Pennsylvania Health Insurance

Affordable Pennsylvania Health Insurance Quotes

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In Pennsylvania, infants, young adults, and teenagers can obtain affordable health insurance coverage from more than a dozen reputable companies. With help from recent changes in legislation and policy upgrades, these plans guarantee major medical benefits along with many other comprehensive features. Marketplace plans with federal subsidies or non-Obamacare options are available.

We provide detailed information, reviews, and a simplified and easy enrollment process for all available Pa policies for young persons, along with expert and unbiased advice. Special policies are offered to students, single parents, and anyone that is no longer eligible to keep their existing plan. In certain circumstances, you can also remain on your parent’s plan if you are married (see below).

Coverage Under Parent’s Plan

If your parent’s private healthcare policy is active, federal law stipulates that you can  remain covered or enroll on that policy until you reach age 26. This could apply even if you are living at a different residence, married, or still have eligibility to enroll in your employer’s plan. Of course, at any time you can apply for your own individual policy. Although remaining on the policy is an option to consider, in many situations when a federal subsidy is available, enrolling for an individual plan may be a better choice.

If the policy is a qualified group plan through their employer, Pennsylvania legislation extends the age to 30, subject to specific requirements. Some of these requirements include: being unmarried, no children, living in the state or a full-time student, not eligible for other personal plans and not enrolled in CHIP or Medicaid.

Coverage Through The Pa Health Insurance Exchange (Marketplace)

The  Exchange is part of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and features many low-cost plans that require no medical underwriting with pre-existing conditions covered. Open Enrollment usually occurs in November and continues for three months. However, if you are dropped from an existing plan or meet other various criteria, you can purchase coverage at any time through an SEP (Special Enrollment Period). Exceptions include losing credible group (employer-provided) benefits, reaching age 26, moving to a different service area, and divorce.

The “catastrophic” option is the cheapest available policy for young persons. Unless you meet low-income (financial hardship) requirements, only applicants under age 30 can buy this specific plan. Prices are low because it is designed to cover major medical claims and places a deductible on most coverage. It is ideal for a healthy student that wants to minimize costs. However, only three office visits are included without having to meet a deductible. Therefore, children that tend to visit a doctor or specialist quite often, should not purchase plans in this tier. Also, not all carriers offer catastrophic contracts.

Catastrophic Plans Offered In Pennsylvania

UPMC Advantage Catastrophic $6,850/$0 (Partner, Select, and Premium Networks)

Keystone Healthy Benefits Value HMO 6850

Geisinger Health Plan marketplace Value

Highmark myBlue Access $6,850

Independence Blue Cross Personal Choice Catastrophic

Affordable Comprehensive Pa Healthcare Plans

Young working professionals may prefer a more comprehensive plan that still is budget-friendly. Pre-existing conditions are covered, including major illnesses, such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. We have listed  below several affordable options offered as Marketplace contracts. Prices shown are for  a single 26 year-old living in Allegheny County with income of $27,000. Although income is too high for federal subsidy qualification, prices are still fairly low. Rates shown are monthly:

$134 – UPMC Advantage Bronze $6,200/$35 – Copay on all pcp office visits.

$135 – Highmark Connect Blue EPO 5500 – Copays on all pcp and specialist visits.

$146 – UnitedHealthcare Compass 6500 – Copays on all pcp and specialist visits (lower specialist copay than previous plan).

$150 – UPMC Advantage Silver $3,250/$10 – Low $10 pcp office visit copay and deductible is only $3,250.

NOTE: Lower incomes will result in smaller premiums and higher subsidies. Depending on the level of the subsidy, a Silver-tier policy may be the best alternative, since “cost-sharing” can save thousands of dollars in deductible and coinsurance costs.

Marketplace Options If You Have Serious Medical Conditions

If there are serious medical conditions that require ongoing and/or expensive treatment, a more robust plan may be more appropriate. The “Platinum,” “Gold,” and “Silver” Metal plans provide much richer benefits with lower out of pocket costs. Although the premium is higher, because of the young age, rates will be fairly economical compared to someone 20 years older.

The Silver plans are the only policies that offer “cost-sharing,” if applicable. Lower deductibles, copays, and maximum out-of-pocket expenses are possible along with the Obamacare subsidy. This option is a perfect fit for a young adult leaving their parent’s plan with expensive pre-existing conditions, but very little income. Also, if current treatment consists of expensive non-generic drugs, a Platinum or Gold-tier plan will limit your out-of-pocket expenses.

For example, a 26 year-old living in Montgomery County, with an income of $18,000 per year, will qualify for a subsidy of more than $150 per month. Thus, several plans are available for under $100 per month, including the following options:

$24 – Keystone HMO Bronze – $50 and $100 office visit copays.

$27 – Aetna Leap Basic – $6,450 deductible and then 100% coverage.

$38 – UnitedHealthcare Bronze Compass $6500 – $45 and $100 office visit copays.

$63 – Keystone HMO Silver Proactive Value – $10 and $20 office visit copays with $4 generic drug copay. Low $500 deductible with cost-sharing.

$80 – Keystone HMO Silver Proactive – Similar to previous plan but with $0 deductible and higher maximum out-of-pocket expenses.

Pa Temporary Health Insurance

A “short-term” plan is a very affordable option that will minimize costs, and provide a policy that will cover you for up to 12 months (some policies may be only six months). It’s an ideal solution if you missed Open Enrollment or are not eligible for an SEP (Special Enrollment Event). And of course, if you forget to enroll, or suddenly realize you are without coverage, a short-term option may be one of the best available choices.

The Good: The price is right and it’s the most economical way to purchase healthcare coverage. For example, a 42 year-old male that lives in Allegheny County, can find rates as low as $47 per month (IHC Group – $5,000 deductible). UnitedHealthcare offers a higher-deductible option for $59 and  for $87, a $1,000 deductible is available. Additional carriers offer a $500 deductible option.

Approval  typically take less than 24 hours and depending on the company, you can also obtain instant coverage and receive a pre-approved ID number. Unlike the Marketplace application, which in the past, can take hours to complete, a short-term form takes about 15 minutes. It can be completed online (the easiest way), by fax or by mail. All policies can be terminated at any time upon written request. A small application fee (typically about $20) is often required.

The Bad: Perhaps “Bad” is a bit too harsh. Pre-existing conditions are not covered. Since Obamacare does not apply to these types of policies, carriers can exclude conditions and/or specific benefits. So although it would not impact  a new sickness or illness, a condition that you are being treated for, will not be included in benefits.

Currently, the tax for not purchasing the required Obamacare coverage, can be as much as 2.5% of your household income (increases each year). So although a temporary policy provides the coverage you need,  you may have to pay a small penalty. Of course, the combination of penalty and your premium is usually far less than expensive than a Marketplace plan without a full subsidy.

Pa Medicaid

Eligible low-income consumers can qualify for Medicaid and the accompanying healthcare benefits. Reimbursement for provided service is payed directly to physicians, hospitals or whomever is treating the patient. Dental and vision benefits are also included.

You can apply by phone, via email (an application is downloaded), through your county office, or through COMPASS, which is the national website for Medicaid enrollment. Eligibility is based on the combination of your household income and number of adults and dependents in the household. You can apply at any time since there are no Open Enrollment deadlines. Also, medical assistance is offered to workers with disabilities.

Coverage is excellent with lower deductibles and copays than most Exchange plans. Availability of physicians may be different than previous plans you have been covered on, so verifying your personal doctors and specialists participation is recommended. However, if you are treated for an emergency condition, and admitted to the ER or hospital, typically, your expenses are considered “in-network.”

Healthy Pa – Pennsylvania’s Medicaid Expansion

Healthy Pa is the state’s Medicaid reform program with a goal is to improve benefits and add financial stability. A combination of innovative changes and a private coverage option (PCO) is designed to add personal responsibility and create more employment in the state. Federal funding financed the entire cost of the expansion until 2017. At that time, the government began paying 95% of costs, with the percentage gradually dropping to 90% in 2020 and later years. Changed in household income that impact eligibility still must be reported.

Primary and specialty care is provided, drug and prescription benefits, and behavioral health coverage, which typically was not provided on individual plans prior to 2014. Family planning is also included and of course, pre-existing conditions are covered. Each year, however, your eligibility should be re-examined, especially if your household income substantially increased.

CHIP

CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) can also be considered in low-income households. It is designed to cover children and young adults that are presently not covered, and are not eligible for “Medical Assistance.” Routine physician visits and vaccinations are always covered, and availability of providers is high. This is extremely important since long waiting periods are common in other states. And also, there is no “waiting list.” Immigrants and grandparents may also be able to secure coverage.

The program is still available despite the creation of the Pa Health Insurance Marketplace. If you are currently not covered,  under the age of 19, and not eligible for assistance, you may qualify. In addition to the benefits previously mentioned, hospitalization (both inpatient and outpatient), dental and eye coverage is included. The networks are huge so availability of doctors (and specialists) will not be a problem.

If you are the legal guardian of your grandchildren, you also may be eligible. And just like Exchange plans, pre-existing conditions will be covered, not excluded. However, it is possible that some more serious conditions may be referred to Medical Assistance.

The companies that can provide CHIP are determined by the county that you live in. For example, listed below are participating CHIP carriers in some of the larger Pa counties:

Montgomery, Bucks, and Philadelphia – Aetna, Keystone Health Plan East (IBC), Kidz Partners and UnitedHealthcare.

Allegheny, Beaver, Lawrence, Westmoreland, Washington and Greene – Keystone Health Plan West, UnitedHealthcare and UPMC.

Dauphin, Lancaster, York and Adams – Aetna, Capital BlueCross, Geisinger, Highmark BS, UnitedHealthcare and UPMC.

Franklin, Berks, and Fulton – Aetna, Capital BlueCross, Geisinger and Highmark BS.

Bradford, Susquehanna, Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Sullivan – First Priority (BCNEPA), Geisinger and UnitedHealthcare.

Armstrong, Indiana and Clarion – Keystone Health Plan West, UnitedHealthcare and UPMC.

NOTE: It is possible (and fairly common) that when applying for Marketplace benefits, to retain the federal subsidy, dependents will have to enroll under the CHIP program while the parents maintain conventional coverage. For example, a family of four (40 year-old parents and two teenagers) living in Allegheny County with $35,000 of household income, will need to place kids in CHIP to keep  a $3,264 subsidy. Income of $60,000 does not qualify for a subsidy since both children would be CHIP-eligible.

Student Health Plans

If you’re a full-time or part-time student and are not covered under a parent or government-provided policy, it’s possible that the college or university you are attending, will offer an affordable plan. Typically, these policies are offered during the summer, and sometimes other times throughout the year, depending upon when you are enrolling for classes.

Most instate and out-of-state college medical plans are Affordable Care Act-compliant. So although there may be many benefits you don’t need (perhaps maternity), they will be covered. You also won’t have to qualify since they are “guarantee-issue” contracts and pre-existing conditions will not be excluded, unless that specific coverage is not included.

But what about the rates? We have listed below the approximate annual cost of student health plans at several of the most popular Pa  universities. Prices are for single (one person) policies. Adding a dependent or spouse will substantially increase the premium. The provider is also listed.

California State/Nationwide – $1,888

Drexel/Aetna – $1,901 and $2,631

Duquesne/Highmark BCBS – $1,767

Penn State/Aetna – $2,838

Pitt/UPMC – $2,460

Shippensburg/Nationwide – $1,888

Slippery Rock/Nationwide – $1,888

Temple/Keystone – $2,820 and $4,740

University Of Pennsylvania/Aetna – $3,140

Villanova/ UnitedHealthcare – $1,545

Student and young adult health insurance in Pennsylvania is very affordable and easy to apply for. It only takes a moment to compare multiple plans from the top-ranked companies in the industry.

UPDATES:

Medicaid eligibility is often the principal determinant  of whether a young person receives a large federal subsidy or must accept Medicaid coverage. For example, a 23 year-old with income of $18,000 will receive a subsidy of about $145 per month. Thus, several plans will be available at under $100 per month. And actually, there are several options offered at rates less than $50 per month.

However, if the income is only, accepting Medicaid or purchasing a more expensive unsubsidized policy are the only options. However, obtaining a denial from Medicaid could possible result in subsidy-eligibility.

More benefits will be provided to CHIP members so that coverage closely matches other Marketplace plans. Without the increase in benefits, some families may have been subject to the non-compliance tax penalty. Although rates will increase, the change is not expected to be significant.

Implementation of these changes will begin in December and will impact about 150,000 children. Some of the expanded benefits include 100% coverage for qualified preventative benefits (annual physicals, check-ups etc…), and increased coverage for hearing aids and dental procedures.

Student medical plans for the upcoming academic year will be available in a few months. Rates will increase for most school plans, and maximum out-of-pocket expenses and/or deductibles may also go up.