How to Buy Health Insurance


Guide to Buying Health Insurance: How Health Insurance Works

Our guide to buying health insurance walks you through how health insurance works and how to buy health insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act (ACA or Obamacare).

Below we take a look at how ObamaCare affects buying health care plans, different ways to buy health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (ACA / ObamaCare), how to understand terms like premiums, coinsurance, copays, deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums, HMOs, PPOs, and HSAs, and how to choose the plan that has the right benefits, networks, costs, and coverage for you and your family.

This page offers advice with the upcoming changes in mind, all general advice will always point you in the right direction, specific ACA related advice is subject to change if and when a replacement plan is in place.

TIP: Outside of open enrollment the only options for individual and family coverage are generally short term and Medicaid / CHIP. Other options include qualifying for special enrollment (either in individual coverage or via an employer) or another coverage type (like Medicare).

Don’t overbuy or go under insured; finding the best health plan is all about knowing your medical needs and balancing premiums, out-of-pocket costs, and networks… not simply finding the lowest premium price-tag. When in doubt, we suggest a HSA eligible Silver Plan (as it meets the requirements for all cost assistance options). Keep reading for important tips and tricks on buying the right health insurance plan.

Buying the Right Health Insurance Policy

Getting the right plan for you and your family boils down to understanding your projected medical needs for the next year, calculating your income, and then finding the plan that has both a premium that fits your budget as well as out-of-pocket costs that won’t break the bank. To do this, one must understand the basic terms noted above (which this page will help explain).

For folks with access to cost assistance, getting a plan with a low premium can be attractive and is often the right move. However, simply looking at the premium alone won’t always get you the right plan.

FACT: Most people’s medical expenses will be doctor office visits, therapists, and prescriptions. Many plans cover all these with copayments, others won’t. These services could easily run to $5,000 or more a year before a given plan fully covers the costs. For those who will use health services regularly, there is a big difference between plans that have $10 copays and those that have $40 copays. Likewise, there is a big difference between 50% coinsurance after the first $1,000 and 100% coverage only once you reach a maximum on a high deductible plan. It is important to understand what costs are covered before you meet your deductible and/or maximum and how they are covered. Comparing a plan’s cost sharing structure (and not just premium) to your families medical needs will help you to determine the best plan for you, everyone should read a plan’s Summary of Benefits and coverage of each plan carefully before making a choice.

Even with subsidies taken into account, a plan with a high deductible, high out-of-pocket costs, and a limited network isn’t always worth the low premium cost for every family.

Although any major medical plan will protect your health and wallet in an emergency (thanks to new dollar limits, cost sharing limits, and minimum benefits), you’ll most likely pay for most of your medical expenses out-of-pocket each year without ever meeting your deductible on lower premium plans.

Getting a lower premium plan often means you’ll pay higher shares of health care costs (due to less generous copays and coinsurance and higher deductibles), and/or have a narrow network, and/or have more restrictive benefits (within the guidelines).

If you don’t meet your deductible, your insurer will never pay their share of coinsurance for covered services. Given this, those who use health services frequently should be looking at lower-deductible plans that favor copayments over coinsurance (as copayments can kick in before the deductible, but coinsurance typically doesn’t).

TIP: All plans are going to pay 100% for in-network services after you reach your maximum and maximum limits are set by law. Learn more about maximums.

NOTE: A free annual wellness visit and other select services, like some preventive services, are covered for free before your deductible is met on all plans under the ACA. High deductible plans also have the perk of being able to be paired with in HSA (Health Savings Account). Using an HSA can make higher deductible plans much more attractive and cost effective since they can lower your taxable income, allow you to spend tax free dollars on care, and qualify you for greater cost assistance amounts. Just keep in mind you’ll be using your own money to pay for most of your medical costs if you got this route.

As eluded to above, it important to stress the point that better plans often come with better doctor networks and lower copays.

Even though all plans come with at least the same new essential health benefits, only specific preventive services are included with no out-of-pocket costs before you meet your deductible, so most of your medical services will have a coinsurance or copay. Meanwhile, some plans will pay nothing aside from the basics until your deductible / maximum is met!

To be clear, this means a very inexpensive plan may really only work for the basics and as catastrophic coverage.

In some cases, a lower-tier health plan will mean putting off treatment or paying more than you would with a slightly better plan. If you want “the best plan” that most doctors will take and will cover a large amount of costs, you’ll need to go with a higher premium plan in many cases.

Shop smart – free 24/7 assistance is offered through the marketplaces! Check out our sections on how health insurance works and comparing health plans for more information. Once you are ready to start shopping go to HealthCare.gov (the Official Health Insurance Marketplace) and see if you qualify for cost assistance.

The Silver Standard

You have many choices inside and outside the Marketplace, and we will cover those below. In short however, we recommend an HSA-eligible Marketplace Silver plan for most individuals and families who don’t qualify for another insurance type like Medicaid or CHIP. Tax Credits are based on the Second Lowest-Cost Silver plan in your region, and cost assistance for reduced out-of-pocket costs are only offered on Silver plans. These are the “benchmark” plans for a reason. See our breakdown of why we consider an HSA eligible Silver plan to be “the best health insurance plan” under the ACA.

What Do I Need to Know About How Health Insurance Works Under the Affordable Care Act:

Before we get to more details, there are a few things everyone should know about health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.

Major Medicaid Coverage and Short Term coverage are different. Major Medical describes the plans we are generally talking about here, Short Term is a temporary [often] limited benefit plan.

• We are generally talking about health plans here, so lots of advice will apply to all coverage types. However, the main topic here is Major Medical Coverage of purchased on the Individual or Family market that is eligible for cost assistance (not TRICARE, Employer, Medicare, Medicaid, etc). Keep in mind specifics like cost assistance only apply to plans bought on the marketplace.

• When in doubt, choose an HMO over a PPO if cost is your primary concern. You may have more freedom in general when choosing healthcare providers on a PPO as you won’t need referrals. However, HMOs tend to have a cheaper price tag.

• Always check your plan’s network and drug formulary for services and drugs that you know you will need.  Shopping out-of-network will cost more and may not count as much toward your deductible.

• Make sure your network includes your family doctor or any other doctor you’d like to see as well as any hospital you’d like to use. A smart move is to ask your family doctor what insurance they take and prefer; this can help you narrow down your health plan choices.

• Make sure your drug formulary covers the drugs you normally use with reasonable copays or coinsurance.

• If you think you’ll have medical expenses, you’ll want a plan with great coinsurance, low copays, and a low deductible. Often, over time, this will be more important than your premium.

• As a rule of thumb, for services you’ll use regularly, copays tend to be more important on high-deductible plans, but coinsurance tends to be more important on lower deductible plans.

• We can compare a handful of plans that have similar premiums but wildly different deductibles, coinsurances, copays, and networks. You need to know what is the most important for you and your family. You’ll always trade one perk for another when comparing plans. Learn more about comparing plans.

• The individual mandate says that Americans who don’t currently have insurance have to obtain and maintain health insurance (known as minimum essential coverage), get an exemption, or pay a per-month fee (reduced to $0 in most states starting in 2019). The ACA is meant to help everyone find affordable health coverage, and there is usually an exemption or an avenue for extra help for those who struggle to afford coverage.

• If your insurance costs are unaffordable due to your income, you may get subsidies to buy insurance and/or an exemption from both the fee and the mandate. This is relevant in states that have a fee.

• If your employer offers coverage, or if you have access to Medicare, Medicaid, or CHIP, you won’t have to pay the fee and can keep your plan.

• Make sure to do your research before you buy your health insurance; although most plans will count as “minimum essential coverage” (and thus will exempt you from the individual mandate), there are types insurance that don’t count, including limited coverage for dental and vision only.

• Since 2014 all major medical plans have offered the same benefits, rights, and protections – these include services from ten categories of essential health benefits. They also offer key preventative services and an annual check-up at no out-of-pocket costs. The big difference between plans will be premium costs, out-of-pocket expenses, and provider networks.

• Health insurance doesn’t just cover you if you get sick. It also covers things like mammograms, maternity, check-ups for your kids, and many other services at no out-of-pocket costs, and it protects you if you get an an accident. You’ll also get charged at your insurer’s rates for services, so you’ll shop cheaper than you would without coverage.

• If you are planning on shopping on your state’s Health Insurance Marketplace, you’ll need to understand “metal plans”. Metal plans are a type of qualifying health plan that counts as “minimum essential coverage”, and they are only sold on the marketplace. Learn more about “metal plans”.

• The “free” or cheapest plan isn’t always the best one. Read our guide to buying health insurance for 2015 to make sure you choose the right plan. As a rule of thumb, most Americans should aim for a “Silver plan” equivalent or better. Silver plans typically have a reasonable balance of out-of-pocket and premium costs and are eligible for all forms of marketplace cost assistance. There are a lot of factors that go into finding the right plan beyond premium costs. Trying to save money upfront could cost you more in the long run.

• The “benchmark plan” on the Marketplace is a Silver plan. The amount that Tax Credits cap your premium is based on the second cheapest plan on the marketplace. Silver plans are also the only plan that you can get Cost Sharing Reduction subsidies on. Many Silver plans also have high deductibles, meaning they can be paired with an HSA. All these factors make Silver plans a good place to start when looking for Marketplace plans.

• Some plans will offer lower deductibles or premiums but won’t offer copays until deductibles are met. Others will offer higher deductibles for lower premiums. Others may offer attractive rates but have a more narrow network. When picking your plan, make sure to think about what medical services you are likely to use.

• All private major medical plans have an out-of-pocket maximum limit. If you have a high deductible plan, coinsurance may not matter since your out-of-pocket maximum and deductible may be the same.

• Policies issued before 2010 (“grandfathered” health plans) don’t have to adhere to all the new rights and protections offered by the Affordable Care Act. If you have a grandfathered plan, you may want to shop for new health insurance despite “keeping your coverage”. If your provider is discontinuing or changing your plan, they will let you know.

• ObamaCare takes measures to prevent all types of discrimination in regards to your right to health care. Factors such as pre-existing conditions, health status, claims history, duration of coverage, gender, occupation, employer size, and professional industry can no longer be used by insurance companies to increase health insurance premiums.

• Since 2014, the only factors that can affect the premiums of new insurance plans are your income, age, tobacco use, family size, geography, and the type of plan you buy.  This applies to all plans sold through your State’s health insurance marketplace.

• Premium costs are the amount you pay each month. Plans with higher premiums have lower out-of-pocket expenses.

• Types of out-of-pocket expenses include copays, coinsurance, deductibles, and out-of-pocket maximums.

• The amount you pay out of pocket is based on the actuarial value of your plan. The actuarial value is the average amount of out-of-pocket costs your insurer pays on a plan for everyone using the plan.  This isn’t necessarily the exact amount it will cover you for.

• Cost sharing refers to your share of the cost.

• There are three ways to buy health insurance. 1) Your State’s Health Insurance Marketplace 2) A Broker 3) Direct from a provider. Each way has its own pros and cons.

Ways to Buy Health Insurance:

There are three general different ways to buy individual and family health insurance plans.

You can compare and buy different types of “Qualified Health Plans” on your State’s health insurance marketplace, or you can purchase a traditional private insurance plan outside of the marketplace either directly through the insurer or through a broker.

In some cases, private brokers and providers outside the marketplace can help you find out your marketplace options or even help you sign up for a marketplace plan.

FACT: For private health plans in the individual and family market, you’ll need to get covered during open enrollment. This is true both inside and outside the Health Insurance Marketplace.

health insurance premium and cost sharing subsidiesLet’s take a look at the three different ways to buy health insurance plans:

1. Using your State’s Health Insurance Marketplace to buy and compare health plans: Most Americans can use their State’s health insurance marketplace to buy and compare health plans.

The major benefit of buying a plan through your State’s marketplace is that you may be eligible for cost-assistance (on premiums) and out-of-pocket costs if you make less than 400% of the Federal Poverty Level. Shoppers can also use the health insurance marketplace to compare health plan benefits, networks, costs, and coverage from competing providers.

Please note that premium cost assistance is offered as advanced tax credits, which get paid directly to your provider (or deducted on your Federal tax returns if you choose), and Cost Sharing Reduction subsidies, which lower out-of-pocket costs. While tax credits lower the part of the monthly premium you pay, if you gain or lose income, you will be responsible for the difference on your year-end taxes.  Make sure to notify the marketplace if your income changes.

When you apply for your state’s marketplace, you will find out if a family member qualifies for Medicaid, Medicare, or CHIP. Although competition drives marketplace costs down, insurers must pay a fee to sell insurance on the health insurance marketplace, and therefore, the insurance you buy may be cheaper through a private insurer or a broker in some cases.

Find your State’s Health Insurance Marketplace.

NOTE: You can also sign up for the marketplace by sending in an online application (read these instructions first). The marketplace help line is available for 24/7 assistance; (800) 318-2596.

2. Contact an Insurer to buy and compare health plans: You can contact an insurer and buy health insurance directly from the provider.

Buying health insurance directly from a provider means that you are cutting out the middle-man. If you aren’t eligible for cost-assistance through the marketplace and you have a clear idea of what type of coverage you need, this could be the best option for you. Both private brokers and the marketplace charge the insurance provider additional fees that could increase the cost of your health insurance. Of course, you’ll only be able to compare health plans by that provider.

3. Speak to a Broker to buy and compare health plans: You can speak to a broker (or use an online broker), and they can help you find your best option for health insurance.

If you don’t qualify for cost-assistance and want someone to help you compare and understand plans, then a broker could be your best option for buying health insurance. Brokers will have a selection of different health plans in your state and will help you to to understand and compare benefits, networks, costs, and coverage. Please be aware that brokers get a fee for selling you insurance. Although the fee is charged to the health insurance provider and not the consumer, the insurers will often pass this fee onto you.

NOTE: No matter what option you choose, it’s smart to shop around.  In some states, the only way to see every plan offered in your region is to contact a number of agencies inside and outside the marketplace for quotes.

The following video explains how ObamaCare changes the way you buy health insurance:

How to Sign Up For The Health Insurance Marketplace

There are four ways to sign up for your State’s Health Insurance Marketplace.

1) Find your State’s marketplace website.

2) Get in-person help. You can find in-person help by going to LocalHelp.Healthcare.gov.

3) Call the 24/7 marketplace helpline at 1-800-318-2596.

4) Mail in a paper application. bit.ly/PaperApplication. (read these instructions first)

how to get health insurance

Other Ways to Buy Health Insurance

Aside from the three main options for private insurance, there are a number of other ways to obtain health coverage.

Paper applications and the telephone: The federal government created paper applications that you can use to find out whether you qualify for government programs (like Medicaid) or tax credits that help cover the cost of private insurance premiums. You can also sign up for the marketplace by mailing in an online application (read these instructions first). The marketplace help line is available for 24/7 assistance at (800) 318-2596.

Navigators and other in-person assistance: The health-care reform law created new types of workers, whose job it is to help people apply for financial assistance, as well as insurance and government benefits, such as Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. These assisters can’t charge for their services, can’t take money from insurance companies, and must show consumers all of their options. Contact information for such organizations is available here LocalHelp.Healthcare.gov. While HealthCare.gov remains faulty, navigators and others can still get you started and follow up with you later about completing the process.

State Medicaid offices: If your income is low enough, either under the existing rules or via Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion, you and your children may qualify for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Eligibility rules vary widely from state to state. The federal government provides links to state Medicaid agencies on HealthCare.gov.

Medicare.gov: If you are 65 years or older, you’ll get your health insurance through Medicare.

Health insurance companies: Insurers commonly allow sales through their websites and call centers. Consumers can review a list of the insurance companies and plans that are available in their states – and even the average prices – via a section of HealthCare.gov that’s working.

Web-based insurance brokers: Not to be confused with the government-run exchange websites, these private companies offer some of the same conveniences, like the ability to compare multiple plans on price and benefits. Vendors, including eHealthinsurance, GoHealth, and GetInsured, are approved to allow shopping and enrollment through the federally run health insurance exchanges. These brokers are paid by insurance companies, so consumers aren’t charged a fee.

What is Health Insurance?

What exactly is health insurance? The following video will help you understand what health insurance is and why you need it.  You can also check out our page all about health insurance and health insurance terms.

Comparing Benefits of Health Insurance Plans

When comparing health plan options, you’ll need to take into account what benefits different plans cover. Luckily, ObamaCare has evened the playing field. Today, all health plans have to cover a number of Preventative Services at no additional cost, and the must provide Essential Health Benefits with limited out-of-pocket expenses and no annual or lifetime dollar limits. Insurance sold to individuals and small businesses must now include these Ten Essential Health Benefits:

  • Emergency services
  • Hospitalization
  • Laboratory tests
  • Maternity and newborn care
  • Mental health and substance-abuse treatment
  • Outpatient care (doctors and other services you receive outside of a hospital)
  • Pediatric services including dental and vision care.
  • Prescription drugs
  • Preventive services (such as immunizations and mammograms) and management of chronic diseases such as diabetes
  • Rehabilitation services

ObamaCare’s new rules make sure all insurance plans cover the same basic benefits. When shopping for insurance, you’ll be focusing more on comparing networks and cost-sharing. Plans with higher premiums will tend to have better networks and less cost-sharing. So, you’ll want to focus on whether or not services are offered in-network in your area, which providers you can see, how many times you can get a service, whether or not that service is covered before your deductible is met, and how generous copays and coinsurance are for those services.

Comparing Networks of Health Insurance Plans

When looking at health plans, you will be comparing networks of providers—doctors, hospitals, laboratories, imaging centers, and pharmacies that have all signed contracts with the insurance company agreeing to provide their services to plan members at a specific price.

Networks are broken down between preferred network (everything is covered), in-network, and out-of-network (you could be responsible for increased or full costs).

FACT: A PPO is a preferred provider network, and you’ll typically be able to see anyone in that preferred network without a referral. HMO’s may require referrals for certain in-network and out-of-network services, and you’ll have to pick a family doctor. In general, a PPO will have a higher price-tag, but it’s very dependent on the specific plan and your region. Often you’ll be able to choose between two similar plans with one being an HMO and one a PPO.

If a doctor is not in your plan’s network, the insurance company may not cover the bill or may require you to pay a much higher share of the cost (although some of ObamaCare’s new rules do limit what you can be charged for using certain services out of network). So, if you have doctors that you want to continue to see, you will want them to be in the plan’s network.

If you are shopping in a marketplace, you can see each plan’s provider directory and compare it to those offered by other plans.

If you are considering insurance through a job, you can obtain provider lists from participating insurance companies or from the company’s employee benefits department.

Please note your plan may have a different deductible and out-of-pocket maximum for in-network and out-of-network services.

Comparing Costs of Health Insurance Plans

You pay for health insurance in two ways:

  • The monthly premium that you pay to purchase your plan.
  • The share of costs you pay out of your own pocket when you receive medical care. Those are some combination of deductibles, coinsurance, and copays.

In general, if you pay a higher premium up front, you will pay less when you receive medical care, and vice versa.

To make comparison easier, the plans sold in state marketplaces will be in standardized “metal tiers” with various combinations of premiums and cost-sharing based on actuarial value:

  • Bronze plans will cover 60 percent of the average member’s total health care costs and thus have the lowest premiums.
  • Silver plans will cover 70 percent on average.
  • Gold plans will cover 80 percent on average.
  • Platinum plans will cover 90 percent on average and have the highest premiums.

Note: these are averages, not exacts.  See metal plans and actuarial value for more details.

In general, the higher the premium, the better the cost sharing. As a rule of thumb, networks and additional benefits are also better on higher-tier plans, but with any plan, you trade one perk for another. So, it’s important to compare the trade-offs for each plan. An expensive plan may not actually provide better value for you since so much is based on your income and annual medical needs.

Which plan is right for you depends on your health and your financial situation:

  • If you already know that you have an expensive medical condition, consider a plan with a higher premium that covers more of your costs.
  • If you are generally healthy, you might come out ahead paying a lower premium and a bigger share of your health costs because those costs are most likely not going to be that high. Of course, you need to be prepared to pay more if you do unexpectedly become sick or injured.

How Much Do Health Care Plans Cost?

There are a number of factors that affect the cost of your health plans. This is true for health care plans purchased on or off of the health insurance marketplace. Health status and gender can no long affect the cost of your insurance, but the following factors can:

  • Your income (this determines whether you get cost assistance or qualify for programs like Medicad or CHIP)
  • Your age (the older you are, the more you pay. The ACA limits age/cost ratios)
  • Your smoking status (some regions do not allow smoking status to be considered). There is a 50% tobacco surcharge that is added after cost assistance starting 2015.
  • Where you live
  • The number of people enrolling with you (e.g. a spouse or child)

See new ACA rules and regulations for more details on what can affect healthcare costs and cost ratio limits.

About Cost-Sharing: Types of Out-of-Pocket Costs on Health Insurance Plans

The terms “cost-sharing” and “out-of-pocket costs” refer to the proportion of your medical bills you will be responsible for paying when you actually receive health care. Cost-sharing never includes your monthly premium, balance billing amounts for non-network providers, or spending for non-covered services.

If you buy insurance through your state marketplace, you’ll be able to see and compare the cost-sharing structure of plans before you buy. If you get insurance through a job, the information will be on the Summary of Benefits and Coverage form.

These are the four cost-sharing terms you will see.  Keep in mind that deductibles, copays, and coinsurance only apply to covered services.  Make sure you understand your plan’s network!

Deductible. The amount you pay every year for covered services before the insurance company starts paying the full share of the costs.  In every plan you can buy, preventive services will be covered in full even if you haven’t used up your deductible for the year. Most plans will also pay a portion of your costs for covered services (usually doctor visits and prescription drugs) even before your deductible has been met.  For these services, you’ll be charged a copay or your coinsurance amount.

If the deductible is $2,000, then you would pay cash for the first $2,000 worth of covered services including coinsurance and copays each year. After you meet your deductible, the insurance company would start paying the full share of costs. In general, plans with higher premiums have lower deductibles, and vice versa.

Copay. A fixed dollar amount you pay for certain types of care. You might pay $20 for a doctor visit, and the insurance company will pick up the rest. Plans with higher premiums generally have lower copays, and vice versa. Some plans do not have copays at all. They use other methods of cost-sharing.

Coinsurance. A percentage of the cost of your medical care. For an MRI that costs $1,000, you might pay 20 percent ($200). Your insurance company will pay the other 80 percent ($800).  Coinsurance typically only kicks in after you reach your deductible, so it is much less important on high deductible plans where the out-of-pocket maximum is close to your deductible amount. Plans with higher premiums generally pick up a larger portion of the bill.

Out-of-pocket limit / Out-of-pocket maximum. The most cost-sharing you will ever have to pay in a policy period (typically a year). It is the total of your deductible, copays, and coinsurance for covered services (but does not include your premiums). Once you hit this limit, the insurance company will pick up 100 percent of your costs for the remainder of the year. Most people never pay enough cost-sharing to hit the out-of-pocket limit, but it can happen if you require a lot of costly treatment for a serious accident or illness. Plans with higher premiums generally have lower out-of-pocket limits.  The maximum out-of-pocket cost limit for any individual Marketplace plan for 2015 can be no more than $6,600 for an individual plan and $13,200 for a family plan. There are new dollar limits on all plans under ObamaCare.

Here is a recent, smart video explaining how ObamaCare and the Health Insurance Marketplaces work. Don’t forget to apply for your State’s marketplace today! Find your State’s Health Insurance Marketplace to apply.

Insurance Plan Types and Medical Savings Accounts

There are four types of health insurance plans: Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), Participating Provider Options (PPOs), Exclusive Provider Organizations (EPOs), and Point of Service (POS) Plans. Consumer Directed Health Plans (CDHPs) can be paired with Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), or on some grandfathered plans, Archer Medical Savings Accounts (MSAs); this allows employers, employees, or self employed individuals to contribute tax-free dollars towards their medical expenses.

FACT: Unlike HMOs, PPOs don’t require you to get a referral from a doctor before getting treatment from an out-of-network care provider. Regardless of your plan, if you get services out of network, you will have to pay more for them.

Insurance Plan Types

HMO — Health Maintenance Organization plans often offer the best pricing and the least flexibility. They serve up lower prices by limiting your care to the doctors, clinics, and hospitals within the HMO’s network. HMOs require you to choose a primary care physician (PCP) who coordinates your health care and provides you referrals before you are able to get treatment from other network providers or specialists. If you go out outside the network, your services won’t be covered except treatment for medical emergency.

PPO — Preferred Provider Organization plans offer networks of doctors, hospitals, and clinics that are deemed “preferred providers.” Go to them for treatment, and you will get lower rates negotiated by the insurance company. PPOs provide more flexibility than HMOs because they allow you to seek care outside the network. However, doing so will likely cost you more in deductibles and copays. Unlike HMOs, PPOs don’t require you to get a doctor referral before you see a specialist. Many of the plans do require prior approval for certain expensive services.

POS — Point of Service plans let you reduce your out-of-pocket costs by choosing providers in the network or pay more to seek services outside the network. It’s your choice. The exact definition varies from one state to another. Many POS plans are more like an HMO in that they require you to choose a PCP and get referrals for specialist care. Some even cover higher costs if your PCP decides to refer you to an out-of-network specialist.

EPO — Exclusive Provider Organizations are plans that offer a managed care plan where services are covered only if you go to doctors, specialists, or hospitals in the plan’s network (except in an emergency).

ADVICE: Consider the tax benefits of using one of the health savings accounts below. Make sure you understand limits on the accounts and periods in which you must use the funds if applicable.

Types of Health Savings Accounts

FSA — Flexible Spending Account. FSAs are set up through an employer plan and they allow you to set aside pre-tax dollars for certain health and dependent-care needs. For example, the money can be used to pay for deductibles, prescription copays, and other treatments not covered by your insurance. A big downside for many: whatever you don’t use by the end of your company’s benefits year will be forfeited. Check with your employer’s Human Resources department for specifics on their FSA. They can provide a list of FSA-qualified costs that you can purchase directly or be reimbursed for. A few common FSA-qualified costs include:

  • Copays for medical treatments & doctor visits,
  • Hospital & doctor fees for medical tests & services (for example, X-rays and cancer screenings).
  • Physical Rehabilitation.
  • Dental & Orthodontic expenses (such as cleanings, fillings, or braces).
  • Inpatient treatment for alcohol or drug addiction
  • Vaccines (immunizations) & flu shots.

HSA — Health Savings Account. HSAs are tax-preferred savings accounts available to those enrolled in health plans. Employers and employees are allowed to contribute to them. HSAs allow you to set aside tax-free dollars to pay for routine, out-of-pocket health expenses. You also pay no federal taxes on interest earned by your HSA as long as you use the money to pay for eligible medical expenses, as defined by the IRS. Dental & vision are included.  Unlike an FSA, an HSA’s funds roll over annually an accumulate even if an employee changes jobs. The accumulated funds can be removed for non-eligible expenses, but then will be subject Federal Income Tax and 20% penalty. Once an individual qualifies for Medicare, these accumulated funds can still be used tax-free for medical expenses Medicare doesn’t cover or can be used like an IRA or 401k (you’ll still have to pay taxes on this, but you will not have to pay the penalty). In addition, should a person decide they no longer want to use a high-deductible health plan, these funds can usually be rolled into an IRA retirement account without being taxed.

MSA — “Archer” Medical Savings Account. The Archer MSA was intended to be used by self-employed individuals & small businesses with fewer than 50 employees. The plan is entirely self-directed, including its initial setup and compliance with the plan thresholds. It works very similarly to HSAs, and they’ve have been replaced by HSAs since 2007. However, some grandfathered plans may still use MSAs that have been “left open”.

Cheap Health Insurance: Are Health Care Plans Cheaper on the Marketplace?

Those looking for cheap health insurance will want to check their State’s Health Insurance Marketplace first. In many cases, equivalent healthcare plans sold on the marketplace will have very similar price tags to those sold off of the marketplace. If you don’t qualify for subsidies, in some cases, buying insurance from a broker or directly from a health insurance company can be your best bet. If you make under 400% of the FPL and could qualify for subsidies, then it makes sense to purchase your insurance through the marketplace. No matter what you decide to do, you can always shop around for quotes. How you obtain health insurance is your choice!

Learn more about the types of plans sold on the health insurance marketplace.

How Health Insurance Works Summary

Now that you have an idea of how health insurance works and how to buy health insurance for 2015, it’s time to fill out some applications and see what your insurance options are. While there are fees for not obtaining coverage and insurance companies can always decide to not offer your plan, no one is actually forcing you to buy a plan and no one is forcing you to stay with the plan you are on. Your healthcare is in your hands. Keep reading more ObamaCare facts so you can understand the Affordable Care Act and health insurance.

 

How Health Insurance Works
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Author: Thomas DeMichele

Thomas DeMichele is the head writer and founder of ObamaCareFacts.com, FactsOnMedicare.com, and other websites. He has been in the health insurance and healthcare information field since 2012. ObamaCareFacts.com is a...

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