By Esmeralda Mercado

With Gov. Jerry Brown’s passing of SB 222 and AB 210, health insurance policies must soon include maternity benefits starting July 1, 2012. Accordingly, carriers such as Kaiser Permanente in California will be adding pregnancy coverage to three private plans, which currently exclude maternity insurance: the $40/3000, $40/4000, and $50/5000 Deductible Plans. As a health insurance broker for Kaiser Permanente, we are excited about the change. We are looking forward to these popular plans drawing even more interest. Although rates may change, we anticipate that the three plans will continue to offer some of the lowest priced options, and now, include affordable maternity coverage. For more information, click Kaiser California Individual Health Insurance.
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Posted: February 14th, 2012 under California, Esmeralda Mercado, Health Insurance, Kaiser Permanente.
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By Thomas Cazneau

Just a few more days until Valentine’s Day! In my previous blog, I shared five tips on how to build and maintain healthy communication in relationships. Whether you are spending Valentine’s Day with family, friends, a love interest, or coworkers, healthy communication can definitely be of help! Consider these five promised tips as my Valentine’s Day cards to you.
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Posted: February 10th, 2012 under Associate Blogs, General Interest, Health and Fitness, Thomas Cazneau.
Comments: 4

By Thomas Cazneau
January and February have different emphases. January is mainly focused on improving yourself while February is a time for cultivating healthy relationships with others.

In January, my New Year’s resolution was to lose weight and eat healthier, and as far as the mirror and scale tell me, I am doing great. To insure this, I have a very reliable Kaiser Permanente Health Insurance Plan. They have member programs to support me in my current health goals. If you would like more information about Kaiser member benefits, click Kaiser Health Insurance Plans.

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Posted: February 7th, 2012 under General Interest, Health and Fitness, Thomas Cazneau.
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By Thomas Cazneau
I am a health insurance benefits specialist for an agency that specializes in California Kaiser health insurance. Choosing medical coverage can be difficult, especially when there are so many options. However, I find that there are three popular plans among customers who call us to enroll for California Kaiser health insurance. They are the $30/1500, $40/2000, & $40/3000 HMO Deductible Plans.
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Posted: January 30th, 2012 under California, Deductible Plans, Kaiser Permanente, Thomas Cazneau.
Comments: 5

By Esmeralda Mercado

According to The National Mental Health Association, about 54 million people in America have a mental health disorder. Another study reports that one out of four people have a mental illness. In California alone, the Department of Mental Health has a budget of over $4 billion and more than 10,000 employees dedicated to the treatment and prevention of mental disorders in the state.

Mental Health Insurance
Kaiser Permanente has numerous plans that include mental health coverage. In California, for example, all individual and family plan offerings insure mental health services. Benefits usually apply to outpatient individual or group visits, as well as to hospitalization and intensive psychiatric treatment. Prescription drugs are covered, if the policy you selected includes the benefit. Plans vary, so be sure to verify with your insurance representative.

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Posted: January 12th, 2012 under Esmeralda Mercado, General Interest, Health Insurance.
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By Esmeralda Mercado

It’s time for Kaiser Permanente’s open enrollment for child-only plans in Colorado. Twice a year, Kaiser has an open enrollment period when applications for kids only will be accepted, even if there is no qualifying event.

Children under age 19 may apply for Kaiser Colorado individual health insurance in a variety of ways:
• On a family plan with at least one parent or a legal guardian,
• As a dependent on a group plan,
• On a plan by himself or herself, providing the child had a qualifying event within 30 days of the application date. Examples of a qualifying event are: loss of coverage, adoption, newborn, court order, etc.
Every January and July, there is a fourth option. During open enrollment, Kaiser Permanente will accept child-only applications whether or not there has been a qualifying event. Applications received in January will be effective March 1st; those received in July will be effective September 1st. During the open enrollment, rates will continue to be subject to adjustments, if applicable.
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Posted: January 6th, 2012 under Child Coverage, Colorado, Esmeralda Mercado.
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I’m reading a book about living the life you’ve always dreamed of. It’s non-fiction. The book is about dreaming outside the box and taking steps towards your passion in life. In a way, the book describes what we do with resolutions at the beginning of each new year: We have a fresh canvas of a year ahead of us and we color it with ideas on what we’d like to become or what we’d like to accomplish. The start of a new year is a great time to pursue your success story. With 2012 just a few days away, what are your dreams or New Year resolutions?

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Posted: December 29th, 2011 under General Interest, Health and Fitness.
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By Esmeralda Mercado

Christmas stress. There’s something wrong about these two words being connected. Could it be that in our effort to give the best gifts, we’ve somehow lost the time and sanity of mind to celebrate in peace and good will?

Meaning of “Christmas”
According to Wikipedia, “Christmas” means “Christ’s mass”, commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. In the first Christmas, three wise men brought gifts to honor the King born in the manger. Centuries later, mankind celebrates it by giving gifts to their loved ones. The spirit of Christmas was and always has been one of peace and good will. So why the stress?

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Posted: December 22nd, 2011 under General Interest.
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