SHARED HEALTH CARE PLANS

Known as Health Care Sharing Ministries (HCSM) are associations who share health care costs among their members. Often these ministries are non-profit religious or ethical groups. Members share the burdens of their group, resulting in lower prices for all concerned. There are no specific enrollment periods, and you can choose your own doctor.

These health care sharing members are not held to the directives of either Obamacare or Trumpcare, and not obligated to have insurance.

Are you interested in becoming part of a shared health plan? Click here to learn more. Here are some other options if a shared plan is not for you:

Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Plans

This flexible plan lets you use doctors, hospitals, and specialists outside of your network for an additional fee. With this plan, you don’t have to get a referral from your primary doctor to see a specialist. This allows you to be seen faster and not incur a primary care visit before you see the specialist.

Short Term Plans

“Temporary” plans allow you to continue health care coverage in the event of a job loss, etc. These plans can be very expensive and only last between 30 days and 12 months, covering mainly medical emergencies. Your pre-existing conditions are considered when applying for this, however you can usually get coverage within 24 hours.

Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) Plans

These plans are the most prevalent types of healthcare coverage. They usually consist of a large network of health care providers and specialists. You will be asked to pick a primary care physician (PCP) who oversees your care that you must receive a referral from to see any sort of specialists. HMOs often are limited to a service area, so you this prevents you from coverage from specialists in other cities. These plans focus on prevention and wellness, covering things like mammograms and yearly check-ups.