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Alabama Health Insurance

 

In Alabama there is not much regulation of health insurance companies so as a consumer it is very important for you to know you rights and also to understand the policies you are offered.

 

An Alabama Health Insurance Company can not cancel your coverage if you become sick.  This is called guaranteed renewable, and as long as you are current on your health insurance premiums, your coverage can not be cancelled.  Health plans also have to cover newborns for 31 days on their parent’s policy.

 

Alabama Health Insurance Companies can adjust your rates or deny coverage due to pre-existing conditions and your current health status. 

 

If you would like more information on Alabama Health Insurance Laws and Regulations please visit the Alabama Department of Insurance

 

                              Request an Alabama Health Insurance Quote

 

 

Alabama Individual Health Insurance

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Alabama does not side with the consumer relative to health insurance.  If you are buying an individual health insurance policy the insurance company is free to

increase your premiums, and or not even offer you a policy because of your health status.  Alabama is not a guaranteed issue state!

 

Pre-existing conditions are handled in one of two ways in Alabama.  One way is for there to be an elimination rider added to the policy stating that there will be no coverage given for the pre-existing condition.  Another way is for the insurance company to add a waiting period onto the policy.  The waiting period for coverage can not last more than 2 years.

 

Alabama does mandate some coverage’s for any insurance companies in the state.  Every health insurance policy must cover newborns, or adopted children, for the first 31 days on their parent’s health plan.  Once you have gotten coverage in Alabama, individual plans are guaranteed renewable, meaning you can not be cancelled due to heath.

 

Health Insurance Companies in Alabama can, and do, use your current and past health records to derive a rate to charge you for your health insurance

 

In Alabama, health insurance companies do not have to give you credit for having prior coverage, when you are applying for a individual health insurance policy.  Insurance companies also do not have to cover pregnancy because they consider it a pre-existing condition.

 

Alabama has a few great state funded plans to help make health insurance affordable for children: ALL KIDS, CHIP

 

Click here to get some additional information on getting an Individual Health Insurance Policy in Alabama.

 

                              Request an Alabama Individual Health Insurance Quote

 

 

Small Business Alabama Health Insurance

 

To get a health insurance plan, a small business must meet certain requirements relative to contributions and participation.  If these requirements are met, the group health plan must be sold on a guaranteed issue basis.

 

Small Business Health Insurance policies can not limit or deny coverage because of your health.

 

There are no pre-existing clauses for pregnancy on an Alabama group health plan.  If a group plan does have pre-existing clauses they must offer the employee credit for any credible coverage they had in the past.  Coverage counts if there are no gaps in your insurance coverage for more than 63 days.

 

Group plans in Alabama have certain enrollment periods, in which you can sign up as a full time employee to get coverage.  All new employees also must be given a special 30 day enrollment periods so they can get on the plan.  A reason for this could be marriage, end of old coverage, new hire.

 

There are many reasons for an Alabama Small Business to invest in a health insurance policy.  Some of which include; tax deduction, increase in employee moral, save on group rated health benefits instead of individual health benefits.

 

For additional information about Small Business Health Insurance in Alabama click here

 

                                Request an Alabama Small Business Health Insurance Quote

 

Self Employed Alabama Health Insurance

 

When looking for Health Insurance in Alabama, often self employed individuals will want a major medical type policy.  Since when you are self employed you pay 100% of your premiums, often it makes sense to have a lower premium/higher deductible and just pay for smaller routine visits out of pocket.  Now this obviously depends on your health and on your budget.  It is recommended to price out both Alabama HMO’s and Alabama Major Medical plans to see what makes the most sense for you, your family and your business.

 

In Alabama, self employed individuals are not treated as a small business, as they are in other states.  For this reason self employed people are not eligible for Alabama Group Health Insurance.  There for self employed people must apply as individuals and are governed by the same rules and regulations as an individual is in Alabama.

 

Another option for affordable Alabama Self Employed Health Insurance is often associations or self employed groups.  Just keep in mind that not all of these groups or associations are regulated by the state.

 

One benefit Alabama Self Employed people have is their health insurance premiums are 100% tax deductible!

 

If you would like some additional information about Self Employed Health Insurance in Alabama click here.

 

                              Request an Alabama Self Employed Health Insurance Quote

 

Temporary Alabama Health Insurance

 

Many situations may arise where you find yourself without health insurance, or about to be without health insurance.  These reasons could range from graduating college to being in-between jobs.  Instead of going without health insurance you should look into getting an Alabama Temporary Health Insurance Policy.  These policies will be cheap, with high deductibles and low coverage, but getting a Alabama Temporary Health Insurance Policy is much better than going with out health insurance.  It is important to note that in Alabama Temporary Insurance Policies are not guaranteed renewable.

 

If you would like more information on Temporary Health Insurance in Alabama click here.

 

                              Request an Alabama Temporary Health Insurance Quote

 

What types of Alabama Health Insurance are there?

 

HMO- Health Maintenance Organization.  This type of insurance is called managed care.  This means you have certain network of doctors and hospitals in Alabama that you have to go to for care.  Most Alabama HMO’s have office visit co-payments that range from $10 to $35, and hospital deductibles that range from $250 to $1,500.  Often the most affordable health insurance plans are HMO’s due to the fact they are managed care.

 

PPO-Preferred Provider Organization.  This type of insurance is also called managed care but it gives the consumer much more freedom; they allow you to visit any doctor or hospital in or out of network.  Most Alabama PPO’s have an in network and an out of network charge.  If the in network co-insurance is 100% then the out of network co-insurance would be 80%.  If the in network co-insurance is 90% then the out of network co-insurance would be 70%   Typically Alabama PPO’s offer co-payments for doctor visits as well as hospitalization. 

 

Indemnity Plan - In Alabama, as health insurance rates continue to rise, many people are finding it more affordable to drop their health insurance and buy a Alabama Major Medical Health Insurance Plan.  An Indemnity plan can also be called a major medical plan or catastrophic health insurance.  Whatever you call it, typically an Alabama Indemnity Plan would cover more “major” claims.  An Indemnity plan has an annual deductible and will usually allow you to pick different co-insurance options.  Indemnity plans allow you access to any doctor or hospital, and for this reason they are typically very expensive.

 

Discount Medical Plans – In recent years many Discount Medical Plans have started to surface.  These plans have relatively inexpensive, but consumers must realize that this is not insurance.  All these companies do is to get their customers discounted rates (20-50% off) on certain procedures at certain physicians and hospitals. 

 

Federal Mandated Health Insurance Laws

 

HIPAA

Along with Alabama Health Insurance Laws, there are Federal Laws that regulate Health Insurance companies.   HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996). This act mandated federal standards for individual and group health insurance plans.  Some of the standards that it established were relative to guaranteed renew ability, crediting for prior health coverage and pre-existing condition waiting periods.

 

ERISA

Large corporations do not have health insurance policies.  Typically they are self funded, meaning the corporation pays for all of their employee’s medical bills instead of buying health insurance.  Most of these “self funded” companies are regulated by the federal government under ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act)

 

COBRA

In Alabama it is mandated, by the state, that all companies that offer an Alabama Group Health Insurance Policy must also enable their employees to extend their health coverage temporarily; called Cobra.  An Alabama Cobra Insurance is typically available for a time period of 18 to 36 months.   In Alabama you are given 45 days to decide if you are going to take Alabama Cobra Insurance or not.  Once you have passed on the opportunity to take Cobra, you are not eligible to receive it.

 

Cobra Insurance was introduced in 1985.  Cobra stands for Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act.  If you would like more information about your Cobra Insurance options please contact your companies HR department.

 

Often employees are surprised at the cost of an Alabama Cobra Insurance.  The reason for this is that they are now responsible for 103% (100% of the premium plus a 3% administration fee) of a monthly health insurance premium when they probably only paid 20% while employed. 

 

Whether nor not to take Cobra is an important question, and you should realize there are alternatives to an Alabama Cobra Insurance Policy.  One should realize what they plan to do in the future.  If you are looking for another job, and it will be a few months before you get a job, it might make sense to look for an Alabama Temporary Health Insurance Plan.  If you are contemplating working at a consultant, it would be in your best interest to look into a Alabama Self Employed Health Insurance Policy.   

 

 

                           Request a Health Insurance Quote from one of QuicklyQuoteMe’s Agents

 

 

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