Were you aware that you can get healthcare insurance outside of the ACA healthcare marketplace? One of the more popular routes people go through is an insurance agent or broker. Through them you can get assistance in finding the right plan to suits your needs, like short-term medical, accident, critical illness, or telemedicine. If going through an agent or broker does not appeal to you, or perhaps you are religious, you can opt to join a health sharing organization such as Samaritan or Christian Healthcare Ministries.
Sometimes finding the right insurance can be overwhelming. There are so many options to choose from and how can you be certain, when you find one, that there isn’t something better out there that you’re missing? Agents and brokers are out there to offer the help you need in getting what you want from your insurance. They will want you to know that there are many options outside of the ACA healthcare marketplace that you can choose, creating the right package for you.
Accident Plans
A health insurance plan may not cover all your medical expenses if you are injured. Deductibles and co-insurance out-of-pocket expenses can be significant depending on the type of major medical plan you have. But you may also have additional expenses to consider, such as transportation, lodging, or lost wages. With an accident plan you can select numbers of different benefit levels, these benefits are paid directly to you in the event of accidental injury. Since the benefits are paid directly to you, you can decide how best to utilize those funds, whether you put it towards your deductible and co-insurance, or if you need to use the money to help with your mortgage bill, utilities, or groceries. For more information regarding accident plans, visit resources.ehealthinsurance.com.
Critical Illness Plans
Thanks to medical diagnostic procedures and progressive treatments, your chances of surviving a critical illness are better than ever. But few of us are prepared for the financial burden of recovery. Health insurance alone doesn’t come close to covering all the expenses. How would you supplement your lost income and pay your mortgage if you were critically ill? What would you do about wages given up by your spouse to provide care for you? What if you couldn’t return to your present job and salary? Luckily many insurance companies today offer critical illness plans to cover you in such a situation. A critical illness plan would offer you a lump sum benefit at the first diagnosis of several illnesses such as cancer, heart attack, or stroke. If you are interesting in knowing exactly what a criticall illness plan will cover, please visit www.criticalillnessinsuranceinfo.org.
Short Term Medical
Are you currently between jobs or waiting for employer benefits, a temporary or seasonal employee, or seeking a less expensive alternative to COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985)? Short-Term medical insurance will protect you and your family for up to 6 months. Coverage can start the day after you apply and you can keep your own doctors. Keep in mind that because short-term medical plans are temporary that they do not meet the minimum essential coverage requirements under the ACA and should only be used during unexpected coverage gaps.
Telemedicine
Only 50 years ago, Telemedicine first made its debut and since then it has made drastic leaps and bounds to be an asset to hospitals, homes, private 
physician offices, and other healthcare facilities. Telemedicine offers 24/7 access to medical care and an on-call doctor with some plans even providing larger health care centers with extra clinical staff and specialists for outsourcing of special cases. With Telemedicine, physicians can treat their patients remotely via video-chat creating more accessibility to those in remote locations, and with plans starting as low as $10 a month, it’s an especially affordable alternative. For additional information on Telemedicine you can visit www.telemedicine.com.
Sharing Ministry
The last option for opting out of ACA insurance is to become a part of a healthcare sharing ministry. A health care sharing ministry is an organization that facilitates sharing of health care costs between individual members who have common ethical or religious beliefs in the United States. A health care sharing ministry does not use actuaries, does not accept risk or make guarantees, and does not purchase reinsurance polices on behalf of its members. Most ministries are oriented toward practicing Christians, with restrictions like abstaining from sex outside of marriage, excessive drinking, tobacco, and illegal drugs. They usually require members to make a statement of belief as well. For instance, Samaritan Ministries requires a statement of Christian faith including belief in the triune God and divinity of Jesus; Liberty HealthShare is more inclusive, accepting members with a wide variety of religious and ethical beliefs. All such ministries require that members subscribe to the ethical principles of individually responsibility for health, and helping others in need. For a list of Ministries, click here.
Brokers and agents are available to help you find the options that are right for you, whether it’s an accident, critical illness, or telemedicine insurance plans. If you’re not satisfied with what the ACA offers, become familiar with your options. Stay informed and get covered!
