Health Insurers Dropping Like Flies
Okay, health insurance carriers aren’t dropping as rapidly as the title may imply, but many of our favorite providers have either considered leaving the health exchanges or have already done so. If you’re someone like me who gets unhealthily (no pun intended) attached to your insurance company, you may be curious to know why your favorite insurance carrier may no longer be an option for your health coverage.
Goodbye to Co-ops
Many of us are familiar with big name private health insurance companies- United Healthcare, Anthem, Humana. In addition to those well-known carriers are health insurance cooperatives- alternative health insurers that […]
Infographic – Benefits of Health Insurance
Several articles on our site point to the many benefits of health insurance, but sometimes a simple, visual representation makes ideas a bit more clear. This infographic just touches on what we consider to be three of the biggest benefits of major medical health plans for people of any age- less debt, free preventive care, and overall better health now and in the future. Let us know what you think of the infographic and of the information. What other benefits does health insurance offer you?
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to have health insurance?
-Under Obamacare, almost everyone is required to have health insurance, unless they qualify for an exemption. You can learn more about this and several other changes about health insurance here.
Does it cost me anything to use a licensed agent at Health Choice One to enroll in a health plan?
-It does not cost you a dime to work with us. Our services are completely free to you.
What is the benefit to using Health Choice One to enroll in a health plan?
-The biggest benefit is that you have someone who can help you understand health […]
10 Obvious (and not so obvious) Ways to Cut Costs on Health Expenses
Buying health insurance is kind of a catch 22. On one hand, you shell out money every month for something you may never use. On the other hand, though, who actually wants to have a reason to use their health insurance? Never have I heard someone say “gee, I wish I would get sick so I could use this health insurance I pay for.” Regardless of your sentiments towards it, everyone is required to have health insurance now.
If you’ve already spent some time on our site, you may have crossed paths with some ways that you can save money on […]
My Experience Buying Insurance With HCO
Okay, so it wasn’t me who actually bought the policy… it was my boyfriend. BUT his phone was on speaker when he was talking to the agent, and I did chime in with questions, so I still consider this to be an experience of my own, too. But let me back up a second.
Hurry Up and Wait
So it was the night before the December 15th deadline for coverage to be effective the first of the new year. My boyfriend, Sven (that’s not really his name, but wouldn’t it be cool if it was?), is not offered health insurance through his […]
Offsetting High Deductibles
When you’re in the market to buy health insurance, it’s tempting to go with what’s cheap. However, what costs you less each month won’t necessarily cost you less in the long-run because your out-of-pocket expenses can get pretty hefty if you actually need to use your insurance. Luckily, Health Choice One has a solution to this dilemma and can still provide you with extensive coverage for a great price.
Lower Premiums for a Higher Cost
When you’re comparing plans in the Health Insurance Marketplace, you’ll obviously see plans that have lower premiums, and plans that have higher ones. Typically, the […]
What HCO Can Do for You
It’s a well-known fact that most people don’t enjoy shopping for health insurance. That’s actually putting it lightly, because a 2014 Bankrate study found that almost a third of Americans say health insurance shopping is as bad as having a tooth filled and 74% of them say it’s at least as bad as being squished into the middle seat on an airplane.1 Sounds about right.
If you’re looking to enroll in health insurance, working with Health Choice One has many perks. We promise that it won’t be any worse than getting a paper cut. Just kidding! It’s painless and has several […]
Think Twice Before You Cancel Your Health Insurance
As a writer for this site, it is my job (one of my jobs, anyway) to stay on top of issues plaguing the health insurance world, and more importantly, the consumers of health insurance. This requires hours of reading and research of blogs, news articles, and information on government-run websites. My recent research has increasingly shown complaints about the high costs of deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums. Of course no one wants to pay high costs for any sort of medical care; I can’t say that I don’t empathize with that feeling. However, what I can say is that the solution […]
Getting a Marketplace Plan When Job-based Coverage is Available
As of 2015, employers with 100 or more full-time (or full-time equivalent, working 30+ hours each week) employees must offer them and their dependents health insurance, or possibly be faced with a fine.2 If you work for an organization of this size and are offered health insurance, you may not like any of the plans that are available to you. If you feel less than thrilled about your employer-offered health plans, you’ll be happy to know that you can shop the Health Insurance Marketplace (healthcare.gov) for a plan that better fits your needs. There are a few factors to keep […]
Having Health Insurance Will Cost You, but so Will Not Having It
You may have already read our article about the tax penalty, but if you haven’t, I recommend checking it out to get a more comprehensive overview. What I want to highlight here, though, is the fact that you may be responsible for paying hundreds of dollars- regardless of your decision to enroll in health insurance.
In 2016, the fee that you pay at tax time if you don’t have health insurance for the year is going up. As our other articles points out, the fee will be determined one of two ways- either as a percentage of your household income, […]
An Obamacare Benefit: Pursue Your Dream Job
By this point, many of us are aware of the clear benefits the Affordable Care Act offers us. Health insurance plans that many of us can actually afford every month, no more annual or lifetime limits on what a health insurance policy will pay, no more denials in coverage for preexisting conditions, and the list goes on. But there are a lot of benefits that we don’t automatically consider; the benefits that aren’t covered in the news or written into the law itself. The benefit that I’m referring to is the freedom of employment!
For years (okay, more like decades), […]
3 Coverage Options for College Students
If you’re a college student, you’ve got a lot on your mind, and health insurance is probably in the back of it. Health insurance is something that’s important to think about, though, as much as you don’t want to. If you have a medical emergency and don’t have health insurance, you could really go into debt from medical bills. Add that to any student loan debt you may have for college and you will not be happy when graduation comes. You’ll want to start your post-college life out right, and health insurance now means financial security later.
Many adults have […]
Covered: The Health Insurance Term You’re Misusing
Our agents hear it all the time, “is it covered?” You’ve probably asked this question before when buying health insurance, be it out loud or just in your head. Before every doctor visit or procedure, I ask it myself, too… However, I’ve only recently realized that what I’m asking is not what I really mean…
Say What You Mean and Mean What You Say
For me personally, when I ask if something is covered, what I really want to know is if a certain service is free. If that’s what we really mean, why don’t we drop the ambiguous language and […]
What is a Qualified Health Plan?
If you’ve read some of our other articles, you may have noticed the phrase “qualified health plan” pop up a few times. If you call Health Choice One to speak with an agent to find a plan, you may hear the word then, too. So for that reason, it’s important that you understand what it is.
A qualified health plan (QHP) refers to a major medical health insurance plan that is specifically sold on and certified by the Health Insurance Marketplace. These plans provide essential health benefits and meet requirements for cost-sharing (copayments, deductibles, and out-of-pocket limits) as well as other […]
Keeping Your Doctor
The relationship we have with our doctor is a unique one. Your doctor knows intimate details about your body and your health, and is familiar with your medical history. It takes a while to build up this trust with your doctor, so having to abruptly switch to a new health care provider can be pretty nerve-wracking, uncomfortable, awkward, disturbing… and the list goes on.
Good news, though! You might be able to save yourself the embarrassment and anxiety of getting a new physician! If your health insurance plan changes and you worry about getting a new doctor, you may be able […]
2015 – 2016 Important Dates
In 2014, 6 out of 10 uninsured people reported not being sure of important dates for healthcare.1 If you are uninsured and will be enrolling in a health plan through the Marketplace (healthcare.gov) this year, make sure you remember these important dates. Put them on your wall calendar, put them in your phone, put them ANYWHERE so you don’t miss out on your opportunity to get health coverage!
Really though, save these dates now…
Click Here for Full Disclaimers
Why Do You REALLY Pay for Health Insurance?
When you think about your motivation to purchase health insurance, what comes to mind first? Is it to help you pay for a trip or two to your doctor every year? How about to help you out with your prescriptions? If you answered yes to either of those two questions, we have a different alternative to consider.
Services You Can Afford
Of course no one likes to foot the bill for any medical expenses. It’s one of the most agonizing services we pay for as Americans, but some health services, such as prescriptions, are more affordable than others, making it easier on […]
Common Health Insurance Terms Explained
“She has a really low premium and her copay for the doctor was only $25, but she found out she has to have surgery and hasn’t yet met her $3000 deductible. Her 80/20 coinsurance will kick in, though, and she’ll probably meet her out-of-pocket maximum.”
….does that sentence have you staring at your screen with a confused look on your face? If so, you’re with the the other 86% of individuals who have health insurance but are baffled by what those concepts mean.4 Even the most intelligent of people have trouble understanding their “explanation of benefits” that accompanies their insurance policy, […]