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What the No Surprises Act Means for You

One in five Americans have received a surprise medical bill from an emergency department, and another one in five have gotten unexpected bills from non-emergency hospital stays. Surprise medical bills have been a huge problem for Americans, but on January 1, 2022, the No Surprises Act took effect. This law establishes federal protections against most surprise medical bills that come after you receive out-of-network care during a hospital visit. Find out what the No Surprises Act means for you.

Surprise Bills

illustration of a person looking at their laptop with exclamation points — *Surprise bills can be scary and overwhelming, but now you can worry no more!*

In some cases, when you receive medical treatment (especially in an emergency situation), you will be unable to choose the provider who treats you, and so you end up unexpectedly receiving care from an out-of-network provider. Or, you might visit an in-network facility, but unknowingly see an out-of-network provider during your stay there.

Your insurance company will often pay some amount to the out-of-network provider, but typically less than the provider’s list price for the services. In most cases, the provider who treated you will then “balance bill” you for the difference between their list price and the insurer’s payment. In other cases, your insurer will offer little to no coverage of your unexpected out-of-network care. And in both of these scenarios, you’ll end up getting an unexpected bill, known as a “surprise” medical bill.

Getting a surprise medical bill in the mail can be a source of a lot of anxiety for many people. Two out of three Americans say they worry about being able to afford unexpected medical bills, and nearly half can’t afford to pay surprise bills in full.

Ending Surprise Bills

But the No Surprises Act will now make surprise medical bills a thing of the past. The law bans:

Surprise bills for most emergency services, even if you get them out-of-network and without approval beforehand.
Out-of-network cost-sharing (like coinsurance or copayments) for most emergency and some non-emergency services, so you can’t be charged more than in-network cost-sharing for these services.
Out-of-network charges and balance bills for certain additional services (like anesthesiology or radiology) administered by out-of-network providers as part of a patient’s visit to an in-network facility.

In addition, according to the law, you can’t be asked to waive your protections against balance billing in emergencies or for certain non-emergency services, such as ancillary services (anesthesia, pathology, radiology) associated with emergency care, or diagnostic services such as radiology or labs. It will be up to medical providers and insurers to identify which bills are subject to the Act.

“This law puts an end to the practice of charging patients exorbitant bills for unexpected, out-of-network care,” Sen. Patty Murray, chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, said.

What the No Surprises Act Does Not Cover

Unfortunately, the bill does not ban all surprise and out-of-network bills. It will exclude: illustration of an ambulance

Ambulance rides– The law applies to air ambulances, but not ground ones.
Certain facilities– The law applies to hospitals and emergency departments, but not to other facilities, such as urgent care facilities.

If you are unsure if a bill you received in the mail falls under the No Surprises Act, or if you have general questions about the new law, contact the newly established No Surprises Help Desk at 800-985-3059.

Find A Better Health Plan

Unfortunately, sometimes you will find that your health insurance plan doesn’t cover everything you need it to, leaving you with a big bill that you will have to pay out-of-pocket. If your plan isn’t adequate for your needs, it’s time to find a plan that is, so you can save as much money as possible. If you’re shopping for a plan, your best bet is to speak to a licensed EZ agent. Our agents work with the top-rated insurance companies in the nation, so we can compare plans in minutes. We will not only find a plan that has all the benefits you’re looking for, but we will also make sure the plan fits your budget. To get free instant quotes, simply enter your zip code in the bar above, or to speak to a local agent, call 888-350-1890. No obligation.

What Are the Federal Poverty Levels (FPL)?

Your salary and any other money your family brings into the household determine how much you will pay for health insurance. Why? Because, depending on what your salary is in relation to the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), you could qualify for tax subsidies that will reduce your premiums. Learning about the Federal Poverty Level can help you in your search for an affordable health insurance plan.

Federal Poverty Levels for 2022

To know if, and what kind of, subsidies you qualify for when it comes to health insurance, you’ll need to know how your salary relates to the Federal Poverty Level. The following are the 2022 Poverty Guidelines for salaries in the 48 Contiguous States and the District of Columbia: silhouette of a family of 4

$13,590 for individuals
$18,310 for a family of 2
$23,030 for a family of 3
$27,750 for a family of 4
$32,470 for a family of 5
$37,190 for a family of 6
$41,910 for a family of 7
$46,630 for a family of 8

For families/households with more than 8 persons, add $5,900 for each additional person.

Federal Poverty Level amounts are higher in Alaska and Hawaii. Alaska starts at $16,990 for an individual, and Hawaii starts at $15,630 for an individual.

Federal Poverty Level Cut-Offs

The FPL for a given calendar year plays a key factor in determining eligibility for reduced-cost health care and health insurance. If your salary is at or below certain percentages of the Federal Poverty Level, you qualify for Marketplace subsidies. The FPL cut-off is:

Annual income between 100% and 400% of the FPL

In all states, if your income level is in this range, you will qualify for premium tax credits for ACA health coverage, which can lower your monthly premium for a Marketplace health insurance plan.

moneybag with bills in it — *Now you can save even more money thanks to Biden’s Rescue Plan Act.*

This cut-off is fairly new: President Biden extended subsidies to more Americans with the American Rescue Plan Act, so that those who earn up to 400% of the Federal Poverty Level can now receive subsidies to purchase health insurance through the ACA Marketplace. The ARP also requires that Americans pay no more than 8.5% of their income on health insurance premiums, and provides a larger tax credit to people who already receive financial assistance.

As of April 1 of this year, anyone buying their health insurance through the ACA Marketplace is able to receive the tax credits if they qualify.

Looking for health insurance? Comparing plans is the best way to find an affordable plan that provides the right level of coverage for you. Before you start doing the work of comparing on your own, come to EZ. We will make the process quicker and easier by comparing available plans in your area in minutes. Our licensed agents work with all the top-rated insurance companies in the nation and can go over your budget and needs, and find the best plan for you and your family. We compare plans and offer guidance at no cost to you. To get free quotes, simply enter your zip code in the bar above, or to speak directly with an agent, call 888-350-1890.

The 3 Types of Asthma & How To Manage Them

If you’ve been diagnosed with asthma, do you know which type you have? There are actually 3 main types of asthma, and while they might have some similarities, there are different triggers for each type, as well as different treatments.

What Is Asthma?

illustration of a lung — *Asthma is caused by swelling of the airways, not allowing air to move through the lungs.*

Asthma is a long-term condition marked by breathing difficulties, which are caused by a narrowing and swelling of the airways, as well as excessive mucus production. When you have an asthma attack, the muscles in your airways tighten, making it hard for air to move in and out of your lungs, which can be a scary and serious situation. And while asthma can’t be cured, it is something that can be managed and treated.

There are many types of asthma, some that you are born with, and others that you can develop over time, meaning asthma can be caused by both genetic predisposition or environmental exposures.

Symptoms of an Asthma Attack

An attack can come on suddenly, and the symptoms can range from mild to life-threatening, which is why it is important to recognize the symptoms and seek treatment/help as quickly as possible.

Symptoms of an attack include:

Tightness in the chest
Wheezing
Coughing
Weakness
Dizziness
Feeling Breathless

The 3 Main Types of Asthma

1. Nocturnal Asthma

This is the most common type of asthma, and as the name suggests, it comes on at night. Triggers include environmental irritants like pet dander or dust; attacks can also occur if you sleep with your window open. Heartburn can also cause nocturnal asthma, amongst other changes during the night.

The symptoms of nocturnal asthma are the same as the aforementioned symptoms, they simply occur at night and can interrupt your sleep. Nocturnal asthma can increase your risk of heart diseases, respiratory arrest, and asthma-associated death.

If your symptoms vary and you cannot pinpoint the trigger, you might be sent for a sleep study. Healthcare professionals will monitor you and your symptoms to figure out the exact cause and how to treat it. To treat this type of asthma, you will most likely take the same medications as with other types of asthma, such as using an inhaler, but you might have to adjust them.

2. Exercise-Induced Asthma

Up to 90% of people with asthma have exercise-induced asthma, meaning working out triggers an asthma attack. Symptoms develop when you start exercising and will get worse after you stop. Other symptoms include decreased endurance, upset stomach, and sore throat.

This type of asthma attack will generally go away on its own within 30 minutes, but it is safe to use your inhaler.

3. Allergic Asthma/Seasonal Asthma

Allergies, especially seasonal allergies, can bring on a type of asthma known as allergic asthma. Allergies can play a big role in asthma: in fact, allergies are involved in about 50-80% of asthma cases. Common triggers for allergic asthma include inhaling pollen, mold, dust mites, and animal dander.

In addition to traditional asthma symptoms, allergic asthma can have some additional symptoms including:

Nasal Congestion
Runny nose
Scratchy throat
Sneezing
Itchy, red eyes

If you want to find the exact trigger of your allergic asthma, ask your doctor to perform skin and blood tests.

Coverage For Testing & Medications

If you have asthma, it’s important to see your doctor regularly and have access to your medications. Being insured will give you peace of mind, and the coverage you need to make sure you can receive an inhaler regularly, and get any other treatments you might need. If you’re looking for an insurance plan, EZ can help: we offer a wide range of health insurance plans from top-rated insurance companies in every state. And because we work with so many companies and can offer all of the plans available in your area, we can find you a plan that saves you a lot of money – even hundreds of dollars – even if you don’t qualify for a subsidy. There is no obligation, or hassle, just free quotes on all available plans in your area. To get free instant quotes, simply enter your zip code in the bar above, or to speak to a local agent, call 888-350-1890.

Clearing Roadblocks to Treating Your Stutter

For roughly 3 million Americans, stuttering is a daily struggle. Stuttering can be very frustrating, and treatment for it can be expensive, because it requires ongoing therapy. But this National Stuttering Awareness Week (May 10–15), we want to talk about treatment, and let you know that EZ can find a plan that meets your needs, so you don’t have to worry about paying for your treatment out-of-pocket.

Stuttering Explained

man's mouth open with letters coming out of it — *Stuttering generally begins at a young age, but can follow you into adulthood.*

Stuttering is a speech disorder that is marked by the involuntary repetition of sounds, syllables, or words, or interruptions in speech known as blocks. If you have a stuttering problem, you know exactly what you want to say but will have a hard time saying it. You might also experience rapid blinking of your eyes or tremors of the lips.

Stuttering can affect people of all ages, but is most often seen in children ages 2-6; boys and men are two to three times as likely to stutter as are girls and women as they get older. Approximately 75% of children outgrow their stutter, but for the remaining 25%, it can continue well into adulthood.

Causes of Stuttering

Stuttering can be either a developmental or neurological issue. Developmental stuttering is the most common form of stuttering, and according to scientists and doctors, it generally occurs when a child’s speech and language abilities are unable to meet what they are trying to say.

While developmental stuttering can be genetic, stuttering can also be caused by other factors, such as a stroke, head trauma, or brain injuries. This is known as neurogenic stuttering, a condition in which the brain has a difficult time coordinating the regions of the brain involved in speaking.

Treatment for Stuttering

Unfortunately, there is no one “cure” for stuttering, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t be treated or outgrown with time. There are a variety of treatments, depending on several factors such as age and communication goals. Therapy can help you minimize stuttering when talking by teaching you to speak more slowly, to focus on regulating your breathing, and to progress from single-syllable responses to longer words.

There are medications that are used to treat stuttering, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved them for that purpose. Medications for epilepsy, anxiety, or depression have been used to treat stuttering, but side effects can make it difficult to keep using them for a long time.

Finding Health Insurance Coverage

One of the most important factors in getting the help you need for your stutter is your health insurance plan. Before purchasing a plan, make sure you understand what coverage it offers, and make sure it will cover evaluation and treatment for stuttering. Some policies will list stuttering as a specific exclusion, and will not cover treatment for stuttering treatment and therapies, so you’ll need to look at the specific language of your policy. For example, it might say that treatment is only covered when it involves “restorative and rehabilitative care or treatment for loss of impairment of speech when the treatment is medically necessary because of an illness, injury or surgery.”

If all of this sounds a little confusing, and you’re not sure what plan is right for you, speak to an EZ agent! EZ agents are highly trained and knowledgeable, and will sort through all available plans to make sure that stuttering is covered in yours.

We offer a wide range of health insurance plans from top-rated insurance companies in every state. And because we work with so many companies, and can offer all of the plans available in your area, we can find you a plan that saves you a lot of money – even hundreds of dollars – even if you don’t qualify for a subsidy. There is no obligation, or hassle, just free quotes on all available plans in your area. To get free instant quotes, simply enter your zip code in the bar above, or to speak to a local agent, call 888-350-1890.

Stats About Health Insurance

Everyone knows they need health insurance, but it’s one of those things that people will often put off getting, for a variety of reasons. Some people think they don’t need it because they’re healthy, or that they won’t be able to afford it, since the cost of insurance has been on the rise. Not only that, but the pandemic caught everyone off guard and caused hardships for many people, including the loss of jobs and health insurance plans. In fact, we’ve got some very eye-opening stats on the state of health insurance in our country today that you need to see – some of them might just convince you that now is the time to finally find your plan!

Millions Of People Lost Coverage Because of Covid

Millions of Americans lost their jobs in the early days of the pandemic when so many businesses were forced to shut down for months. And when these people lost their jobs, they also lost the health insurance provided by their employer, and many remained without health insurance because it was too expensive to purchase their own individual plans.

Over 70% of Uninsured People Say The Cost is Too High, but There’s Something They Don’t Know

One of the main reasons people decide not to purchase health insurance, or to even look into purchasing a plan, is that they think the price is going to be too high. But what some people might not know is that President Biden has made health insurance cheaper and more affordable for people with low to no income by opening up subsidies to more Americans. The Biden administration estimates that ACA premiums will decrease by about $50 per month, with one administration official emphasizing that 4 out of 5 people enrolling “will be able to purchase a plan for $10 or less per month.” This could make a huge difference in the lives of the 14.9 million people who are currently not insured in the U.S.

Over 40% of Those Who Are Insured Don’t Have Enough Coverage

For those who do have health insurance, almost half of them are underinsured, and unfortunately don’t find this out until they receive big bills after getting treatment. Some people don’t review their plan or assume the plan they’ve had for years will be sufficient, when in reality it might not be adequate for their needs. If you think this might be the case for you, or you think that you can only afford the coverage you have and nothing more, it’s worth looking into other plans and speaking with an agent.

overdue bills stacked on top of each other — *Many Americans have overdue medical bills that lead to bankruptcy.*

Around 20% of Households Have Outstanding Medical Bills

Studies show that around 20% of Americans have bad credit reports because of outstanding medical bills. Because wages are low, inflation is rising, and medical services are extremely expensive, people are choosing to put their money towards other necessities, instead of paying their medical bills.

Medical Bills Are the Leading Cause of Bankruptcy

Over 60% of bankruptcies in America are caused by high medical bills! But what many people are unaware of is that you can have your medical debt forgiven: hospitals do have medical debt forgiveness programs, so if you are struggling with bills, speak to them about ways to have your bill reduced, or even waived completely.

Get Affordable Coverage

Health insurance can be expensive, but with professional, highly-trained agents on your side, you can find an affordable plan with the right coverage for your needs. We know it can feel like there are endless things to think about when looking for a health insurance plan for you and your family. Do you want more flexibility? Supplemental insurance? Cheaper prescriptions? But the easiest way to find the right plan for you and get the answers to these questions is to work with an EZ agent. We will compare plans, go over every option, discuss your needs, and help you sign up for the plan you need, all at no cost to you. Our services are completely free, with no hassle and no obligation. Get free health insurance quotes by entering your zip code in the bar above, or to speak with a local agent, call 888-350-1890.

What Preeclampsia Means For Your Pregnancy

High blood pressure complicates almost 10% of all pregnancies, and the incidence of this condition is even higher in women who have never given birth or are carrying multiple fetuses. This condition is dangerous during pregnancy because it can lead to preeclampsia, which is a leading cause of maternal and infant illness and death. Preeclampsia can affect both the mother and baby – and when it comes to the baby’s health, preeclampsia can have long-lasting effects.

What Is Preeclampsia?

pregnant woman getting blood pressure checked — *Preeclampsia is when a pregnant woman’s blood pressure is high after the 20th week of pregnancy and can be dangerous.*

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-related hypertensive disorder that is marked by the elevation of the mother’s blood pressure after the 20th week of pregnancy. If it is not monitored or treated, it can progress to severe preeclampsia quickly. Most women who deal with preeclampsia will deliver healthy babies and fully recover, but others will experience complications.

Preeclampsia Risk Factors

The cause of preeclampsia is unknown, but research suggests that women who are obese or have diabetes and chronic hypertension are more likely to develop it. It can happen to any woman during pregnancy, occurring in 5-8% of all pregnancies in women with no known risk factors. Incidences of it are on the rise: the rate of preeclampsia has increased 25% in the last two decades.

The most common risk factors include:

Previous history of preeclampsia
Multiple fetuses
History of chronic high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease, or organ transplant
Never having been pregnant before
Obesity, particularly with a BMI of 30 or greater
Being over 35 or under 20 years of age
Family history of preeclampsia
Gestational diabetes
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Lupus or other autoimmune disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis, and multiple sclerosis
Sickle cell disease
Obstructive sleep apnea

How Preeclampsia Affects the Mother

Preeclampsia can develop at any time during pregnancy, delivery, or up to six weeks postpartum, though it most frequently occurs in the final trimester of pregnancy. It usually resolves within 48 hours of delivery. Symptoms include:

Persistent nausea
Severe headaches
Abdominal pain
Vision loss or blurred vision.

Preeclampsia can have long-term effects, especially if it begins early in pregnancy, including damage to vital organs, such as the kidneys, livers, and brain. It can even cause seizures and stroke.

How Preeclampsia Affects the Baby

Preeclampsia is also risky for the fetus and can have long-lasting effects after birth. It depends on how severe the condition is, and how long the mother has had it. Some possible issues include:

Lack of oxygen and nutrients that can impair fetal growth
Premature birth– The baby’s growth can be restricted in the womb, causing early delivery
Stillbirth if placental abruption (separation of the placenta from the uterine wall) leads to heavy bleeding in the mother
Infant death- In the U.S., approximately 10,500 babies, and an estimated half-million worldwide, die from preeclampsia each year. If the baby is not growing how they should be, or scores poorly on a stress test, they might not survive in the womb.
Ongoing life challenges- This condition can lead to learning disorders, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, blindness, and deafness.

blood pressure machine with high numbers and medicine next to it — *There is no cure for preeclampsia, but you will have to be monitored closely throughout the pregnancy.*

There is no cure for preeclampsia. The mother and baby will need to be carefully monitored throughout the pregnancy if it is diagnosed. If you develop preeclampsia, your OB/GYN will monitor your blood pressure and assess your lab tests to make sure your organs are functioning properly, and that the baby is growing in the womb as they should be. You will be prescribed antihypertensive drugs if your blood pressure rises to dangerously high levels of 160/110 or higher.

If you need a health insurance plan that covers pregnancy, childbirth, and everything after, EZ can help you find a plan that covers all of your medical needs. We offer a wide range of health insurance plans from top-rated insurance companies in every state. And because we work with so many companies and can offer all of the plans available in your area, we can find you a plan that saves you a lot of money, even hundreds of dollars, even if you don’t qualify for a subsidy. There is no obligation, or hassle, just free quotes on all available plans in your area. To get free instant quotes, simply enter your zip code in the bar above, or to speak to a local agent, call 888-350-1890.

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