Details About California Health Insurance and quotes

There are several health plans currently available to individuals and families in the State of California and one can choose from amongst the following after consulting a competent insurance agent and studying the comparative benefits and shortcomings:

1. Blue Cross of California Health Insurance Plans
2. Blue Shield of California Health Insurance Plans
3. Health Net of California Health Insurance Plans
4. Nationwide of California Health Insurance Plans
5. PacifiCare of California Health Insurance Plans

The type of health insurance well-known to most consumers in California is group coverage offered by an employer. The health insurance through one's employer means the policy is partially paid by the company on behalf of their employees. The company will contribute a large percentage towards the monthly premium and you will be required to pay only a small percentage usually about 16-27%. The only drawback with employer group plans is you have little choice in the specific benefits of the plan as these are determined by the company after discussing with the insurance carrier. If you are running a small business on your own and have two or more eligible employees who each work at least 30 hours per week, then you can apply for a small group plan.

Another fact to be considered is companies frequently have a waiting period before new employees can qualify for health insurance benefits. If this is the case, you must consider getting a short-term health insurance policy to cover this period.

What happens if you lose a job and take time to get another? It is important not to have a break in health insurance coverage of more than 63 days. With the COBRA program through the federal government, you can extend your health plan for up to 18 months even after losing your job. But you will have to pick up the entire premium cost which your employer had previously been paying. For this reason, it is at times, more economical for people who have lot jobs, to invest in an individual/family insurance policy.

California health insurance plans for low income group offers the opportunity for medical care coverage for people with no sufficient funds to cover the cost. There is Medi-Cal which is the name of California's Medicaid program that offers a public health insurance option to low-income individuals in the state. The program is intended for less privileged groups like low-income families with children, seniors, the disabled, foster care children, pregnant women and individuals with specific diseases like TB, breast cancer, and HIV/AIDS.

Access for Infants & Mothers (AIM) is a program for low-cost basic health coverage to uninsured, middle income pregnant women. The total cost of the program for each participant is roughly 1.5% of the individual's adjusted household income. The state and the federal government largely subsidize participant contributions to cover the full cost of the program.

Major Risk Medical Insurance Program (MRMIP) is a program administered by the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board which provides basic health coverage for Californians with chronic health problems that have rendered them medically uninsurable on the individual insurance market. Residents who qualify pay low premiums which are supplemented by the state to cover the cost of care for the program.