Health Insurance for Individuals & Families
Your at the Right Place
What type of health coverage do you need? The answer may depend on if you qualify for a subsidy, or if you have a pre-existing condition and/or expect to use a lot of health services, you may want to consider a comprehensive health plan from one of our top carriers on the Marketplace. Plans on the Marketplace always include preventative benefits to help you stay healthy, and/or major coverage to help you get well. You can also pair your plan with an Health Savings Account (HSA) to help you pay for co-pays and other out-of-pocket healthcare.
Non-ACA Options
Short Term Health Plans are less expensive than plans on the Marketplace, but keep in mind they do not provide full coverage and they typically do not cover pre-existing conditions.
Since most major medical plans won’t cover unexpected or emergency healthcare needs while traveling, Travel Health Plans are essential when planning your next trip.
Types of Comprehensive Coverage:
An HMO or Health Maintenance Organization is a network of healthcare providers who provide services for an agreed monthly fee. A primary care physician directs your care.
A PPO or Preferred Provider is a network of healthcare providers that charge a certain rate, you may go out of network, but those services may not be fully covered.
What You Need to Know
No. The federal government has eliminated the ACA mandate. While some states have implemented their own mandates for health insurance, Iowa is not one of them. While you are not required to have health coverage in Iowa, there are many good reasons to buy a plan from a health plan on the Marketplace.
The Federal Marketplace is where you can purchase health insurance (also known as Obama Care) for you and your family. A plan from the marketplace is considered a comprehensive major medical plan and also contains the essential health benefits as established under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) law. When you purchase your health insurance through Healthcare.gov (the Marketplace) you are guaranteed issue regardless of any pre-existing condition and you may be eligible for a subsidy to help off-set high premiums. According to the Federal Government, 9 out of 10 qualify! Too see if you qualify please visit the Marketplace or simply click the “Shop Plans” button at the top of this page.
The essential health benefits are as follows:
- Ambulatory patient services
- Emergency services
- Hospitalization
- Maternity and newborn care
- Prescription Drugs
- Mental health and Substance Abuse disorder services
- Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices
- Pediatric services, including oral and vision care
- Preventive and wellness services, and chronic disease management
It’s important to know that you can only buy health insurance from the Marketplace during the annual open enrollment which is November 1 to December 15th, or unless you qualify for the special enrollment period.
You can still sign up for health insurance after the deadline if you meet any of the following qualifying events:
- a change in legal marital status
- a change in the number of dependents
- a change in place of residence and the current carrier is not available
- significant cost or coverage change
- a change in coverage of a spouse or dependent
- a COBRA qualifying event
- legal judgements, decrees and orders
- entitlement to Medicare or Medicaid
As healthcare costs continue to sky-rocket, why go without coverage and run the risk of financial ruin should you or a family member suffer an expected illness or accident? Studies show that most personal bankruptcies are caused by illnesses and accidents leaving individuals unable to work and strapped with medical bills.
If you qualify for a tax subsidy, a comprehensive health plan from the Marketplace can protect you from financial disaster.
Non-ACA alternatives such as Short-Term Health Insurance, and/or other Supplemental Health Plans will cost you a lot less than an unsubsidized major medical plan and can protect your finances as well. However, keep in mind some of these plans have limitations and, in some cases, do not cover certain and/or preexisting conditions. Click here to learn more about Supplemental Health Plans.
