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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.

How To Make Sense of Your EOB

Having a health insurance plan means being able to see your doctor and get medical treatment without having to worry about going bankrupt, but it can also mean a lot of paperwork. It’s important to know what kind of paperwork to expect after receiving treatment, as well as how to read everything you get in the mail from your providers and your insurance company.

For example, in addition to getting a bill from your provider after you receive treatment, you will also get what’s known as an explanation of benefits, or EOB, from your insurance company. It will look like a bill, but it is not: it’s simply an explanation of the services that you received, how much the insurance company will pay for the services you received, and how much you will end up paying out-of-pocket. Generally, you will receive an EOB every time you receive a service or treatment from your healthcare provider, including seeing your doctor, going to the hospital, getting lab work done, etc.

Your EOB Will Include:

Your Information– Your name, or the name of your dependent (whoever received the service)
Health Plan Information– Your (or the insured’s) health insurance ID or policy number, and the claim number
The Name of the Health Care Provider – The doctor, dentist, specialist, laboratory, hospital, or clinic that provided your treatment/care
Date of Service– When you received the service from your provider
Service Description- A description of what service you received, and whether it was an office visit, lab work, or other diagnostic screenings
Provider Charges- The amount your provider billed your insurance company for the service you received
Allowed Charges- The amount your provider receives as payment from your insurance company
Paid by Insurer- The amount your health insurance plan pays your provider.
What You Owe- The difference between what the provider charged and what your health plan paid

Why Are EOBs Useful?

EOBs are a tool for showing you the value of your health insurance plan, and for helping you to plan for your healthcare costs. You will see the cost of the services you received and the savings your plan has given you; you will also be able to see how much you have paid toward your deductible and how much is left for the year to pay.

Not only that, but your EOB is an important tool for helping you understand how claims are processed, and for helping you to ensure that there are no errors on your bills. You will want to pay close attention to your explanation of benefits letter and check for any issues like double billing, bills for services you didn’t receive, bills for the wrong service, or errors in the calculation of contributions to your deductible.

Don’t make the mistake of ignoring your EOB, or paying it as if it were a bill: you could end up paying more than you should for medical services.

exclamation point in an orange circle — *If you find an error in your EOB, then contact the insurance company and explain what it is so you do not get charged for a mistake.*

If You Find An Error

If you find any errors in your EOB, you need to contact your health insurance company immediately and notify them so they can investigate them and correct them with the provider. And if you feel like your health insurance company is not providing the best coverage, it might be time to consider looking for other options.

The best way to understand how health insurance works, and to find the right plan for you and your family’s specific needs, is by working with an agent who specializes in health insurance. 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.

African American Women Defy the National Trend of Declining Life Expectancy

Heart disease is the number one killer of Americans, and African Americans ages 18-49 are two times as likely to die from heart disease as are Caucasians. Not only that, but according to the CDC, one out of every three African-American adults suffer from high blood pressure, and fewer than half have the condition under control. And while African American women have a lower incidence of breast cancer, they are 41% more likely to die from it. The reason behind these health disparities? Most likely they are due to lack of access to adequate insurance and issues like higher instances of obesity, as well as stress from being overworked. And yet, with all of the stats seeming to be stacked against African American women, they are defying the negative trends, and are making changes to live longer.

Why Are These Diseases More Common in African American Women?

Researchers have found that there might be a gene that makes African Americans more sensitive to the effects of salt, which is the reason for the increased risk of high blood pressure. Not only that, but they tend to have higher rates of obesity and diabetes, putting them at a higher risk for heart disease and high blood pressure. They also have higher rates of unemployment and poverty, which can mean greater difficulty accessing medical care, and so can be unaware of their risks.

blood pressure cuff with medicine laying on top of it — *“African Americans have the highest hypertension rates in the world.”*

Dr. LaPrincess Brewer, a Mayo Clinic cardiologist, points out the risks to African American women, as well as the dangers of being aware of these risks: “Each year, more African American women die from heart disease than breast cancer, lung cancer, and strokes combined, which makes heart disease the number one killer of African American women in our nation. However, studies have also revealed that less than half of African American women are aware that heart disease is their number one cause of death.”

“African Americans have the highest hypertension rates in the world. African American women are also the least physically active group of women in the United States. Now’s the time that we focus on changing the narrative on heart health and African American women,” says Dr. Brewer.

African American Women Are Turning Things Around

Despite everything working against African American women, they are making the changes to turn these stats around. They are seeking medical care more, changing their lifestyles to become healthier, and working hard to keep each other on track. Not only have they been holding on to an average lifespan of about 78 years, but other recent studies have shown that African American women are also the most optimistic group in the country.

“What we are seeing is that the message about the importance of health is getting through to black women,” said Linda Goler Blount, president, and chief executive of Black Women’s Health Imperative. “The data show that the majority of us know that we need to improve and are working on it. We also understand the importance of having a positive attitude. When black women are asked to define what good health means, we say things such as ‘being calm’ or ‘being at peace.’ We don’t use diseases to define it. We don’t let a condition like obesity define who we are, even though we work on getting into shape.”

“The good news is that black women are coming together to help each other,” Blount said. “We are learning the importance of self-care. We have to take care of ourselves first if we expect to help others.”

And, thanks to the passing of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010, millions more Americans have been able to access healthcare, and President Biden’s recent premium tax credit expansion has allowed even more people to get affordable plans. With health insurance being more accessible to everyone, African American women are more likely to seek the medical care they need, without worrying about being hit with huge bills.

All of this means that rates of heart disease, high blood pressure, and other health conditions are lowering among African American women. They are understanding their heightened risk more, seeking care, and adopting preventive lifestyle measures to live longer. African American women are exceptional, and this just proves it even more!

Find An Affordable Plan That Fits Your Budget

Having the right health insurance plan means being able to get tested and treated for conditions like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or heart disease without having to worry about forking out a lot of money for medical bills. If you don’t have health insurance, or your current plan is not sufficient for your needs or is too expensive, EZ can help. Depending on your circumstances, and with the extra Affordable Care Act subsidies that are currently on offer, we might be able to find you a great plan for as low as $0 a month! Come to us, and we’ll match you with your own agent, who will compare all available plans in your area, and find a plan that suits your needs – we’ll even sign you up for free. To get free instant quotes, simply enter your zip code in the bar above, or to speak to a licensed agent, call 888-350-1890.

Questions To Ask When Requesting Health Insurance Quotes

The Open Enrollment Period is coming to an end soon, and if you still haven’t looked into your health insurance options for the new year, now is the time to do so. But we get that picking a plan can be overwhelming because of all the options out there, so we want to give you the inside scoop on finding the best plan for you: your best bet is to work with an insurance agent. They know the ins and outs of health insurance and work with every insurance company, so they can get you the best possible plan. The best part? If you work with an EZ agent, we will compare plans for you for free! So if you’re ready to get started, we’ve got the most important questions to ask when requesting health insurance quotes from your EZ agent.

What Types Of Plans Are Available?

There are a lot of plans – and we mean A LOT – of different plans out there to choose from. There are metal tier plans, HMOs, PPOs, POSs, EPOs, and more. Each plan offers different levels of flexibility, coverage options, and rates; your available options also depend on where you live, so be sure to ask your EZ agent which plans are available in your region. We will gladly go over every single option and discuss the difference between each plan, so we can help you determine which one is right for you and your family.

What Are The Metal Tiers?

Health plans available on the ACA Exchange are separated into four metal tiers. These tiers do not indicate the level of care you will receive; rather, the tiers let you know how much you will pay for care and how much your insurer will pay. The tiers are:

Bronze– Lower monthly premiums, but a higher deductible and copays. You will usually pay an average of 40% of costs of care, and your insurer will pay 60%.
Silver– Moderate monthly premiums and moderate medical costs. You will pay 30%, and your insurer will pay 70%.
Gold– Higher monthly premiums with lower out-of-pocket costs. You will pay 20% and your insurer will pay 80%.
Platinum– Highest monthly premiums and lowest out-of-pocket costs. You will pay 10% and your insurer will pay 90%.

We will be able to go over this in more detail, including what each type of plan will cover and how much you will pay, so you can have a better understanding of how these plans work.

Can I Add Supplemental Insurance?

Dental and vision are considered supplemental insurance plans; some health insurance plans do not offer these, so you will have to ask if they are part of the plan you are looking into. If they are not, we can help you find affordable dental and vision plans.

What is A HDHP & Will It Work For Me?

High deductible health plans are exactly what they sound like: these plans have high deductibles, but in exchange, you will have low affordable monthly premiums. These plans are generally for healthy people who only see the doctor for annual physical exams and do not have any chronic conditions that require constant medical attention, and who will most likely not have to pay their whole deductible. For 2022, the Internal Revenue Service has defined a HDHP as any plan with a deductible of at least $1,400 for an individual, or $2,800 for a family.

How Are Medications Covered?

money made out of medication pills — *Medications are covered differently on plan’s drug formulary, which determines how much your medications cost.*

Figuring out the cost of your prescriptions can be a little complicated since different insurance companies can charge differently for the same drug – some drugs might even be covered differently by the same insurer depending on the plan you choose. Basically, insurers put medications into a drug formulary, which is divided into four tiers:

Tier 1– Inexpensive generic drugs
Tier 2- Brand name drugs and more expensive generic drugs
Tier 3– Non-formulary drugs, generic or brand name
Tier 4- Specialty drugs

To find out which plans cover your medications and how much you will be charged based on their placement in the insurer’s drug formulary, you need to speak with an EZ agent. We will review each plan available in your area and their drug formularies to make sure that your medications are covered, and that they will not cost you an arm and a leg.

What About Out-of-Network Coverage?

Some plans, like HMOs, will not cover out-of-network coverage, but PPO and POS plans do cover out-of-network coverage in case of an emergency. If you travel or visit family in other parts of the country often, you’ll definitely want to consider a plan that covers out-of-network emergencies; otherwise, if you have an accident while away from home, you could be stuck with a bill that you have to pay out-of-pocket.

Do I Need Referrals?

With some plans, you’ll need a referral from your primary care physician (PCP) to see a specialist, like a gastroenterologist or an orthopedic doctor. If you want to skip this step and see a specialist whenever you feel necessary, we can help you find a plan that does not require a referral. You’ll have more flexibility with a plan that doesn’t require referrals, and you won’t have to pay a PCP copay just to get a referral to see a specialist.

There are so many 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? 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. Speak to an EZ agent now, before the OEP ends! 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.

Find Out If You Qualify For Health Insurance Subsidies With EZ

President Biden recently signed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) into law, which expanded access to health insurance subsidies to more Americans. These expanded subsidies, which became available on April 1, 2021, are making premiums more affordable to millions of people, saving many hundreds of dollars a year. Eligibility, though, depends on your income, so you might be confused about whether you qualify. That’s where EZ can help! We can help you determine if you qualify for any subsidies, and if you don’t, we can still help you find an affordable health insurance plan.

different money bills rolled up — *A subsidy is financial assistance that helps you pay for health insurance.*

What Is A Subsidy?

In general, a subsidy is financial assistance that helps you pay for something – in this case, for your health insurance premiums. The subsidies now available to more people through the ARPA are known as Advanced Premium Tax Credits; these are basically tax credits that you can take in advance to lower your monthly health insurance payments. Subsidies available to you depend on your family size, how much health insurance costs where you live, and how your income compares to the Federal Poverty Level.

The New Subsidies

The ARPA has extended Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium subsidies to higher-income people who did not previously qualify for them, and increased subsidies for lower-income people. The Biden administration estimates that an additional 3.6 million uninsured people are newly eligible for ACA subsidies under the ARPA, and that, on average, premiums will decrease about $50 a month, with some people paying $0 and some families saving as much as $1,000 a month! Because of the ARPA:

People whose income is above 400% of the Federal Poverty Level are now eligible for premium tax credits for the first time ever. They can access these premium tax credits if their premiums exceed 8.5% of their overall household income.
Individuals whose income is between 100 and 400% the Federal Poverty Level will receive higher subsidies.

So, to know how much you can save on your premiums, you’ll need to know where you fall on the Federal Poverty Line. If you’re not sure, EZ will figure that out for you, and then let you know what kind of subsidies you can expect to receive – you could save anywhere from $200 to $1,000 a month on premiums, and we’ll help you save more if possible. We will compare plans from different insurance companies to find a plan that meets your needs and saves you as much money as possible!

Working With An EZ Agent

We understand that you want to save money, especially in today’s economy. With the new ARPA, you might qualify for subsidies that you didn’t know were available to you, or you could even have been missing out on other savings or subsidies under the ACA. It can be confusing trying to figure out what you qualify for, but we can help you every step of the way. We will go over all your information and sift through plans to find the ones with the most savings- whether you qualify for subsidies or not. We work with the top-rated insurance companies in the country, and we are able to compare plans in minutes; not only that, but we offer our services for free! To get free instant quotes and guidance, simply enter your zip code in the bar above, or to speak to one of our local licensed agents, call 888-350-1890.

Turning 26? Your Guide To Getting Health Insurance

The time has come. You made it to 26 with health insurance coverage through your parents. But now your birthday is approaching and are getting kicked off your parent’s health insurance plan. You may be wondering if you can stay on your parents’ health insurance longer. The answer to this is, unfortunately, no. You will get kicked off the plan at

Birthday cake with canles "26" on it lit. — When you turn 26 years old, tjere is a deadline for your hralth insurance. You will have to get your own plan.

either the end of the month that you turn 26, or at the end of the year. Its inevitable, but where do you start?

The Options

If you are employed, then you can join your company’s health insurance plan if they have one. Another option is to hop on your spouse’s health plan if you are married. If none of these options apply to you, then your only choice is to get your own health insurance plan. Those options are:

Long-term Plans

When you turn 26, you qualify for a special enrollment period for Obamacare, also known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA). You also have the option of getting private insurance in which licensed health insurance agents are able to create a policy that is unique to your specific needs using a full spectrum of different insurance companies. It is important to shop around because these plans are sometimes cheaper than the marketplace insurance plans. Long-term plans offer more comprehensive coverage. These plans help manage day to day expenses and are convenient for those that require routine medical work, such as medication, lab work, and inpatient/outpatient services. Major medical health insurance complies with the ACA requirements which means it provides the ten essential health benefits.

Essentially, when you are over 26 years old and are no longer on your parent’s plan, then a major medical plan is best if you are looking for coverage of pre-existing conditions, and need routine medical work , such as medication,

Two signs that say short-term and long-term on them pointing in different directions. — *The two options for health insurance are short-term and long-term. Short term plans do not cover pre-existing conditions, only the basics. If you need comprehensive coverage, long-term is best.*

lab work, and inpatient and outpatient services. Major medical health insurance complies with the ACA requirements which means it provides the ten essential health benefits. These ten essential benefits are: ambulatory patient services, prescription drugs, emergency care, mental health services, hospitalization, rehabilitative services, preventative and wellness services, laboratory services, pediatric care, and maternity and newborn care.

Short-Term Plans

Unlike long-term plans, their short-term counterparts do not need a qualifying life event to enroll. Short term health insurance provides fast, flexible insurance with many benefits. These plans can be extended up to 3 years, and you can pick your deductible amount from many options. You are also able to drop coverage without a penalty if you want to change to a long term insurance option. Premiums are lower than ACA health insurance plans, and you get coverage as soon as a day after applying.

It is important to understand that short-term insurance is temporary and not ideal for those who require more comprehensive coverage or have health conditions. Short term plans are not guaranteed issue, meaning they do not cover pre-existing conditions. They only cover the basics.

When you consider purchasing health insurance, you have to think about how much you want to pay, the coverage provided, and which term length is best for you. It can be quite overwhelming when you embark on this new journey. EZ.Insure can help. We will provide you with a highly trained agent within your area that can provide you quotes and plans from all the different health insurance companies in your region. To get started, enter your zip code in the bar above. Or to speak to an agent call 888-350-1890, or email [email protected]. We will go over everything with you and help you decide if this plan best suits your needs. If it does not, then we will direct you to other plans.

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