Individual and Family Health Insurance Frequently Asked Questions

Short Term Health Insurance: Short Term Health Plans are designed to bridge gaps in coverage or provide an affordable healthcare solution. For example, if a person will have coverage from an employer or college in a few months, they can purchase coverage for the interim period. Because Open Enrollment is currently closed, Short Term Health is ideal for those who do not have a Qualifying Life Event.

Medicare Supplemental Coverage: Those eligible for Medicare need to be aware that it does not cover all expenses. As a result, many choose to buy a Medicare Supplemental health insurance policy to meet their health care needs.

Yes, the marketplace has expanded and most health insurance companies offer plans to suit a variety of personal healthcare needs and budgets. In addition, there are government subsidies and tax credits available based on income to help make coverage more affordable for everyone.

Yes, many websites offer online quotes. You can use our free insurance quoting tool to find a quote right now, or contact us to get a variety of quotes and better understand your health insurance options.

To get the best affordable individual health insurance plans, it is a good idea to gather about five quotes from different insurance companies or different coverage levels to make sure that you are getting the best price for your needs. 

The extra time is worth it, Health insurance, like buying a house or a car, is not a purchase to take lightly. How much money can be deposited into a health savings account plan annually?

The Internal Revenue Service sets the contribution limits for HSAs. In 2014, the maximum contribution is $3,300 a year for individual coverage or $6,550 for family coverage. People age 55 and older can save an additional $1,000 per year.

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are the latest innovation in managed care plan designs. HSAs work like an indemnity plan with a point-of-service plan backend. The health plan includes preventive care, dental and vision as well as complete flexibility. Members can see any provider using the pre-tax money saved in their savings account. HSAs are a high-deductible point-of-service plan that kicks in once the member has spent above the deductible. These plans typically cost a lot less than regular POS plans, but the member needs to pay attention to their costs.

The subsidy reduces how much qualifying individuals must pay in health insurance premiums. To be eligible for a subsidy, your household income cannot exceed 400 percent of the federal poverty level. If you qualify and enroll in a subsidy-eligible health plan, the government pays its portion of your premium directly to the insurance company. The exact amount of your subsidy depends on where your income falls below the federal poverty level, and also on the cost of the benchmark health plan in your area.

If you wish to buy individual health insurance, you can get started with a quote using our quote engine below. Alternatively, you can contact us today to get expert advice about a plan that is right for you.

An individual health insurance plan is purchased by you, whereas a group health insurance plan is purchased by an organization for its members. Group health insurance plans may cost less for its members, but an individual health insurance plan empowers you to make sure your specific health care needs are being met by your insurance.

There are a number of important factors you should consider before purchasing individual health insurance plans. Ask yourself the following questions to help you decide what type of plan makes sense based on your finances and needs:

1. Health Care Needs: The first consideration when selecting a health plan is determining what your specific needs are. How often do you go to the doctor? Will your needs change in the next year, such as starting a family? Are you receiving on-going treatment? Do family members need their own individual health plans to get the coverage they need?
2. Hospitals and Doctors: The second consideration is the network of doctors and hospitals in the plan. If you like your doctor, is he or she in the plan? Are the doctors and facilities conveniently located near you? Do you have freedom to see whomever you want?
3. Costs: The third consideration is the cost of your plan, and what benefits package makes sense based on your finances. Under the Affordable Care Act, many health insurance plans for individuals now have bronze, silver, gold and platinum benefit levels that indicate the level of coverage (and associated costs) the policyholder will have. When considering the options, be sure to see what each plan does or does not cover and what would be your out-of-pocket cost. Before making a decision, consider the various plans’ monthly premiums, deductibles, copays, coinsurance and other expenses. Are you eligible for a federal subsidy or tax credit to help pay for the health insurance?

There are a number of health insurance options to meet your specific health care needs. The following plan types should give you a better idea of what plan makes the most sense for you:

• Indemnity (Fee-for-Service, or FFS) Plans: These medical plans offer the greatest flexibility in choosing your doctors. The limitation with Indemnity plans exists in the amount of the reimbursement that an insured party can receive to cover medical expenses. The medical expenses reimbursement amount can range from a per day cost and set percentage to the actual costs of the medical expenses.
• Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs): These plans contract with a network of hospitals and doctors who provide services at a negotiated rate. This means you have access to any PPO provider in the network, whether a primary care physician or a specialist. PPO members can go to doctors or hospitals that are not in the network but will have to pay a higher cost for doing so. This is a great plan if you are looking for insurance that is both affordable and flexible.
• Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs): With these managed care plans, you will have a primary care physician (PCP) who is responsible for managing all of your health care. If you need to see a specialist or someone else in the network, you need a referral from your PCP. Treatment received outside the network is generally not covered, or is covered at a significantly reduced level.
  Point of Service (POS) Plans: These medical plans are a combination of the PPO and HMO models. Like an HMO, there is a PCP providing referrals to in-network doctors. Like a PPO, you can see providers outside the network and pay more of the cost.

Starting in 2014, an insurance company cannot charge higher rates to individuals who are the same age based on their gender or health status. So you cannot be declined or pay more if you have a health condition. Pricing depends largely on age, family size and geographic location.

Yes, a tobacco user can be charge up to 50 percent more than a non-tobacco user.