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North Dakota Health Insurance Companies
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North Dakota Health Insurance Resources
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How to Get the Most Savings
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North Dakota Health Insurance FAQS
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How to Enroll in Health Insurance in North Dakota
North Dakota Health Insurance Companies
If you’re looking for health insurance in North Dakota, you have plenty of options for both plans and insurance companies. Three of the biggest companies offering various plans are:
Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota
Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota offers individual and family plans, as well as Medicare Supplement Plans and group plans. It also offers a variety of other plans, including catastrophic health plans and high-deductible health plans, to help you keep your healthcare costs low.
Sanford Health Plan
Sanford provides several plans with varying deductibles. They also have HMO and PPO plans available. Many aspects of your plan can be managed through the company’s website. Sanford also provides health coaching to assist you in managing chronic health conditions.
Medica Health Plan
Medica offers a variety of plans, including catastrophic health plans and cost-sharing reduction plans. Medica also offers multiple regional network options, allowing you to tailor your coverage to your specific location. It also offers personal health advocates, virtual care, online health programs, and Mayo Clinic care.
Health Insurance Marketplace in North Dakota
If you’re looking for health insurance in North Dakota, a good place to start is the health insurance Marketplace. Marketplace health insurance, which was created by the Affordable Care Act, offers certain consumer protections, guarantees coverage for pre-existing conditions, and includes coverage for what are known as the “10 essential health benefits”:
- Ambulatory patient services (outpatient care)
- Emergency services
- Hospitalization
- Pregnancy, maternity, and newborn care (both before and after birth)
- Mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment (including counseling and psychotherapy)
- Prescription drugs
- Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices
- Laboratory services
- Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management
- Pediatric services, including oral and vision care (but adult dental and vision coverage aren’t essential health benefits)
The ACA-compliant plans offered on the Marketplace are divided into different types, known as metal tiers: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. These tiers do not signal a difference in quality of care, though. The tiers differ in your out-of-pocket costs versus what your plan covers.
It’s important to remember that the Marketplace only offers the plans of participating providers. So unfortunately, while the Marketplace is a great tool, you may not be able to compare every plan available to you.
Whether you want a Marketplace plan, or a plan from a private insurer, an EZ agent can help. We work with all carriers in your state in order to compare all options available.
Over half of the uninsured in North Dakota who qualify for Marketplace insurance coverage could get a Bronze plan for FREE.
North Dakota’s Short Term Health Insurance
If you’ve missed the health insurance Open Enrollment Period (OEP), or if you need health insurance for a short amount of time, short-term plans are a great option. It’s important to note, though, that these policies tend to only cover the basics, and you can be denied one of these plans if you have a pre-existing condition.
There are some rules around short-term plans, both at the federal and the state level. Some states choose to have their own guidelines separate from federal guidelines, or to not offer short-term plans at all, but North Dakota has chosen to follow federal guidelines when it comes to how long your short-term coverage can last. That means short -term plans can initially be bought for 364 days of coverage. You can renew your plan 3 times for a total of 36 months of coverage.
State legislation from 2021 allows association short-term plans to adhere to federal length rules, while also requiring them to cover certain essential health benefits. Non-association short-term plans are limited to a total duration of 12 months.
North Dakota Health Insurance Resources
Aside from purchasing insurance directly from an insurance company, there are a few other resources you can use to get affordable health insurance. You can speak to your employer about participating in a group insurance plan. Purchasing a plan through your employer is typically less expensive than purchasing one on your own.
Another option is to seek government assistance. You can enroll in a low-cost Medicare plan if you are 65 or older or have a qualifying disability. Medicaid provides low-income individuals and families with affordable or free insurance policies. However, you must fall within a certain income range to be eligible for these plans.
An insurance agent is another valuable resource. An EZ agent can easily compare all of your available plan options. We can ensure that you choose a plan that meets your needs, as well as the needs of your family.
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How to Get the Most Savings
North Dakota ranks 24th among the 50 states in terms of per-capita healthcare spending. The average annual cost of healthcare in North Dakota is $10,741. But you can find ways to lower your health insurance premiums.
Your health is one of the first things that health insurance companies consider, so if you want to pay less for insurance, think about maintaining your health, especially a healthy weight. If your body mass index (BMI) is excessively high or excessively low, your premium may increase. North Dakota has an obesity rate of 34.8%, so if you’re among that number, know that maintaining a healthy BMI is an excellent way to save money.
You can also look after your health in other ways, like avoiding tobacco use. To insurance companies, smoking poses a significant risk when it comes to insuring you. That means a smoker’s premium could be up to 50% higher than those of a nonsmoker. North Dakota has a smoking rate of 15%, so if you’re in that group, know that quitting will lower your insurance costs as well as your healthcare costs overall – not to mention the money you’ll save on tobacco products!
But there is an even simpler way to save money: work with an EZ agent! Our agent can assist you in locating any local discounts that you may be eligible for and can compare all of the plans that are in your price range. The experts at EZ could help you save hundreds of dollars on health insurance each year! Furthermore, all of our services are completely free!
North Dakota Health Insurance FAQS
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Does North Dakota require you to have health insurance?
North Dakota does not have any mandates requiring residents to have health insurance. And since the federal tax penalty for not having health insurance is no longer in effect, there is not a federal mandate, either.
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What is the cheapest health insurance in North Dakota?
The cheapest health plan will be a Bronze plan, which can start as low as $339 a month. Remember, though, health insurance plan prices can vary depending on age, zip code, gender, and other factors. More than half of North Dakota residents who qualify for a Marketplace plan can actually get a Bronze plan for free.
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How much does health insurance cost in North Dakota?
The average monthly premium for health insurance in North Dakota is $380, or $4,560 per year, with plans as low as $339 a month to as high as $1,040. But do not let these numbers scare you. More than half of uninsured people in North Dakota qualify for a $0 Bronze plan and don’t even know it.
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Which insurers offer plans in North Dakota?
The top 3 insurers in North Dakota are Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, Medica Health Plans, and Sanford Health Plan.
How to Enroll in Health Insurance in North Dakota
In North Dakota, there are several options for enrolling in a health insurance plan. The federal Health Insurance Marketplace is one option. The government-run exchange is useful for comparing the plans offered by carriers that participate in the exchange. You can also sign up directly through the website of the carrier of your choice.
Another option is to enroll through your employer if they offer a group plan; all that is required is to select a plan and provide some information.
But whether you enroll through the exchange, directly through an insurance company, or through your employer, an EZ agent can assist you! Our agent can help you compare plans to ensure you’re getting the best deal. We can answer your questions, as well as find any discounts or programs for which you qualify, and then guide you through the enrollment process. Enrolling in health insurance can be difficult; let an EZ agent assist you in securing the coverage you deserve.
If you still have questions, feel free to give us a call at 877-670-3557. When you call, you will be directly connected to a local insurance agent who can answer all of your questions and help you find the health insurance plan that works best for you.
