Should Married Couples Combine Health Insurance

Whether or not you and your spouse should combine health insurance doesnt exactly inspire thoughts of romance, but its an important topic for any about-to-be-married or married couple to discuss. About one-third of couples opt for separate plans but that also means over two-thirds share the same health insurance. Your doctor preferences, medical needs and out-of-pocket costs are just a few of the important considerations in healthcare plans for couples. Use this conversation guide to get started in understanding the difference between single vs. married health insurance.

Americans With Disabilities Act Excuses Some People From Mandatory Vaccination

The Americans with Disabilities Act requires employers to provide âreasonable accommodationsâ to workers with medical conditions that would make them unable to get a vaccine. The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission recognizes long COVID as a disability under the ADA.

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, these civil rights protections apply â even during emergencies â and canât be waived.

Still, the CDC found that some long COVID patients say their symptoms improved after receiving the vaccination. The agency says more studies are needed to determine how the vaccine affects post-COVID conditions.

Individual Health Insurance Premiums On The Exchanges

The federal insurance plan marketplace at HealthCare.gov, aka Obamacare, is alive and well in 2021, despite years of its political foes’ efforts to kill it. It offers plans from about 175 companies. Some 12 states and the District of Columbia operate their own health exchanges, which basically mirror the federal site but focus on plans available to their residents. People in these areas sign up through their state, rather than the federal exchange.

Each of the available plans is offered in four levels of coverage, each with its own price. In order of price, they are labeled platinum, gold, silver, and bronze. The benchmark plan is the second-lowest-cost silver plan available through the health insurance exchange in a given area, and it can vary even within the state where you live. It’s called the benchmark plan because it’s the plan the government usesalong with your incometo determine your premium subsidy, if any.

The good news is, prices are going down a bit. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services , the average premium for the second-lowest-cost silver plan decreased by 4% on HealthCare.gov from 2019 to 2020 for a 27-year-old. Six states experienced double-digit percentage declines in average second-lowest-cost silver plan premiums for 27-year-olds, including Delaware , Nebraska , North Dakota , Montana , Oklahoma , and Utah .6

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Individual Health Insurance Tax Penalties

The Individual Mandate requires most individuals to purchase health insurance, or else pay a penalty on their tax return each year. The intention of the individual penalty is to reduce the “Free Riding” effect in the health insurance market (a free rider is someone who is healthy and does not purchase health insurance until they need it.

Accident & Critical Illness Insurance

Accidental injuries and critical illness happen when you least expect them. Those unexpected expenses can strain any budget. Accident insurance3 and critical illness insurance3 can help by paying cash benefits for covered injuries or illnesses.

The Accident Pro series of products, underwritten by Golden Rule Insurance Company, combines accident insurance with critical illness, hospitalization, and accidental death and dismemberment coverage all in one. Some plans are guaranteed issue, meaning your application wont be turned down for preexisting conditions.

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How The American Recovery Plan Act Makes Health Insurance Cheaper

Signed into law on March 11, 2021, the new $1.9 trillion COVD-19 stimulus package will have a major impact on the healthcare premiums of millions of Americans.

Officially known as the American Rescue Plan Act, this stimulus is expected to reduce healthcare premiums on some plans by as much as 20%. This will ultimately save millions of Americans hundreds of dollars on healthcare.

The stimulus plan reduces healthcare costs by expanding tax credits on many healthcare plans. Healthcare costs vary based upon an individualâs age, income and chosen plan but consider the following examples.

Stimulus impact for

How To Find The Best Health Insurance Plan In Idaho

The best health insurance for you will be based on the availability of plans in your area, as well as your health and financial situation. Expanded Medicaid is available in Idaho, meaning that anybody with a household income of less than 138% of the federal poverty level would be able to apply for the program. Nevertheless, Idaho has enacted an additional work requirement that only allows working people to be eligible for Medicaid.

When assessing health plans, you should begin by comparing the premiums and out-of-pocket maximums of plans to determine what is affordable for your situation. Essentially, if you expect to have moderate to high medical expenses throughout the year, then you should purchase an upper-tier plan with a smaller deductible but costly premiums.

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List Of Health Insurance Providers And Comparison Of Plans In Indiana

We have compared three of the most affordable health insurance companies in Indiana. Below, you can find out what kind of health coverage these insurance companies provide and select the one most suited to your needs.

CareSource Just4Me

CareSource Just4Me offers health insurance in all 92 counties of Indiana. They offer 3 Bronze, 6 Silver, and 2 Gold plans.

CareSource Just4Me is one of the very few insurance companies that offer good Indiana health insurance for low income and underserved communities. It provides affordable plans with different levels of coverage, including primary care and specialty physicians services, outpatient services, prescription medication coverage, preventive and wellness services, chronic disease management, hospitalizations, emergency services, mental health, and substance abuse treatment, lab services, rehabilitative services, diagnostic imaging, pediatric health, and vision services and podiatry care.

However, its plans do not cover nutrition or dietary supplements, assisted reproductive therapy, hearing aids, alternative or complementary medicine, or cosmetic procedures.

Celtic Insurance Company

The most affordable health insurance in Indiana offered by Celtic Insurance Company is the Celtic Basic health insurance, which has low premiums and options for a higher deductible. This is a good plan for self-employed people as it offers preventive care, prescription drug coverage, and a healthy lifestyle benefit program.

Anthem BlueCross BlueShield

Pass Your Indiana Licensing Exam

After completing your Indiana required prelicensing course, you must pass a state licensing exam. Kaplans Indiana prelicensing content is based directly on the Indiana Licensing exams, so you will be prepared to pass the first time.

Certificate of Completion Requirements

• Certificate of Completion is issued by the education provider at the end of the study course and is valid for six months.
• You must pass your exam and apply for your license during this six-month period.
• Applicant must take the original Certificate of Completion with them to the test center on the day of the exam.

Exam Provider: Pearson VUE

To obtain a Licensing Information Bulletin, go to the Pearson VUE website at . Scheduling an exam may be done online through or by calling Pearson VUE at 866-895-0496.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Indiana Licensing Exam

After completing my Indiana licensing course how should I prepare for exam day?

Online reservations are the most efficient way for candidates to schedule their examination. Candidates must go to www.pearsonvue.com/in/insurance to make an online reservation for an examination. First-time users are required to create an account.

Candidates must make an online reservation at least twenty-four hours before the desired examination date.

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Buying Indiana Health Insurance For Individuals Families And Self

If you dont have access to medical insurance through an employer, you can get this coverage through an ACA plan. Plans are available to individuals and families. If youre a self-employed entrepreneur with no employees, you count as an individual.

ACA or Obamacare plans are required to cover preexisting conditions. You cant be denied a policy because of your health. All plans include essential health benefits, such as prescription drug coverage, hospitalization, and free preventive care. Plans that cover children must also offer them dental and vision coverage.

ACA plans come in four metal levels: bronze, silver, gold, and platinum. Each level covers a certain percentage of your healthcare costs. Bronze covers the least, and platinum offers the most coverage. However, no Indiana health insurance carrier provides platinum plans in 2020.4

Employer Health Benefits Survey

The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation has 50 states health insurance coverage and cost data available. Also, the foundation conducts an annual national survey of private and public employers with three or more workers. The most current Employer Health Benefits survey for 2004 found that health insurance premiums in the nation have moderated over the last year but continue to grow at double-digit rates . Meanwhile, 52 percent of large firms and 15 percent of small firms responded that they were very likely to increase the amount their employees pay for health insurance over the next year.

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Get Important News & Updates

Sign up for email and/or text notices of Medicaid and other FSSA news, reminders, and other important information. When registering your email, check the category on the drop-down list to receive notices of Medicaid updates check other areas of interest on the drop-down list to receive notices for other types of FSSA updates.

Limited Exemptions For Iu International Plan

Most international students in F and J status and their dependents are required to enroll in the IU International Plan, but limited exemptions apply. It is important you do not purchase health insurance from another company unless you are sure you qualify for an exemption category.

Automatic exemptions

• Graduate students with Assistantships or Fellowships who are enrolled on a different IU health insurance plan
• Sponsored students whose sending organization provides approved health insurance as stated in their financial guarantee or contract

Exemption requests

• J-1 students in an official exchange program whose sending organization either provides health insurance or funding to purchase health insurance that meets J-1 requirements
• Students enrolled in a health insurance plan provided by their spouseâs or parentâs U.S.-based employer
• Students working on CPT or OPT who receive health insurance through their U.S.-based employer
• Students completing coursework outside of the U.S. due to COVID-19

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Texas 2016 Health Insurance Rate Increases

Texas makes it even easier! Just go to and find your writing company. Click Review Complete beside it. That will get you to a page like this showing average rate increases and other data. Its less specific to you, but if you want a copy of the rate filing you just have to send an open records request to [email protected] and include the state tracking number from this PDF in your request. Thats the state tracking number, not the SERFF tracking number.

Oh, and if you currently have Assurant Health, youll need to shop for a new plan. Theyre winding down their health insurance business and will no longer offer the products.

Catastrophic Health Insurance Plans

For qualifying Americans under the age of 30, catastrophic plans are available to provide what can be considered last-resort health insurance. Catastrophic plan premiums are lower than even Bronze tier plans. However, you pay more for visits and prescriptions due to high deductibles, which are $8,550 for the year in 2021.

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What Newlyweds Should Know About Health Insurance

Navigate your new health insurance options and set yourself up for a lifetime of happiness and health.

Congratulations on your new marriage ! Besides a lifetime of domestic bliss, there is another exciting, if not exactly romantic, benefit to your new status: The option to enroll in health insurance coverage or change your health plan.

In most cases, individuals and families can only purchase a new health plan once a year during open enrollment. However, marriage or domestic partnership is considered a qualifying life event. That means you and your new partner â as well as any children in your new family â can now qualify for a special enrollment period to get or change coverage.

Understanding Your Choices

If one of the members of the couple already has health insurance through an employer, you may be able add a spouse, partner or dependents to that employer-sponsored plan. Remember: Small businesses and part-time employers are not legally required to offer health insurance. Large employers are legally obligated only to offer coverage to employees and their dependents â but not their spouse or partner.1

Keep in mind that if your household size or income has changed due to your union, your eligibility for financial help may also change. As with any other life change, if you are already enrolled in a health plan through Covered California, youâll need to report it.

Consider All Your Options

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Is There A Health Insurance Spousal Surcharge

Nearly 90 percent of employers that offer health insurance also offer spousal coverage, with some caveats. Some may only offer coverage if the spouse doesnt have their own employer option. Others over 30 percent of companies in fact may charge a premium to add a spouse, while some may reimburse an employee who enrolls in their spouses plan instead.

Taking all of these factors into consideration available options, medical needs, costs, etc. can help you determine which choice is best for you and your spouse.

The information in this article was obtained from various sources not associated with State Farm® . While we believe it to be reliable and accurate, we do not warrant the accuracy or reliability of the information. State Farm is not responsible for, and does not endorse or approve, either implicitly or explicitly, the content of any third party sites that might be hyperlinked from this page. The information is not intended to replace manuals, instructions or information provided by a manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional, or to affect coverage under any applicable insurance policy. These suggestions are not a complete list of every loss control measure. State Farm makes no guarantees of results from use of this information.

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The Cost Of Health Insurance In Indiana

The average cost of health insurance in the state of Indiana is $6,618 per person based on the most recently published data. For a family of four, this translates to $26,472. This is $363 per person below the national average for health insurance coverage. However, health insurance costs vary significantly based on the cost of care and the population insured. The chart below shows the four major insurance types available in Indiana. The dollar amounts shown on the chart are the average cost in Indiana to insure people for each type of insurance.

Facts About The Indiana Health Insurance Marketplace

Open enrollment for 2016 coverage was November 1 through January 31, 2015. However, if you experience a life changing event that involves change in family status or loss of other health coverage you qualify for a special enrollment period of 60 days.

If you want to retain St. Vincent as your primary provider, check below for a list of St. Vincent Marketplace plans.

Eligible individuals can sign up for Medicaid and the Childrens Health Insurance Program at any time.

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Do I Need Health Insurance If I Have An Hsa/fsa

A health savings account or flexible savings account can be a sound financial planning option that protects you whenever youre hit with a sudden medical expense. However, youd need to save a lot of money for one of these accounts to cover your medical expenses completely, so its a good idea to have health insurance in addition to an HSA or FSA.

Small Business Health Insurance Reform

Are you ready for health care reform in 2014?

Today, employers are more stressed than ever. Heres why:

It is time for employers to examine the specifics of healthcare reform, and start thinking strategically vs. emotionally. Change is hard. However, employers that educate themselves and plan ahead can avoid severe financial impacts.

The more change and disruption your business can embrace, the more cost savings you will be able to realize over the long term. In order to embrace this change, you must be familiar with the key aspects of ACA. For many small businesses, the solution to healthcare reform is simple: Offer a Business Expense Account for Healthcare. A new vehicle, called a Healthcare Reimbursement Plan , allows employers to get out of the health insurance business, and simply give select employees monthly allowances to spend on their own health insurance policy in a state health insurance exchange.

Listed below are key ACA components to consider when choosing small business health insurance.

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Who Is Exempt From Health Insurance

Theres also an affordability exemption for people who would be spending more than 8.24% of their income on the cheapest plan in their area from Covered California, the states health insurance marketplace. People who qualify for Medi-Cal, the states Medicaid program for low-income individuals,are also exempt.