Braven Health Medicare Advantage plans are available throughout New Jersey. The company gets below-average star ratings for quality from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), but its member experience scores beat the average for major companies.
Here’s what you should know about Braven Health Medicare Advantage.
Braven Health Medicare Advantage pros and cons
Braven Health Medicare Advantage plans have advantages and disadvantages.
Pros
Strong member experience ratings: Braven Health has above-average member experience ratings for factors such as care coordination and customer service.
$0 PPO options: $0-premium preferred provider organization (PPO) plans are available in all 21 New Jersey counties.
Cons
Below-average star ratings: Braven Health trails the all-company weighted average for star ratings from CMS.
High out-of-pocket limits: Plans have higher maximum out-of-pocket limits than most competitors.
Limited availability: Braven Health plans are available only in New Jersey.
Braven Health Medicare star ratings
Average star rating, weighted by enrollment: 3.5
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) releases annual star ratings that rank Medicare plans from best (5 stars) to worst (1 star). The agency’s ratings are based on data measuring plans’ quality of care and customer satisfaction.
Based on the most recent year of data and weighted by enrollment, Braven Health Medicare Advantage plans get an average overall 2024 star rating of 3.5 stars
.
For comparison, the average star rating for plans from all providers for 2024 is 4.04
.
What does Braven Health Medicare Advantage cost?
Costs for Medicare Advantage plans will depend on your plan, geographic location and health needs.
Premiums
One of the costs to consider is the plan’s premium. In 2024, about 7 in 10 (72%) Braven Health Medicare Advantage plans have $0 premiums
.
Even as a Medicare Advantage user, you’ll still be responsible for paying your Medicare Part B premium, which is $174.70 per month in 2024, although some plans cover part or all of this cost
.
Copays, coinsurance and deductibles
Requirements for copays, coinsurance and deductibles vary depending on your plan, location and the services you use. Other out-of-pocket costs to consider include:
Whether the plan covers any part of your monthly Medicare Part B premium.
The plan’s yearly deductibles and any other deductibles, such as a drug deductible.
Copayments and/or coinsurance for each visit or service. For instance, there may be a $10 copay for seeing your primary doctor and a $45 copay for seeing a specialist.
The plan’s in-network and out-of-network out-of-pocket maximums.
Whether your medical providers are in-network or out-of-network, or how often you may go out-of-network for care.
Whether you require extra benefits, and whether the plan charges for them.
To get a sense of costs, use Medicare’s plan finding tool to compare information among available plans in your area. You can select by insurance carrier to see only Braven Health plans or compare across carriers. You can also shop directly from Braven Health’s website by entering your ZIP code.
Braven Health Medicare Advantage plan types
All Braven Health Medicare Advantage plans offered in 2024 are preferred provider organization (PPO) plans.
Preferred provider organization (PPO) plans provide the most freedom, allowing you to see any provider that accepts the insurance. You may not need to choose a primary doctor, and you don’t need referrals to see specialists. You can seek out-of-network care, although it may cost more than seeing an in-network doctor.
Braven Health Medicare Advantage service area
Compare Medicare Advantage providers
Get more information below about some of the major Medicare Advantage providers. These insurers offer plans in most states. The plans you can choose from will depend on your ZIP code and county.
Find the right Medicare Advantage plan
What are the plan’s costs? Do you understand what the plan’s premium, deductibles, copays and/or coinsurance will be? Can you afford them?
Is your doctor in-network? If you have a preferred medical provider or providers, make sure they participate in the plan’s network.
Are your prescriptions covered? If you’re on medication, it’s crucial to understand how the plan covers it. What tier are your prescription drugs on, and are there any coverage rules that apply to them?
Is there dental coverage? Does the plan offer routine coverage for vision, dental and hearing needs?
Are there extras? Does the plan offer any extra benefits, such as fitness memberships, transportation benefits or meal delivery?
If you have additional questions about Medicare, visit Medicare.gov or call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227, TTY 877-486-2048).
Clover Health Medicare Advantage plans are available in five states, and the provider’s star ratings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) are below average. Member experience ratings are also below the average for major providers.
Here’s what you should know about Clover Health Medicare Advantage.
Clover Health Medicare Advantage pros and cons
Clover Health’s offerings have advantages and disadvantages.
Pros
Mostly PPO plans: Most of Clover Health’s Medicare Advantage plans are PPO plans, which offer more flexibility than HMOs.
$0 plans: Two-thirds of Clover Health Medicare Advantage plans offer a $0 premium.
Cons
Below-average star ratings: Clover Health Medicare Advantage plans score a lower-than-average star rating from CMS — 3.00 for 2024 plans, versus 4.04 for the industry as a whole.
High out-of-pocket max: Clover Health’s average out-of-pocket maximum — the most you would be responsible for paying in a plan year — is higher than those of the major providers at about $7,800.
Subpar member experience ratings: Clover Health’s average member ratings on metrics like customer service and getting needed care are below the average for major providers.
Limited availability: Clover Health offers Medicare Advantage plans in just five states.
Clover Health Medicare star ratings
Average star rating, weighted by enrollment: 3
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services maintains star ratings for Medicare Advantage plans on a 5-point scale, ranking plans from best (5 stars) to worst (1 star). The agency bases these ratings on plans’ quality of care and measurements of customer satisfaction, and ratings may change from year to year.
Based on the most recent year of data and weighted by enrollment, Clover Health’s 2024 Medicare Advantage plans get an average rating of 3 stars
.
For comparison, the average star rating for plans from all providers is 4.04
.
What does Clover Health Medicare Advantage cost?
Costs for Medicare Advantage plans depend on your plan, your geographic location and your health needs.
Premiums
One of the costs to consider is the plan’s premium. In 2024, about two-thirds of Clover Health Medicare Advantage plans (67%) have a $0 premium
.
Even as a Medicare Advantage user, you’ll still be responsible for paying your Medicare Part B premium, which is $174.70 per month in 2024
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Costs. Accessed Jan 8, 2024.
, although some plans cover part or all of this cost. (Most people pay this standard amount, but if your income is above a certain threshold, you’ll pay more.)
Copays, coinsurance and deductibles
Requirements for copays, coinsurance and deductibles vary depending on your plan, location and the services you use. Other out-of-pocket costs to consider include:
Whether the plan covers any part of your monthly Medicare Part B premium.
The plan’s yearly deductibles and any other deductibles, such as a drug deductible.
Copayments and/or coinsurance for each visit or service. For instance, there may be a $10 copay for seeing your primary doctor and a $45 copay for seeing a specialist.
The plan’s in-network and out-of-network out-of-pocket maximums.
Whether your medical providers are in-network or out-of-network, or how often you may go out of network for care.
Whether you require extra benefits, and if the plan charges for them.
To get a sense of costs, use Medicare’s plan-finding tool to compare information among available plans in your area. You can select by insurance carrier to see only Clover Health plans or compare across carriers. You can also shop directly from Clover Health’s website by entering your ZIP code.
Available Medicare Advantage plans
There are a few kinds of Clover Health Medicare Advantage plans, and they vary in terms of structure, costs and benefits. Clover Health offers Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans (MAPDs) as well as Medicare Advantage plans without drug coverage.
Plan offerings include the following types:
A health maintenance organization (HMO) generally requires that you use a specific network of doctors and hospitals. You may need a referral from your primary doctor in order to see a specialist, and out-of-network benefits are usually very limited.
Preferred provider organization (PPO) plans provide the most freedom, allowing you to see any provider that accepts the insurance. You may not need to choose a primary doctor, and you don’t need referrals to see specialists. You can seek out-of-network care, although it may cost more than seeing an in-network doctor.
Clover Health Medicare Advantage service area
Clover Health offers Medicare Advantage plans in five states: Georgia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Texas — down from eight states in 2023. Clover Health covers more than 80,000 Medicare Advantage beneficiaries
.
Compare Medicare Advantage providers
Get more information below about some of the major Medicare Advantage providers. These insurers offer plans in most states. The plans you can choose from will depend on your ZIP code and county.
Find the right Medicare Advantage plan
What are the plan’s costs? Do you understand what the plan’s premium, deductibles, copays and/or coinsurance will be? Can you afford them?
Is your doctor in-network? If you have a preferred medical provider or providers, make sure they participate in the plan’s network.
Are your prescriptions covered? If you’re on medication, it’s crucial to understand how the plan covers it. What tier are your prescription drugs on, and are there any coverage rules that apply to them?
Is there dental coverage? Does the plan offer routine coverage for vision, dental and hearing needs?
Are there extras? Does the plan offer any extra benefits, such as fitness memberships, transportation benefits or meal delivery?
If you have additional questions about Medicare, visit Medicare.gov or call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227, TTY 877-486-2048).
Care N’ Care Medicare Advantage plans are available in Texas only, and the provider’s star ratings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) are below average. Member experience ratings, however, are above the average for major providers.
Here’s what you should know about Care N’ Care Medicare Advantage.
Care N’ Care Medicare Advantage pros and cons
Care N’ Care’s offerings have advantages and disadvantages.
Pros
High member experience ratings: Member experience ratings on metrics like care coordination and customer service are above the average for major providers.
Lower out-of-pocket max: Care N’ Care Medicare Advantage plans’ average out-of-pocket maximum is just under $3,600, which is lower than the average for major providers.
Cons
Below-average star ratings: Care N’ Care Medicare Advantage plans’ star ratings from CMS are below the industry average.
Limited availability: Care N’ Care offers Medicare Advantage plans in Texas only.
No SNPs: Care N’ Care doesn’t offer any Medicare Advantage special needs plans.
Care N’ Care Medicare star ratings
Average star rating, weighted by enrollment: 3.39
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services maintains star ratings for Medicare Advantage plans on a 5-point scale, ranking plans from best (5 stars) to worst (1 star). The agency bases these ratings on plans’ quality of care and measurements of customer satisfaction, and ratings may change from year to year.
Based on the most recent year of data and weighted by enrollment, Care N’ Care’s 2024 Medicare Advantage plans get an average rating of 3.39 stars
.
For comparison, the average star rating for plans from all providers is 4.04
.
Still deciding on the right carrier? Compare Medicare Advantage plans
What does Care N’ Care Medicare Advantage cost?
Costs for Medicare Advantage plans depend on your plan, your geographic location and your health needs.
Premiums
One of the costs to consider is the plan’s premium. In 2024, about 6 in 10 Care N’ Care Medicare Advantage plans that aren’t special needs plans (SNPs) have a $0 premium
.
Even as a Medicare Advantage user, you’ll still be responsible for paying your Medicare Part B premium, which is $174.70 per month in 2024
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Costs. Accessed Dec 19, 2023.
, although some plans cover part or all of this cost. (Most people pay this standard amount, but if your income is above a certain threshold, you’ll pay more.)
Copays, coinsurance and deductibles
Requirements for copays, coinsurance and deductibles vary depending on your plan, location and the services you use. Other out-of-pocket costs to consider include:
Whether the plan covers any part of your monthly Medicare Part B premium.
The plan’s yearly deductibles and any other deductibles, such as a drug deductible.
Copayments and/or coinsurance for each visit or service. For instance, there may be a $10 copay for seeing your primary doctor and a $45 copay for seeing a specialist.
The plan’s in-network and out-of-network out-of-pocket maximums.
Whether your medical providers are in-network or out-of-network, or how often you may go out of network for care.
Whether you require extra benefits, and if the plan charges for them.
To get a sense of costs, use Medicare’s plan-finding tool to compare information among available plans in your area. You can select by insurance carrier to see only Care N’ Care plans or compare across carriers. You can also shop directly from Care N’ Care’s website by entering your ZIP code.
Available Medicare Advantage plans
There are a few kinds of Care N’ Care Medicare Advantage plans, and they vary in terms of structure, costs and benefits. Care N’ Care offers Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans (MAPDs) as well as Medicare Advantage plans without drug coverage.
Plan offerings include the following types:
A health maintenance organization (HMO) generally requires that you use a specific network of doctors and hospitals. You may need a referral from your primary doctor in order to see a specialist, and out-of-network benefits are usually very limited.
Preferred provider organization (PPO) plans provide the most freedom, allowing you to see any provider that accepts the insurance. You may not need to choose a primary doctor, and you don’t need referrals to see specialists. You can seek out-of-network care, although it may cost more than seeing an in-network doctor.
Care N’ Care Medicare Advantage service area
Care N’ Care offers Medicare Advantage plans in Texas only and covers just over 10,000 members
.
Compare Medicare Advantage providers
Get more information below about some of the major Medicare Advantage providers. These insurers offer plans in most states. The plans you can choose from will depend on your ZIP code and county.
Find the right Medicare Advantage plan
What are the plan’s costs? Do you understand what the plan’s premium, deductibles, copays and/or coinsurance will be? Can you afford them?
Is your doctor in-network? If you have a preferred medical provider or providers, make sure they participate in the plan’s network.
Are your prescriptions covered? If you’re on medication, it’s crucial to understand how the plan covers it. What tier are your prescription drugs on, and are there any coverage rules that apply to them?
Is there dental coverage? Does the plan offer routine coverage for vision, dental and hearing needs?
Are there extras? Does the plan offer any extra benefits, such as fitness memberships, transportation benefits or meal delivery?
If you have additional questions about Medicare, visit Medicare.gov or call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227, TTY 877-486-2048).
Do you need health insurance? Did you know that there are many part-time jobs with health insurance that you may be able to apply for? These types of part-time jobs are great because they not only help you to make more income but they also give you benefits like health insurance. Health benefits are usually…
Do you need health insurance?
Did you know that there are many part-time jobs with health insurance that you may be able to apply for?
These types of part-time jobs are great because they not only help you to make more income but they also give you benefits like health insurance.
Health benefits are usually associated with full-time employment, but a growing number of companies give these perks to part-time employees as well. Companies know that in order to keep good employees, giving helpful benefits like health insurance helps them with this.
You may need a part-time job with health insurance for many different reasons, such as perhaps your full-time job doesn’t come with good health insurance, or maybe you are only looking for part-time hours to make extra money.
My husband worked at UPS for many years, mainly for the health insurance. And, so did many other people who worked there. The health insurance at UPS is one of the best I’ve ever seen, and it’s available to part-time workers.
And, you may be able to find a part-time job that comes with medical insurance like this too!
Key Takeaways
UPS is known for having many valuable benefits for their part-time workers, such as health insurance.
Starbucks is another place where you can get health insurance, even working part-time. After putting in an average of 20 hours a week over three months, you can get medical, dental, and vision plans.
There are many other jobs that give you health insurance as well and even other great benefits like tuition reimbursement and parental leave.
Best Part-Time Jobs With Health Insurance
Below are the best part-time jobs with health insurance coverage.
1. UPS
If you’re looking for a part-time job with health insurance, UPS can be a great choice. At UPS, even part-time employees can get health benefits.
This is probably one of the most popular jobs ever when it comes to getting great health insurance. UPS is a very popular choice for those who are looking for health insurance.
Like I said earlier, my husband worked at UPS for years, mainly for the health insurance. And, so did many other people that we know, such as many of our personal friends, his brother, our friend’s parents, and so many more people that we personally know.
Many of the part-time jobs at UPS are for package sorters and UPS truck loaders.
Part-time UPS workers get the same healthcare benefits as full-time workers. They don’t have to pay premiums, and there is low or no co-insurance and co-pays.
Plus, part-time employees at UPS earn an average of $20 per hour after 30 days. As a part-time employee at UPS, you’re promised at least 3.5 hours of work each day you’re scheduled.
There are also other benefits you can qualify for, such as you can get a pension when you retire, help paying for college, and paid time off for vacations and holidays.
Recommended reading: 26 Best Weekly Pay Jobs To Make Money Quick
2. Starbucks
If you’re looking for part-time work and need health insurance, Starbucks might be the place for you.
Starbucks gives health, dental, and vision insurance to all part-time workers who put in at least 20 hours per week on average after working 240 hours.
Starbucks also has a generous benefits package, such as dental care, a 401(k), vacation time, college tuition reimbursement, and more.
Another nice employee benefit is Starbucks’ parental leave – workers at Starbucks who are eligible and welcoming a new child can take time off and receive pay replacement through parental leave. Additionally, Starbucks gives Family Expansion Reimbursement, giving up to $10,000 for adoption, surrogacy, or intrauterine insemination for eligible partners.
3. REI
REI has a new medical plan called the REI Access Plan, which gives medical coverage to every employee who works at REI, even part-time employees.
The REI Access Plan gives medical coverage to employees after working for only three months, no matter how many hours they work (so, if you only work one day a week, you can qualify!). This plan is in addition to the existing health care options for employees who work an average of 20 or more hours per week over a 12-month period.
The health insurance coverage includes checkups for free with in-network doctors, mental health support, hospital care, and physical therapy. It also covers pharmacy costs and provides access to virtual healthcare through Teladoc.
4. National Guard
As a National Guard member, you get to serve your country and community, and you also have access to job benefits like health insurance.
You and your family can get low-cost health insurance through a plan called Tricare Reserve Select (TRS).
In 2023, the individual monthly health insurance plan cost $48.47, and family plans cost $239.69.
You’re also eligible for low-cost life insurance that pays up to $400,000.
National Guard members respond to emergencies (such as natural disasters), serve as law enforcement, and more. Guard members have about two days of drills each month and spend two weeks on annual training every year.
5. Costco
If you’re interested in a part-time job that includes health insurance, you might want to look into working at Costco.
There are many different kinds of jobs that you can find at Costco, such as cashier, baker, forklift driver, gas station attendant, member service assistant, stocker, and so much more.
Costco gives health insurance to part-time employees who work 23 or more hours each week.
Their health insurance comes with low out-of-pocket monthly premiums and co-pays. They provide medical, dental, and vision benefits that can be used for yourself and/or your family.
I know a few people who left their day job to work at Costco due to the good pay, nice benefits, and fun work environment. So, it can be a great one to look into!
Recommended reading: 20+ Best Jobs That Pay $20 An Hour Or More
6. Chipotle
At Chipotle, you can work part-time and still get health insurance. They understand that you might be studying, have another job, or need extra time for yourself. That’s why they offer flexible schedules.
If you join their team, even part-timers can sign up for health insurance. All Chipotle crew members are eligible for the Anthem Preventive Plus, Delta Dental PPO plan, and EyeMed PPO vision plan.
They also have 100% tuition coverage for select programs. You can learn about agriculture, technology, and business. If you’re into something else, they give up to $5,250 for other study areas.
Other helpful benefits from Chipotle include paid time off, 401(k) retirement savings plans, free meals, an annual bonus, a gym membership discount, and more.
7. Walmart
At Walmart, you can find part-time jobs that come with health insurance.
Part-time jobs with health insurance at Walmart include stocking shelves, unloading trucks, customer service, cashier, and more.
If you’re working at least 30 hours per week over a 60-day period, you can become eligible for coverage.
Once you meet the hours requirement, you can choose from different health plans. These plans are not just any plans; they include options for medical, dental, and vision coverage.
8. JPMorgan Chase
JPMorgan Chase gives health insurance to part-time employees, such as for entry-level jobs like being a bank teller or in customer service.
For example, as a part-time associate banker, you’ll be helping customers with their banking needs. You will be talking to them about their accounts and showing them how to use the bank’s products and services.
To get health insurance at JPMorgan Chase, you need to work at least 20 hours a week, and their benefits include medical, vision, and dental coverage.
9. Delta Airlines
If you’re looking for part-time work and need health insurance, you might want to find a job at Delta Airlines.
There are many different jobs at Delta Airlines that could fit your needs, even if you work part-time. These can include becoming a ticket agent, gate agent, customer service, and more.
They have multiple health plans that you may be interested in, plus dental and vision plans.
Delta also gives paid long-term disability coverage, optional short-term disability insurance, and company-paid basic life insurance.
10. Amazon
If you’re looking for a part-time job with health insurance, you may want to look for a job at Amazon.
Amazon is one of the largest companies in the world, so it makes sense that they would give good health insurance.
Amazon’s medical plans cover things like prescription drugs, emergency and hospital care, mental health, X-rays, and lab work.
There are no exclusions for pre-existing conditions in any of Amazon’s medical plans. They have many different plans, so it means that you can pick the one that fits you and your family the best. Plus, all plans cover 100% of preventive care.
The benefits available to you can vary based on how many hours you work each week and where you live. For example, if you are full-time or work 40 hours a week, you get one set of benefits. If you work between 30-39 hours or 20-29 hours, your benefits may be different. And if you’re in certain states, these standard benefits might not apply.
11. Lowes
At Lowe’s, you can find many jobs that could fit your schedule, and they offer both part-time and full-time positions.
Lowe’s gives affordable health insurance plans to both part-time and full-time workers. These plans cover medical, dental, and vision, and you can get low-cost prescription drugs after 30 days.
If you head to the Lowe’s worker’s benefits website here, you can actually see a preview of your different benefit options. I thought this was really handy. I clicked on “Prospective Lowe’s Associate” which then showed me their medical plan pricing. I typed in my zip code, and it showed me that there was one available medical plan in my area for a part-time Lowe’s Associate.
This plan started at $38.60 for Employee Only. For Employee + Children, the plan then costs $106.18. For Employee + Family, the cost is $152.52 each month. This medical plan includes an annual deductible of $0 and an out-of-pocket maximum of $9,100 for an individual plan or $18,200 for a family plan.
This platform also showed me pricing for their dental coverage, which is through Delta Dental. The pricing for this started at $9.60 per month for an Employee Only plan.
Other employee benefits from Lowe’s include off-the-job accident insurance, identity protection insurance, life insurance of $20,000, short-term disability insurance, 401(k), and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP).
12. Ikea
If you’re considering a part-time job, Ikea is a place you might think about. Ikea gives health benefits to its part-time workers, and you get benefits if you work at least 20 hours a week.
IKEA’s health insurance is from Anthem, and many find the premiums reasonable. Besides health coverage, IKEA also offers dental, vision, and prescription coverage. Additionally, employees enjoy benefits like paid time off, parental leave, pet insurance, and income protection.
Some examples of part-time jobs with health insurance at Ikea include retail sales associate, customer service representative, forklift operator, and food service team member.
13. Whole Foods Market
If you’re looking for a part-time job that offers health insurance, Whole Foods Market might be a place to consider. To get health insurance at Whole Foods, part-time employees need to work at least 30 hours per week.
Examples of part-time jobs at Whole Foods include sales associate, customer service representative, cashier, and more.
14. Trader Joe’s
Trader Joe’s is a popular place to work, especially if you want a part-time job with health insurance.
Trader Joe’s has medical, dental, and vision plans for eligible crew members, and the company covers a big part of the cost, which starts as low as $25 per month.
They also have competitive pay, a retirement plan, up to a 20% store discount, paid time off, and more.
14. Staples
If you work part-time at Staples, you can get helpful health benefits. Staples provides medical, dental, and vision plans for both full-time and part-time employees.
You become eligible for these benefits if you work at least 15 hours a week.
All part-time associates are also eligible for other employee benefits like dental, vision, life, dependent life, accidental death, and short-term disability insurance coverage.
Some examples of part-time jobs at Staples include retail sales associate, cashier, stocker, and more.
15. Home Depot
Home Depot has a generous benefits package for its employees, which includes medical coverage, dental insurance, vision coverage, short-term disability, and more.
Part-time employees can qualify for benefits if they work an average of 16 hours per week or more during a 90-day period.
Some examples of part-time jobs at Home Depot include cashier, sales associate, customer service representative, stocker, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions About Part Time Jobs With Health Insurance
Below are answers to common questions about part-time jobs with health insurance.
Which jobs have the best health insurance? What companies have the best healthcare benefits?
Jobs at larger companies like UPS and Starbucks usually have better health insurance, even for part-time employees. They have good health insurance because they want to keep and attract good employees who will stay for a long time.
Remember to check if you need to maintain a certain number of working hours to keep your health insurance active as the requirements can change. Each company is different too, so make sure to look at the details for each job.
What companies give medical insurance to part-timers?
Companies such as UPS, Staples, and Chipotle are known for giving health insurance to part-time workers. Each company has its own criteria for eligibility, so you’ll need to check if you meet their requirements.
How can I find nearby jobs that give health benefits quickly?
You can start by seeing if any of the companies mentioned above have job openings near you.
Does Starbucks give health insurance to part time employees?
Yes, Starbucks gives part-time employees the option to enroll in health insurance plans, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, as long as they meet certain eligibility criteria (such as a minimum amount of hours worked each week).
Is health insurance through work worth it?
Yes, getting health insurance through your job can be a way to save money as well as get access to health insurance. My husband did this for years, and he had great health insurance that was extremely cheap.
Part-Time Jobs With Health Insurance – Summary
I hope you enjoyed this article about how to find part-time jobs with health insurance for medical care.
Health insurance isn’t only for full-time employees.
Yes, there are jobs that will give you medical insurance for working just part-time shifts!
Finding the right part-time job with health insurance and a nice benefits package is very possible across many different industries. Companies like UPS, Starbucks, and Costco are known for giving health and medical insurance to part-time workers.
This can be a game changer for you if you are balancing multiple jobs, attending school, or have family obligations that don’t allow for a full-time position.
What other part-time jobs come with health insurance? Leave a comment below and let me know!
star ratings rank Medicare plans from best (5 stars) to worst (1 star). The agency’s ratings are based on data measuring plans’ quality of care and customer satisfaction.
Based on the most recent year of data and weighted by enrollment, Baylor Scott & White Health Plan’s 2024 Medicare Advantage plans get an average overall rating of 3.96 stars
.
For comparison, the average star rating for plans from all providers for 2024 is 4.04
.
What does Baylor Scott & White Medicare Advantage cost?
Costs for Medicare Advantage plans will depend on your plan, geographic location and health needs.
Premiums
One of the costs to consider is the plan’s premium. In 2024, about 39% of Baylor Scott & White’s Medicare Advantage plans have $0 premiums
.
Even as a Medicare Advantage user, you’ll still be responsible for paying your Medicare Part B premium, which is $164.90 per month in 2023 ($174.70 in 2024), although some plans cover part or all of this cost
.
Copays, coinsurance and deductibles
Requirements for copays, coinsurance and deductibles vary depending on your plan, location and the services you use. Other out-of-pocket costs to consider include:
Whether the plan covers any part of your monthly Medicare Part B premium.
The plan’s yearly deductibles and any other deductibles, such as a drug deductible.
Copayments and/or coinsurance for each visit or service. For instance, there may be a $10 copay for seeing your primary doctor and a $45 copay for seeing a specialist.
The plan’s in-network and out-of-network out-of-pocket maximums.
Whether your medical providers are in-network or out-of-network, or how often you may go out-of-network for care.
Whether you require extra benefits, and whether the plan charges for them.
To get a sense of costs, use Medicare’s plan finding tool to compare information among available plans in your area. You can select by insurance carrier to see only Baylor Scott & White plans or compare across carriers. You can also shop directly from Baylor Scott & White Health Plan’s website by entering your ZIP code.
Baylor Scott & White Medicare Advantage plan types
There are several kinds of Baylor Scott & White Medicare Advantage plans, and they vary in structure, costs and benefits. About 65% of Baylor Scott & White Medicare Advantage plans include prescription drug coverage.
Plan offerings include the following types:
A health maintenance organization (HMO) generally requires that you use a specific network of doctors and hospitals. You may need a referral from your primary doctor in order to see a specialist, and out-of-network benefits are usually very limited.
HMO-POS plans
HMO point of service (POS) plans are HMO plans that allow members to get some out-of-network services, but they’ll pay more for those services.
Preferred provider organization (PPO) plans provide the most freedom, allowing you to see any provider that accepts the insurance. You may not need to choose a primary doctor, and you don’t need referrals to see specialists. You can seek out-of-network care, although it may cost more than seeing an in-network doctor.
Baylor Scott & White Medicare Advantage service area
Baylor Scott & White Health Plan offers Medicare Advantage plans in 47 counties in Texas. The company covers about 29,000 Medicare Advantage beneficiaries
.
Compare Medicare Advantage providers
Get more information below about some of the major Medicare Advantage providers. These insurers offer plans in most states. The plans you can choose from will depend on your ZIP code and county.
Find the right Medicare Advantage plan
What are the plan’s costs? Do you understand what the plan’s premium, deductibles, copays and/or coinsurance will be? Can you afford them?
Is your doctor in-network? If you have a preferred medical provider or providers, make sure they participate in the plan’s network.
Are your prescriptions covered? If you’re on medication, it’s crucial to understand how the plan covers it. What tier are your prescription drugs on, and are there any coverage rules that apply to them?
Is there dental coverage? Does the plan offer routine coverage for vision, dental and hearing needs?
Are there extras? Does the plan offer any extra benefits, such as fitness memberships, transportation benefits or meal delivery?
If you have additional questions about Medicare, visit Medicare.gov or call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227, TTY 877-486-2048).
Medicare Advantage plans are available in Florida only, and the provider’s star ratings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) are slightly below average. Member experience ratings, however, are above the average for major providers.
Here’s what you should know about Florida Blue Medicare Advantage.
Florida Blue Medicare Advantage pros and cons
Florida Blue’s offerings have advantages and disadvantages.
Pros
Members give high marks: Member experience ratings on metrics like customer service and getting needed care are above the average for major providers.
Mix of plans: Florida Blue offers both HMO and PPO plans, giving members more options for care.
Cons
Below-average star ratings: Florida Blue Medicare Advantage plans score slightly below the industry average star rating from CMS — 3.74 for 2024 plans versus 4.04 for the industry as a whole.
Limited availability: Florida Blue offers Medicare Advantage plans in Florida only.
Florida Blue Medicare star ratings
Average star rating, weighted by enrollment: 3.74
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services maintains star ratings for Medicare Advantage plans on a 5-point scale, ranking plans from best (5 stars) to worst (1 star). The agency bases these ratings on plans’ quality of care and measurements of customer satisfaction, and ratings may change from year to year.
Based on the most recent year of data and weighted by enrollment, Florida Blue’s 2024 Medicare Advantage plans get an average rating of 3.74 stars
.
For comparison, the average star rating for plans from all providers is 4.04
.
What does Florida Blue Medicare Advantage cost?
Costs for Medicare Advantage plans depend on your plan, your geographic location and your health needs.
Premiums
One of the costs to consider is the plan’s premium. In 2024, about two-thirds of Florida Blue Medicare Advantage plans (65%) that aren’t special needs plans (SNPs) have a $0 premium
.
Even as a Medicare Advantage user, you’ll still be responsible for paying your Medicare Part B premium, which is $164.90 per month in 2023 ($174.70 in 2024)
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Costs. Accessed Dec 14, 2023.
, although some plans cover part or all of this cost. (Most people pay this standard amount, but if your income is above a certain threshold, you’ll pay more.)
Copays, coinsurance and deductibles
Requirements for copays, coinsurance and deductibles vary depending on your plan, location and the services you use. Other out-of-pocket costs to consider include:
Whether the plan covers any part of your monthly Medicare Part B premium.
The plan’s yearly deductibles and any other deductibles, such as a drug deductible.
Copayments and/or coinsurance for each visit or service. For instance, there may be a $10 copay for seeing your primary doctor and a $45 copay for seeing a specialist.
The plan’s in-network and out-of-network out-of-pocket maximums.
Whether your medical providers are in-network or out-of-network, or how often you may go out of network for care.
Whether you require extra benefits, and if the plan charges for them.
To get a sense of costs, use Medicare’s plan-finding tool to compare information among available plans in your area. You can select by insurance carrier to see only Florida Blue plans or compare across carriers. You can also shop directly from Florida Blue’s website by entering your ZIP code.
Available Medicare Advantage plans
There are a few kinds of Florida Blue Medicare Advantage plans, and they vary in terms of structure, costs and benefits. Florida Blue offers Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans (MAPDs) as well as Medicare Advantage plans without drug coverage. Florida Blue also offers Medicare Part D prescription drug plans.
Plan offerings include the following types:
A health maintenance organization (HMO) generally requires that you use a specific network of doctors and hospitals. You may need a referral from your primary doctor in order to see a specialist, and out-of-network benefits are usually very limited.
HMO-POS plans
HMO point of service (POS) plans are HMO plans that allow members to get some out-of-network services, but they’ll pay more for those services.
Preferred provider organization (PPO) plans provide the most freedom, allowing you to see any provider that accepts the insurance. You may not need to choose a primary doctor, and you don’t need referrals to see specialists. You can seek out-of-network care, although it may cost more than seeing an in-network doctor.
Special needs plans (SNPs) restrict membership to people with certain diseases or characteristics. Hence, the benefits, network and drug formularies are tailored to the needs of those members. Florida Blue offers one type of SNP:
Dual-Eligible SNP: For people who are entitled to Medicare and who also qualify for assistance from a state Medicaid program.
Florida Blue Medicare Advantage service area
Florida Blue offers Medicare Advantage plans in Florida only and covers about 185,000 members
.
Compare Medicare Advantage providers
Get more information below about some of the major Medicare Advantage providers. These insurers offer plans in most states. The plans you can choose from will depend on your ZIP code and county.
Find the right Medicare Advantage plan
What are the plan’s costs? Do you understand what the plan’s premium, deductibles, copays and/or coinsurance will be? Can you afford them?
Is your doctor in-network? If you have a preferred medical provider or providers, make sure they participate in the plan’s network.
Are your prescriptions covered? If you’re on medication, it’s crucial to understand how the plan covers it. What tier are your prescription drugs on, and are there any coverage rules that apply to them?
Is there dental coverage? Does the plan offer routine coverage for vision, dental and hearing needs?
Are there extras? Does the plan offer any extra benefits, such as fitness memberships, transportation benefits or meal delivery?
If you have additional questions about Medicare, visit Medicare.gov or call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227, TTY 877-486-2048).
Open enrollment is no one’s idea of a good time, but health coverage is a crucial part of your financial health. Whether you’re getting insurance through an employer or the Affordable Care Act marketplace, it’s important to ask the right questions before you choose a health plan for 2024.
“Open enrollment is a great time to do a personal health audit,” says certified public accountant Charlene Rhinehart, a personal finance editor at drug savings site GoodRx. “Understanding your current and anticipated health care needs will help you decide which plan is the best fit.”
Here’s how to weigh your options.
Are your doctors in network?
Plan networks change from year to year. If you love your doctor or specialist, make sure they’re still in the network of the plan you’re considering for 2024.
You should also consider whether you want the option to go out of the network — which you can usually do in a preferred provider organization, or PPO, plan, although it will cost more. Health maintenance organizations, or HMOs, tend to be cheaper but lack the out-of-network flexibility.
Are your medications covered?
If you’re on prescription medications, check plan formularies to make sure you understand how your drugs will be covered in 2024. Drug coverage can change from year to year, even if you stick with the same plan.
“Even if you were in an Aetna plan before, and you say, ‘Well, I’ll stay with Aetna again,’ you still want to look and make sure the medication you’re taking is still on the formulary,” says Abbie Leibowitz, chief medical officer and co-founder of Health Advocate, which provides integrated health advocacy and health benefits programs.
What are the out-of-pocket costs?
Every plan has set costs, like the monthly premiums, plus the costs of care, which include the deductible and any copays and coinsurance. Comparing plans means estimating how much health care you’ll use next year.
On the one hand, you have the costs you’d pay if you don’t use the plan much beyond preventive care. On the other hand, you have the maximum amount you could pay in each plan if you’re a heavy health care user. You can easily compare these situations.
There’s a squishy middle ground, however, where the best plan for you depends on the amount and type of care you’ll need next year.
“The tricky part is we never really know how much we’re going to spend in a given year if we’re in the middle,” says Adam Rosenfeld, a health care benefits expert and president of employee benefits company Rubicon Benefits. The best thing, he says, is to look at your current claims information and imagine that the next year will be identical. On which plan would you be better off?
“It’s the best predictive modeling you can do at this point,” Rosenfeld says.
Is a high-deductible plan right for you?
A high-deductible health plan, or HDHP, in 2024 is defined as a plan with a deductible of at least $1,600 for individual coverage or $3,200 for family coverage, with out-of-pocket maximums of no more than $8,050 or $16,100, respectively. HDHPs usually have lower premiums, and sometimes companies kick in a contribution to a health savings account, or HSA, to help cover the deductible.
An HDHP can be an appropriate plan for people in a variety of health situations, as long as they’re prepared to pay the deductible if they need health care.
“The question is, ‘Can you afford it?’” says Adria Gross, an insurance broker, consultant and founder of MedWise Insurance Advocacy, which helps clients and attorneys with medical claims issues. If you’re healthy, Gross says, go for the HDHP. But in the case of a bad accident, you’ll want to make sure you have the means to pay the full deductible.
Can you stack benefits?
You might have access to voluntary benefits through your employer that can help cover costs that your insurance doesn’t cover. For example, Aflac policies can help pay expenses if you have an accident or get cancer.
You may find that you can get a high-deductible health plan plus a supplemental plan that would help you cover your deductible for less than the cost of a traditional health plan. “It can be a lot less than moving to the next tier where the deductible is lower,” Leibowitz says.
Do you have special care needs?
Some insurance plans cover things like weight loss surgery or infertility treatments — but some don’t, and the exclusion can make a huge difference if it’s a procedure you’re considering. You might find that one insurance company covers a certain surgery or test while another views it as investigational and not medically necessary.
“I call them the fringes,” Leibowitz says. “They’re beyond the typical medical and surgery coverage.” The focus is narrow, he says, but the coverage can be important.
The underlying message, he says, is that just because it looks like the same plan from the same company you were with this year, don’t assume that it hasn’t changed in ways that are important to you. “Network, formulary, benefits,” Leibowitz says, “you have to do your homework.”
This article was written by NerdWallet and was originally published by The Associated Press.
The moving average convergence divergence (MACD) is an indicator that shows the momentum in equity markets. It’s especially popular with traders, who use it to help them rapidly identify short-term momentum swings in a stock.
A moving average can help investors see past the noise of daily market movements to find securities trending up or down. The MACD offers another way to focus on such stocks, by showing the relationship between two moving averages.
Understanding the Moving Average
The moving average convergence divergence may sound complex, so it makes sense to start with the first part – the moving average (MA), also called the exponential moving average, or EMA. This is a very common metric with stocks, used to make sense of ever-fluctuating price data by replacing it with a regularly updated average price. This moving average can give investors a clearer idea of where a stock is trading than one that’s updated second by second.
Because the moving average reflects past prices, it is a lagging indicator. But how much the past prices factor in depends on the person setting the average. Most commonly, investors look at moving averages of 15, 20, 30, 50, 100, and 200 days, with the 50- and 200-day averages being the most widely used.
A moving average with a shorter time span will be more sensitive to price changes, while moving averages with longer time spans will fluctuate less dramatically. Generally, active traders with strategy focused on market timing favor shorter-duration moving averages.
To perform the MACD calculation, traders take the 26-day moving average of a stock and subtract it from that stock’s 12-day moving average. This calculation offers a quick temperature-check of a stock’s momentum.
While the 12-day and 26-day time spans are standard for the MACD, investors can also create their own custom MACD measurements with time spans that better fit their own particular trading tactics and investment strategies.
💡 Quick Tip: Before opening any investment account, consider what level of risk you are comfortable with. If you’re not sure, start with more conservative investments, and then adjust your portfolio as you learn more.
How to Read MACD
If a stock’s MACD is positive, that means its short-term average is higher than its long-term average, which could be a bullish indicator that stock is on an upswing. A higher MACD indicates more pronounced momentum in that upswing. On the other hand, a negative MACD indicates that a stock is trending downward.
If the positive or negative difference between the shorter-term and longer-term moving averages expands, that’s considered the MACD divergence, or the D in MACD. If they get closer, that’s considered a convergence, the C in MACD.
When the two moving averages converge, they meet at a place between the positive and negative MACD, called the zero line, or the centerline. For many traders, this MACD crossover is the sign they wait for to jump into a stock, which after losing value, is suddenly gaining value. Conversely, a stock crossing the zero line of the MACD is often taken to mean that the good times are over, leading many traders to sell at that point.
The MACD is a vital concept in technical analysis, a popular approach investors use to try to forecast the ways a stock might perform based on its current data and past movements. It involves a wide range of data and trend indicators, such as a stock’s price and trading volume, to locate opportunities and risks.
Technical analysis does not look at underlying companies, their industries, or any macroeconomic trends that might drive their success or failure. Rather, it solely analyzes the stock’s performance to find patterns and trends.
Recommended: The Pros and Cons of Momentum Trading
The MACD as a Trading Indicator
For traders, a rising MACD is a sign that a stock is being bid up. The MACD shows how quickly that’s happening.
As the short-term average rises above the longer-term average, and the two figures diverge more widely, the MACD expresses this in a simple number. When a stock is sinking, investors also want to know how fast it’s falling, as well as whether its decline is speeding up or slowing down, which they can find quickly by looking at the divergence.
A convergence is also a key indicator for many traders. As the long-term and short-term moving averages get closer to one another, it can be a sign that a given stock is either overbought or oversold for the moment. If they hold the stock, it may be time to sell the stock. But if they like the stock, and are waiting for a bargain-basement price at which to buy it, then the convergence of the two averages on the zero line may mean it’s time to start buying.
By using the MACD, traders can also compare a stock to competitors in its sector, and to the broader market, to decide whether its current price reflects its value and whether they should buy, sell, or short a stock. Because the MACD is priced out in dollars, many traders will use the percentage price oscillator, or PPO. It uses the same calculation as the MACD, but delivers its results in the form of a percentage difference between the shorter- and longer-term moving averages. As such, it allows for quicker, cleaner comparisons.
💡 Quick Tip: How to manage potential risk factors in a self directed investment account? Doing your research and employing strategies like dollar-cost averaging and diversification may help mitigate financial risk when trading stocks.
The Pros and Cons of the MACD
The MACD indicator has benefits for traders. It’s a convenient gauge of a stock’s momentum for an active, short-term trader. But it can also help a long-term investor who’s looking for the right moment to buy or sell a stock. Once an investor understands the MACD, it’s an easily interpreted data point to incorporate into their trading strategy.
investment risk. Because the MACD is a lagging indicator, it can lead to a trader staying too long in a position that’s since begun to swoon. Or, alternately, it can indicate a turnaround that’s already run the bulk of its course.
This is especially dangerous in volatile markets, when stocks can “whipsaw.” This term – named for the push-and-pull of the saw when it’s used to chop down a tree – describes the phenomenon of a stock whose price is moving in one direction, and suddenly goes sharply in the opposite direction. Whether that whipsaw movement is up or down, it can prove highly disruptive for a trader who relies too heavily on the MACD.
The Takeaway
The MACD can be a helpful metric for traders to understand and to use, in conjunction with other tools to help formulate their investing strategy.
The MACD indicator has benefits for traders. It’s a convenient gauge of a stock’s momentum for active traders. But it can also help long-term investors, too, determine when to buy and sell. It’s also a lagging indicator, which can make it tricky to use for inexperienced traders. As always, it’s best to consult with a financial professional if you’re feeling like you’re in over your head.
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Medicare is the United States’ federally administered health care program.
The program was established in 1965 for the purpose of paying certain health care expenses for people age 65 and over, as well as for other select individuals, such as those who have end stage renal disease.
When originally established, there were only two parts. These were Part A for hospitalization coverage, and Part B for doctors’ services. Over time, the Medicare program has been expanded to offer additional coverage and choices for its enrollees.
We understand that any type of insurance coverage, from the best car insurance companies, best life insurance coverage, or best burial insurance for seniors, can be quite confusing. Remember, we are here to help!
How Coverage Works
The Medicare program today is divided into four parts, and each of these covers a different area. These parts include:
Part A – Hospital Coverage. Part A coverage will help an enrollee pay for inpatient care in a hospital or in a skilled nursing home facility. It also covers some types of home health care, as well as some hospice care. In most cases, there is no cost for participating in Part A.
Part B – Medical Coverage / Doctors’ Care. Part B helps to pay for doctors’ services, as well as for a variety of other medical services and supplies not covered in Part A. Those who are enrolled in Part B will be required to pay a monthly premium. In 2015, most people pay a premium of $104.90 per month. This can vary, however, based upon the individual’s income and on whether they file their tax return jointly with a spouse or as a single individual. This article goes in depth about the income limits and fees that high earners -“Medicare IRMAA brackets“- may have to pay regarding Part B and Part D coverage.
Part C – Medicare Advantage / Managed Care. Part C is also referred to as Medicare Advantage. It provides a managed care approach to delivering Medicare-covered services, such as Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) and Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs). Those who are eligible for Parts A and B may alternatively choose to receive all of their services through a Medicare Advantage provider organization under Part C. The premium one pays for Part C will depend upon the plan that is chosen, as well as on the enrollee’s geographic location. You can learn more about this coverage HERE.
Part D – Prescription Drug Coverage. Part D helps to pay for prescription drugs doctors prescribe for the treatment of a patient. The premium charged for a Part D policy will depend upon the prescriptions you are taking, and thus, the actual plan that is chosen.
Recipients of Medicare, also referred to as beneficiaries, are able to choose coverage via the Original plan – which is actually Parts A and B – or they may choose Part C – which is Medicare Advantage.
Who Qualifies?
In order to be eligible, an individual must have lived in the United States for at least 5 continuous years, and also be a permanent resident of the U.S.
In addition, qualified recipients of benefits must be at least 65 years of age or over, or have a specific type of qualifying disability.
For a person to be considered permanently disabled, they must be entitled to receive benefits from Social Security, and they must have been receiving those benefits for a minimum of two years.
An individual who is diagnosed with end stage renal disease and who also requires kidney dialysis or a kidney transplant may also be considered eligible for benefits from the program.
With the high costs of health care it makes sense for those eligible for Medicare to take advantage of this government administered health care program.
Adults Over 65
Most adults in the United States are eligible for Medicare when they turn 65. Individuals must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and enroll in the Medicare program to qualify.
Individuals who are already receiving Social Security benefits will be automatically enrolled in the Medicare program. Approximately three months before their 65th birthday, an enrollment package will be sent and must be completed to activate coverage.
Medicare Part A, which covers hospitalizations, requires no payment. However, adding Part B – which is for doctors visits, outpatient procedures, or additional coverages, such as prescription drug coverage, does cost money. The premium is determined based on income level. So, individuals must decide what plan is best for them when enrolling and what they can afford to have.
Individuals with Disabilities
Medicare coverage is also available to individuals with disabilities regardless of their age. Once an individual has been collecting social security disability payments for twenty-four months, they become eligible for Medicare during the 25th month.
An enrollment package will be sent a few months before a person becomes eligible for Medicare coverage. If a person with Social Security disability does not receive the enrollment package, they should contact their local social security office to request a packet.
Like an individual who is over age 65, disabled persons who have been getting Social Security disability payments are automatically eligible for Medicare. There is no reason to decline coverage, as Medicare Part A costs nothing and covers hospital care and nursing facility care.
However, if a disabled individual would like, they can decline Medicare Part B coverage, which would require premium payments. There is a card that comes with the enrollment package that the individual can mail back declining Part B coverage.
Who Does NOT Qualify for Medicare
People who are not already receiving Social Security benefits will need to contact their local Social Security office to apply for Medicare coverage. This should be done three months before the individual’s 65th birthday.
The enrollment period begins in the three months before the month of the 65th birthday and ends three months after. If one enrolls during this time frame, there is no cost for enrollment and coverage should begin at the start of the 65th birthday month or shortly thereafter (if one applies after their birth date).
If, however, one does not apply during that enrollment period, then fees apply. So, it is important to apply on time, and as close to the three month prior date as possible. This will ensure everything is done correctly and coverage starts at the beginning of the individual’s birth month.
How to Enroll
To begin receiving benefits, an eligible individual must enroll through the office of Social Security. There is only one exception to this rule, in that those who are already receiving benefits through Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board are automatically enrolled when they turn age 65.
All other potential recipients must submit an application for coverage during the open enrollment period. This period of time begins three months prior to the applicant’s 65th birthday and it ends seven months after.
Those who do not enroll in Part A and/or Part B when they are originally eligible are allowed to alternatively enroll between January 1 and March 31 each year. For those who do, their coverage will begin on the following July 1.
Medicare is Not Medicaid
Because their names sound so similar, people can oftentimes confuse Medicare with Medicaid. These two programs, however, are not the same. Medicaid is a joint state and federal program that provides medical assistance to those who meet very specific low income requirements.
In addition to medical necessity, a person must be considered at his or her state’s poverty level in terms of income and assets for Medicaid qualification purposes.
Through the Social Security Act, those who have income and resources not considered to be sufficient enough to meet the cost of their needed medical care, as well as certain long-term care needs, can qualify for Medicaid’s benefits. Therefore, Medicaid is considered a “means” tested program.
When determining which assets “count” toward qualifying for Medicaid, funds and property are divided into three different classes.
These include the following:
Countable Assets – Countable assets include any personal assets that the individual either owns or controls. These funds are required by Medicaid to be spent on the applicant’s care before he or she will be able to qualify for Medicaid’s benefits. Some examples of countable assets may include cash, stocks and bonds, and deferred annuities (provided that the annuities have already been annuitized).
Non-Countable Assets – Even though non-countable assets are still acknowledged by Medicaid, the particular types of assets are not necessarily utilized when making a determination regarding an applicant’s eligibility for Medicaid benefits. Non-countable assets can include household belongings, such as furniture, appliances, term life insurance policies, a burial plot owned by the Medicaid applicant, and the applicant’s primary residence – as long as the value of the home does not exceed a certain amount.
Inaccessible Assets – Assets that are inaccessible are those considered to be resources that would have had to be spent on a person’s care; however, the assets have instead been transferred to another individual or into a trust. This transfer has therefore made the asset inaccessible. With inaccessible assets, Medicaid has the right to review the applicant’s financial records at the time that the application for benefits is made. In most cases, if assets were transferred within a certain amount of time prior to a person’s application, Medicaid may deem the individual as being disqualified from receiving benefits – at least for a certain period of time.
What is Supplemental Insurance and What Does It Cover?
Medicare supplement insurance plans are a type of insurance coverage supplemental to what Medicare covers. This type of coverage can pay for some – or in some cases, all of the copayments and/or deductibles so that the enrollee does not need to pay such expenses out-of-pocket.
Medigap insurance is specifically designed to supplement Medicare’s benefits, and it is regulated by both federal and state law. A Medigap policy must be clearly identified as being Medicare Supplement insurance, and it must provide benefits that help to fill in the gaps in Medicare’s coverage.
Although the benefits are identical for all supplement plans of the same letter (i.e., all Plan A policies offer the same coverage options), the premiums may vary from one insurance carrier to another, as well as from one geographic area to another. There are even three states that do not use the letter system, but have different ways of designating their plans.
What is Medicare Advantage and How Does It Work?
A Medicare Advantage (MA) plan, similar to an HMO or PPO, is type of Medicare plan available to those who are eligible for “Original Medicare”, or Parts A and B. This option is also referred to as Part C. These plans are actually offered by private insurance companies approved by Medicare.
When an individual joins a MA Plan, Medicare pays a fixed amount of their premium every month to the companies that offer these plans. These companies are required to follow strict rules on coverage.
Each of the Advantage Plans are allowed to charge different out-of-pocket costs, and they may also have different rules as to how enrollees can receive their services. For example, some plans may require participants get a referral before going to a specialist. And, these rules may change every year.
MA Plans also have an annual cap on how much participants will pay for their Part A and Part B services throughout the year. This annual, maximum out-of-pocket amount can differ from plan to plan. You can get a full understanding of how MA plans can be a benefit to you HERE.
How to Find the Best Coverage
When seeking Supplemental or Advantage coverage, it is best to work with a company that has access to more than just one insurer.
That way, you can obtain information on numerous different benefits and quotes to see what your options are and what benefits are available to you.
When you’re ready to begin the process, you can use the form on this page and a top independent agent will work with you to get the best policy at the best rates.
When it comes to our health, it is essential to obtain the best quality care possible. For some, employer sponsored health insurance coverage is an option for this. But for others, it is necessary to go out into the market and shop for either an individual or a family health insurance plan.
Because there are many options to choose from, it can be difficult. Therefore, it is important to have a good understanding of how health insurance works, and which options are available to you.
Then, you can determine which may be the best choice for you. We understand that any type of insurance purchase, from finding the best car insurance companies, best life insurance companies, or companies that offer burial insurance for seniors, can be a daunting task, that is why we are here to help you!
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Types of Health Insurance Plans
In its most basic sense, individual health insurance coverage is the alternative to purchasing via one’s employer on a group basis and can be purchased on either an individual or a family basis.
With an individual policy, the individual who is insured is fully responsible for paying the policy’s premiums. Therefore, if the person stops paying, the coverage will typically lapse (following a grace period).
There are several forms that individual health insurance can take:
Fee For Service / Indemnity Plans
HMO (Health Maintenance Organization)
PPO (Preferred Provider Organization)
Fee For Service Plans
A fee for service plan – also referred to as an indemnity plan – is a type of policy where the insured individual pays a predetermined percent of the cost of his or her health care services, and the insurance provider pays the remaining amount.
With this type of coverage, the insurance company does not have any type of contractual agreement with medical providers or hospitals, nor does the insurance company have a “network” of providers that the insured must use in order to obtain benefits.
Understanding HMOs and PPOs
Managed care plans are a different way to obtain health insurance services. These types of plans are able to contain costs by taking certain measures. One way of doing so involves controlling the behavior of the plan participants. This refers to both the members that are covered by the plan, as well as to the medical service providers.
A managed care plan will typically have the following basic characteristics:
Controlled access to providers
Case management
Preventive care
Risk sharing with the providers of the services
High quality of care
Some types of managed care plans include Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) and Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs). These plans may also be self-funded, dual choice, or indemnity.
Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)
A health maintenance organization, also referred to as an HMO, is a type of prepaid group health insurance plan that entitles its members to services of participating physicians, hospitals, clinics, and other types of health care providers. The emphasis in an HMO is on preventive care. In an HMO, the members are required to use contracted health care providers that are listed within a certain “network” of providers.
Health Maintenance Organizations represent what is known as “pre-paid” or “capitated” insurance plans in which individuals or their employers pay a fixed monthly fee for services, instead of a separate charge for each visit or service.
The monthly fees will typically remain the same, regardless of the types or levels of services that are provided. The health care services that are provided through an HMO are provided by physicians who are employed by, or under contract with, the HMO. HMOs can vary in design. Depending on the type of HMO, the services may be provided in a central facility or in a physician’s office.
Health Maintenance Organizations are the oldest form of managed care. They were created in the 1980’s as an alternative to indemnity insurance. HMOs are highlighted by their focus on preventive care and efficiency measures. And, HMOs usually offer lower rates on health care services than fee for service type of plans.
Although there are many variations of HMOs, these plans overall will typically allow members to have lower out-of-pocket health care expenses. However, HMOs may offer less flexibility in the choice of physicians or hospitals than other types of health insurance plans. With an HMO, individuals will likely have coverage for a broader range of preventive health care services than they would with another type of plan.
In addition, with an HMO, an individual typically won’t have to submit any of their own claims to the insurance company. It is important to keep in mind, though, that an individual will likely have no coverage at all for services that are rendered by non-network providers or for services that have been rendered without a proper referral from their primary care physician.
Because HMOs focus on preventative care, they seek to reduce health care costs by identifying and treating illness early on, before it becomes a more serious and costly situation. HMO plans usually do a good job of covering routine checkups and vaccinations. In addition, they frequently offer general well-being incentives such as smoking cessation or weight loss programs.
The HMO functions as a health care network. Aside from emergencies, a Primary Care Physician (PCP) serves as the primary and initial point of contact for all health concerns. The Primary Care Physician is oftentimes referred to as being a “gatekeeper.”
The PCP then refers participants to appropriate specialists if they are needed. If an HMO member opts to go to a doctor or hospital that is outside of the HMO network of care providers, they will have to pay the fees on their own. The intent of having a primary care physician is to prevent unnecessary doctor visits, thus saving money for the HMO.
With HMOs, premiums are typically required to be paid monthly. Since HMOs are considered pre-paid health care, participants usually won’t have to pay a deductible, although the plans do vary.
When a person visits a doctor, goes to the hospital, gets a prescription or receives other health services, they will have to make a small co-payment that will typically range from $10-$25 in most cases.
Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)
A preferred provider organization, or PPO, is a network of medical providers who charge on a fee-for-service basis, but that are paid on a negotiated, discounted fee schedule. As a member of a PPO, individuals will be encouraged to use the insurance company’s network of participating doctors and hospitals.
These providers have been contracted to provide services to the plan’s members at a discounted rate. Individuals in a PPO won’t be required to pick a primary care physician and they will typically be able to see doctors and specialists within the network at their own discretion.
The members of a PPO will likely have an annual deductible to pay before the insurance company begins paying their claims in the PPO. Once the deductible has been met, PPO participants will be required to make a co-payment for most doctor visits. Some PPO plans may also require that participants cover a percentage of the total charges for their services that have been rendered.
With a PPO plan, services rendered by an out-of-network physician are typically covered – but at a lower percentage than services that are rendered by a network physician. Seeing an out-of-network provider, then, can become costly.
For example, if an individual visits an out-of-network provider for services that total $500, the PPO plan may cover the charge at only 60% of the amount that a network provider would charge for the same service. If a network doctor would accept $250 as payment in full, this means that the insurance company would pay only $150, and the remaining $350 would come out of the PPO member’s pocket. Additionally, if a person sees a provider outside of the plan’s network, he or she may have to pay the charges up front and then submit their own claim for reimbursement.
PPO plans do offer more flexibility in choosing providers than do HMOs. For example, they do not require an individual to maintain a primary care physician, nor do they require them to use a primary doctor as a gatekeeper to other care. This means that a participant in a PPO can seek care from a specialist without having to first get a referral.
While it is easy to confuse HMOs and PPOs, there are some key differences. For example, PPOs utilize a networking method similar to HMOs, but with a much larger network, and a smaller monetary penalty for seeking care outside the network. As long as the provider is part of the network, the benefits are the same. In addition, in a PPO, the participants are free to use any provider that they choose, but they will likely have to pay more for it.
Point of Service (POS)
A point of service plan (POS) combines the formulas that are used by HMOs and PPOs. Like an HMO, a primary care physician must refer a person to an in-network specialist. When receiving care from a provider that is within the network, the patient is responsible for a small co-payment, but there is no deductible.
When a participant goes outside of their network, a POS plan acts more like a PPO. A POS plan will allow a person to self-refer outside of the network. In this scenario, the participant must first pay the deductible, then a co-insurance amount. In this way, the POS plan offers a strong financial incentive to remain within the network, however, it does not forbid it the way that an HMO would.
Other Ways to Pay for Services
Throughout the years, there have been other ways created to pay for health care services that are not covered by health insurance coverage, but that work in conjunction with health insurance policies. Some examples include Medical Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts.
Medical Savings Accounts (MSAs)
Medical Savings Accounts (MSAs) were typically combined with a high deductible medical insurance policy. The MSA offers a way to save money on a tax-deferred basis whereby funds in the account can be withdrawn tax-free and used for paying qualified health care expenses that are not covered by the health insurance plan. Withdrawals from an MSA can also be used towards paying the deductible expenses on the employee’s health plan in a given year.
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), also referred to as flexible spending arrangements, are a type of tax-advantaged financial account that can be set up through a cafeteria plan in the United States, much like a Health Savings Account, or HSA.
An FSA can be set up by an employer for an employee. The account allows the employee to contribute a portion of their regular earnings to pay for qualified expenses such as medical care of dependent care costs.
One of the primary benefits of an FSA is the fact that the funds that are contributed to the account are deducted from the employee’s earnings before they are made subject to payroll taxes. Therefore, the contributions that are made to an FSA can substantially lower an employee’s annual income tax due. There are maximum dollar amount limits as to how much can be contributed to an FSA account each year.
How and Where to Get the Best Quotes
When obtaining health insurance quotes, it is usually best to work with a company that has access to more than just one insurer. This is because you will be able to get many competing quotes – oftentimes on very similar coverage.
If you’re ready to shop for top health insurance providers, you can get you all of the information that you need – directly from your computer. No need to meet in person with an insurance agent or to go through the hassle of the HealthCare.gov website. In order to get the process started, all you have to do is simply use the form on this page. You can get your quotes and speak with a health insurance specialist about your specific needs.