Do you need Indiana health insurance? The enrollment process is surprisingly easy and quick, and often does not require an initial payment to be made. Most applications for individuals are handled online in less than 15 minutes. If you have other family members, the process can still be quickly completed. Many $0 premium plans are offered because of large federal instant credits that reduce your rate. Most applicants qualify for subsidies. Low office visit, specialist, and Urgent Care copays are widely available. There are no annual or lifetime limits on Marketplace plans.
If you have to pause your application and come back later, that’s fine. The calculation of your federal subsidy will impact the premium you pay during Open Enrollment periods. Since it is based on the estimate of your adjusted gross income (AGI), we can help you determine which plans maximize your financial aid (if applicable). As an instant tax-credit, it will immediately reduce your premium, and you don’t have to wait until tax-filing time to receive the money. If a household member changes jobs, retires, is laid off, or becomes eligible for Medicare or Medicaid, the amount of a subsidy may be impacted.
You can also choose coverage that does not receive any financial aid from federal or state governments (non-Obamacare), or plans that do not contain mandatory-required benefits. If future legislation is passed, it is possible that the repeal or replacement of existing healthcare laws could impact your current policy and premium. Non-Exchange plans may offer a lower premium, although specific benefits may not be guaranteed, or may not be covered without a waiting period.
Senior Medicare plans in Indiana are provided for most applicants that have reached age 65. The Open Enrollment period allows applicants to apply for coverage without medical underwriting and a wide availability of available options. Although Medicare Supplement plans are the most popular option, Advantage (MA) plans may provide a lower cost, along with additional benefits, including, prescription drug, hearing, dental, and vision benefits.
Provide Basic Information
The first step in the process asks you to provide some basic information after you select the “Request A Quote” option at the top of the page. You do NOT have to enter personal details including your social security number. However, your date of birth, zip code and contact information may be needed so that the prices you view are accurate. If you live outside of the state, and are moving to the area, your new zip code should be used. If dependents in your household file a separate federal tax return, a separate application can be used for their coverage.
Medical information is NOT needed to determine the rate, thanks to the passage of ACA legislation. Any health-related questions will only apply to short-term or non-compliant plans. Occasionally, those types of options may be more cost-effective, although a thorough review of your specific situation is highly suggested. Administration changes may provide additional low-cost plans in 2022. High-risk applicants may also benefit from new policies.
Medical insurance costs are heavily determined by the county where you reside, and of course, your age plays a large role. For example, UnitedHealthcare may offer low rates in the Richmond area, or Indianapolis (shown above), while just 20 miles in another direction, prices could be 20% higher. The same would apply to all carriers. Fortunately, rates in our state tend to be lower than most other surrounding areas, such as Kentucky, Illinois, and Tennessee. However, many parts of Ohio offer lower premiums.
You can always view a comparison of different health insurance companies in Indiana. As new carriers enter the Marketplace, we add them to our quote engine so you can easily view their offerings. If you are planning on moving to another state, please let us know since your carrier choices will be different. For example, Ohio residents have access to many additional companies, such as Molina, Medical Mutual, Humana, Premier, and SummaCare. If new legislation passes that allows carriers to offer policies across state lines, it is anticipated that more plans through additional companies will become available. “TrumpCare” has not been implemented yet.
View Your Quotes
This is easy. The “viewing” part, that is. Understanding what you are looking at is another story. Anthem’s policy may look good until you notice that CareSource or UnitedHealthcare’s rate is less. But wait. What about MDwise or Humana? Suddenly, their offer appears to be the best option. Get the picture? Yes…it can get very confusing trying to compare multiple plans from several companies. And often, although prices and basic benefits will appear similar, major differences can be found in potential out-of-pocket costs.
We try to help you understand your options, by taking into consideration your personal needs, and matching you with the plans that will work best for you. If a policy is not going to provide the benefits you want, we’ll avoid enrolling in that option. For example, A Bronze-tier plan will cost less than most other policies. But because of the high deductible and out-of-pocket expenses, if you have existing conditions that require treatment, the Bronze option is not a good choice.
Also, if you have a chronic condition that requires monthly visits to an expensive specialist, the difference of paying $20 vs. $100 for your copay, can translate to almost $1,000 of savings each year. Or the removal of a deductible for other types of treatment might be available on one policy and not another.
These are the types of situations where we can find the most cost-effective policy for you. It’s also possible that the most appropriate and budget-friendly plan may no longer be offered, or the premium dramatically increased. These types of situations may warrant considering different companies when your current policy renews.
Comparing Different Plans
Although, on our website, you can easily compare hundreds of different Indiana health insurance plans with another hundred coinsurance and deductible options, ultimately, there are about 3-6 options that will best match the price and coverage you are looking for. We find and identify those plans for you, so that you can easily review and apply for the coverage you want. By customizing our quotes, we can show you the plans that will cost you the least amount of premium and out-of-pocket expenses.
According to the Department of Health And Human Resources (HHS) guidelines, we are required to show you all offered policies in your service area, although many will be outside your allocated budget, or simply will not provide the benefits you need. However, we provide a “compare” feature that allows you to view only the options that meet all of your criteria (both cost and coverage). This unique feature simplifies the enrollment process, and helps you understand the features you will be receiving. Also, it saves time.
State-Sponsored Programs
We also consider government programs such as Hoosier Healthwise (HHW), HIP (for adults) and CHIP (for children) that may be the best choices in some situations. CHIP covers about 100,000 Hoosiers, and enrollment has steadily increased. SCHIP (non-entitlement) and MCHIP (entitlement) have helped the state reduce the percentage of uninsured children below the national average. 50% of CHIP’s members are between the ages of 6 and 12. Minority participation is also higher than the general population. However, low-income households can opt out of CHIP and purchase conventional coverage (at a higher rate).
If you qualify for a federal subsidy, it will be immediately applied to your Marketplace quotes, which often result in savings of thousands of dollars per year. Many additional plans can be purchased that are considered “supplements” or “ancillary” products. However, generally, the federal government does not provide money to help pay those premiums. These products are also not designed to be primary or “stand alone” plans. If you miss your employer or private Open Enrollment deadline, the number of available options reduces, and accepting less benefits may be necessary.
If you’re on a tight budget, you might be surprised to see some of the low-cost private medical plans that are available, especially for children. They feature rich benefits, provide excellent preventative coverage, and often resemble the same plans used for small businesses. When added to an existing policy (perhaps parents), the cost is fairly nominal. Stand-alone policies are also available for single or multiple children, or toddlers. Generally, at age 26, a special enrollment is offered to persons currently covered under a qualified plan.
The Application Process
If you decide to buy coverage, you can apply four different ways. Perhaps the quickest and most popular method is through an online link that allows you to securely answer the administrative questions online and electronically submit your application. You can “save” your information at any time and go back and edit your information. Usually, you can also keep a copy of the online application you submit. And the insurer will also have a copy, if needed. Federal subsidies are automatically calculated, and all offered plans in your area can be reviewed.
The second method is via fax. We provide the application and you can fax it directly to us. The process takes slightly longer than the online link, but your personal information remains secure. Only we have access to the information. The third method is to email us back the application. Both the fax and email methods take longer than the online link, but can be used if you prefer not to apply for coverage through our secure website.
The third method is via telephone. Basic questions are asked, and the process takes about 10 minutes. You will be asked to verify general information, including the plan you are applying for. It’s possible that at a later date, additional information may be required, but this option is very popular.
The fourth method allows you to answer all questions through email.
The Policy Approval
Most applications are approved, and generally the process takes less than 2-3 weeks. During Open Enrollment, if your application is submitted before the deadline for that month, your effective-date will be honored. For example, if the deadline for a January 1 effective date is December 15th, and your application is submitted on the 14th, even if the insurer finally sends ID cards on February 4th, coverage should be backdated to the first of the month (January).
Temporary coverage usually takes only a day to approve so if coverage is needed quickly, a short-term policy may be the right choice. This type of policy has several limitations regarding benefits and renewal. But the premium is very low, and most carriers feature temporary plans. You can easily transition from one policy to another after three months. However, medical qualification is required. Also, prices may increase, especially if you have a birthday during the initial coverage period.
Written Notification
Upon approval, you are notified in writing and a hard-copy of the policy is subsequently sent. It is possible the quoted underwritten rate will differ from the actual approved rate, because of a change in your age or a difference in the calculation of your federal subsidy (if applicable). You may appeal the rate if you are not satisfied and of course you are under no obligation to accept the policy.
Almost every insurer offers a complete refund if the policy is not accepted before the effective date. And a few companies allow you to apply for coverage without paying an upfront payment. s previously mentioned, since the creation of State Exchanges, often the ID cards are not sent until after the effective date of coverage begins. In these types of situations, the carrier often extends the deadline for paying the initial premium.
Enroll Easily And Quickly
Applying for a policy is our specialty and we help you find the plan that gives you the coverage you need. And you will always view the lowest rates that each company offers. Once your effective date begins, we’ll still service your needs. We always try to answer your questions by phone or email as quickly as possible.