So. Many. Choices.  I’m Overwhelmed! The ACA Marketplace was created by the Affordable Care Act in 2010. A Healthcare Exchange lists affordable health insurance plans that include the mandated healthcare services defined in the ACA (Obamacare) guidelines. These marketplaces are a great tool for finding cheap health coverage.

There are hundreds of insurers and thousands of plans. Where can I find reliable advice?!

What you need is qualified, independent advice!  Finding the lowest monthly premium is easy.  Finding a plan that genuinely minimizes your expenses, and provides quality health care for you and your family, requires an understanding of all these plans AND an understanding of your circumstances, plus a willingness to find and present these options to you.

Who Can I Turn to for Advice?

Great question!

Lots of people ask themselves, but unless they’re in the Health Insurance business, this isn’t the best idea.

Or, people just ‘rollover’ what they did last year, without considering how their circumstances have changed, and what the future might hold.

When you contact a Health Insurance Company, they’ll offer you plans from their portfolio. Advice is limited, and so are your choices.

Informed ACA Marketplace recommendations

Your State Health Insurance ACA Marketplace offers options, but only from the limited number of insurance companies that joined their exchange.  State exchanges also won’t give you substantive advice, nor can they suggest supplemental insurance options.  To put it crudely, “they just take your order.”

By far, the surest way of getting great advice and securing the health insurance coverage that matches your unique needs, as an individual, or a family, is to discuss your needs with a qualified independent insurance agent.  An agency takes an unbiased view of the multiple plans, all from the ACA marketplace, and presents policies that offer the most inexpensive approach to covering your anticipated health expenses.

They concern themselves not only with the monthly premium but also your “out of pocket” expenses.

An agency takes a holistic approach when presenting your choices. They assist in the transaction and provide assistance throughout the year.

Do I Pay More if I use an Agent?

No.

The price of your insurance is the same whether you enroll through your Agent, An online Insurance Exchange, or a state insurance exchange.

The Affordable Care Act not only defined the services, but it also ensured an open market.

What do I gain by working with an independent insurance Agent?

  1. Unbiased advice,
  2. The most extensive selection of ‘best for you’ plans from the ACA Marketplace,
  3. An Agency wants to earn your ongoing business. They have a vested interest in doing a great job because they live on referrals.  When they do well for you, you’ll be more likely to recommend them to others!

Want to Check their work? Do your own validation of an Agents recommendation!

The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) exists to improve the quality of health care. Their Health Insurance Plan Ratings for 2019–2020 (The latest available as of August 2020) is a great resource.

NCQA, the National Committee for Quality Assurance has the latest ratings on all Insurance Plans.

Agencies also advocate for you if you ever have a dispute with your provider. It’s great to have someone who understands how to manage and communicate with insurance companies!

Photo by Anthony Shkraba from Pexels

Trustpilot
Verified by MonsterInsights