Is Oscar Health Insurance Good

Best For Health Savings Plan Option: Kaiser Permanente

Cigna Oscar: Health Insurance that Works for the Whole Team

Kaiser Foundation Health Plans

We chose Kaiser Permanente because it administers its own Health Savings Accounts , which can help you save for health costs on a tax-advantaged basis.

Kaiser offers its own HSA
ACA-compliant plans available for individuals and families
Several top ratings in J.D. Power’s 2021 U.S. Commercial Health Plan Study

Coverage only available in eight states and Washington D.C.

Kaiser began offering health insurance plans to the public starting in 1945 and has grown to become one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit health insurance providers. Kaiser serves 12.6 million members in eight states plus Washington D.C.

When you pair a high deductible health plan from Kaiser Permanente with a Health Savings Account , you get a convenient debit card that lets you cover eligible expenses with your HSA funds directly and without any added paperwork. Your HSA plan also comes with no hidden fees, and you can get the $3.25 monthly plan fee waived if you maintain an HSA balance of $2,000 or more.

Kaiser may also offer ACA-compliant plans in your area, so it’s possible you could apply subsidies you receive to make your premiums more affordable.

What Is The Bottom Line

Oscar is a very new company with a modern approach to health insurance plans that may appeal to those who have been frustrated with traditional insurance companies in the past or find the individual plans elsewhere too complicated. The company has had some issues with customers that do not seem to be greatly affecting their presence in the market and seems to be improving with time. Healthcare customers who prefer a technologically advanced insurance company and affordable health insurance rates are likely to find Oscar a good choice, as well as people with relatively simple health insurance plan needs.

What About The Health Care Providers And Networks

Health care providers submit medical claims directly to Oscar for benefits processing, as with most insurance companies. The Oscar website includes a comprehensive provider portal that allows doctors and clinics to handle all of their business with the company online a part of Oscars paperless, cloud approach to handling documentation.

In an attempt to work with the best hospitals and doctors and ensure the best care, Oscar has reduced its network providers in New York and is now working with three hospital systems. This is in effect as of 2017. Their previous network included around 77 hospitals and this new network includes around 31. While this is a drastic change, with a lot of criticism, Oscar presses this is the best for their customers and stresses the action was not an attempt to increase their bottom line, though it does increase prices.

Prospective members can search to confirm whether or not their current doctors will accept Oscar Health insurance prior to signing up for a plan. Oscar Health services do not require a referral to see a specialist except in the case of specific provider types, such as alternative care providers.

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How Is Oscar For Customer Experience

In short, theyre really good. When it comes to member experience, Oscar is possibly the best in the health care industry right now. They are consumer focused, and their members love them.

Oscar has a 97% satisfaction rate. Also, their net promoter score, which tells how likely the member is to recommend Oscar to their neighbor, is higher than Kaiser Permanente in California.

Oscar does attract a different clientelle than Kaiser Permanente. Oscar members tend to be more tech-savvy and affluent. Also, Oscar is an EPO and Kaiser is an HMO. These factors may affect their satisfaction scores.

Keep in mind that Oscar currently has only 5,000 members in California. As their membership grows, well see if their consumer ratings continue to be higher than Kaiser Permanente, Californias leading HMO.

90% of the phone calls that the Oscar customer service department receives are answered in 30 seconds or less. The California Sales Leader at Oscar Health Insurance, Dennis Negron, commented, This is actually upsetting to us. We want to be at 95%.

Negron added that the health insurance company is high technology and high touch. Not that the consumers have to be super smart with technology, but that Oscar has incredible technology that makes their website and phone app intuitive and easy to use even for people who are not tech-savvy.

Not sure how Obamacare affects your health care plans in California? Learn how the ACA works in California, including benefits, costs and enrollment.

One Notethe Covered Ca Version Of Oscar Is No Longer Contracted With Ucla But Check With Us For Any Changes As This Can Change Year To Year

Basically, the EPO works like a PPO but with no benefits out of the network other than a true emergency.

Oscar is offering the EPO version.

We’ve dealt with PPOs and EPOs for years and they don’t feel that different these days.

Mainly since PPO’s pay so little out of network these days.

The network is smaller so it’s real important to make sure it works for you.

You can check doctors and hospitals through the quote here:

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How To Quote Oscar Through Covered California

Receive 4 ID questions in 24 hours by secured email or upload picture ID
Receive confirmation generally in 24 hours from completed application
Receive written confirmation from Covered Ca about 5-7 days following
Receive 1st invoice by mail about 5 days after Covered Ca confirmation

That’s it.

We will also make sure your application is processed correctly and let you know if your income is close to a tax credit or enhanced Silver threshold.

This can make a huge difference.

How Much Does Oscar Health Insurance Cost

This is one of the most important concerns and so, wed address it first. There is no denying that they offer some attractive benefits with regards to the price. However, youd have to decide if these benefits justify the costs.

Now, as soon as you attain your deductible mark, theres only one set price for it, and thats $0. Theres no out-of-pocket payment once you reach your deductible, regardless of the circumstance or treatment.

However, there are some challenges with this arrangement. Firstly, before that deductible is met, youre going to have to consider other copays and prices for various conditions. Oscar isnt actually simplifying everything since youd still need to consider other prices before reaching your deductible.

This can be quite prolonged depending on your deductible and your medical needs at that moment.

With regards to this, you should know that the costs of Oscar health insurance are reviewed by the different plans they offer. They offer four plans classic, simple, saver, and backup. There are also different tiers to these plans Secure, Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum and different pricings of course.

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Oscar Health Insurance Vs Competitors

According to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation, health insurance rates increased moderately for 2021. Families continue to search for affordable healthcare. With that in mind, take a look at how the pricing for Oscar Health Insurance measures up.

The pricing of Oscar Health Insurance plans varies greatly based on the out-of-pocket expenses and deductibles you can expect to pay. Naturally, the lower the copay and deductible, the higher the cost of your health insurance will be. The simple plan, which offers basic coverage options, costs you $1,373.14 per month on the lower end of the coverage options. The classic plan in the midlevel coverage range ranges in monthly premium from $1,381.50 to $1,770.07. The most expensive policy is the Classic Gold Plan costing $2,011.30.

Here is a cost comparison based on a health insurance quote for a married Texas couple in their 50s with 1 teenage child with a deductible ranging from $2,500 to $5,000.

Company

More Details

Oscar Health Insurance Reviews 202: Is It Legit Or Scam

Cigna Oscar – Small Business Health Insurance That Just Makes Sense

May 5, 2022 by

Being the new kids on the block has not prevented this company from making a name for itself. In their nearly 8 years of existence, they have achieved great strides in the health insurance industry. A review of Oscars health insurance company will reveal if they are a scam, or legit and really keeping their promises.

Though the health insurance company is young and still new to the market, its evident that they are striving to carve a spot for themselves in the health insurance industry.

They promise great user-friendliness for their app and website as well as transparency and convenience with their unique features.

This Oscar health insurance review will reveal how it works, as well as answer the question of its legitimacy.

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Is Oscar Health Good Insurance

Oscar may well be the future of health insurance.

They are very easy to deal with which is refreshing in health insurance.

It comes down to this…

Check their pricing to see how they compare with Blue Shield PPO.
Then check their networks to make sure you like the doctors.

They really focus on their “concierge” approach.

This means they have a “curated” provider search where a representative will help guide you through the process.

Pretty cool if you’re trying to navigate a health issue.

2018 was a a breakout year for Oscar health.

With Anthem’s EPO leaving their core area, that left Oscar and Blue Shield.

How Oscar Health Insurance Is Different

With many insurance companies and different health plans available, it can feel like you have to unlock a secret code just to find a doctor who will take you if you arent an established patient when you need medical care. And if you havent been to that office in more than three years, they might consider you a new patient and refuse to see you if they arent accepting new patients.

If you do get a doctors appointment, it can be frustrating to pay for that visit and wait potentially a long time before being told you have to see a specialist.

This is one way in which Oscar Health as an insurance provider is differentit makes telemedicine a high priority.

Oscar And Cigna Enrollment Process

Oscar

Oscar Health Insurance offers plans through the health insurance marketplace. You can begin searching plans here or you can get several free health insurance quotes with SmartFinancial.

Each state has its own marketplace. If youre not sure where to begin, visit https://www.healthcare.gov/.

Cigna

Cigna is available through the health insurance marketplace, by searching plans here or you can get several free health insurance quotes with SmartFinancial. Each state has its own marketplace. If youre not sure where to begin, visit https://www.healthcare.gov.

Oscar’s Goal Is To Bring It Into The Internet Age And Use This Efficiency To Make It Cheaper

We can all get behind that goal.

The fact that Oscar adopted the Covered California marketplace suddenly made it relevant.

There are big, entrenched carriers in California.

It’s hard to make a name against Fortune 500 companies.

Covered Ca leveled the playing field and now Oscar is a contender.

This could be the year that Oscar breaks out in California

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Does Oscar Cover Vision And Dental

Oscar does not provide coverage for certain medical conditions like vision, and dental. They may offer these services to children below 18 years of age. This isnt necessarily a big accomplishment since most health insurance companies provide the service for all ages.

If youre looking for thorough medical insurance, this would be a serious disadvantage. So, ensure you look at the details of the health insurance and if they provide coverage for therapy before you sign up.

If you intend to sign up with Oscar, also check for all the details of the plan so you know what youre signing up for.

Also, some users have complained about receiving medical bills after treatment. Apparently, their procedures werent entirely covered by the insurance. Try to find out exactly what youre plan accommodates so you dont get those sorts of surprises.

This could be attributed to the fact that irrespective of how well they are doing in so little time, they are still new to the market and may need some time to fix these challenges to match the older, more experienced insurance companies.

However, people still want their moneys worth and they continuously demand they become more transparent. Nobody would like to be denied the help of their insurance when the need arises.

Ultimately, know the pre-existing conditions you have and find out if its covered by your Oscar insurance.

Member Resources And Unique Features

Oscar has many standard health resources, but also offers some unique policyholder benefits when compared to other health insurance providers. All of these resources can be accessed through the Oscar smartphone app or online website.

Once you have purchased an Oscar health plan, you will receive a welcome kit that includes your plan ID cards, a summary of the policy benefits, and a look at other free perks and benefits. This includes a gym membership reimbursement of $400 per year and up to $200 per covered spouse.

In the app and website, you can monitor your progress toward the deductible and view relevant health topics like managing your mental health through their blog. Additionally, you can track your steps and get rewarded with up to $100 in Amazon gift cards per year if you reach your step goal.

Oscar Health Insurance Pricing

The Plan Information stated below is based on a married couple with 1 dependent child residing in the state of Texas.

Oscar Health Insurance Customer Service

Oscar Health Insurance: “You Never Know”

We give Oscar Health Insurance a 3 out of a 5-star rating in the area of customer service. The company has received both positive and negative reviews online. Customer reviews on the Better Business Bureau website are primarily negative, with an average 1.38 out of a 5-star customer service rating. The majority of the BBB complaints were in the area of billing and collections issues.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners scores Oscar Health Insurance with a 4.83. This index compares the complaints received against other companies in the same market. It received a 1 on the National Complaint Index, meaning the complaint index for Oscar Health Insurance in the states listed is almost 5 times higher than other health insurers in the same market.

However, other websites such as BestCompany.com give the company a 3.3 out of a 5-star overall rating with a service rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

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Which Plan Is Best For Me

In terms of monthly premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket max, there is not much of a difference between these costs.

However, in terms of customer support, Oscar might be the better fit if you need more support as a user. Oscar Health is more tech-enabled and more modern, while Fidelis Care is more traditional.

Both plans cover preventative, primary, specialist, and urgent care and the coverage costs for post and pre-deductible are similar.

In this comparison, Oscar Health’s Bronze plan poses more benefits compared to Fidelis Care’s Bronze plan.

What Makes Oscar Different

Oscar is the bridge between traditional health insurance and new Silicon Valley technology and design.

In an interview with New York Magazine, Kushner described how he was looking at an old bill from an insurance company and he, with his Harvard education, couldnt figure everything out. That lead him to think, Okay, how can we take technology, data, and design and make this transparent and easy to understand?

The solution was a beautifully design platform that looks more like a cutting edge social platform than health insurance platform. The Oscar team likes to boast that it has built an infrastructure thats faster and more efficient than incumbent health insurance companies. But design and infrastructure are only parts of the equation. In order to compete, Oscar needs to have viable healthcare plans.

Oscar breaks down their benefits into three primary buckets:

Better plans
Better healthcare
Better experience

Unlike traditional insurance companies, some Oscar plans include free doctor visits, free generic drugs, and free routine care. Most plans include as many visits to your primary care physician, OB/GYN, or mental health doctor and free services like flu shots, pregnancy screenings, lab tests, and more. The rest have minimal co-pays.

This factor alone separates Oscar from its competitors. While many insurance companies charge small co-pays Oscar makes it incredibly simple. Its all free. Members have peace of mind.

The Medicare Advantage Market Is Tough For Startups

Oscarâs growth in terms of membership is certainly impressive, but it is important to highlight that 79% of members bought individual plans on the ACAâs Health Insurance Marketplaces. The company has so far struggled with selling coverage to small businesses and seniors enrolled in Medicare Advantage, a type of health insurance plan in the United States that provides Medicare benefits through a private-sector health insurer. According to federal data, since entering the market in 2020, Oscar has only been able to enroll 3,200 people.

The insurance business is, above all things, a business founded on trust and a good signifier of the trustworthiness of an insurer, at least in the minds of the general public, is its brand-name recognition. Nowhere is this principle more starkly demonstrated than in the Medicare Advantage marketplace. The Medicare Advantage marketplace is Oscarâs biggest addressable market and a market it just cannot do well in.

Medicare Advantage enrollment has soared over the past decade. Over 40% of people enrolled in Medicare have Medicare Advantage plans that are paid a fixed fee by the federal government to meet members’ healthcare needs. That figure is up 25% from the pool of eligible people ten years ago.