MIAMI, FL – November 2, 2016 – (HISPANICIZE WIRE) – Tuesday, November 1st, marks the start of open enrollment for those looking to enroll in a health insurance plan for 2017. With so many not knowing the difference between a premium, deductible, copay or coinsurance, this can be a frustrating time.
“For the average consumer, understanding the terminology and exactly how health insurance works is a little tricky. That’s why it’s important to work with a knowledgeable advisor,” says Yosmay Valdivia, CEO of Valdivia Insurance, a leading insurance agency that serves Florida and Texas consumers. “A lot of what I do is simply just educating my clients so that together we can find a health insurance plan that best suits their needs.”
Valdivia Insurance has put a lot of that education into the bite-size tips below, to help everyone know what to look for when purchasing a health insurance plan for their family during this open enrollment season.
1.A health plan’s monthly premium should not be the only factor you take into consideration when choosing a plan
Although the monthly price we pay for a health insurance plan must be affordable, you may want to pay more for a plan that has a lower deductible or lower out of pocket costs. Ideally, you want a deductible of zero, or as close to zero as possible. But of course, lower deductibles usually come at a higher monthly premium, so there exists a tradeoff. Most insurance companies offer different combinations of monthly premiums and deductibles; you have to find the right balance of premium and deductible that you are comfortable with.
2.Consider the health plan’s network of doctors and hospitals
When you choose a health insurance plan, make sure they have an ample amount of doctors and hospitals in their network. This is especially important with Obamacare plans. Many of the lower priced plans offered through Obamacare have lower monthly premiums because they have a small amount of doctors and hospitals on their network. This is not good for you, the consumer. The last thing you want is to need to see a specialist and find out your plan has only a handful available in your service area. You may have to wait a month or longer to see that specialist.
Again, with the case of the plan’s network of doctors and hospitals, there is a tradeoff. Usually, you have to pay a higher premium for a wider network, although that is not always the case.
3.Just because you are paying a higher monthly premium doesn’t necessarily mean you are getting a “better” insurance
Every health insurance plan offered through the Marketplace (Obamacare) has to offer, at a minimum, ten essential health benefits; including emergency services, hospitalization, ambulatory patient services, maternity and newborn care, prescription drugs, mental health services and addiction treatment, rehabilitative services and devices, laboratory services, preventive services, wellness services and chronic disease treatment, and pediatric services.
Therefore, no matter which Obamacare plan you choose, you are guaranteed these services and most health plans don’t offer any other benefits beyond these.
4.Work with an independent advisor that has experience, knows your market and knows what they are talking about
Finding the right agent to work with is very important because they can help you understand exactly what you are buying and help you understand the full benefits and risks of your choice. When looking for an agent, ask your family or friends for a referral or work with reputable advisors like those from Valdivia Insurance..
5. Do not procrastinate
Open enrollment is the time during the year when you are free to enroll in or change your health insurance plan. This year, open enrollment is from November 1st, 2016, through January 31st, 2017. If you do not enroll in a plan during this time you may have to wait until next year unless, you qualify for a special enrollment period.
About Valdivia Insurance
Valdivia Insurance is an independent insurance agency serving communities in Florida and Texas since 2014. Our focus is to match our clients with the health insurance plan best fit to meet their needs while providing a superior customer experience.
Since Valdivia Insurance is an independent health insurance agency, we can offer our clients a wide array of Obamacare and Medicare health insurance plans from the nation’s leading health insurance carriers, including; Molina Healthcare, United Healthcare, Medica Healthcare, Preferred Care Partners, Aetna, Coventry Healthcare, Simply Healthcare, Ambetter, CarePlus, Cigna, Humana, Leon Medical Centers Health Plans, Wellcare Health Plans and more.
For more information, please visit www.valdiviainsurance.com.