The basics of health insurance | Independence Blue Cross (IBX)

how to buy private insurance

If you are not covered by your employer or are not eligible for financial assistance through a state-funded program, you may need to purchase private insurance for an individual or family through a health insurance provider. private health, such as the blue cross of independence. .

you may be able to buy a plan on the pennsylvania insurance exchange (pennietm), which replaced healthcare.gov.

Start by finding out what private health insurance companies are available in your area. Independence Blue Cross serves the Philadelphia and southeastern Pennsylvania regions (ie, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties). find out if independence private health insurance plans are available in your zip code.

Shopping for private health insurance is much easier when you know what questions to ask. When it comes to health coverage, everyone has different needs and preferences. we can help you figure out what type of plan you want, how to balance cost and coverage, and what other benefits to consider.

how do I choose the right plan?

Understanding the features of a health plan can help you choose the right plan. there are two factors to consider:

choice/flexibility

Is it important to you to be able to see doctors outside the network or without referrals? If so, you may want to look into PPO plans. if it’s not a top priority, you may want an hmo plan: you’ll choose a primary care doctor to coordinate your care and get a network of providers to choose from.

affordability

Are you trying to save money on health care costs? If so, opt for a plan with a higher deductible that can be used with a health savings account to save money tax-free for qualified medical expenses. our personal choice epo booking plan is a prime example. or look for a plan with a tiered network like our keystone hmo proactive plans. You’ll save money when you visit certain doctors and hospitals. this works best if your providers are already in the lowest cost tier or if you don’t mind switching. Finally, be sure to choose a plan with additional cost-saving benefits. explore all the exclusive member programs, services, discounts and offers our plans offer.

This video walks you through some of the basic questions to explore when choosing a plan.

gold, silver, bronze or catastrophic coverage

The best way to shop for health insurance is to better understand the individual and family plans available. The Affordable Care Act requires all plans to be organized by the level of coverage they offer. There is also a catastrophic coverage plan available for people under the age of 30 or those who qualify for a special exemption. All plans cover the same essential health benefits – the difference is what you pay in monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs when you need care.

The chart below helps you decide which type of health plan is best for you, based on how much you’re willing to pay for your premium each month and the cost you’ll pay when you get care. for example, a gold health plan may be better for you if you use a lot of health care services, can pay more in monthly premiums, and want to pay less when you get care.

Don’t forget you may be eligible for a tax credit (subsidy) to help pay your health insurance premium, out-of-pocket costs, or both. check out our tax credit (subsidy) calculator to see if you may be eligible.

hmo, ppo and other types of plans

We offer five main types of plans: HMO, PPO, EPO, HMO Proactive with a tiered network, and EPO Reserve with a Health Savings Account (HSA).

all independence plans offer you the widest choice of quality care in the region, with more than 49,000 doctors and 180 hospitals to choose from. PPO plans are great if you want a little more freedom and flexibility, while HMO plans can offer you a lower premium since you choose a primary care physician (PCP) to coordinate your care and refer you to specialists.

The following chart shows the key differences between the types of health plans: