Where do I start?
We are going to look at the process of How to apply for Health insurance in 2021. There are many factors that need to be taken into account when you go to look for health insurance.
Starting to apply for Health Insurance in 2021
The first thing someone needs to know when they go to apply is “Do I qualify?”. Someone can qualify one of two ways. The first way is to apply for health insurance during the Open Enrollment period every year. This occurs from November 1st to December 15th of every year. During this time you may select any health plan with any company with no health questions or any qualifying life event. When you apply, the policy will start on January 1st of the following year.
The second way to qualify for individual health insurance would be to have experienced a qualifying life event. You will then have 60 days after your life event to apply for coverage. Qualifying life events can be many things. A few examples of a qualifying event would be involuntary loss of coverage through your employer plan. Another example of a qualifying life event would be either getting married or having a baby. To learn more about qualifying life events you can see our article here.
HMO or PPO
Applying for health insurance in 2021 comes with choices. You can choose between an HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) or a PPO (Preferred Provider Organization). The biggest difference between the two is how easy it is to access a specialist. On an HMO plan, you must go to your primary care physician before you can see a specialist. Your primary will then give you a referral to a specialist. On a PPO plan, you are able to schedule an appointment with a specialist without having to see your primary.
Who can Help me?
This is a great way to get started applying for health insurance in 2021. The best thing to do is let an expert help you. You can contact a local broker at our office.
