Affordable Health Insurance In Atlanta, Georgia
If you live in the Atlanta, Georgia region and are in need of health insurance, you may have a bit of a challenge ahead of you. Finding health insurance in Atlanta, 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.
About Atlanta
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. With an estimated 2017 population of 486,290, it is also the 38th most-populous city in the United States. The city serves as the cultural
and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, home to 5.8 million people and the ninth-largest metropolitan area in the nation. Atlanta is located in Fulton County. A small portion of the city extends eastward into neighboring DeKalb County.
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3 tips to short term health insurance plans in Georgia.
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: Cheaper is almost never better: Cut-rate insurance prices can unfortunately also mean cut-rate, sketchy plan benefits. The old adage, you often get what you pay for, is true more often than not. Thoroughly review plan benefits and evidence of coverage statements before purchasing a plan. If this documentation is not readily available, call the company and request it. If you are unfamiliar with the insurance company, check independent rating companies like A.M. Best. You should expect a rating of A or better.
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 Atlanta. 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: Read bills carefully. Up to 50 percent of your doctor or hospital bills may contain mistakes that end up costing you money, says Jane Cooper, president of Patient Care, a consumer advocacy group in Milwaukee. Something as simple as an incorrect billing code could prompt your insurance to pay less than expected or even reject your claim. Other common errors: mistakes in an account number, claims with incomplete information - even claims sent to the wrong insurance company address by a doctor. Read your benefits booklet carefully to make sure your plan is paying all it should. If you catch an error, send a certified letter to your insurer. Follow up in a few weeks to make sure the mistake is corrected.
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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.
Good to know: Just because your doctor writes you a prescription doesn't mean you can fill it. Expensive medications for treatment of certain cancers, diabetes, liver disease, and a host of other maladies can cost patients tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars if the insurer does not cover the drugs. But even if the drugs are covered, insurers have been known to try to stall, just to see if the patient will come up with the money to pay for the drugs rather than wait on the insurer's approval. What can we say? It happens.
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Children's Healthcare of Atlanta - Hughes Spalding Hospital
35 Jesse Hill Jr Dr SE
Atlanta, GA 30303
Telephone: (404) 785-5437
Plus Code: QJ39+H5 Atlanta, Georgia
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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:
Finding Short-Term Health Insurance.
3 Tips To Getting Health Insurance In Georgia.
Resources
Outside Resources:
3 Steps To Finding Affordable Health Insurance In Conyers, Georgia