How to Find Affordable Health Insurance Through the Marketplace

Whether you’re self-employed, don’t have insurance at work or are retired but not yet eligible for Medicare, there are affordable health insurance options for you right now.

Having health insurance means that, if a medical emergency comes up, or if you need to visit your doctor for a routine checkup, you’ll be covered.

“If you don’t have medical insurance, you can be faced with large bills for medical care,” explains Dan Schultz, manager of individual sales at Geisinger Health Plan. “That’s why having coverage matters.”

Here’s how you can find an affordable health insurance plan on a fixed budget.

Buying health insurance: How and when?

You may not have access to insurance for many reasons, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have options.

“A lot of people who don’t have medical coverage avoid getting care when they need it,” says Schultz. “But options for affordable coverage are available, so no one has to compromise on their health.”

You may need to buy individual health insurance if you:

Are self-employed
Work for a company that doesn’t offer health insurance
Are retired but are not yet eligible for Medicare (retired before you turn 65, for example)

If you’ve found that you need to buy your own health insurance, an annual period called open enrollment runs from Nov. 1 through Jan. 15. During this time, you can shop for health insurance.

Some special circumstances and life changes may also allow you to enroll or buy health insurance outside the annual Open Enrollment Period. “Some of these circumstances include getting married and losing previous health insurance,” says Schultz. “In this case, you would qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.”

Worried about the cost of individual health insurance? Good news: Programs exist to help you keep your costs low.

What is the Affordable Care Act?

When you enroll in individual health insurance for yourself or your family, you can find out if you qualify for subsidies or assistance. This can help you find affordable health insurance for you and your family through the Affordable Care Act.

The Affordable Care Act, also known as the ACA, offers subsidies that help people gain access to high quality and affordable health insurance. It’s based on household income and the number of people who live in the home.

“If your income is more than 100% of the federal poverty level (FPL) or under 400% of the FPL, you may be eligible for financial help for premiums,” says Schultz. “In some cases, this can even help cover out-of-pocket costs.”

Finding affordable coverage

Regardless of your healthcare and financial needs, options are available to keep you and your family covered.

“Take Geisinger Health Plan, for example,” says Schultz. “We offer 20 different plans, so you can find one that fits your needs and your budget.”

Whether you’re seeking individual health coverage on a budget or want to know if you qualify for a tax credit or subsidies, Geisinger Health Plan’s advisors can help.

Call a Geisinger Health Plan representative today at 800-918-5154 or explore our health insurance options online.