The Affordable Care Act, or ACA, is the comprehensive health care reform law that allows people to buy their own health insurance plan if they aren’t provided one by their employer, Medicaid, Veterans Affairs, Medicare, or TRICARE. ACA plans are not short-term plans.
If eligible, these plans guarantee health coverage with no exclusions for preexisting conditions.
To enroll in an ACA plan, you must be a U.S. citizen, currently living in the U.S., without access to health insurance offered by your employer. You also cannot enroll in an ACA plan if you’re enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid.
There are two ways to buy an ACA plan: through the Exchange or outside the Exchange. Which one you choose depends on your personal needs and financial situation, but our licensed representatives can help you make the decision.
Buy Highmark through the Marketplace
These are Highmark plans that are bought through the federal or state government Marketplace, also called the Exchange. These plans offer extra savings to those who are eligible that can lower monthly premiums and out of-pocket costs.
Buy directly from Highmark
These plans are bought directly through Highmark and do not offer financial help. Additional plans may be available off the Exchange.
Health insurance is full of buzz words. That’s why we try to make health insurance simpler and easier to understand for our customers by simplifying how we talk about health insurance. Here are a few terms you’ll probably come across in your search for a plan.
Coinsurance
The percentage you may owe for certain covered services after reaching your deductible. For example, if your plan pays 80%, you pay 20%.
Claim
The request for payment that’s sent to your health insurance company after you receive covered care.
Copay
The set amount you pay for certain covered services, could be $20 for a doctor visitor $30 for a specialist.
Deductible
The set amount you pay for health services or drug costs before your plan starts paying.
Maximum Out-Of-Pocket
The most you’d pay for covered care. If you hit this amount, your plan pays 100% after that.
Premium
The monthly amount paid so you have coverage.
Provider
Whether it’s your primary doctor, a lab technician, or a physical therapist, the person or facility where you get care is referred to as a health care provider.
