How to Pick an Insurance Plan During Open Enrollment
For many South Carolinians, open enrollment starts next month. That means it is time to think about health insurance for next year.
It can be overwhelming picking the right health care plan. The team at BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina can help you navigate the options.
What to know
Under the Affordable Care Act — which is sometimes called ACA, PPACA or “Obamacare” — individuals can purchase health insurance with federal subsidies or premium tax credits that will lower the cost of the plan for households with incomes between 100 percent and 400 percent of the federal poverty level.
Who is eligible
Some people get insurance from their employer. The health insurance marketplace is for those who do not have coverage from an employer, or through Medicare or Medicaid.
When to enroll
Open enrollment runs from Nov. 1 – Dec. 15 this year. Plans sold during this time will go into effect Jan. 1, 2020.
After Dec. 15, you can enroll in 2020 health insurance only if you qualify for a special enrollment period, also known as an SEP. This includes life changes such as losing health coverage, moving, getting married, having a baby or adopting a child.
Oct. 24, 2019
Where to go
Individuals can stop by one of our retail stores in Columbia, Greenville or Mt. Pleasant, or visit the mobile enrollment center on the road across South Carolina to talk with an expert.
These experts can walk you through individual plan options — the premiums, the deductible and the copays — and how each plan would cover you.
“We take our time to dive into every detail,” says Abbie White, retail assistant manager at the Columbia store. “We are good at listening to each person’s needs to narrow down the options.”
The mobile enrollment center can be found across the state during open enrollment for anyone who cannot get to a retail store.
How to get help
There’s a lot of information on the internet. It can be easy to feel lost or have a lot of questions. That is why visiting a person face to face at the retail store or the mobile enrollment center is useful.
“The best advice I can give someone is to come see us. We are extensively trained and specialize in selling BlueCross products, so we are the experts. We know the plans inside and out. We also can explain the value that comes with choosing BlueCross and the tools that are needed to manage their health,” White says.
Open enrollment tends to be the busiest time at the retail stores, so appointments are highly encouraged, but people can walk in as well. The wait may be longer for walk-ins.
Why choose BlueCross
BlueCross has earned the trust of South Carolinians for more than 72 years. The company is the only ACA health insurance provider to offer coverage in every South Carolina county since 2016. BlueCross has an A+ Superior rating by A.M. Best for 17 consecutive years. BlueCross also have superior customer service with 95 percent of customer inquiries being resolved within 24 hours. The team at the retail centers can help individuals get the maximum financial assistance available.
Know the Lingo
The lingo used in health care insurance can be confusing. Get to know the language used with these helpful videos:
What are benefits?
This term refers to everything covered by your health insurance.
What is deductible?
The amount you pay toward costs of covered health care services each year before your health insurance begins to pay its part.
What is coinsurance?
This is the percentage you pay when you and your health insurance split the bill for a health care service.
What is a network?
These are the doctors, hospitals and other providers and facilities that work with your health plan.
