Assurant Health's Affordable Health Access - When Major Medical Insurance Isn't an Option

Unfortunately, many people cannot get approved for major medical health insurance due to concerns regarding pre-existing conditions/medical history or not fitting the height/weight requirements . While it is not ideal, a good limited benefit plan provides coverage that can be helpful with routine costs (like doctor visits) and some measure of help with most substantial financial expenses. As the name suggests, there are lower caps to claims, which is why major medical coverage is preferred. But these plans will help and are certainly better than nothing.

Assurant Health recently rolled out a limited benefit plan called Health Access, that has three different tiers of coverage. The lowest tier is a guaranteed-issue plan (meaning you cannot be declined) that is very inexpensive (often under $50/month. The second and third tiers have a couple of very limited and specific medical questions and provide a higher level of benefits. To learn more about Health Access and/or to get a free quote, contact AC Forrest.

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs): Resources for more info

United Healthcare has a useful and informative 4-minute web presentation on HSA-compatible plans (health savings account). The vast majority of the presentation is devoted to general concepts that help explain how HSA-compatible plans work and what the advantages are. There is, as you might expect, a brief plug for their particular company and policy. They have also compiled a lot of information on health savings accounts at www.HSAcenter.com.

United Healthcare is one of many health insurance companies that AC Forrest works with in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and other states. Contact us for a free consultation to see if an HSA-compatible plan is a good fit for you and your family.

Maternity Coverage

Are you planning on having children soon? Of course, we all know kids that weren’t planned! Is there a chance you could be having a child in the not-too-distant future? A normal vaginal delivery in a hospital could cost you $10-15k. Maternity coverage is included (by law) in all employer-sponsored group health insurance plans, but it is never a standard feature of an individual health insurance plan. Complications of pregnancy are covered in a good plan, but the routine expenses associated with maternity care won’t be covered, meaning the insurance company will not pay and you technically don’t have to receive provider network discounts, which can be very significant.

Many individual health insurance plans don’t even offer maternity coverage. Some do offer it as an option you can add to your policy (with added expense, of course). These individual maternity plans often include a waiting period before coverage starts, and often coverage graduates in over a period of time. Some of these plans are decent, and others aren’t typically worth what you pay.

In South Carolina, for example, there are really only 2-3 carriers that offer a decent individual maternity benefit option, and these are structured in completely different ways. Each has pros and cons. If you’re already pregnant (or an expectant father), you won’t be able to get individual insurance coverage at all actually. If you have it, you won’t be able to add maternity. The take-home point is this: If you want to be covered in the event of pregnancy, you need to take steps now.

If you’re looking for individual health insurance or are wanting to add maternity coverage, contact AC Forrest to discuss the options available and get a free, no-obligation quote.