What is a Health Insurance Copay? In health insurance a copay (copayment) is a fixed amount you pay for covered services, typically when you get the service. Copays differ from coinsurance (the percentage you pay for covered services, usually after reaching your deductible). Each plan treats copays and coinsurance differently, so it’s important to understand if… Read More
What is a Health Insurance Deductible? Your health insurance deductible is the amount you have to pay out-of-pocket for covered services before your insurance begins to pay. It doesn’t include premiums or costs that aren’t covered by your plan. Once you meet your deductible, your plan will pay its share of your coinsurance. TIP: Your maximum deductible… Read More
What is a Health Insurance Premium? Your health insurance premium is the amount paid to an insurer, typically per month, for a health plan. Tax Credits are available to lower monthly premiums through the Health Insurance Marketplace. If you have coverage through work, your employer typically pays part of your premium. Let’s look a little more… Read More
ObamaCare’s Premium Tax Credits can be paid to your insurer in advance to lower your monthly premium on a Marketplace plan or adjusted on your tax returns. Tax Credits are based on household income and are available to folks making between 100% and 500% of the Federal Poverty Level FPL. Expanded Premium Tax Credit Cap:… Read More
Out-of-Pocket Maximums Under the Affordable Care Act The ACA limits out-of-pocket maximums, the max amount of costs for covered services you’ll pay out-of-pocket in a policy period on your health plan. For 2023, your out-of-pocket maximum can be no more than $9,100 for an individual plan and $18,200 for a family plan before marketplace subsidies…. Read More
What is a Health Savings Account? A Health Savings Account (HSA) is a tax-advantaged medical savings account you can contribute to and draw money from for certain medical expenses tax-free. HSAs can be used for out-of-pocket medical, dental, and vision. HSAs can’t be used to pay health insurance premiums. HSA’s can only be used with… Read More
If you are under 30 or obtained a “hardship exemption” you qualify for a high deductible, low premium, catastrophic plan. Catastrophic health plans are the cheapest plan you can get that counts as minimum essential coverage. Catastrophic plans can be good for those who want cheap, barebones care. Catastrophic plans tend to trade a low… Read More
Learn how to compare health plans to get the best deals on health insurance and health care. Compare your health needs with your plans costs and coverage, to find an affordable plan with benefits that are designed to cover you. No matter how you shop, and boy are there a lot of different options under… Read More
How does health insurance work? You pay a monthly premium and your share of annual out-of-pocket costs, and your insurer pays it’s share of covered costs. The concept is simple, but getting that perfect health plan takes some brain power and elbow grease. By taking the time to master and internalize the content of this page,… Read More
What is Actuarial Value? Actuarial value is average total of costs for covered benefits covered by a health plan. Let’s look at how ObamaCare’s metal plan actuarial values work and how actuarial value applies to all plans in general. FACT: Actuarial Value (AV) in regards to health insurance was created by the Affordable Care Act to rank ObamaCare’s… Read More
ObamaCare’s open enrollment period for 2015 starts on November 15th, 2014 and ends on February 15th, 2015. Let’s review the most important things to know about open enrollment in the health insurance marketplace for 2015. • Open enrollment is the only time you can get cost assistance, enroll in a plan, or change plans. This is true whether you… Read More
How “Washington Healthplanfinder”, The Official Washington Website for Health Insurance, Works The Washington Health Insurance Exchange, Washington Healthplanfinder, is the official Washington State marketplace for health insurance under Obamacare. You can use Washington Healthplanfinder to apply for cost-assistance, compare prices of plans, change plans and enroll in a plan that best suits you, your family… Read More
How “DC Health Link”, The Official Washington, D.C. Website for Health Insurance, Works The Washington, D.C. Health Insurance Exchange, DC Health Link, is the official Washington, D.C. State marketplace for health insurance under Obamacare. You can use DC Health Link to apply for cost-assistance, compare prices of plans, change plans, and enroll in a plan… Read More
How “Vermont Health Connect”, The Official Vermont Website for Health Insurance, Works The Vermont Health Insurance Exchange, Vermont Health Connect, is the official Vermont State marketplace for health insurance under Obamacare. You can use Vermont Health Connect to apply for cost-assistance, compare prices of plans, change plans, and enroll in a plan that best suits… Read More
How the Texas Health Benefits Exchange Marketplace Works The Texas health insurance exchange will be federally run by HHS after Rick Perry decided not to run a state-based Marketplace in Texas. Although the State will not run it’s own exchange Texans can use HealthCare.gov to shop for affordable health insurance. Texas has the highest percentage of… Read More
How “HealthSource RI”, The Official Rhode Island Website for Health Insurance, Works The Rhode Island Health Insurance Exchange, HealthSource RI, is the official Rhode Island State marketplace for health insurance under Obamacare. You can use HealthSource RI to apply for cost-assistance, compare prices of plans, change plans, and enroll in a plan that best suits… Read More
What is a Qualified Health Plan? Under the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare), a Qualified Health Plan (QHP) is a health plan certified by the marketplace to meet new benefit and cost sharing standards. Qualified Health Plans include all the metal plans sold on the marketplace and count as minimum essential coverage. Let’s take a look… Read More
How the Official Oregon Website for Health Insurance Works The Oregon Health Insurance Exchange, Cover Oregon, was replaced by Healthcare.Oregon.gov and HealthCare.gov. See those sites for coverage and cost assistance. Today you can use HealthCare.gov to apply for cost-assistance, compare prices of plans, change plans, and enroll in a plan that best suits you, your family or your… Read More
How “New York State of Health”, The Official New York Website for Health Insurance, Works The New York Health Insurance Exchange, New York State of Health, is the official New York State marketplace for health insurance under Obamacare. You can use New York State of Health to apply for cost-assistance, compare prices of plans, change… Read More
How “BeWellNM”, The Official New Mexico Website for Health Insurance, Works The New Mexico Health Insurance Exchange, BeWellNM, is the official New Mexico State marketplace for health insurance under Obamacare. You can use BeWellNM to apply for cost-assistance, compare prices of plans, change plans, and enroll in a plan that best suits you, your family,… Read More
How “the Nevada Health Link”, The Official Nevada Website for Health Insurance, Works The Nevada Health Insurance Exchange, the Nevada Health Link, is the official Nevada State marketplace for health insurance under Obamacare. You can use the Nevada Health Link to apply for cost-assistance, compare prices of plans, change plans, and enroll in a plan… Read More
How “MNsure”, The Official Minnesota Website for Health Insurance, Works The Minnesota Health Insurance Exchange, MNsure, is the official Minnesota State marketplace for health insurance under Obamacare. You can use MNsure to apply for cost-assistance, compare prices of plans, change plans, and enroll in a plan that best suits you, your family, or your small… Read More
How “the Health Connector”, The Official Massachusetts Website for Health Insurance, Works The Massachusetts Health Insurance Exchange, the Health Connector, is the official Massachusetts State marketplace for health insurance under Obamacare. You can use the Health Connector to apply for cost-assistance, compare prices of plans, change plans, and enroll in a plan that best suits… Read More
How “the Maryland Health Connection”, The Official Maryland Website for Health Insurance, Works The Maryland Health Insurance Exchange, the Maryland Health Connection, is the official Maryland State marketplace for health insurance under Obamacare. You can use the Maryland Health Connection to apply for cost-assistance, compare prices of plans, change plans, and enroll in a plan… Read More
How “Kynect: Kentucky’s Healthcare Connection”, The Official Kentucky Website for Health Insurance, Works The Kentucky Health Insurance Exchange, Kynect: Kentucky’s Healthcare Connection, is the official Kentucky State marketplace for health insurance under Obamacare. You can use Kynect: Kentucky’s Healthcare Connection to apply for cost-assistance, compare prices of plans, change plans, and enroll in a plan… Read More