Health Insurance Archives - Page 37 of 52

Self-Employed? Here’s Your Guide To Getting Health Insurance

Nothing beats being your own boss! If you are self-employed, then you are probably wondering about your health insurance options. Don’t worry, you do not have to break the bank to get a plan for yourself. There are many affordable options.

silhouette of a man looking at a blackboard with 3 arrows pointing in different directions — *When you are self-employed, you have different options for health insurance.*

Health Insurance Coverage Options

Let’s talk about the options of health insurance for the self-employed. There are different routes to go when looking for the right plan.

Marketplace– If you work as a freelancer, run your own business, or self-employed without employees, then you qualify for the Individual Marketplace. There are a variety of different plans you can choose from, but you can only enroll during the annual Open Enrollment Period, unless you have a qualifying life event. When you fill out an application, you will find out if you qualify for premium tax credits and other savings, which we will further elaborate on later.
Private Insurance– Private insurance has plans that provide good coverage at an affordable rate. Private insurance companies have many plans to choose from with a variety of coverage and costs. You can find a plan tailored to your needs and budget.
SHOP Marketplace– If you own a business and are looking for coverage for yourself, a spouse, or have an employee, then Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Marketplace is the way to go. Enrolling in a SHOP plan offers small business or non-profit a Small Business Health Care Tax Credit.

Marketplace Savings

Now back to those savings we talked about earlier. When you fill out a health insurance Marketplace application, you will estimate your net self-employment income. The premium tax credit or reduction qualifications rely on the year you’re getting coverage, not the prior year’s income. You will have to estimate your household income for the year and submit it. During the year, you can change your estimated income if the income changes.

If you qualify for the tax credit, you are allowed to deduct 100% of your health insurance premiums for your adjusted gross income every year.

Tips On Choosing A Plan

caucasian woman n a sundress with a laptop on her lap and a notebook on the seat next to her. — *Before choosing a plan, make sure to do some research, so you pick the best plan for your situation.*

There are a lot of different plans you can choose from, both on the marketplace and through private health insurance companies. You can choose a high deductible plan with lower monthly premiums, and benefit from an HSA account. You can choose a low deductible plan with higher monthly premiums, or even a catastrophic plan. Whichever you choose, make sure to compare plans to choose the one that meets your needs and budget.

Comparing plans and their prices can take a long time, and can be frustrating. The most important tip when choosing a health insurance plan is getting expert advice from an insurance agent. EZ.Insure offers highly trained and knowledgeable agents all around the U.S. that specialize in their region. You can speak to one of our agents, and they will do all the comparing of available plans for you and provide you with the quotes. It comes at no cost to you, which is a win! You get free help, and get directed in the right path to save money, double win! To speak to an agent by emailing [email protected], or calling 888-998-2027. No gimmicks, no hassle, and no cost. Just simple, free health insurance quotes.

Are Employers Required To Offer Health Insurance?

Medical costs in the U.S. are high, which is why a lot of employees look for a job that offers health insurance. Over 88% of people consider health insurance benefits when choosing a job. For companies, providing group insurance to

cartoon of a man in a suit pointing at a clipboard with magnifying glass over a certain part. — *There is no specific law that requires employers to provide health insurance coverage to their employees, but there is a penalty.*

employees costs a lot of money, so some companies opt out of providing insurance. But are they required to? Yes, and no.

Affordable Healthcare Act

There is no specific law that requires employers to provide health insurance coverage to their employees. However, in January of 2015, the Affordable Care Act, ACA, required that employers who have 50 or more full-time employees provide health insurance. If they do not, they will face a tax penalty.

According to the ACA, full-time employees are employees who work an average of 50 hours a week.

Group Insurance Penalties

If a larger company with 50 or more full-time employees does not offer health insurance, they are subject to IRS penalties.

The IRS will penalize the company if one or more of their full-time employees gets a premium tax credit for getting their own health insurance coverage from the Marketplace. The company can owe up to $2,500 for each employee.

The company must offer insurance to 95% of their employees to avoid a penalty, and it must be year round. If the business offers healthcare for some months, and not others, then they will face a portion of the annual penalty.

Small Businesses

people working inside many cubicles. — *Small businesses (less than 50 employees) do not have a penalty if they do not offer health insurance to their employees.*

Small businesses are not required to offer healthcare coverage to their employees. Since they have less than 50 full-time employees, they will not face penalties. If a small business does not offer health insurance, then a person can seek their own health insurance plan from the Marketplace or a private company.

While there is no longer a penalty for going without healthcare coverage, it is important to seek out information on different plans. There are plans within your budget that will meet your needs and lifestyle. If you need help searching and comparing all the group insurance plans around, EZ.Insure can help. We offer local specialized insurance agents that can do all the comparisons for you, and just provide you the quotes. All for free! It’s that simple. To begin, enter your zip code in the bar above, or to speak to an agent, email [email protected], or call 888-998-2027. There is no hassle involved, and no obligation to buy, and no headaches. Just easy, fast, and free quotes!

Get The Most Accurate Local Quotes From Ez.Insure

The time has come, and you find yourself in need of a new insurance plan. A sense of anxiety sets in, and you slowly become overwhelmed with researching. When shopping for insurance, it can be hard to find a company that provides you with the best services. This includes providing you with accurate quotes on the plans you are searching for. Whether it be Medicare Supplements, health insurance plans, or commercial business plans, EZ.insure has got your covered. How?

young man frustrated with his hand in his hair looking at his laptop. — *Researching and comparing all the different companies and plans can lead to time wasted, frustration, and inaccurate information.*

Instant Quotes

Well it’s simple, we provide you with instant accurate quotes so you can compare plans for yourself, and choose which best suits your needs and budget. No more jumping from site to site trying to compare plans, we do it for you in seconds. Not savvy in computers? That’s okay! We offer a plethora of highly trained agents within your area that can provide you with all the quotes, compare the plans, and sign you up. All of these services are free!

How We Provide Accurate Quotes

Unlike other companies, we make sure we do our research and homework. Ez.Insure uses state-of-the-art technology that provides accurate live quotes. Live quotes mean that the quotes provided are the prices you would pay for the plan if you signed up today. Because the market changes, as well as personal situations, the prices of insurance changes as well.

black and white photo of a dartboard with one dart in the center and another being thrown towards the center. — *Ez.Insure uses state-of-the-art technology that provides accurate live quotes.*

As soon as you submit a form, you will see your free quotes and your agent based on your needs. Before you even speak to an agent you will know who they are, some of the companies they work directly with, and what some of the plan prices they offer are.

Avoid all of the work of trying to find an accurate quote. Searching online can leave you with inaccurate quotes, and false information. If you’re not an industry expert, scams, errors, or simple ignorance can cost you tons of money, making this process even more difficult. It’s your health, and it’s important.

EZ.Insure offers accurate quotes instantly. You will not be left in the dark. We will provide you with quotes of all the plans, without any hidden fees. Just instant, upfront information, and what the plan covers exactly. This will help you make the best decision regarding your own healthcare, and also alleviates further headaches like unexpected bills for medical expenses. Save your money and time. To get started, enter your zip code in the bar above, or to speak to a specialized agent within your area, call 888-350-1890, or email [email protected].

How to File a Health Claim

If you get sick or have an accident, then it’s finally time to ask for assistance from your health insurance company. It’s important to file your claim the right way so that you can get your benefits quickly.

document for filing insurance claim — *Make sure you have the right document. It doesn’t help anyone if you turn in the wrong page.*

However, be aware that insurers have around 30 to 45 days to process and pay your claim. Filing as soon as possible makes it easier for everyone involved.

Prepare to File

After you’ve made sure you have no exclusions and the claim is within your rights to file, then you can start the process. You don’t want to file and then get an unexpected bill.

Begin by gathering all the relevant documents to your claim, i.e. itemized receipts from your physician’s office. While going in person might take more time, you can get your receipt printed out and ready that day.

These receipts are necessary for your health claim as they provide an easily-read document for your carrier to review every medical expense you incurred during recovery. Make sure these include details like medications you were prescribed during treatment. All of these together will be used by the company to help cover these expenses.

Acquire a Claim Form

Everyone’s insurance company will have a different route to giving a form. The company’s website might even have resources to aid you online. The site can either give you the option to print out a form to fill out at home, or provide you an online version right on their website.

If you get confused during this process, it’s helpful to contact your carrier directly as they’ll have the exact information you need to fill out the form completely. Also of note is that your claim form itself, and the pertaining pages, will most likely have instructions to assist you in completing it fully.

phone for calling to file a health claim — *If you have any questions, call! That’s why specialists are around.*

Important Note: Make copies of this form after you fill it out. If you complete it online, after it’s finished, you should be given the option to download it. Keeping one copy of it yourself protects you in case you need the document in the future. Mistakes can happen, and filing a health claim is one place you don’t want mistakes. Additionally, this form can be useful come tax season.

Submit a Correct Form

There’s one tried and true way to submit a form with the least margin of error. If you want to do this successfully, follow these steps:

Review the information on your form to make sure it’s correct
Call your carrier and ask for assistance in checking your form
Ask for the address to send the claim form or if they prefer to receive the form on their website
After you’ve reviewed, ask if there is anything missing or any final information that is needed before submitting

Once you’ve done this, you can rest assured that you’ve done everything in your power to file a health claim the right way. It’s been checked, reviewed, and approved by your carrier even before sending it. After the process is done and you’ve submitted your form, one last thing you can do for peace of mind is to call or message them to ask for a date when you’ll receive the benefits. After that, set a reminder to follow-up on that date. You should be all set.

How Medicaid & Medicare Are Different

Medicare and Medicaid are two government-run health care programs. The two programs sound similar, but they are far from it. They serve different people, and are both operated and funded by different parts within the government. It’s easy to confuse the two; they even sound similar, but there are different requirements for each program, and who they cover.

This is a big decision, so make sure you talk it over with family and trusted advisors!

Medicare

Medicare is a federal insurance program that provides health coverage for people 65 and older. It is not based on income, and it is not free. In order to be eligible for Medicare, you must meet some requirements:

You must be 65 and older.
You must have worked and paid at least 40 qualifying quarters, or 10 years, of Medicare taxes to receive Medicare Part A.
You must be a U.S. citizen.

Medicare Part A covers hospitalization, and is free as long as you have paid 10 years of necessary Medicare taxes. Medicare Part B covers doctor visits and outpatient care.

Medicare will cover 80% of your Part B expenses, leaving you with 20% to pay out of pocket. If the expenses get to be too much to budget, you can look into additional coverage to pay for the 20%, such as Medicare Supplement plans. These plans vary by premium, deductible, and coverage. Additionally, they are helpful to those who travel, as some cover international health care costs.

Medicaid

Medicaid is a government assistance program that is available in every state and is for individuals and families with low income. The income must be below 100% of the poverty line. Medicaid is typically free since most people receiving it have little to no assets. In rare cases, individuals are expected to copay.

Medicaid covers:

Hospitalizations
home health care
doctor visits
labs
x-rays
preventive services
maternity and pediatric services

It will cover individuals and families, and if you have a disability, you might be eligible.

The Differences

Eligibility:

Medicare is typically for seniors 65 and older, and cannot be used for families. Medicaid is based on income, while Medicare is based on age and how many years you paid taxes in the U.S. while working.

Enrollment:

In order to enroll into Medicare, you must be within 3 months of your 65th birthday, and 3 months after your 65th birthday. It totals to 7 months when you include your birthday month. Medicare’s annual enrollment is from October 15 to December 7 and is when you can make changes to your plan.

Medicaid does not have an open enrollment period, you can just sign up anytime you are eligible (meaning below the poverty line).

Options:

woman happy with both Medicare and Medicaid — *Your health and happiness are priorities. Talk with our experts if you have any questions!*

Medicare has many options you can choose from. For example, you can choose a Supplement plan to help pay for Part B expenses. There are about 10 different Supplement Plans to choose from, making it easier to cover more of what you need, and gives you more control of how much you spend. There are different premiums, out-of-pocket costs, and deductibles for each plan.

Medicaid, on the other hand, has very few options to choose from.

If you are in the market for a Medicare Supplement plan, we can help. EZ.Insure has trained agents in the industry that will provide you with quotes on all the different plans, and which suits your needs and budget mist. The agent will go over each plan, and even sign you up when you are ready- for free. We can help you get started when you are ready to sign up for Medicare, or just have questions on how to save money, or how to get more coverage. To get started, contact an agent at 888-350-1890, or email us at [email protected]. You can also get instant quotes by entering your zip code in the bar above, it’s that simple. No hassle, no obligation.

QSERHA vs. Group Health, Whats Best For Your Company

Small business owners know the value of covering their employees. After all, everyone gets sick at some point. If you support your team’s wellness, you make a stronger team.

You might also see the value in comparing and then choosing the best option. Two of these are either QSERHA or group health insurance, but which one has the most value for your business? For the answer to that question, we’ll need to break each one down first.

*It is important to sit down and compare all the options available to your business.*

QSERHA

This choice was unavailable until now. The ACA has now widened the usefulness of HRAs. Previously, you couldn’t set up an account unless it was tied to a policy. For more info on this, read about 2020 HRA changes here. Thankfully, this puts a Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangement or QSERHA on the menu.

So, what does it offer for your business?

This option skips the sometimes expensive group health insurance plans. While you’re missing out on the robust coverage insurers provide, the cost-saving benefits might be redistributed amongst your employees.

With this HRA, you must follow the requirements: employees must already have minimum health insurance, and you have to set-up your HRA properly. Afterward, you simply make contributions to the account, and later, the funds will be available to help pay for your employee’s medical expenses, tax-free.

Group Health

It comes down to which is better for your business. To help guide your decisions, see what your answers to these questions are:

Do my employees need healthcare assistance?
Is everyone on staff covered by an HRA already?
Does my budget include funds for a robust insurance option?

After answering these, you should have a better idea of which option to go for. If not, then consider the following:

	QSERHA	Group Health
Cost	You can choose how much you contribute to the account.	Premiums vary by provider but are generally more expensive.
Participation	All employees must be offered coverage, but they do not have to accept.	Generally, around 60% of your staff must be enrolled to qualify.
Coverage	Can’t be in tandem with group health. Employers can choose to reimburse medical expenses or premiums.	Primarily covers medical, dental, and vision
Eligibility	1-49 full-time employees	2-50 employees Note: some states requirements go up to 100

Hopefully, this chart helps guide your decision. No matter which you choose, remember that the health of your employees is important to your continued business. A healthy team is a happy team. However, if your budget allows, consider choosing the group health option. You’ll have an agent to help you with the tough questions plus the bonuses offered are well worth the price tag.

If you are looking to get more coverage for your company, EZ.Insure offers solutions. Your personalized agent will answer any questions you have, compare the plans available to you, and even sign you up when you are ready, free of charge. To get started simply enter your zip code in the bar above, or you can speak to an agent by emailing [email protected], or calling 888-998-2027. EZ.Insure makes the entire process simple, easy, and quick.

Tag: Health Insurance