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For anyone with a family, health insurance can be one of the biggest monthly bills you’ll have to deal with. It’s no surprise, then, that health insurance costs have been steadily increasing over the years—a trend that shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. While you can’t exactly choose your family’s medical needs, there are some steps you can take to make sure you’re not paying too much for coverage—and perhaps saving money in the process!

Health insurance can be confusing, but the right plan can save you money and help you stay healthy. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your health insurance.

 

How much does health insurance cost?

One of the most expensive things in life is healthcare. Healthcare should be a right, but America has made it a privilege. This is why it's important that everyone have access to quality health insurance.

The cost of health insurance varies by plan and also depends on your age, where you live, and whether you smoke or not.

It's important to shop around for the best coverage for your needs and budget so you don't end up paying too much. Keep in mind that cheaper plans might not offer as many benefits as more expensive plans. When comparing plans, make sure to compare premiums (cost of monthly premiums), deductibles (the amount you must pay before your plan will cover anything), co-pays (a fixed dollar amount paid when you receive a service), and coinsurance rates (a percentage paid when receiving medical services).

In order to get affordable health care, do some research and find out what is available in your state. If you don't know how to go about this task, there are plenty of free resources online like Planned Parenthood or other nonprofit organizations which can provide information about affordable options for individual states.

 

How can you save money on your health insurance?

1. Get a high deductible health plan. A higher deductible means that you'll pay a bigger chunk of your medical expenses out-of-pocket, but it will also mean lower monthly premiums and less money spent on healthcare in general.

2. Raise your deductible as high as possible or go with a plan that has no deductible at all. This is the most effective way to save on monthly premiums, which are the same for everyone regardless of whether they have a $1,000 or $5,000 deductible.

3. Consider buying health insurance through an association like AAA or AARP instead of going through an agent or broker who can charge more in commissions and fees than they would if they sold you their own company's product.

 

What do I need to know about Obamacare?

If you're not sure what your options are for healthcare coverage, we can help.

Here's what you need to know about health insurance:

-Some people qualify for Medicaid or CHIP and don't have a choice of plans.

-There are four different levels of bronze, silver, gold and platinum plans. Bronze plans cover the most in terms of procedures but charge the lowest premiums. Platinum covers the least amount of procedures and charges the highest premiums.

-You must choose either a plan with no deductible or one that has an annual deductible (you pay this before your insurance kicks in).

-Deductibles can range from $0-$2,000.

 

How do I choose a health insurance plan?

There are many factors that can affect your health insurance coverage. First, you should decide if you want a private or public health insurance plan. Private plans might be more expensive, but they provide a wider range of benefits and have no limits on the amount you can pay for your coverage. Public plans are cheaper, but may not cover as much and may have annual or lifetime limits. The next step is to figure out how much coverage you need.

If you're healthy, you might be able to get by with just major medical coverage and save money in the process. Other people might need comprehensive coverage for things like prescription drugs or mental healthcare which will cost more per month than major medical alone.

 

What will be covered by my plan?

The Affordable Care Act requires most Americans who are not covered by a qualifying government program or large employer coverage plan to have health insurance. If you don't have insurance, you may be subject to a tax penalty of 2.5% of your household income or $695 per adult ($347.50 per child), whichever is higher.

Health insurance can help protect you from high medical bills and give you peace of mind that there's someone on your side in case something unexpected happens.

If you're buying individual coverage, make sure your plan covers the things that matter most to you—your prescriptions, hospital visits, doctor visits, and more. If you need help choosing a plan that meets your needs, take our free comparison tool for a spin!

 

What if I have an emergency when I am abroad?

If you have health insurance, make sure that your plan includes coverage for medical emergencies abroad. If it does not, you will have to pay for the cost of medical care at the time of service. Alternatively, you may want to purchase supplemental travel health insurance through a company like CSA Travel Protection.

If a sudden illness or injury occurs while travelling outside the United States and your regular health insurance policy provides insufficient coverage, emergency medical evacuation services might be necessary and can cost tens of thousands of dollars. With CSA Travel Protection's Emergency Medical Evacuation Coverage, we'll provide up to $100 million USD in emergency medical evacuation benefits when needed.

 

It’s no secret that health care in the United States can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to cost you thousands of dollars just to get coverage. These health insurance tips can help you save money and pay less so that more of your healthcare costs are covered!