Find Affordable Health Insurance In Pennsylvania
If you're a Pennsylvania resident and are in need of good health plan, you may have a bit of a challenge ahead of you. Finding health insurance in Pennsylvania, in 2024, is not as simple as it may seem. Finding an insurance professional that is willing
to take the time to help you sort through the myriad of health plans out there, can be quite difficult. And without professional assistance, things can get really confusing - fast.
There are several factors that you need to consider when attempting to purchase a quality health plan for you or your family. The first item on your list should be which type of health plan should you consider - HMO, PPO, POS, EPO, etc.?
Are you looking for an Affordable Care Act plan, or are you looking for a wider range of options?
Short Term Health Insurance
You may want to add short-term health insurance to your list of possible options. Short-term insurance is not so short anymore.
Thanks to new government guidelines, you can keep a short-term health insurance plan a lot longer than what was previously allowed. In addition, the benefits of many short term plan options have been significantly improved.
While short term health insurance plans do not offer the comprehensive level of insurance coverage of an Affordable Care Act Health Insurance plan, the features and benefits
are now comparable. And the monthly premiums tend to be more affordable. In some cases, a short term health plan may be the exaxt health plan fit for your needs.
Get an instant short term health insurance plan rate quote
Healthcare Sharing Plans
There are also healthcare sharing plans. Consumers are choosing healthcare sharing plans, (also known as faith-based health plans), over traditional health insurance in ever increasing numbers. A Healthcare sharing plan is not a health insurance plan - at least not in the legal sense of the word.
These plans are designed to meet the same needs as traditional health insurance, however, faith-based health plans are not governed by the ACA (Affordable Care Act) rules and regulations. The result is an umbrella of health plan
options featuring plan benefit structures that can be quite different than what is available via an Affordable Care Act plan. These plans are noted by their flexibility and affordability.
Get an instant Healthcare sharing plan rate quote
All of the above options are available in Pennsylvania. You need only to choose which health plan option will best suit your needs. Because health insurance is such an important necessity, you should always seek the assistance of a licensed insurance professional.
Good to know: High-deductible plans come at a cost: You'll pay less each month in terms of premiums, but if you do have to use any medical services, you'll pay out of pocket for longer thanks to that high deductible. Still, if you're looking to lower your monthly costs and you're someone who doesn't frequent the doctor often, high-deductible plans are a valid option.
Healthcare.gov
One of the simplest means of acquiring a health plan, is to purchase a plan on Healthcare.gov. To purchase a plan via Healthcare.gov, you will need to apply during the open enrollment period. This period is normally about a month and a half long,
and occurs during the fall of every year. This is the only time you may enroll unless you qualify for enrollment due to special circumstances. If you fall within a certain specific income bracket, you may qualify for subsides, which are income-based discounts on the monthly premiums.
There are several health plan options that are available to you, that are not part of the Affordable Care Act portfolio. They include short-term health plans, (which are not so short anymore) and healthcare sharing plans, (Sometimes referred to as faith-based health plans).
After deciding on where you plan to purchase your health insurance, the next step is to decide which type of plan is best for you. These plan types include: Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), Exclusive Provider Organization, or a Point of Service Plan (POS), and more.
The structures of the various plans are quite different. Be sure to seek assistance from a licensed insurance agent, if you are not intimately aware of unique health plan differences. The impact of purchasing the wrong plan can be emotionally and financially significant.
Good to know: Ask for a discount. You can potentially reduce the cost of your medical bills by asking for a discount upfront. It may seem unconventional, but many hospitals and practitioners offer certain discounts for which you may be eligible. For example, some hospitals are part of networks that will reduce your medical bills by a certain percentage if you pay over the phone. More often than not, these discounts are only available to consumers who ask for them. Depending on your economic status or the price of your procedure, some medical facilities offer additional discounts that can be paired with your medical insurance to substantially reduce the cost of your procedure. For example, it's not uncommon for hospitals to offer discounts of up to thirty percent for qualifying customers.
Even if you don't find a discount related to your particular situation, your doctor or hospital may provide you with valuable information about discounts you can use in the future.
Once you have selected a plan type you desire, you should look at the size of the health care network and estimated out-of-pocket costs. Any insurance plan summary will lay out how much you may likely pay out of pocket,
for deductibles, copayments, and co-insurance, should you encounter a medical circumstance. Generally, the lower the premium the higher your out-of-pocket-costs.
The final step is to compare the offered benefits with your family's specific medical needs. This consists of making sure that the plan provides for any needed medications, coverage during travel, and any reoccurring care required.
Other articles:
Explaining The Growth of Healthcare Sharing Healthplans
Finding Short-Term Health Insurance.
Medicare Supplement vs Medicare Advantage in.
Resources