Affordable Health Insurance In Illinois

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

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?

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, there are now short-term insurance plans that you can keep up to three years.  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 plan pricing 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 insurance in ever increasing numbers.  A Healthcare sharing plan is not an 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, these 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 Illinois.  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.



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.





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.
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