Now that the holidays have come and gone there is still time to enroll in the Health Insurance Marketplace. For some there are significant changes this year including the elimination of plans and carriers from the Federal Exchange and we can anticipate more following the inauguration of the new president. Carriers such as Medical Mutual and SummaCare are scaling back their offerings withdrawing from counties while other carriers such as UnitedHealthcare have left the market entirely. In addition, there are several new products in the market that could allow for some cost savings for some individuals. It is now more important than ever to understand your options. Here are a few things you need to know about your insurance options:
- Sole Proprietors have an Alternative
If you are self-employed without any employees it has been a while since a plan was offered to you outside of the individual insurance market. The COSE Health & Wellness Trust is an available option for sole proprietors who qualify. This product is medically underwritten and may save you money if you are in a current ACA plan. In addition, the COSE Health & Wellness Trust uses Medical Mutual of Ohio (MMO) as the network provider. To learn more about this option, contact us!
- Individuals & Families have a faith-based alternative in Medical Cost Sharing
If you are looking for a benefit that aligns more with your values and your wallet then Medical Cost Sharing may be an option for you. This is not insurance and is geared toward healthy individuals and families. MCS plans are designed to work with any budget and offer a variety of personal responsibility options, quality care benefits, and access to a large network of providers. To learn more about MCS visit our page or contact us!
- Know how to Navigate Narrow Networks
If you decide to stay in or enter the Federally Facilitated Marketplace understanding your network options is important. Most carriers offer a different network within healthcare.gov which is different from their group and MEWA plans. The best way to ensure that you choose a plan that includes your hospital of choice is to talk to an agent. One place where this is extremely important is when you are selecting a plan that includes a pediatric hospital. An AUI agent will be able to direct you to plans that will best serve you. Sometimes this means we are not able to be your agent, but caring for your family is most important which is why we will still make the recommendation. Just contact us, helping people is what we do!
In addition, the cost of using an agent is already built into your insurance premium. You can go alone and try to find the right plan for you or have an expert to guide you. If you are interested in having an AUI agent help you understand your options, please contact us.
- AUI Pharmacy Program can help with Closed Formularies
Insurance carriers have been rolling back the types of prescriptions they will cover. From closed formularies to generic only benefits the ability to get the medication you need to treat your chronic conditions can be cost prohibitive for many.
The AUI Pharmacy Program is an income based alternative that includes over 1,500 prescription medications for only $30 per medication per month. If you take a high priced maintenance medication or take a medication that is not included in your plan’s formulary, we may be able to help you. To learn more about the program, the program qualifications and see a list of the participating medications, please click here.
- An AUI Agent at No Additional Cost
Open enrollment can be a stressful time for most…not to mention that we plop our major holidays right in the middle of it…so having someone who can help you understand your insurance options is important. The best part about using an AUI agent is that the cost of using an agent is already included in the cost of your insurance premium. So you can spend the time finding options, or you can have an AUI agent help you for roughly the same cost for your insurance plan on your own. Let us help you!
So as you continue to hear reminders from healthcare.gov that open enrollment has begun, take a minute to think about these key items and then contact us!
