Open enrollment for individual health insurance plans is currently ongoing and only goes until December 15th this year. Have you made all the changes you want to make to your plan?
As the Affordable Care Act (ACA) continues to evolve, it is important for consumers to be aware of the steps they need to take to ensure coverage. Even if you have current health insurance, you may need to make changes to your plan or re-enroll for 2018. Many carriers have changed their plans and, certainly, their pricing. Make sure you have checked with your current insurer about your pricing and coverage for 2018. If you do nothing, you will automatically be re-enrolled in the same plan you currently have (if it’s available) at a new (likely higher) price. If your plan is going away and you don’t make any changes, you’ll be enrolled in the most similar plan available.
Here are some things you should review prior to finalizing your health insurance for 2018:
Providers: It’s a good idea to make sure your doctor is still taking your plan in 2018. Just because a provider was covered in 2017 doesn’t mean they will have the same contract for 2018. Your insurer will have a simple search tool available on their website to check.
Deductibles: A common theme for all plans this year is higher deductibles. What may have been an affordable deductible last year could be double the price this year, even if you stay in the same plan. Unfortunately there might not be anything you can do about it, but it’s important to be prepared.
Premium: Odds are your health insurance premium is going up. You should make sure you are aware of the cost of your current plan and you should check to see if a lower price is available if the cost is too high. Don’t be enticed by super-low cost plans, either. Often those plans are catastrophic plans only and do not count as plans that cover all of the “essentials” and could result in high out of pocket expenses, and an ACA tax.
If you have questions about your health insurance or would like us to help you take a look, don’t hesitate to call our office at (248) 531-8300. We are happy to offer you advice and new quotes at no cost. But don’t delay, December 15th will be here before you know it!
Levin Insurance Agency – Many Options, One Choice