Tag: affordable care act

The 2024 Health Insurance Overhaul: Key Changes and What They Mean for You

Post author By nhid_admin
Post date May 23, 2024

In 2024, several significant changes are coming to the health insurance landscape in the United States, thanks to new rules finalized by the Biden-Harris Administration. These updates are aimed at making health insurance more affordable, accessible, and transparent for Americans. Here’s what you need to know:

Cracking Down on Junk Health Insurance

One of the most notable changes is the crackdown on “junk” health insurance plans. These plans often offer low premiums but fail to provide adequate coverage when it’s needed most. Under the new rules, short-term health insurance plans, which have been criticized for offering insufficient coverage, will now be limited to just three months with a possible one-month extension. This is a significant reduction from the previous allowance of up to three years. The goal is to prevent consumers from being lured into plans that leave them with high out-of-pocket costs and limited coverage when they need medical care. Get more information directly from the White House’s official announcement.

Enhancing Enrollment and Consumer Protection

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have introduced several measures to simplify the enrollment process and enhance consumer protection. Starting January 1, 2024, there will be a new special enrollment period for individuals losing Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage. This allows up to 90 days to select a new plan, helping to avoid gaps in coverage.

In addition, the CMS has improved the shopping experience on HealthCare.gov. Consumers can now see estimated total yearly costs for each plan, not just the monthly premiums. This change helps individuals understand the true cost of their insurance options over the entire year, making it easier to choose a plan that fits their financial and health needs.

Expanding Access to Behavioral Health Care

The final rule also places a strong emphasis on expanding access to behavioral health care. Most people likely still don’t know about the mental health care mandate that was instituted with Obamacare, but this takes it a step further. New requirements ensure that plans must contract with a higher percentage of essential community providers, including substance abuse treatment centers and mental health facilities. This change aims to address the ongoing mental health crisis that was created by the COVID-19 pandemic and also improve access to necessary care for underserved populations.

Simplifying Plan Choices

To reduce the confusion often caused by an overwhelming number of plan options, the new rules limit the number of non-standardized plan options that insurers can offer on the marketplaces. This simplification is intended to help consumers make more informed choices without feeling overwhelmed by too many similar plans.

Interested in health insurance? Why not talk to one of our experts?

Get in touch with us directly >>

**New Law Brings Online Shopping To Hospital Visits**

**This FREE Guide Answers the Tough Questions About COBRA.**

**How The “Coverage Bill of Rights” Has Changed Health Insurance**

The true cost of not having health insurance is much more than most realize. — **The True Cost of Not Having Health Insurance: (It’s more than you think)**

Tags affordable care act, biden, health insurance marketplace, Obamacare

Blog

Open Enrollment For 2023 Is Underway: Don’t Miss Out!

Post author By nhid_admin
Post date November 14, 2022

Everything You Need to Know About the 2023 Open Enrollment Period For Obamacare and ACA plans.

The 2023 Open Enrollment Period (OEP) for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) began November 1, 2022 and ends on January 15, 2023. Some states have their own healthcare exchanges, such as California’s Covered California Exchange and Pennsylvania’s Pennie. Several of these states have different date ranges for the 2023 OEP.

If you think that OEP is a bit longer than usual this year, you’re right: open enrollment used to end on December 15 in most states, but the Biden administration added a one-month extension that took effect for the 2022 plan year and will continue to be used from now on.

If you don’t have health insurance through your job, you’ll need to purchase coverage during open enrollment. The best time to buy health insurance is during the open enrollment period, when ACA plans are available and rates are set for the year. You can still buy health insurance after open enrollment, but you may have to wait for a plan to become available and your rates may be higher, or you may have to use an option such as private health insurance.

What is Open Enrollment?

Open enrollment is the time of year when people who don’t have health insurance through their job can purchase coverage through a certified ACA provider such as HealthPlanOptionsToday. You can still buy health insurance through a government exchange after open enrollment if you have experienced one of several qualifying events (we’ll cover this later).

What States Have Their Own Healthcare Exchanges?

Many states and the District of Colombia have their own healthcare exchanges, many of which have unique open enrollment periods. A complete list of these states is below:

California: From November 1 to January 31 (renewals began earlier, on October 1)
Colorado: From November 1 to January 15
Connecticut: From November 1 to January 15
District of Columbia: From November 1 to January 31
Idaho: From October 15 to December 15 (take note that this deadline ends before year-end)
Kentucky: From November 1 to January 15
Maine: From November 1 to January 15
Maryland: From November 1 to January 15
Massachusetts: From November 1 to January 23
Minnesota: From November 1 to January 15
Nevada: From November 1 to January 15
New Jersey: From November 1 to January 31
New Mexico: From November 1 to January 15
New York: From November 16 to January 31 (note that open enrollment begins later than most exchanges)
Pennsylvania: From November 1 to January 15
Rhode Island: From November 1 to January 31
Vermont: From November 1 to January 15
Washington: From November 1 to January 15

How To Get Health Insurance Outside of Open Enrollment

Outside of ACA’s open enrollment window, Obamacare enrollments are available with a qualifying event such as marriage (since 2017), becoming a U.S. citizen or birth/adoption (since July 2016). Even if you do not fall under one of these qualifying events, you can still purchase health insurance through Health Plan Options Today. Our trained specialists will literally search through a plethora of plans to find the one that suits you and your needs the best.

How To Get The Best Deal During Open Enrollment Period

While the best time to buy health insurance is during the open enrollment period, our team is just a call away and is ready to assist with your health insurance needs at any time of the year. They will take time to learn about your budget and your needs: whether you’re single, an empty-nester, or if you have a large family that needs to be covered, and will help select the plan that will work best for you. Get in touch with us by calling our hotline at 855-218-3447 or by clicking the button below.

Find my health insurance options

6 Ways To Get The Most Out Of Your Health Insurance

Post author By nhid_admin
Post date October 11, 2022

Navigating health insurance in the U.S. can be very confusing. Even today, while we’re living within the golden age of health insurance in our country, millions of people still don’t have coverage. There are several changes that can be made to ensure that health insurance can be even more affordable and accessible for all.

Those who have health insurance are able to take advantage of the fact that insurance is there to help you and your family when you need it most, but did you know that there are other ways to make the most of your health insurance and get the most out of your benefits?

Here are some tips on how to best utilize your health insurance.

1. Get Familiar With Your Policy

Every insurance plan is different, so make sure you are familiar with your policy and what it covers. It’s important to know what your policy covers, as well as any exclusions or limitations. This will help you understand what benefits you are entitled to and how to make the most of them.

Be sure to review the “Summary of Benefits” provided to you by your insurance company and if you have any questions, call the company and have someone in the member services department explain it to you.

In addition, plans backed by the Affordable Care Act/Obamacare mandate MUST provide a variety of services that are often underutilized by the general public, such as mental health services, wellness care, outpatient care and other services. In addition, ACA-backed plans must provide preventative care, which we’ll discuss further below.

Find The Right Provider For You

Choosing the correct provider will help you get your money’s worth from your insurance.

Healthcare providers can be primary care doctors, specialists, hospitals or more. Essentially, it’s any person or place that provides you with healthcare.

If you don’t currently have a provider or your provider isn’t a part of your new insurance, be sure to check your plan provider network to see the list of providers that they work with.

This information is usually available on the insurance company’s website or you can contact the insurance company’s member services to describe what you are looking for and let them point you in the right direction.

Think about what you really need from a provider. It’s your right to see a provider who makes you comfortable and remember, you can request another provider if you don’t think they are the best fit.

3. Preventative Care is Key

Many health insurance policies are required to cover preventive care in your plan. This means that even if you haven’t met your annual deductible, you can still receive preventive care services for free.

Preventive care services include annual checkups, screenings, vaccinations, and even counseling to stop smoking.

Take advantage of these benefits to help keep yourself and your family healthy.

4. Discounts, Discounts, Discounts

Your health coverage provider may provide discounts you’re not even using.

Many health insurance plans offer discounts on fitness memberships, healthy food choices, and other wellness-related activities. These discounts can help you save money and improve your overall health.

Take Advantage of them!

5. Use Online Tools and Resources

Most health insurance companies offer online tools and resources that can help you manage your health, find providers, and make the most of your benefits.

Utilizing these resources can help you get the most out of your health insurance and save you time, and money.

6. Know When To Use Your Health Coverage

It’s important to know when to use your health insurance and when to pay cash.

There are times when it may be more cost-effective to pay for a service out-of-pocket rather than using your health insurance.

However, if you have a serious or complex medical issue, it’s important to use your health insurance so that you can get the care you need.

Don’t Have Health Insurance? Here’s How to Get Covered.

Following these tips can help you make the most of your health insurance and get the most out of your benefits. If you have any questions about your policy or how to best utilize your health insurance, contact your insurer for more information.

The team at HealthPlanOptionsToday is here to help everyone get the best health insurance prices for their unique situations and needs. We can’t wait to help you as well! Click the button below and we’ll contact you, or call our hotline at 855-218-3447 for instant help.

Find my health insurance options

Here’s When You Should Change Your Health Insurance Plan

Post author By nhid_admin
Post date June 3, 2021

Starting a family soon? Paying for insurance but still can’t afford to get sick? These are just 2 of the reasons that may cause you to consider changing your health plan.

For many people, health insurance is one of those things that they don’t think about… until they need it. And let’s admit it- more than a few of us have picked plans semi-blindly, not having a true picture of the benefits or exactly what we’re getting into. While it’s not the best way to shop for health insurance; that approach nothing to be ashamed of; after all, insurance terminology can be complex to those who are unfamiliar with the business, and for those who are young and healthy, sometimes it’s easy to think “why would I need this if I rarely get sick?”

Time has a way of making sure we pay more attention to these things, which leaves some people unsure of whether their frustrations with health insurance plans are part of the status quo or are issues that should be fixed. This often leads people to wonder “how can I change my health insurance plan mid-enrollment?” While that’s another question for another day, here are a few ways to know when you should change your health insurance.

When You’re Paying for Preventative Care

By law, all ACA-compliant health plans- in other words, health insurance plans that meet the minimum standard of “Obamacare“- MUST include free access to preventative care services such as flu shots and blood pressure screenings (read more about the covered preventative services here). In addition, they must provide some level of coverage for mental health care, which we’ve covered in this article here.

If your health plan does not include coverage for these services, it’s time to consider a change.

When Your Healthcare Needs Have Changed

Have you just made it through “the other side” of a serious health condition? Have you made a major lifestyle change, such as losing a major amount of weight? Have you moved on from a job that involved a major amount of physical strain? These are all examples of major health changes that may cause some to consider dialing back their health insurance coverage.

When Your Family Needs Have Changed

Are you one of the 1.4% of Americans that have had a baby in the last year? Are you planning to have a new addition to your family soon? Will your partner be eligible for medicare within the next year? Then it may be time for you to evaluate changing health insurance plans to better suit your family’s needs.

When You Don’t Go to the Doctor… Because You Can’t Afford It

The whole point of having health insurance is to help reduce the cost of caring for one’s health. This is why one of the great ironies of our time is that thousands and thousands of people who have health insurance skip doctor’s visits when they’re sick or neglect refilling prescriptions… because it’s too expensive!

If this is the case, it’s definitely time to consider switching health plans. Even if you don’t switch health plans, then you may want to consider an HSA- a Health Savings Account- if it’s available through your health insurance provider.

Another Way to Find Out If You Should Change Your Health Insurance

There are many other situations that may cause people to consider changing their health insurance. Our team of experts can help you understand whether or not the time is right for you, and can help you find a plan that will suit your needs if you’re ready to change. Call the Health Plan Options Today team hotline at 855-218-3447 to speak with the team directly, or click the link below and we’ll get in touch with you.

Find my health insurance options

You Should Think About Using Your Health Insurance’s Mental Health Services

Post author By nhid_admin
Post date May 27, 2021

Mental health is no longer the taboo topic that it once was, and thanks to changes in health insurance law, mental health care is now more accessible than ever.

If one thing has changed in American healthcare over the last 10 years, aside from the emergence and acceptance of the Affordable Care Act, it has been our society’s increased acceptance of mental health services as an important part of healthcare.

Health Insurance For Mental Health

In decades past, mental health support was seen as something taboo, and was probably joked about in movies and tv shows more than it was taken seriously. Many people saw mental health services as something for “rich people” and “crazy people”, and in reality, these services were out of reach for most people. Mental health professionals were hard to find, and many health insurance plans did not support mental health services, so people had to pay out-of-pocket to access these services, making them unaffordable to much of the population.

The Laws That Changed Everything

President Obama and then-Vice President Biden in office in the early 2010’s. “Obamacare” marked a major national shift in access to mental health services.

In 1996, access to mental health coverage began to shift with the introduction of the Mental Health Parity Act. The Mental Health Parity Act, or MHPA for short, and its later relative, the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, stated that employer-sponsored health insurance had to include mental health coverage, and insinuated that health insurance companies should treat mental health coverage as equal to other parts of medical coverage.

These laws proved to be a double-edged sword. On the positive end, they did help provide mental health benefits for people who did not have access to it before. The drawbacks were that there was no protection for those who had mental health issues as a pre-existing condition, so insurance companies could use mental health screenings as a reason to deny people. Also these laws did nothing to cover the millions of low-income people who didn’t have health plans, who (statistically speaking) were likely to be more in need of mental health services.

The Affordable Care Act

When the Affordable Care Act was introduced in 2010, it marked an even greater shift in the way Americans could access mental health care. At the time, the opioid crisis was peaking in America, and treatment was now seen as the morally correct way to address the issue (as opposed to jail time). A wide-ranging solution was needed.

The introduction of the Affordable Care Act provided a worthwhile solution. Mental health support was one of Obamacare’s original “10 essential services“, meaning that all health plans on the public healthcare marketplace had to include coverage for mental health services, and people could not be denied for pre-existing mental health issues. In addition, Medicaid and Medicare began covering mental health services as well. This was important because it set a precedent for health plans outside of the public marketplace to do the same in order to remain competitive. That being said, even 10 years later, mental health support is one of the most underused parts of health insurance.

What Type of Mental Health Services Does Health Insurance Cover?

Although the cost and extent of support available varies by plan, there are certain services that must be offered by every plan under the Affordable Care Act standard. They are as follows:

Behavioral Treatment (for example psychotherapy and counseling):
- Outpatient individual counseling or group therapy sessions
- Diagnostic services such as psychological evaluation and testing services
- Ongoing outpatient treatment, including medication management and psychiatric treatment programs
Substance abuse (also known as substance use disorder) treatment:
- Outpatient diagnostic and treatment services for chemical or alcohol dependency
- Medical services for withdrawal symptoms, such as inpatient detoxification services
- Substance use disorder recovery services, including counseling and educational resources
Mental and behavioral health inpatient services
- Mental health care if you’re admitted to a psychiatric facility.
Additional provisions for preventative care
- There are preventative care services in the ACA that pertain to mental health, such as depression and alcohol abuse screenings.

Once again, this is just a baseline; it is best to check with your health insurance provider to see exactly what services are provided via your plan.

Do You Need A Health Insurance Plan That Covers Mental Health Services?

If you think you need mental health services and don’t have health insurance, don’t fret. HealthPlanOptionsToday can help you find a plan that will get you started on the road toward wellness. Call us at 855-218-3447 for more information, or click the button below and we’ll get in touch with you.

Find my health insurance options

Health Insurance After Divorce: What Are My Options?

Post author By nhid_admin
Post date March 16, 2021

What Happens To Health Insurance After A Divorce?

Divorce is not an easy topic to talk about. While the questions of “who gets the house”, and “what will happen with the kids?” are obviously the most pressing questions in this situation, divorce is so complex that there are likely hundreds of procedural questions that must be confronted before, during and after a split.

“I’m on my spouse’s health insurance, what will happen to me after we split?”
-The Most Important Divorce Question That No One Thinks About

After a divorce, your former spouse is supposed to cover your health insurance premiums but this only happens for a time. Many people forget that if paying the premiums is not part of the divorce settlements, you will be dropped from the other party’s health insurance plan once the divorce is settled. This is the reason why it is recommended that you know your options before taking up a health insurance plan. Here are a few options that you should consider for health insurance after a divorce.

COBRA and Divorce

A divorce will mean that you are left without your partner’s company health insurance plan. However, COBRA guarantees that you are still entitled to up to 30 months of insurance coverage (the length of the duration of cover is dependent on the circumstances of the divorce.) To qualify for COBRA extended coverage, your ex must be working in a firm with more than 20 employees.

However, there are some states with mini-COBRA that cover businesses with less than 20 employees. once the COBRA health insurance coverage is terminated, you are required to re-apply for the same within 60 days, only this time you will be the one paying premiums and not your former spouse’s employer. COBRA is appealing to divorced individuals who have already accrued a significant amount of medical expenses as they do not have to start over once their COBRA insurance policy is terminated.

Employer Health Insurance Coverage After Divorce

After a divorce, you are eligible for health insurance from the employer provided that you are under active employment. This option is considered to be more cost-effective compared to COBRA and does not drag your ex-partner into paying your premiums. However, one thing you need to understand is that this option can only be accessed during specific periods during the year. There are unique situations that can give you special enrollment to the Employer Health Insurance Plan as it is the case with a divorce.

How Divorce Affects Obamacare Health Plan

The good thing why you should consider Obamacare health insurance is because even with your employer’s health insurance plan, you are still eligible for the latter. This is because Obamacare is either run by the state or the federal governments. Obamacare is almost similar to the employer health insurance plan since you have 60 days after a divorce to apply for coverage during a period referred to as a special enrollment period. If the 60 days lapse without you having applied for Obamacare health insurance, then you would have to wait for the regular enrollment period that takes place towards the end of the year.

Short Term Health Insurance for Divorcees

Short-term health insurance is a good option for people who cannot afford Obamacare or feel that they are likely to get formal employment in the near future. Of course not every health insurance plan matches your budget for the same. There are a number of things that you should know about short term health insurance one of them being that this option is not for people with pre-existing medical conditions. This blanket exclusion sometimes makes this option unattractive to people since Obamacare and the employer plan allow people with pre-existing conditions to enroll.

In the event of a divorce, finding the right health insurance option should not be problematic as long as you know what to look for in the right plan. Divorce is a difficult event and if your judgment is clouded, chances are that you will rush to choose a health insurance plan that is not ideal for you and your family. For this reason, be sure to use Health Plan Options Today to help find a plan that will usher in the next chapter of your life while guaranteeing good health and wellness. Click the button below or call our hotline at 855-218-3447 to get started on your journey.

Find my health insurance options

Cracking Down on Junk Health Insurance

Enhancing Enrollment and Consumer Protection

Expanding Access to Behavioral Health Care

Simplifying Plan Choices

What is Open Enrollment?

What States Have Their Own Healthcare Exchanges?

How To Get Health Insurance Outside of Open Enrollment

How To Get The Best Deal During Open Enrollment Period

You May Also Be Interested In:

1. Get Familiar With Your Policy

Find The Right Provider For You

3. Preventative Care is Key

4. Discounts, Discounts, Discounts

5. Use Online Tools and Resources

6. Know When To Use Your Health Coverage

Don’t Have Health Insurance? Here’s How to Get Covered.

You May Also Be Interested In:

When You’re Paying for Preventative Care

When Your Healthcare Needs Have Changed

When Your Family Needs Have Changed

When You Don’t Go to the Doctor… Because You Can’t Afford It

Another Way to Find Out If You Should Change Your Health Insurance

You May Also Be Interested In:

Health Insurance For Mental Health

The Laws That Changed Everything

What Type of Mental Health Services Does Health Insurance Cover?

Do You Need A Health Insurance Plan That Covers Mental Health Services?

You May Also Be Interested In:

COBRA and Divorce

Employer Health Insurance Coverage After Divorce

How Divorce Affects Obamacare Health Plan

Short Term Health Insurance for Divorcees

You May Also Be Interested In: