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The Best Insurance Companies Heading Into 2022

by ClaimLinxJanuary 20, 2022February 5, 20221 Comment

Health insurance coverage in 2020 reached 91.4%, yet 28 million people didn’t have insurance. Whether you’re just getting your insurance or are shopping around for a new provider, it’s crucial to consider the best insurance companies before looking to the lesser-known insurers.

3 Best Insurance Companies Going Into 2022

1. Blue Cross Blue Shield

Blue Cross Blue Shield is rated amongst the best insurance companies, and they offer the unique value of an extensive network. In addition, the complaint index shows that the insurer has 50% less complaints than the average, so policyholders are content with the service they receive.

However, plans are often more expensive through Blue Cross Blue Shield than other insurance providers.

A few of the perks of offering or obtaining a policy through the company are:

• Available in all 50 states

• Plans are well-rated

• Policyholders have access to an extensive network

HMOs, EPOs and PPOs are all available through Blue Cross Blue Shield. One of the main complaints that policyholders have is that processing wait times are long, and contacting customer service is a hassle.

2. UnitedHealthcare

UnitedHealthcare is an insurer with impeccable financial strength and a wealth of digital tools that can help improve health care for policyholders. Additionally, UnitedHealthcare provides comprehensive solutions to policyholders through a series of add-on benefits.

For example, most plans offer the following:

• Wellness programs

• Low-cost prescriptions

• Primary care for free

Add on packages and options fill in insurance gaps with dental, disability and vision coverage options available.

One of the downsides of having a policy with the insurer is that they have a complaint index that is 50% higher than average. However, the in-depth app does help policyholders avoid potential issues by offering easy ways to estimate costs, compare doctors and maximize the benefits of your plan.

3. Anthem

Anthem is an insurer that caters to younger adults. The company is part of the Blue Cross Blue Shield company, so they have access to a massive list of providers. Due to the insurer working with younger, healthier policyholders, they can offer:

• Lower costs

• Access to a wide network of providers

However, the insurance company also has a high denial rate for claims. If your workforce or you’re an individual that is younger, Anthem is a good option. With that said, if a policyholder has routine medical issues or may need surgery, the higher denial rate of Anthem makes them a less desirable company.

Additionally, the appeal process with Anthem is long and complicated.

While these companies all offer exceptional insurance options, some are better than others depending on your unique needs. For example, some are optimal for younger workforces while others are better suited for workforces.

Some of the other insurers that offer great insurance options but did not make it on our list, include:

• Aetna

• Cigna

• Humana

• Oscar

While no insurance company is perfect and without complaints, the companies above are some of the best rated in 2022.

If you’re looking for the best insurance companies for your business and employees, we can help.

Click here to learn how we help make choosing a health insurance provider easier.

4 Reasons You Still Need Health Insurance Even If You’re Young and Healthy

by ClaimLinxDecember 4, 2021January 19, 20221 Comment

Health insurance isn’t usually at the top of your must-have list when you’re young, healthy, and just starting your adult life. But it should be.

Health insurance gives you peace of mind that if you’re injured or sick, a trip to the doctor or hospital won’t bankrupt you.

If you’re still on the fence about buying medical insurance, here are four other reasons you still need health insurance, even if you’re young and healthy.

1. Accidents Can and Do Happen – And They Can be Expensive

You can’t predict the future. Accidents can happen anytime, whether it’s a car accident, fall or sports injury.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, accidents account for 45% of deaths of people aged 20-24. However, injuries are far more common, and they can be costly.

Without health insurance, you’ll be left to foot the bill if you’re hurt in an accident. The mean cost of hospital stays in 2016 was $11,700, and prices have increased over the last five years. Unfortunately, few people are financially prepared for such high costs of care.

2. Insurance Plans Can Help You Stay Healthy

Health insurance isn’t only there for when you’re sick or injured. Many preventive services are also covered by insurance, thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Routine screenings and checkups may identify health issues early on, allowing you to take action before they progress into something more serious. Regular screenings and health exams can help detect:

High blood pressure
Prediabetes
Colon cancer
Lung cancer
High cholesterol
Depression, and more

Having health insurance when you’re young and healthy can help you stay young and healthy.

3. Insurance May Be More Affordable Than You Think

Many young adults put off buying health insurance because they assume they can’t afford it. Right now, you’re just getting started in life, and you may already be stretching your budget thin.

However, health insurance may be more affordable than you think, especially if you truly are healthy. Additionally, tax credits and subsidies can help lower premium or out-of-pocket costs.

4. You Have Peace of Mind That You’re Covered

When you’re young and healthy, it’s hard to imagine being sick or injured. But it can happen. Having health insurance will give you peace of mind that if the worst should happen, you’re covered.

A simple broken leg or a multi-day stay at the hospital can cost thousands of dollars without health insurance. Without insurance coverage, you could find yourself responsible for paying the entire bill out of pocket.

Data shows that 66.5% of bankruptcies in the U.S. are because of medical bills. More than 500,000 families file for bankruptcy each year because they cannot afford the cost of medical care. Having health insurance can help prevent this worst-case scenario, and may help protect your financial future should you be faced with a medical emergency.

Even if you’re young and healthy, you never know what tomorrow holds. Illness can strike at any time. Without health insurance, you may find yourself struggling to cover the cost of treatment.

How A Health Insurance Agent Can Help You Find the Best Plan for You

by ClaimLinxNovember 20, 2021December 15, 2021Leave a comment

Ohio residents pay an average of $471 a month for their health insurance if they’re 40 years old. When you go through the marketplace or exchange, you’re at the mercy of an algorithm that uses a few base questions to show you the options that you have available. A health insurance agent in Ohio can work with you on a deeper level to find the right plan for you.

How a Health Insurance Agent Can Help You Find the Best Plan for You

Help Navigate Marketplace Plans

Marketplace plans are available that may best suit your needs. An insurance agent can help you browse through these plans and explain the options that you have available to you. Since the agent’s services come at no cost to you, the information they provide can be invaluable.

Alert You to Non-marketplace Plans

The marketplace is just one avenue where you can search for plans. Sometimes, the best plans are not listed on the marketplace. The insurance agent will assist you in finding these plans so that you have a clear picture of the healthcare options that are available to you.

Assist You with Subsidy Plans

Subsidies may be available to you, and a health insurance agent will be able to:

• Recommend subsidies that may fit your needs

• Assist you in applying for these plans

• Lower your out-of-pocket expenses

Most states allow agents to access plans so that they can provide the best options to their customers.

The agent can help you both apply for these subsidies and may enroll you into these plans to save you significant time in the process.

Advocate on Your Behalf

When you sign up for a plan, you’re often left alone and have no one to help you the following year. However, an agent can work as your advocate year after year so that when open enrollment comes around or there’s a major life change that you go through, the agent can help you find the best plans available.

Additionally, they can:

• Ask questions about benefits

• Walk you through the claim process

Learn and Understand Your Needs

Your needs are unique, and when you go through the marketplace, your needs are often not considered in the same way that an insurance agent can offer. An insurance agent will work to understand your unique needs so that they can:

• Narrow down plan options

• Eliminate plans that won’t work for you

• Find only the best insurance options available for your needs

Often, the insurance agent will assist you in finding the plan that matches your needs and budget. However, when you sign up for the marketplace and don’t work with an agent, you’re missing out on potential plans that may offer you better coverage and benefits.

Ohio’s health insurance costs are expensive, but you need coverage to ensure that if a medical emergency does occur, you’ll receive the care you need most. Health insurance agents in Ohio can help you find a plan that best fits your unique needs and budget. They’ll even help you work through subsidies that can save you money.

Medicare Ohio Health Plans To Consider When Shopping Around

by ClaimLinxAugust 5, 2021August 31, 20211 Comment

Medicare Health Programs are another way to cover Medicare Part A and Part B. Sometimes referred to as “Part C” or “MA Plans”, they have to comply with regulations provided by Medicare-approved private companies. A lot of Medicare Ohio health care programs include Drug Coverage (Part D). In most cases, you will need to use a healthcare provider involved in local and regional network services at a very low cost.

These plans not only reduce the cost you pay annually for the services but you can also avoid unexpected expenses with it. Some of the Medicare Ohio health plans provide out-of-network services but the cost of those services is higher. Keep your red, white, and green Medicare Ohio cards in a safe place as you will need them when you return to the original Medicare. Following are some common types of Medicare Ohio health plans that you must consider when looking for health plans

Health Management Organization (HMO) Program
Provider Organization (PPO) Program
Private Fee Service (PFFS) Program
Special Needs Program (SNP)

Here are some uncommon types of Medicare Advantage plans you can find:

HMO Point of Service (HMO-POS) Program
Medicare Medical Savings (MSA) Account System

Health Organization (HMO)

For HMO programs, you usually need to obtain your care and services from network providers, without the facility of:

Emergency care
Emergency care outside the area
Dialysis outside the area

Some of the health care providers might not provide some of the network services too. However, it usually costs less if you divert your attention from the provider outside the network. This is known as HMO with Point-of-Service (POS) option.

Are there prescription drugs in Health Management Agency (HMO) programs?

In many cases, HMO programs include prescription drugs. Ask the program providers. If you are looking for Medicare drug coverage (Part D), you must join the HMO program that provides access to prescription drugs.

Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)

PPO is a kind of Medicare Advantage Program (Part C) that can be availed through a private insurance company. The services under PPO include physicians, hospitals, and other health care providers. You are charged less if you utilize network services and you will be charged higher for utilizing services outside the network.

You can avail health care services from different providers in PPO programs or hospitals. You can also receive out-of-network services for higher costs than the services provided within the network.

Are prescription drugs included?

In many cases, prescription drugs are included in PPO programs. Ask the program. If you are looking for a drug prescription in Medicare, you must enroll in a PPO program that provides medical coverage. Remember, if you join a PPO program that does not offer prescription offer drugs, you will not join the Medicare Drug (Part D) program.

Private Financing Schemes (PFFS)

How PFFS programs work

A variant of the Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C), PFFS programs are not similar to Medigap and Medicare. Through this plan, you can determine how much cost you will be charged for different medical health facilities.

Is it possible to utilize another hospital, doctor, or healthcare provider for medical help?

Healthcare services from a doctor, hospital or any other healthcare provider are provided in most cases in PFFS programs. If you join a PFFS program offline, you can check with any network provider who regularly agrees to deal with program members. You can also choose a doctor, hospital, or another non-network provider that accepts the terms of the program, but your costs are usually lower when you are on the network.

Special Needs Programs (SNPs)

How Medicare SNPs work

A Medicare SNP is a type of Medicare Health program (such as an HMO or PPO). Medicare SNPs reduce membership in people with certain diseases or symptoms. Medicare SNPs organize all their resources together to serve a specific group with specific needs.

Is it possible to utilize another hospital, doctor, or healthcare provider for medical help?

You can usually get all the services provided by the doctors and health care providers under the SNP health plan, except:

Emergency care in case you need immediate medical attention as a result of a sudden medical emergency.
If you are a renal failure patient and require out-of-network dialysis treatment.

Medicare SNPs usually have a panel of professionals that have specialization in the condition or disease of the group allocated.

Are prescription medications included?

All SNPs must provide medical treatment. In most cases, you may need a primary care physician for SNPs or you might need a caretaker to take care of your health necessities.

Do I need referrals to get an appointment with a professional doctor?

Referrals are needed in most cases to get an appointment with experts on SNPs. Some services do not require a transfer, namely:

Annual memory test
In-network POP testing and pelvic examination (covered at least annually)

Some important points to keep in mind

Planning must limit membership to the following groups:

People living in certain organizations (such as nursing homes) or need of home care, or
People who are eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, or
People with disabilities (diabetes, end-stage kidney disease) (ESRD), AIDS, Chronic Heart Failure, or Dementia). Programs can continue to limit membership. You can join the SNP at any time.
- Programs should guide the services and providers needed to help you stay healthy and follow the instructions of your doctor or other health care provider.

If you have Medicare and Medicaid, ensure approval of your health care plan by all the doctors and your healthcare providers

Hopefully, this article was helpful for you to get the required information about Medicare Ohio. You must make your decision very smartly to get maximum benefits at the lowest cost possible. Choose the plan according to your requirements. The best plan is one that covers the maximum of your health care requirements and is also within budget.

Choosing insurance: 7 key factors in deciding health, dental, and vision.

by ClaimLinxJuly 28, 2021July 28, 20211 Comment

Buying health insurance is an important task. Based on their experience, any person who went through the process of getting insurance will tell you that it is not an easy task. There are always changes in policies, information, and pricing and it can make choosing the best strategy for yourself quite difficult.

Check the health plan of each health insurance physician.

If you are currently on prescription, you may want to go deeper into every procedure available to see what medications are available. You can do this by requesting insurance details or a list of covered medications. Insurance providers usually have a separate list of orders placed at levels. Doctors explain that generics have very low reimbursement costs, but prescription drugs are more expensive. This means you need to learn the fine print of any potential insurance program because some insurance providers require patients to try low-dose medications before they are allowed to continue with nominal medications. (Note: You can always pay out of pocket, but why is it required?)

Make sure the desired providers are in the network.

Do you like your current doctors? Then if there are any changes in the insurance policy it is important to know if they are in the network. If you do not have a physician of your choice, you can see a list of network providers in your new potential program. After that, consult a new doctor to see new patients, and ask about their credentials, as well as regular office hours. That way, you know where to go before making the switch. You can always check with AMA to get information about the provider

Think about whether you want to collaborate with HSA.

Some people think it would be better to invest less in HSA. HSAs are suitable for almost anyone, young and healthy, and those who want to invest in medical emergencies or retirees who want to bear some of the costs.

In the U.S. According to News & World Report, by 2019, singles can donate up to$500 to $3,500 in taxable contributions to an HSA, while those with a family plan can donate up to $7,000 tax-free. People 55 and over can add an extra $ 1,000 to host a charity.

However, only certain programs allow users to donate, so if you want to add one, make sure your new plan fits. By 2019, eligible plans have a minimum withdrawal of $ 1,350 per person coverage and out-of-pocket costs of 6,750. Family plans cost a minimum withdrawal limit of $ 7,700 and a maximum of $ 13,500.

Check your income to see if you are eligible for tax bills.

A “premium tax credit”, which is “tax refundable” is provided by IRS to assist families who have low income to pay the charges of the health insurance they bought from the health insurance market. This is also known as an exchange. “

Whether a person receives a substantial tax credit depends on his income. As the IRS points out, low-income people get more credit to help pay for insurance costs, while those with higher payments get less credit if they get one.

Do not worry, if you decide to sign up for health insurance on the exchange, the exchange can choose the loan that you have estimated.

So who gets the loan? Yes, the statistics are a bit confusing. According to IRS, Usually, a person and his family get a premium tax credit in case their annual income is higher than 100 percent but is less than 400 people of the determined poverty line. That number is likely to change, in 2017, from 12,060 (poverty line) to 48,240 (400 percent below the poverty line).

Remember not only the premium but also the catch.

Yes, getting a sticker shock is easy due to the monthly premium (the amount you pay each month to maintain your health insurance), but it is important to consider system releases (the amount you pay in advance to your insurance company).

“I warn people to look at all the plans and think about it: is it worth paying less if anything happens or more to spend less in the wallet?” Louis Norris, a health care insurance plans expert.

According to Norris, a healthy person will generally do better if he or she opts for a high-exception but low-premium plan because the person does not need to use insurance for emergencies. But a person who is facing a health challenge would have a plan with a higher tariff but lower premium. Because a person struggling with cancer is more likely to hit that discount or anything, but save some money by paying a lower fee.

Only the middle class with limited health care costs, such as surgery or medical expenses in the future, should apply for the job.’

“Those who benefit the most from one of the intermediate programs,” Norris said. “They really have to bother and do their planning. I always advise people to look at the total premium you pay for the year and see your total expenses. After that, calculate the worst-case scenario. Do this and look at your average pocket expenses. And make a plan from there.”

Consider some additional benefits.

Health insurance plans are not only if you are facing an emergency. Many programs and providers offer wellness and incentive programs that help keep their members healthy and away from the doctor’s office.

U.S. News & World report gym memberships, medical appointments, free counseling sessions, video conferencing with doctors at any time, and legal consultations.

If you need help, ask for it.

“The first thing you need to do when looking for a new health insurance policy asks yourself: ‘Am I comfortable doing this myself?'” Norris said. “If you do not do something that most people do not do, I think getting help is a good first step. You can get guidance from who has done all the processes before.