Individual Health Insurance is coverage that you purchase for yourself or your family as opposed to obtaining it through an employer.

These insurance plans help pay for regular doctor checkups, long-term illness or injuries. Each plan offers different co-pays and annual out of pocket expenses.

There are two ways to obtain this type of insurance: An “exchange” or directly from a health care company.

Exchanges

An “exchange” is a health insurance marketplace made up of a number of organizations through which health insurance can be bought. In order to purchase through one of these organizations, certain income guidelines would have to be met.

If you would like to discuss how to use an exchange, we can help you select an insurance company and plan that will fit your needs.

Health Care Companies

If you do not qualify for income assistance, you can purchase an individual or family plan through health care companies such as, Kaiser Permanente, Health Net, Blue Shield or Blue Cross in California.

Because certain doctors, prescriptions and hospitals are included in each plan’s network, it is a good idea to have an agent like Collective Insurance Solutions help guide you in selecting a plan.

So, whether you decide to use an exchange or buy directly from a health care company, we will compare each company and its plan.

There is no additional cost in helping you decide which plan will work the best for you

This is the program that allows Californians to get brand-name health insurance under Obamacare (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act). It is the only California program offering subsidized Obamacare plans. The Exchange may also qualify individuals for extra discounts that reduce their cost for medical services.

All Californians can sign up for open enrollment which begins each fall and runs from November 1st to January 31st. Many other people may be eligible to sign up at any time during the year due to a life-changing event such as getting married, having a child or moving

Dental Plans typically cover preventative and basic dental. Benefits vary by plan. Regular checkups and cleanings now may prevent more serious and costly issues later. There are PPO, HMO and discount plans. We offer companies such as Delta Dental which offer a HMO plan with non-maximum out of pocket and no waiting period. Most PPO plans will with a waiting period for certain services and have a maximum out of pocket amount. It’s a good idea to consult an agent so we can see what services you are looking for to make sure they are included in your plan such as orthodontics.

Short term health insurance is an option that is meant to provide temporary coverage (less than three months) if someone does not have a long-term, ACA-compliant insurance plan (Obamacare). It covers accidents or major illnesses. This is different from the kind of comprehensive coverage available with ACA plans, which typically includes preventive care, physicals, immunizations, and sometimes dental or vision care.

• Short term health plans are non-renewable.

• Short term health plans do not cover pre-existing conditions and typically do not cover maternity, mental health or preventive care.

• Short term health plans may be denied for non-health reasons.

• Short term health plans also lack many other protections offered by the ACA-compliant plans.

Also called Hospitalization Insurance or Hospital Insurance, depending on the policy, this plan pays you benefits when you are confined to a hospital for planned or unplanned reasons.

Hospital insurance plans can help you fill gaps in your health coverage by providing cash to help cover deductibles, pharmacy prescriptions and other non-covered expenses that may arise from hospital stays and services.

This might be insurance for you to consider if your finances would be negatively impacted by a stay in a hospital.

If You Have Questions, We Have The Answers

Whether you’re already age 65, are approaching Medicare-eligibility, or you’re looking ahead to your future retirement, you very likely have questions about Medicare.

At Collective Insurance Solutions, we are your one-stop resource for Medicare and have answers to all of your questions like:

• Can I keep my doctor?
• Is a Medicare Advantage (Part C), Medicare Prescription Drug Program (Part D) or Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan right for me?
• What are the “parts” to Medicare?
• What prescriptions will be covered?
• What’s covered by “regular Medicare”?
• When can I enroll?
• When does my eligibility begin?
• Will I have deductibles?
• Will the plan cover me if I am traveling? What plans have a good quality rating?

Timing
Please keep in mind that timing is important. If you wait too long to enroll, there could be negative implications that can affect the cost of your Medicare and/or eligibility for Medicare coverage when you might need it the most.

Coverage
Plan ahead and take the time to find the coverage that is best suited to your personal, medical, and financial needs. If the challenge of finding the right plan seems a little overwhelming, you can take comfort in knowing free help is available from Collective Insurance Solutions.

Plan Options
There are several “parts” of Medicare with coverage for specific services or items:

Part A: Hospital Insurance

Part B: Medical Insurance that covers eligible health care expenses

Part C: Also known as Medicare Advantage Plans, is a health coverage option run by private insurance companies approved by and under contract with Medicare.       Includes Part A, Part B, and, usually, other coverage like prescription drugs. Plans may offer extra coverage, such as vision, hearing, dental, and/or health and wellness programs.

Part D: Helps cover the cost of prescription drugs and is available to everyone who is eligible for Medicare.

These plans may offer extra coverage, such as vision, hearing, dental, and/or health and wellness programs.

Vision Insurance is generally supplemental to other types of health insurance policies. This insurance helps offset the costs of routine checkups and vision correction wear that may be prescribed. Routine eye exams are a preventive measure for keeping your overall health and wellness. Your doctor can look for vision problems and signs of serious medical conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts, diabetes, and even cancer. We offer Vision Insurance plans and Vision Discount plans.