Free Expert Health Insurance Help

Finding affordable health insurance that works for you can be hard. We get it.

But no one should have to struggle to find the insurance that gets them the care they need when and where they need it.

The Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance built WisCovered.com to help connect you to free expert help in your community and around the state. Below you will find options to call and talk to a real person who can walk you through the complicated maze of health insurance. If youre more the DIY type, you can find options to apply online right now.

Weve also got common questions and answers that may help you find coverage or get help paying for your health insurance.

Your health is important.

Yes. Every year plan prices and options change. Also, the amount of financial help may change so it is important to update your financial and household information. If your income goes down or you have a baby, you may qualify for additional financial help. If your income goes up, youll want to make sure youre not taking more financial help than you should.

Be sure to check to see if your favorite doctors, hospitals, medications, and pharmacies are still available if you renew your plan sometimes networks change from year to year.

Health Insurance Is What We Do

At Network Health, we do whats right, even when it isnt easy. Were honest and hardworking, just like you, Wisconsin. Plus, were co-owned by two of Wisconsins high-quality health systems, Froedtert Health and Ascension Wisconsin. All this means we take extra steps to make health insurance affordable and understandable, so you can make the most of your coverage.

We do whats right because its who we are. Health insurance is what we do.

Medicare Enrollment And Plan Options In Wisconsin

Medicare is generally for people 65 and older. But younger Wisconsinites with disabilities can also get Medicare. About one fifth of Wisconsinites have Medicare. This amounts to roughly 1.2 million people. Just over half of all beneficiaries are enrolled in Original Medicare from the federal government. The rest get coverage through private Medicare Advantage plans.10

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Health Insurance Law Is Complicated Our Job Is To Make It Easy For You

Contact us!Medicare has neither reviewed nor endorsed this information. Wisconsin Health Insurance Advocate and its brokers are not connected with the Federal Medicare Program or the Health Insurance Marketplace.

I’m uninsured and I missed Open Enrollment. Is there any way I can buy an ACA plan that starts this year? What is the Advanced Premium Tax Credit ?What is a premium?What is “cost-sharing”?What is a copay?What is coinsurance?What is a deductible?What does out of pocket maximum mean?What does the term “in-network” mean? Can I switch plans mid-year if I’m unhappy with my coverage? qualified after

What Is The Obamacare Penalty If I Dont Buy Health Insurance

If you do not buy Obamacare or other qualifying health coverage you will be subject to a tax penalty for each month you go without coverage. This fee should be paid when you file your federal tax return. In some special cases, there are exemptions to this penalty.

The Obamacare penalty for 2016 is either 1) 2.5% of your household income, with a maximum of the price of a Bronze plan sold through the Marketplace, or 2) $695 per adult and $347.50 per child under 18 years of age with a maximum of $2,085. You will pay whichever of the two options is higher.

The Obamacare penalty for 2017 is fairly similar to 2016 with the percentage fee of 2.5% remaining the same, however, the flat fee will be adjusted for inflation.

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The American Rescue Plan Act Of : Health Equity

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 will work to address systemic inequities through a $25.2 billion investment in underserved communities and communities of color, including:

• $7.6 billion for community health centers, Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alikes, and Native Hawaiian Health Centers
• $3.3 billion for the Indian Health Service
• $1 billion for emergency assistance for children, families, and workers through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program
• $500 million for nursing home strike teams to manage COVID-19 outbreaks and another $200 million for infection control in nursing homes
• $276 million to protect the elderly and fight elder abuse
• $150 million for the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program
• $50 million for the Title X Family Planning Program
• Allowing states to provide Medicaid coverage for one year postpartum to address the maternal health crisis disproportionately affecting communities of color
• Increased federal support through Medicaid for home- and community-based services

How To Become An Insurance Agent In Wisconsin

: Ethan Peyton

Getting your Wisconsin insurance license is the first step to becoming an insurance agent in Wisconsin. Whether youre interested in selling property and casualty insurance, life insurance, health insurance, or any combination of those lines of authority, this article has the information you need to get started.

The Wisconsin Department of Insurance has a 6-step process to getting your insurance license. Well walk you through step-by-step from the license application to insurance test prep, to the Wisconsin insurance exam, and beyond.

This guide has everything you need to know to get your Wisconsin insurance license quickly and easily.

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Do You Have A Job That Offers Affordable Health Insurance

If you click on Dont Know you will need to get some information from your job to fill out the worksheet.

Medicare is a health insurance program for people who are 65 or older,have end-stage kidney disease, or who get SSDI payments.

Do you qualify for Medicare?

If you can answer yes to any of these questions, you may qualify for Medicare:

Are you 65 or older?

Are you receiving Social Security Disability payments?

Do you have end-stage kidney disease?

What Are Wisconsins Medicare Options For Seniors And People With Disabilities

The Medicare program is a federally funded program for retirees and those with qualifying disabilities. Wisconsinites can choose from the original Medicare program and Medicare Advantage plans through health insurance companies.

• Original Medicare is Medicare Part A, which covers inpatient care, and Part B, which provides coverage for preventive care, medical transportation, testing, medical equipment, and supplies. You can enroll in Medicare Part D, which covers prescription medications.
• Medicare Advantage Plans provide Wisconsin residents with the option to customize their coverage. Some Medicare Advantage Plans offer a prescription drug plan, plus vision and dental coverage not provided through Medicare Part A or B.

You can enroll in a Medicare Supplement Insurance plan to offset your out-of-pocket expenses. Wisconsin requires more coverage for Medigap policies than other states, such as copayments for nursing care and limited home health care. These plans usually cover 25% or 50% of your out-of-pocket expenses. You can choose a deductible that suits your needs.

Medicare Resources

For further assistance or if youve got more questions about Medicare enrollment, you can contact the Wisconsin Department of Health Services by calling 608-266-1865.

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What Plans Offer Better Coverage

The most comprehensive plans typically meet Affordable Care Act standards and cover preexisting conditions, emergency services and prescription drugs, among other things. Theyll likely have a higher premium. A plan with a lower premium will cost less per month, but might not cover as much, leaving you with high out-of-pocket costs.

How Can I Get More Information

For more information about your coverage offered by your employer, please check your open enrollment materials, which include the annual Health Benefits Decision Guide and the online health plan’s summary plan description . You may also contact your health plan or your benefits/payroll/personnel office. Retirees may contact ETF.

The Marketplace can help you evaluate your coverage options, including your eligibility for coverage through the Marketplace and its cost. Please visit HealthCare.gov for more information, including an online application for health insurance coverage and contact information for a Health Insurance Marketplace in your area.

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Wisconsin Insurance License Application

Once you have completed your exams and fingerprinting, you are now ready to apply for your license. If you have more than one line of authority that you have passed the exam for, be sure to apply for all of those lines.

You must wait seventy-two hours after passing the exams before you submit your application.

The fee for an online application is $75 per line, $10 application fee, plus a $5 NIPR fee, for a total cost of $90.

Fill out your online application on the NIPR Wisconsin page.

Who Can Get Short

Short-term health insurance in Wisconsin can be purchased by residents who can meet the underwriting guidelines of insurers. In general, this means being under 65 years old and in fairly good health.

Short-term medical insurance plans typically include blanket exclusions for pre-existing conditions, so these types of plans are not adequate for someone who needs medical care for ongoing or pre-existing conditions.

If youre in need of health insurance coverage in Wisconsin, your first step should be to see whether youre eligible for a special enrollment period that you could use to enroll in an ACA-compliant major medical plan. There are a variety of qualifying life events that will trigger a special enrollment period and allow you to buy a plan through the health insurance exchange in Wisconsin.

If you buy an ACA-compliant plan in the individual major medical market, you can keep it for just a short while if thats all you need. The plans are purchased on a month-to-month basis, so theres no annual contract or requirement that you keep the policy for a certain amount of time. If youre eligible for a special enrollment period, your best bet is to enroll in an ACA-compliant plan , even if you know youll only use it for a short period of time and plan to terminate the coverage when another plan takes effect.

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Wisconsin Medicaid Income Limits Summary

We hope this post on Wisconsin Medicaid Income Limits was helpful to you.

If you have any questions about Medicaid in the state of Wisconsin, you can ask us in the comments section below.

Help us spread the word! If you found this post on Wisconsin Medicaid Income Limits helpful, help us spread the word by sharing it using the Share this button below.

Be sure to check out our other articles about Medicaid.

What To Know About Insurance In Wisconsin

• Low uninsured rate: Wisconsin has one of the lowest uninsured rates in the United States. In 2020, only 5.8% of residents in the state were not covered by a private insurance plan, Medicare, or Medicaid.
• Coverage types: Roughly 5% of Wisconsinites are covered under employer health insurance. An additional 15.5% are covered under Medicare, and 16% are enrolled in Medicaid. 5.3% of Wisconsin residents have private health plans.
• Direct coverage and secondary plans: In the state of Wisconsin, you may purchase health insurance from whatever provider you choose. You may also have a secondary plan if your current coverage isnt adequate to suit your needs.
• Open Enrollment: The open enrollment for the ACA Health Insurance Marketplace occurs each year from November 1 until December 15. Not enrolling during this period means you need to wait for a special enrollment period or the next years open enrollment to purchase coverage from the marketplace.
• Tax credits: If you want to take advantage of the Advanced Premium Tax credit, you need to enroll through the federal Health Insurance Exchange. If you dont enroll in a place through the exchange, youll miss your opportunity to get this credit.

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What Are The Alternatives To Obamacare

Any health insurance coverage that meets the minimum essential coverage, as set forth in the Affordable Care Act, can be used, whether this coverage is received through an employer, private insurance company, or purchased through a private exchange.

There are several alternatives available when selecting coverage. You can select one of the available alternatives on the Marketplace, purchase one of the many options available on the private exchange, or see if you are eligible for subsidized programs through Wisconsins Medicaid program.

How To Shop For Health Insurance

What’s in this article?¿Cómo contratar un seguro médico?

Note: Some parts of the Affordable Care Act are being changed or eliminated via government policies and laws. It is likely that some of the rules and regulations affecting the health insurance marketplace will continue to change over time. To stay up to date on Obamacare and other health insurance issues, visit healthcare.gov and the website of the health commissioner’s office in your state.

In America today, we all need health insurance. You do. Your kids do. It’s not a “nice to have” anymore it’s a “must-have.” And that’s the law. In most cases, parents who aren’t covered by health insurance might have to pay a fine each year. Going without also means that if someone gets sick or is injured, a family might have to pay all the bills for care received. That can cost a whole lot more than paying for coverage.

To help people get health insurance, the federal and state governments set up a health insurance marketplace . This makes it easier than ever to get coverage, but the process can seem a bit confusing.

Here’s what to do to get health insurance.

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Wisconsin Programs Eligibility Policy Updates Call Series

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services hosts a biweekly stakeholder call series to provide information about eligibility policy updates and rule changes affecting Wisconsin programs, such as FoodShare and Medicaid.

Information about the next stakeholder call

• Date: Wednesday, October 27, 121 p.m.
• Topic: High-level plans for COVID-19 unwinding, the Pandemic EBT program, and FoodShare emergency allotments
• Join the Zoom meeting, and use meeting ID 86240450139 or call 301-715-8592, use password 2021 and meeting ID 86240450139.
• with questions about the call series or to suggest topics for future calls.

ForwardHealth brings together many Department of Health Services health care and nutritional assistance benefit programs with the goal of improving health outcomes for members and creating efficiencies for providers. To learn more about a program, click on the program name listed below.

Howdoyougetcoveredthrough Medicaid Or Chip In Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, Medicaid, for people with low income or a disability, and the Childrens Health Insurance Program , for children under 19, are combined in the BadgerCare Plus program. You can find out whether you qualify by applying anytime online. BadgerCare Plus covers a variety of services, including lab visits and X-rays, wellness visits, emergency room care, hospitalization, mental health, substance abuse and prescription drugs.

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What Is Special About A Navigator

• They know about all the different insurance plans and costs for Marketplace insurance, also called Obamacare or Healthcare.gov

• They can find the best deals

• They can give you info for financial help

• They can tell you how to use insurance and explain what you don’t understand

• They work for free and don’t get a commission

• They help with complex cases, billing questions, and appeals

• They can sign you up for BadgerCare Plus anytime

• They help you year-round

Why Do Wisconsin Students Need Health Insurance

Youre all set for college in Wisconsin: Youve got your school supplies, new clothing, your class schedule, and a new laptop. But what about health insurance? Health insurance can be important even if youre young and healthy. A sudden injury or illness can hit you hard financially.

Having health insurance means that your out-of-pocket costs will be much lower when you get medical treatment or prescription drugs. This is especially important because you may have little to no income as a student. If you have coverage, youre also more likely to get preventive care, screenings and tests that can detect an emerging condition.

Although Wisconsin doesnt have a state mandate that everyone have health insurance, some colleges do require it.

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Wisconsin And The Affordable Care Act

The Affordable Care Act gave individuals and families access to buy coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace, starting in 2013. Since then, Wisconsins uninsured rate has remained in the single digits.

Six percent of Wisconsins population has no health insurance compared to 9% across the rest of the country. Even before the Marketplace was implemented, Wisconsins uninsured rate has been lower than the national average.

What Plans Are Available To You

Network Health offers customized commercial and Medicare health insurance plans for employers, individuals and families in 23 counties throughout Wisconsin.

In the latest issue of our commercial member newsletter, Balance, read about Mary and how she’s preparing for the next chapter in her life.

Read about why John McGivern chose Network Health when he turned 65 in our latest issue of our Medicare member newsletter, Concierge.

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