How to Obtain a Plan Outside of Open Enrollment
If you are without health insurance coverage, and don’t qualify for a special enrollment period, there are several options that can get you covered without breaking the bank.
If you do have coverage now, you should talk with an independent, licensed insurance Personal Benefits Manager to see how you can avoid unnecessary out-of-pocket expenses by adding alternative or additional coverage.
Colohealth offers a wide variety of alternative coverage options to get you insured between open enrollment periods, and to help you save on additional health costs like lab and imaging costs, prescriptions, and much more.
Outside Open Enrollment Coverage
If you missed open enrollment for Affordable Care Act (ACA) coverage, and don’t qualify for a special enrollment period, you still have options for immediate, affordable coverage. Options include health sharing programs, critical illness plans and accident plans.
Health Sharing Programs: A Lower Cost Option
A unique and affordable alternative to “traditional” insurance plans that are Affordable Care Act (ACA) compliant, Health Care Sharing Ministries (HCSMs) are proving to be an interesting option for those who are finding it difficult to afford the rising premiums associate with ACA plans. These plans are not insurance policies, but instead meet the costs of member’s medical expenses by sharing the bills across the entire membership. Monthly costs of these plans are around half of what ACA plan premiums are.
Critical Illness Plans
Critical Illness plans pay a cash amount up to $50,000 when you are diagnosed with a serious medical condition such as cancer, heart disease, stroke and others. These life-threatening illnesses can cost you thousands of dollars before meeting your major medical deductible, and can prevent you from being able to sustain your living expenses from loss of work and relocating for treatment.
Many of our Colohealth clients carry critical illness coverage to ensure they are prepared to meet the devastating costs of treating serious injury, neurological disorders or muscular disease.
Supplemental Accident Plans
Even with major medical insurance, you could be responsible for $1,000s before you even meet your deductible if you have an accident-related injury.
A low-cost supplemental accident plan is a valuable option to complement your major medical coverage, or use by itself between open enrollment periods. An accident plan can cover you for hospital, surgery or other treatment after an accident, with only a $100 deductible to satisfy, depending on the benefit you choose. A $2,500 benefit costs less than $30 per month, per individual.
Additional Benefits for Extra Savings
Your Colohealth Personal Benefits Manager can show you ways to save that you may not be aware of! You can save on health care costs you actually use. Visit our Additional Benefits page for our favorite discounts and low-cost benefits we use ourselves! Special Enrollment Periods
The Affordable Care Act includes special enrollment periods lasting for 60 days from a life-event that qualifies you to enroll in an ACA-qualified health plan outside of the regular open enrollment periods.
We’re Here to Help
Colohealth Personal Benefits Managers are backed by 25 years of health insurance expertise. Our independent, licensed Personal Benefits Managers work for you, not the insurance companies, to help you get great coverage while saving more of your money!
When you’re ready to enroll in an ACA-qualified health plan, remember to authorize us as your agent on the Connect for Health Colorado marketplace. We’re certified to help you before, during and after you shop on the exchange!
Health Insurance Instant Quote
HEALTH INSURANCE INFORMATION
- Plans approved and authorized under the Affordable Care Act
- Covers Pre-Existing conditions
- Low cost subsidized plans available to those earning
< 400% of the federal poverty level - Unlimited lifetime benefits
- Available during open enrollment (November 1 – January 15), or if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period
Healthshare Instant Quote
HEALTH COST-SHARING INFORMATION
- Not health insurance, but a way for like-minded individuals to share medical expenses
- Waiting periods on pre-existing conditions
- May exclude sharing for certain conditions or activities
- Enroll any time
- Much lower monthly cost than unsubsidized health insurance