Is there anyone who can help me determine my best health insurance option?

Each state will have consumer helpers available to assist individuals with health insurance decision-making. Find these helpers at Healthcare.gov the official site which provides accurate information to guide you through health insurance decision-making, and which also connects you to the Health Insurance Marketplace in your state.

Beware of commercial insurance industry professionals offering “free advice” or “assistance;” their efforts may be just a ploy to get you to buy their company’s policy regardless of other options that may meet …

Why is there a Health Insurance Marketplace?

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act mandates that each state must have an online health insurance “marketplace” or “exchange” to make comparing health insurance and purchasing a policy easier for you. This is not the only way to enroll. More information about getting help by phone or in person is available in the FAQ “Is there ayone who can help me determine my best health insurance option?”

The Health Insurance Marketplace will be open October 1, …

Are all pre-existing conditions allowed?

Yes, all pre-existing conditions are allowed and can no longer be used to bar an individual from obtaining health insurance coverage. This provision of health care reform and guarantee of coverage went into effect for children in 2010 and will apply to adults in 2014.  Premiums will not be allowed to use pre-existing conditions as a factor for establishing rates.

The cost of coverage can be adjusted using only these four factors:

1) whether the policy covers an individual or …

What is the difference between bronze, silver, gold and platinum plans?

In order to be included in the Health Insurance Marketplace, each insurance company can offer four different types of “qualified” health insurance plans– Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.

A Bronze Plan will cover 60% of health care costs with the consumer responsible for paying 40%. For Silver plans insurance companies pay 70% of costs and the consumer pays 30%. For Gold Plans, the split is 80%-20% and for Platinum the split is 90%-10%.  In general, the more the company …