Affordable Health Insurance In Virginia
If you live in Virginia and are in need of healthcare coverage, you may have somewhat of a challenge ahead of you. Finding quality Virginia health insurance in 2024, is not as simple as it may seem. The problem is, it can be quite difficult finding a knowledgeable
insurance professional that is willing to take the time to sort through the myriad of health plan choice that are available to you. And going it alone, in an increasingly confusing health plan marketplace, is a prescription for a potential disaster
The good news is, we are health plan experts with a wealth of experience. We are just a phone call away and are here to help.
There are a number of factors that you will want to consider when attempting to purchase that ideal health care 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?
Interesting Fact: The United States spends over $8,250 per capita on health care every year - that's over 22% higher than the next highest country in the world and over 170% higher than the average of the highest-spending 50 countries in the world. In 1960, the per capita cost of health care was $147 per person in America; adjusted for inflation, it would be $1,082 today; that means our current per capita cost has grown over 660% above and beyond normal inflation. As a portion of the gross domestic product (GDP), health care spending accounts for 17.7 percent. The U.S. is second in the world and first among developed nations for the highest health care spending as a percentage of GDP. The total amount of money spent on health care each year in the United States is $2.6 trillion, and it is expected to continue rising. By 2021, spending on health care each year is expected to be $4.8 trillion. It is estimated that 30% (about $750 billion) of health care spending each year is wasted.
Short Term Health Insurance
You may want to add short-term insurance to your list of options. Short-term insurance is not so short anymore. Thanks to new government guidelines, there are now short-term insurance policies in parts of the country that you can keep up to a year or more. In addition, the benefits of many of these short term policies 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 more comparable. And short term health insurance plan pricing tends to be more affordable. In many cases, a short term health plan can be the ideal health insurance fit. 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 insurance in ever increasing numbers. A Healthcare sharing plan is not an 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. The difference is, these plans are not governed by the ACA (Affordable Care Act) rules and regulations. The result is an umbrella of health plan options that can offer a benefit structure that is 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 Virginia. You need only to choose which health plan option will best suit your needs. Because health insurance is such an important necessity, you should seek the assistance of a licensed insurance professional.
Good to know: Pay less for prescriptions. Go generic, for starters. In almost every case, generics are just as good as name brands and are much cheaper, says Catherine Tom-Revzon, a pharmacist at The Children's Hospital at Montefiore, in New York City. Second, compare costs since prices vary significantly from store to store. Your best bet may be a warehouse club like Costco or Sam's Club. (You don't even need to be a member.) Another option: If your plan has a mail order pharmacy, you might be able to get 90 days' worth of prescriptions mailed to you for two co-pays.
courtesy of Parents.com
courtesy of Parents.com
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 can be quite different. Be sure to seek assistance from a licensed health insurance agent. The impact of purchasing the wrong plan can be emotionally and financially significant.
Roanoke, Virginia
The final step is to compare plan 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:
Finding Short-Term Health Insurance.
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