinder have agreed to cover cost sharing related to the testing and treatment of COVID-19.

Contact your health insurance provider directly for more information about:How COVID-19 impacts your coverage, Telehealth, appointments, payment options, grace periods, or other benefits related to COVID-19.

Washington Income Reporting and Your CARES Act Federal Stimulus Payments

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In response to the COVID-19 public health crisis, Congress passed the CARES Act which includes a federal stimulus payment. The amount most individuals will receive is a one-time payment of $1200 individual/$2400 joint filer/$500 per child. Core Columbia Insurance is here to answer any questions you may have about how this benefit impacts your eligibility for Healthplanfinder coverage.

The one-time federal stimulus payment (also referred to as the “Recovery Rebate” by the media or “Economic Impact Payment” by the IRS) is not considered income for purposes of Apple Health or APTC/CSR eligibility. At this time, Core Columbia and the Exchange advise clients to not report this as income in their application.

The federal stimulus payment (referred to as the Recovery Rebate or Economic Impact Payment) is not income for purposes of applying for health and dental coverage through Washington Healthplanfinder. You do not need to report any check or payment amount you receive from the federal government in your application.

Core Columbia Insurance is always here for you, working remotely, to provide straightforward, up to date answers to all of your questions – give us a call at 206-258-6820.