There are a couple of dates to remember that of utmost importance to anyone looking into health insurance plans for 2019. Those dates are November 1st and December 15th.
That’s because from November 1, 2018 through December 15, 2018 is when Open Enrollment for individual and family health insurance plans is. This is the time that you can see if you may qualify for a subsidy or discount on your health insurance premiums, check out to the plans that are available, and enroll into a new plan that will begin on January 1, 2019.
If you don’t qualify for a subsidy, you can purchase your health insurance plan directly through the health insurance company.
Whether you choose to get your health insurance plan through Healthcare.gov or directly through the insurance company, Balanced Care can help.
We are contracted with every major insurance carrier in the states of NH and Maine. We walk you through the application process, go over the application results, and help you enroll into a plan that will best suit your needs for 2019. We can also discuss dental insurance during this time if that is a product that may be of interest to you.
If you had health insurance through the marketplace (Healthcare.gov), it is a good idea to put together some information ahead of time. That information includes letters that you should have received from both your health insurance carrier as well as Healthcare.gov. Those letters will help you to know if there are any changes to the health plan such as premium, deductibles, and co-insurance. They may also go over your subsidy if you qualified for one letting you know if you still qualify.
You should also have financial information such as W-2’s or 1099’s. The reason for this is because financial information may help you to save on your health insurance premiums and/or deductibles based on your income.
Even if your income hasn’t changed, you should be updating your health insurance application every year. This helps to make sure no mistakes are made and you won’t be penalized or have a subsidy taken away for not having the correct information on your application.
With all of this being said, a broker such as Balanced Care can help you every step of the way. Even if you decide not to get health insurance for 2019, there may be other options such as healthcare ministry plans and short term health plans.
We believe in making sure you know the options available to you, share and educate you on the products, and help you to make a decision that will give you the most peace of mind.
Because there is no greater wealth in this world than peace of mind.
Terri Trepanier is the owner of Balanced Care Health and Supplemental Insurance and a licensed insurance consultant and broker with Associated Brokers. Licensed in both Maine and NH, her specialty is working with small businesses, individuals, and families with their health and life insurance needs. She is certified to offer health plans both on and off the exchange and is contracted with every health insurance company that offers plans in both New Hampshire and Maine. Her other passion is assisting Medicare beneficiaries with their Medicare Supplemental, Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans, and Medicare Advantage plans. Terri has seen firsthand the importance of insurance products and how they help families. Her goal with Balanced Care is to “Insure Security and Peace of Mind One Family at a Time”.