As history often reminds us, the world during past economic crises presented people with only limited affordable health options. Fortunately, recent measures taken by Congress present us with opportunities to get us ourselves covered.

Here’s a complete guide to all the available options in hand.

Continuing a job-based coverage policy

If you wish to keep the coverage, know that you can do so for as long as 18 months under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. However, you can avail of this option only if you choose to pay the total amount of your premium, which is what you would by default have to pay & also that what your employer would pay towards your premium. This is an excellent option that tends to cost more than Obama Care. However, it is better suited for Americans with an ongoing treatment as it enables you to visit the same doctor.

If you have no income as a result of job loss

As of today, if you reside in one of these 36 states, you can enjoy the benefit of a state health insurance program called Medicaid. Obamacare now enables residents of most states to avail of Medicaid if their monthly household income falls below a fixed amount – around $1400 for a single person or $2950 for a family of four. This should include all regular unemployment benefits, but not the $600 a week paid under the new relief legislation. As it happens to be, the ideal way to apply for Medicaid is through your state’s authorized agency. Typically, Medicaids have zero premiums, low co-payments, and also cover fewer doctors as compared to job-based insurance plans. You may find it harder to get covered if you live in a state outside the 36 and might have site parenthood or have to meet other criteria to get a single or affordable family insurance cover.

(Insert: MAP & cite source)

Don’t have health insurance but would like to get one 

Under normal circumstances, you can enroll for an insurance policy once a year. However, in case of an unexpected change such as a job loss or divorce, you could apply for one when in need. The global pandemic has led many employers to stretch the rules and allow for more employees to apply for an insurance cover. The states of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia are now permitting uninsured residents to enroll for Obamacare. Simply, visit their insurance marketplace sites to get started. Also, do check with your company’s HR staff if you are in fact eligible for a work-based insurance policy.

In need of a more comprehensive health plan

Insurance plans that are short term in duration presumably won’t cover the testing and treatment costs incurred for the coronavirus. With the pandemic not showing signs of slowing down anytime soon, we should armour ourselves with the necessary tools. Now would be the perfect time to switch to a comprehensive health plan such as Medicaid & Obamacare that ßare best suited for the current times we live in.

Not the most poetic sentiment, but reviewing your finances to make collective decisions to cut down on expenses is as intimate as one can get with their life partner. Getting married is an event that leads to a number of changes in one’s life and one of those transitions is health insurance.

Some insurance companies offer policies at low rates to married couples, especially if their historically safer than others when it comes to filing for claims. Insurance agents recommend couples switch from their individual plans to a family health care insurance policy and to do so; one must file for the same within 60 days of their nuptials.

If not, couples must look at temporary plans to cover them until the next enrollment period to switch to the family insurance policy.

Why Family Health Care Policy?

As per CNBC’s November 2019 survey, 71% of couples are on the same insurance plan.

(https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/08/29-percent-of-couples-have-separate-health-insurance.html)

• Out-Of-Pocket expenses
As a family, couples combine finances to balance the expenses of running a home. If they stick to their individual employer-provided policies or ones they’ve purchased from a private insurer, the out-of-pocket expenses turn out to be more than a single health care policy that covers the entire family. The spousal plan helps keep your expenses in check so that you can tie money in savings or have more cash to spend.

• Similar Health Conditions
If couples have similar health care needs i.e. they are both healthy and do not have pre-existing medical conditions or both of them have medical needs that are almost alike, it makes more sense to be on the spousal plan that is either employer-provided or purchased from a private insurance agent.

• Convenient operations
When couples are under the same family health care insurance policy, it makes it easier for them to manage operations and not be concerned to pay multiple premiums for separate policies. Keeping track of renewal dates and when to pay premiums can be an added task when you’re already adjusting and transitioning into a new life as a couple. This also makes it easier to add other members if needed in the future without having to worry to undergo another process to get them a separate insurance policy.

• Discounts/Offers
Some insurance companies offer great deals when it comes to purchasing family health insurance policies for new couples especially when their records are better than those who file for claims often. It also helps when the couple doesn’t have any pre-existing medical conditions that could possibly affect the premium and deductibles they pay. Some companies also offer embedded deductibles. This means that if one person pays their individual deductible (typically half the amount of the entire deductible), the insurance company will begin covering their costs for them while the other continues to pay for their half.

The government in United States has initiated the Obama care health insurance scheme in California and throughout the country. It promises benefits such as no limits on annual or lifetime healthcare, making top health insurance companies liable to provide you with coverage despite mistake on application form among others. However, still a large number of people prefer choosing the private companies to have their insurance needs met.

Hence, the top six areas mentioned below will tell you about the difference between a government and private insurance.

1. Coverage:

   Government insurance comprises family members getting co-insured at no extra cost. However, private insurance provides coverage for each member of the family as a separate individual; every member has to purchase a separate insurance policy.

2. Medical Facilities:

   Depending on the amount of the policy, private insurance provides more options while choosing the best medical care in private or semi-private institutions. Government insurance on the other hand involves references and in many cases, an alternative treatment is not available.

3. Billing:

   Private Insurance companies provide customized billing for each item involved in your healthcare. However, government insurance on the other hand does not include such a thing as the money is directly deducted from your policy.

4. Additional Cost:

   Private Insurance takes care of each little aspect of your health-related emergencies. Government insurance on the other hand takes care of less costly expenses and the rest has to be paid on one’s own expenses.

5. Time:

   While filing a claim from a private insurance company one can get their work done within less time frame. However, with millions of customer standing at government insurance offices, it may take a long time for your turn to come.

6. Enrollment:

   Private Insurance has a fixed age to register for the policy and the associated benefits. It is usually done in circumstances of child birth or marriage. Government insurance on the other hand can be taken at any time of the year and there are no fixed parameters to be fulfilled.

Both private and government insurance have strengths and weaknesses in their respective realms. On one hand, Obama care promises health benefits to low-earning families and on the other hand, private insurance promises instant care to the policy holder. The final decision comes down to the person who wants to get insured and what health benefits he or she would like to avail.

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Have queries regarding private insurance? Please leave a comment in the section below.

Figure out the “Must haves” – Accidental injuries or sudden illness can’t be perceived, but certain apparent medical cases can be taken care of beforehand. For example, if you are planning to extend your family, maternity expenditure coverage is obvious. If you have a family history of heart diseases, you would like to make sure that your health insurance covers expenditure for cholesterol lowering drugs and cost of cardiac tests. It is better to look for Covered California health insurance agencies that provide health care plans and policies for your unique case if you are living in California.

Don’t be extravagant – Overbuying an insurance policy can cost you dearly; after all, you would not like paying an insurance amount as big as your mortgage. It is better to buy insurance that you can handle comfortably. If you are healthy and young, it is better to buy policies with comparatively higher deductibles. These types of policies will cost less to your pocket per month and help you to save money in the long run.

Check the physician network covered by your policy – If you have any preferred list of physicians for your healthcare, you should check whether they are included in the network list of your insurance policy. Usually, policies offer lower share for out-of-network healthcare or none at all.

Figure out your share of expenditure – It’s not that difficult to find out the share of healthcare expenses you need to pay out of your pocket. It’s mandatory for insurance policies to state this point clearly. So, you should have a clear cut idea about the terms such as copays and coinsurance that make you liable to pay a certain percentage of the medical service. If you have a clear picture of these expenditures, you would be in a better position to utilize your claims later on.

Check whether your drugs are covered – If you take certain medicines regularly, it is better to ensure whether they are included in the plan’s formulary. This is especially important if the drugs are costly.

Check for the annual limits on your coverage – Although, owing to the health reform, annual limits on health coverage have vanished completely from 2014, plans can still impose limits on certain services that are deemed as “non-essential”.

Dependents – Children aged below 26 and not having a health insurance through their employer can take the benefit of your insurance. Also, kids under 19 years old can’t be excluded from the health care coverage of your plan. Thus, it is better to check these aspects.

Take the benefit of competition in the insurance market – Normally, it doesn’t take more than few minutes to check the main points of what is being offered under a policy. It is better to take some time to make an extensive search online and compare policies on their provisions, costs entailed, and reliability factor.

With few considerations as mentioned above, you can buy a suitable health insurance policy and get yourself and your family in a better position to tackle healthcare expenses in an efficient manner. A fully covered California health insurance can not only help you in times of need, but also give you the peace of mind.

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