Affordable Health Insurance In Longmont, Colorado

Affordable Health Insurance In Longmont, Colorado

If you live in the Longmont, Colorado region and are in need of health insurance, you may have a bit of a challenge ahead of you. Finding health insurance in Longmont, in 2024, is not as simple as it may seem. As with other large bustling cities, it can be really difficult to find an insurance professional that is willing to take the time to help you sort through the myriad of health plans out there. And without professional assistance, things can get really confusing - fast.

Interesting Longmont Facts
The word "Longmont" comes from Longs Peak, a prominent mountain named for explorer Stephen H. Long that is clearly visible from Longmont, and "mont", from the French word "montagne" for mountain Longmont was founded in 1871 by a group of people from Chicago, Illinois. Originally called the Chicago-Colorado Colony, the men sold memberships in the town and with the proceeds purchased the land necessary for the town hall. As the first planned community in Boulder County, the city streets were laid out in a grid plan in a square mile. The city began to flourish as an agricultural community after the building of the Colorado Central Railroad line arrived northward from Boulder in 1877.

There are a number of factors that you will want to consider when attempting to purchase the ideal health care plan for you or your family. The first item on your list should be which type of health plan should you consider - HMO, PPO, POS, EPO, etc.? Are you looking for an Affordable Care Act plan, or are you looking for a wider range of options?

Good to know: It's never too late to negotiate a bill. Many patients think once a bill has gone to collections it's game over, but that's not true. Call the healthcare provider first, not the collection agency, to see if you can negotiate directly with them. They have much more of an interest to negotiate the debt down than the collection agency.

Short Term Health Insurance

You may want to add short-term insurance to your list of options. Short-term insurance is not so short anymore. Thanks to new government guidelines, you can keep a short-term health insurance plan a lot longer than what was previously allowed. In addition, the benefits of many short term plan options have been significantly improved. While short term health insurance plans do not offer the comprehensive level of insurance coverage of an Affordable Care Act Health Insurance plan, the features and benefits are now comparable. And the monthly premium tends to be more affordable. In some cases, a short term health plan may be the ideal health plan fit. Get an instant short term health insurance plan rate quote

Healthcare Sharing Plans

There are also healthcare sharing plans. Consumers are choosing healthcare sharing plans, (also known as faith-based health plans), over traditional health insurance in ever increasing numbers. A Healthcare sharing plan is not a health insurance plan - at least not in the legal sense of the word. These plans are designed to meet the same needs as traditional health insurance. The difference is, faith-based health plans are not governed by the ACA (Affordable Care Act) rules and regulations. The result is an umbrella of health plan options that can offer a benefit structure that is different than what is available via an Affordable Care Act plan. These plans are noted by their flexibility and affordability. Get an instant Healthcare sharing plan rate quote

All of the above options are available in Longmont. You need only to choose which health plan option will best suit your needs. Because health insurance is such an important necessity, you should seek the assistance of a licensed insurance professional.

Good to know: Ask for a discount. You can potentially reduce the cost of your medical bills by asking for a discount upfront. It may seem unconventional, but many hospitals and practitioners offer certain discounts for which you may be eligible. For example, some hospitals are part of networks that will reduce your medical bills by a certain percentage if you pay over the phone. More often than not, these discounts are only available to consumers who ask for them. Depending on your economic status or the price of your procedure, some medical facilities offer additional discounts that can be paired with your medical insurance to substantially reduce the cost of your procedure. For example, it's not uncommon for hospitals to offer discounts of up to thirty percent for qualifying customers.

Even if you don't find a discount related to your particular situation, your doctor or hospital may provide you with valuable information about discounts you can use in the future.

Healthcare.gov

One of the simplest means of acquiring a health plan, is to purchase a plan on Healthcare.gov. To purchase a plan via Healthcare.gov, you will need to apply during the open enrollment period. This period is normally about a month and a half long, and occurs during the fall of every year. This is the only time you may enroll unless you qualify for enrollment due to special circumstances. If you fall within a certain specific income bracket, you may qualify for subsides, which are income-based discounts on the monthly premiums.

There are several health plan options that are available to you, that are not part of the Affordable Care Act portfolio. They include short-term health plans, (which are not so short anymore) and healthcare sharing plans, (Sometimes referred to as faith-based health plans).

After deciding on where you plan to purchase your health insurance, the next step is to decide which type of plan is best for you. These plan types include: Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), Exclusive Provider Organization, or a Point of Service Plan (POS), and more. The structures of the various plans are quite different. Be sure to seek assistance from a licensed insurance agent, if you are not intimately aware of unique health plan differences. The impact of purchasing the wrong plan can be emotionally and financially significant.

Interesting Fact: The per capita price of healthcare per year is higher in the United States than in any other nation in the world. In the U.S., healthcare spending accounts for 17.9 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), or the total value of goods and services produced by the entire nation for the entire year, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

UCHealth Longs Peak Hospital - health insurance

UCHealth Longs Peak Hospital
1750 E Ken Pratt Blvd
Longmont, CO 80504
Telephone: (720) 718-7000
Plus Code: 5W6R+MM Longmont, Colorado

Once you have selected a plan type you desire, you should look at the size of the health care network and estimated out-of-pocket costs. Any insurance plan summary will lay out how much you may likely pay out of pocket, for deductibles, copayments, and co-insurance, should you encounter a medical circumstance. Generally, the lower the premium the higher your out-of-pocket-costs.

The final step is to compare the offered benefits with your family's specific medical needs. This consists of making sure that the plan provides for any needed medications, coverage during travel, and any reoccurring care required.

Other articles:
Explaining The Growth of Healthcare Sharing Healthplans
Finding Short-Term Health Insurance.
4 Important Steps To Getting Medicare Supplement Coverage In Colorado.
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