Where To Buy The Most Affordable Health Insurance

If youre looking for the most affordable health insurance plans, there are several routes you can go when youre comparing plans.

Buy from the Marketplace

In many areas, most of the health insurance options available will be plans offered through the Marketplace. Many states also direct health insurance inquiries to the Marketplace at healthcare.gov.

Some states have extended open enrollment and there are several ways you can still enroll if open enrollment has ended.

Qualifying life events for SEP include:

• You lost qualifying health coverage in the past 60 days.
• You or someone in your household got married.
• You had a baby.
• You gained or became a dependent.
• You got divorced or legally separated and lost your health insurance.
• A death in the family changed your eligibility for a Marketplace plan.

If none of these life events apply or if you simply want to purchase coverage without purchasing through the Marketplace, you have some options. You might consider working with a health insurance broker who can provide you with your options both through the Marketplace or through private plans.

Private Health Insurance Plans

Your options for private health insurance plans are likely to be limited in many areas of the country, but there may still be some good options, depending on where you live. Private health insurance plans may meet the requirements of ACA or state mandates.

However, dont expect any subsidies for plans purchased outside of state exchanges or healthcare.gov.

Shop Unitedhealthcare Individual And Family Marketplace Plans

Plans on the health care Marketplace are categorized based on how you and your plan split the cost of your health care. They go by Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum known as the metal categories. For 2022, UnitedHealthcare is offering plan options in the Bronze, Silver and Gold metal levels.

Find plans with $0 virtual care,1, 2 prescriptions as low as $3,1, 3 digital fitness classes at no additional cost,4 and more.

Learn more about ACA tax forms from the Internal Revenue Service .

Footnotes

Cover Your Expenses If You Get Sick Or Injured And Cant Work

RBC Simplified Disability Insurance is an easy and affordable way to protect your income.Get a competitive quote online in minutes or call us at 1-800-769-2568.

Gross annual income refers to the total amount of money you earn in one year from all sources before taxes. If you are self-employed, your annual income is your share of the income or loss of your business after business expenses but before income taxes. If you are an incorporated business, you may also include any wages, salary, fees or commissions that are paid to you as an employee of the business.

Also known as the elimination period. That is the length of time you are required to wait before you begin receiving monthly benefits.

Don’t Miss: How Much Is High Deductible Health Insurance

Can I Combine Health Plans

You can try mixing indemnity insurance, designed to pay a set percentage of the health provider’s fee if youre hospitalized or in an accident, with a short-term medical plan that can let you go to the doctor a few times a year for more minor ailments.

In her former role as senior vice president of advisor services at Manning & Napier, Shelby George noticed people trying to rig these set-ups on their own, sometimes with poor results. They had to file every claim with all insurers so that every dollar could be recouped. That was complex, so the company rolled out combo plans with single insurers to make the claims process smoother.

Still, eHealth’s Nate Purpura notes that you have to take heed of two things when choosing health plans:

• Is the plan underwritten based on your health, or is it guaranteed issue, so it must enroll you regardless of your age, health status, or other factors?
• What does the plan cover if you have to be hospitalized?

Always make sure you know what youd get, before choosing a health plan.

How Do I Get Cheap Health Insurance

Regardless of how you shop for an affordable health insurance plan, you’ll want to examine the numbers and make sure your doctors accept the plan. Otherwise, you may have to pay more or all of the costs for visits to those doctors.

Compare the premiums, copays, deductibles and out-of-pocket costs. Also, determine what costs are most important. Finally, ask yourself, Would I rather lower premiums or lower out-of-pocket costs?

Michael Daugherty, vice president of sales at GetInsured, advises that very low-premium plans can have higher price tags because of out-of-pocket costs.

“Purchasing a plan with a low premium can be a pitfall if it ends up having a high deductible, he says. Also, short-term plans may appear to be cheap, but they only cover you in a catastrophic situation and generally exclude expenses that may result from pre-existing conditions. It’s important to buy health insurance from a reputable, qualified broker who can explain your options and tell you what the real cost of a health insurance plan is.”

Deborah Gordon, author of “The Healthcare Consumer’s Manifesto: How to Get the Most for Your Money,” says the best plan depends on your specific circumstances.

“If you don’t expect to need a lot of healthcare services, that trade-off may work out well for you, Gordon explains But, if you’re worried about unanticipated expenses or wouldn’t be able to handle medical bills, consider a plan that protects you a little better.”

Don’t Miss: Who Is Eligible For Aarp Health Insurance

No Insurance Should Not Be An Option

I once met a man who chose not to purchase health insurance. He said, I work out. I eat well. Thats my insurance.

I often wondered what he thought would happen if he tore an ACL playing touch football, or got hit by a drunk driver.

Unless youre extremely wealthy and can afford to pay for a medical catastrophe that comes your way, forgoing insurance altogether is not advised.

Even the most healthy among us fall and break their arms, get into car accidents, or come down with life-threatening diseases.

A visit to the emergency room for even a minor issue could leave you with thousands of dollars in medical bills.

The costs of surgery could run in the tens of thousands of dollars.

While the Affordable Care Act no longer has a tax penalty for not having coverage, insurance provides peace of mind.

What Is A Special Enrollment Period

A Special Enrollment Period is a 60-day window where qualifying individuals and families can enroll in ACA plans outside of the OEP. You could qualify for a Special Enrollment Period if youve experienced specific events, including getting married, having a baby, getting a divorce, relocating, or losing your health insurance.

Federal and state marketplaces can also open Special Enrollment Periods that do not require individual life events. During these extended Special Enrollment Periods, you can also apply for an ACA health insurance plan outside of the Open Enrollment Period.

Read Also: How To Apply For Health Insurance In Arizona

Farm Bureau Health Insurance

If youre healthy and dont qualify for Marketplace subsidies, Farm Bureau plans may be cheaper than other alternatives. Like short-term health plans, Farm Bureau health insurance may not cover pre-existing conditions or could have a waiting period before these conditions are covered. Your medical history is a factor when you apply, and could cause you to be denied coverage.

Though Farm Bureau plans can be relatively affordable, these cheap health insurance plans are not compliant with the Affordable Care Act regulation and dont have to cover the 10 essential health benefits. Coverage varies by state, but you can apply year-round if youre a Farm Bureau member, which comes with a separate annual membership cost.

Choose An Insurance Company

Once youve narrowed down the metal level and price point for your plan, now you have to pick between different insurance companies. This is where many consumers may get overwhelmed, especially in states that offer coverage from multiple providers.

Do a little research among the insurance companies. A good place to start is to read through the Summary of Benefits and Coverage.

You might also find starred ratings of insurance companies on your state’s marketplace. You should confirm how the ratings are developed: are they objectively applied by an independent or government agency or simply aggregated customer reviews ? Remember that starred ratings are indicative, not definitive. Whats best in terms of health coverage for one person may not be suitable for another.

Instead of relying on reviews, you can come up with a few “deal-breaker” questions or make a list of must-haves. Here are some common examples and criteria to consider when comparing different insurance policies:

Also Check: How To Cancel Health Insurance Aetna

Choose Your Health Insurance Policy Discreetly

It may be the case that your employer has got you the facility of a group medical policy. This particular policy isnt adequate for you and your entire family. This is because it covers only a couple of ailments and not many. So, it would help if you bought a personal health insurance policy. Make sure the policy covers the rest of the disorders apart from your group medical policy. This health insurance plan must be comprehensive, catering to your family members medical requirements.

President Expands Special Enrollment Period For Low

The ACA marketplaces open enrollment is usually from in most states, but starting in 2022, low-income Americans will have more chances to get a marketplace plan.

People with income up to 150% of federal poverty level will be eligible for a special enrollment period each month. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services estimates that about one-third of marketplace plan members will qualify.

Don’t Miss: What Is Temporary Health Insurance

Unitedhealthcare Individual And Family Marketplace Plans

Looking for health care plans on the Marketplace? UnitedHealthcare Individual and Family Marketplace plans offer affordable, reliable coverage options for you and your family. As part of the American Rescue Plan Act , many individuals and families are now eligible for lower or in some cases $0 monthly premiums for Marketplace health coverage.

2022 open enrollment is now closed, but you may be eligible for a special enrollment period .Learn about special enrollment periods.

What Is Cobra Insurance And Is It Worth It

The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, commonly known as COBRA, is a federally mandated program through which you can retain your employer’s policy for up to 18 months. If you do elect COBRA coverage, be prepared to pay significantly higher monthly premiums youll be required to cover the amount your employer was contributing plus a 2% administration fee. COBRA often isnt worth it, as most unemployed individuals can find a much more affordable policy on the marketplace.

Read Also: How To Sign Up For Free Health Insurance

What Can You Do If You’re Facing Unaffordable Premiums

Most Americans get coverage from a subsidized government-run program , an employer-sponsored plan that includes significant employer subsidies and tax breaks, or a subsidized individual market plan through the exchange.

So the people who have to pay full price for their coverage are sometimes lost in the shuffle. But if you’re faced with a premium bill that amounts to a substantial portion of your income, you’re not alone. Let’s take a look at what you can do in this situation.

First, understand why you’re not eligible for financial assistance with your premiums. In most cases, you’ll be in one of the three scenarios described above.

Switch to the Exchange

If you’re enrolled in a plan outside the exchange/marketplace in your state, you can’t receive a subsidy. Switching to the exchange might result in much more affordableand possibly more comprehensivecoverage. This is especially true now that the American Rescue Plan has been implemented. If you’re eligible for subsidies, you might be surprised to find out how affordable the coverage is.

You can switch to a plan in the exchange during open enrollment, which runs from November 1 through January 15 in most states .

Outside of open enrollment, you’ll need a qualifying life event in order to switch plans.

Talk to Your Employer

It’s important to understand, however, that the family might still not be eligible for financial assistance with their premiums even if the employer stops offering spousal coverage altogether .

What If You Don’t Qualify For Medicaid

Don’t panic if you dont meet the rules for Medicaid. You do have other options. Health care expert Shelby George, CEO of PERKY, a firm that helps employers educate employees about benefits, warns to be cautious about signing up for a plan without first doing your research. Theres so much jargon, complexity, and misunderstanding in the health insurance world, she says. Its become just like shopping for a car. Spend the hours you need to know what youre getting for what youre paying.

Keep some key points in mind when you search for a health plan that you can afford.

• Medicaid: It’s free or very low-cost if you qualify

• An IRS tax credit that can offset or even cover the cost of a plan

• A cheap, short-term plan, because IRS rules changed to allow you to keep one of these for up to one year

• Plans that claim to be low-cost but aren’t

• Income limits that could disqualify you from Medicaid

• The limited coverage of short-term policies

• The fine print: Plans often have complex rules and many exclude certain care

Recommended Reading: What Qualifies For Self Employed Health Insurance Deduction

Medicaid Chip And Insurance Plans Through The Marketplace

When you fill out a Marketplace application, youll find out if you qualify for any of these types of coverage:

• A Marketplace insurance plan. You may qualify for premium tax credits and savings on deductibles, copayments, and other out-of-pocket costs based on your household size and income. Some people with low incomes may wind up paying very small premiums. Learn about getting lower costs on a Marketplace insurance plan.
• Medicaid. Medicaid provides coverage to millions of Americans with limited incomes or disabilities. Many states have expanded Medicaid to cover all people below certain income levels. Learn more about Medicaid and how to apply.
• Childrens Health Insurance Program . CHIP provides coverage for children, and in some states pregnant women, in families with incomes too high for Medicaid but too low to afford private insurance. Learn more about CHIP.

After you finish your Marketplace application, youll get an eligibility determination that tells you what kind of coverage you and others in your household qualify for.

Can You Get A Health Plan For Free

Many people pay nothing if they qualify for the Affordable Care Acts premium tax credit subsidy. This tax credit is taken in advance to lower the amount of each monthly health premium you must pay, although it goes straight to the insurer.

You must apply for a plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace to be eligible for the premium tax credit. If your state has its own exchange, check the website to see which tax credits are available.

The amount you receive will depend on the household income that you disclose when you apply. If you make between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level , you’ll qualify for subsidies on health plans that you can buy through the Health Insurance Marketplace, the federal government’s program for buying ACA plans. If you made over 400% of the FPL, you might have qualified for subsidies in 2021 and 2022, thanks to the American Rescue Plan. Even if your income was too high in prior years. you may be eligible for tax credits for 2022.

You must file a tax return at the end of the year to reconcile your income with the tax credit you received. You may have to pay back some of the tax credit that lowered your costs if you ended up with more income than you thought you would have when you first applied.

You won’t have to pay back any excess tax credit you received in 2020, because the IRS has waived this rule for just this one tax year.

Rules and costs can vary by state, but this option bears looking into before you settle on any other.

Recommended Reading: Do Small Businesses Have To Offer Health Insurance

What Do Individual Health Plans Cover

Individual health insurance plans offer comprehensive coverage.

Before the ACA, individual health plans courage varied widely. Insurance companies could deny applications for insurance or set exorbitant premiums if you had a health condition.

Now, a health insurance company has to cover you regardless of your health history. You qualify for individual health insurance even if youre pregnant, have a long-term condition like diabetes or a serious illness, such as cancer.

Health insurance plans additionally cant cap the amount of benefits you receive. Theyre further limited on how much out-of-pocket costs you have to pay in a year.

In addition, all individual health plans must cover a standard set of 10 essential health benefits:

• Outpatient care, including doctors visits
• Emergency room visits
• Mental health and substance abuse treatment
• Prescription drugs
• Services and devices for recovery after an injury or due to a disability or chronic condition
• Lab tests
• Preventive services, including health screenings, immunizations and birth control. You pay nothing out of pocket for preventive care when you see health care providers in your plans network.
• Pediatric services, including dental and vision care for kids.