A high deductible health plan (HDHP) is a plan with a higher deductible than traditional health insurance. The premiums may be lower, but you have to meet a higher deductible (payout of pocket for more health care costs) before your coverage kicks in. An HDHP is often combined with a
When shopping for a health insurance plan, it is important to understand the language. Like any specialized subject, health insurance has its own terminology. Learning what the terms mean makes it possible to understand the costs and benefits of any given plan and how it compares to others. You need
Welcoming a new member to your family is one of life’s most rewarding and fulfilling experiences. Whether you are adopting a new baby or an older child, adoption is treated as a “qualifying life event” that allows you to purchase health insurance. A qualifying life event triggers a special enrollment
Health insurance is a crucial way to protect your health and comes in many forms, one of which is called a “catastrophic health insurance plan.” These plans have a significant advantage – they are affordable and protect you in worst-case scenarios. These plans do not cover everything that many other
If you need to buy health insurance, you can choose from four basic types of policies. These policies vary in monthly cost, benefits, and deductible. The Affordable Care Act The Affordable Care Act (ACA, or “Obamacare”) made it impossible for health insurance companies to deny you health insurance due to
You have disability insurance to protect your loved ones should you become disabled and can no longer earn a living. It is important that you understand the most common reasons disability claims are denied before purchasing a policy. You Filed for Benefits Too Late. Long-term disability insurance policies require that
Disability insurance serves a critical role in your health and welfare should you become very ill, incapacitated, and need special care in the future. However, when choosing a disability insurance policy, you must be careful to avoid four pitfalls: 1. Benefits could cancel each other. Group insurance policies, such as
Your health insurance covers some of the medical costs during and after having your baby. Expectant mothers rely on their health insurance to cover outpatient services for prenatal visits with their doctor, screenings, medications, and inpatient care before and during the birth process. Health insurance policies vary in the options
The Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) was created under the Affordable Care Act. It was designed as a standardized tool to help you better understand what is covered by your health plan or to directly compare different health insurance plans. The following is a guide on how to read
Everyone in the U.S. needs health insurance today. When you reach age 65, Medicare provides low-cost health coverage. Below that age, the cost of health insurance can vary, depending on a number of factors. Since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) went into effect, insurance companies are using different factors to
