If you used to be covered by Medicaid or Medi-Cal and your healthcare plan recently expired, you may wonder if you can find cheap health insurance in California. California affordable health insurance is available, but it can be intimidating to find a new plan if you’re not sure where to start. By exploring how health insurance works in California, you can find a plan that fits your budget and gets you the coverage you need.
Finding Affordable Health Insurance in California
It’s no secret that California can be an expensive place to live. If you’re on a budget, the last thing you need is expensive health premiums taking up your monthly budget. Luckily, there are several options for people who want to save on health care, even if they don’t qualify for California’s official Medicare program.
Remember, everyone in California is required to have health insurance. You will be penalized on your taxes if you are found to have opted out of health coverage the prior year.
Navigating Your Insurance Options Beyond Medi-Cal or Medicaid
When it comes to affordable coverage options, your mind might immediately go to Medicaid or Medi-Cal. You may wonder about the difference between Medi-Cal and Medicaid, but they actually refer to the same program. Medi-Cal is simply the name for California’s Medicaid system. But if you don’t qualify or your eligibility recently ended, you do have other options for Medicaid alternative insurance.
You can purchase insurance on the healthcare marketplace, which is designed to support people who aren’t eligible for state-sponsored insurance. These plans are regulated by the government, which means they all meet certain minimum coverage standards to ensure you can get the care you need. If your employer offers health coverage, you may also be able to set up a plan through your job.
Understanding the California Healthcare Market
California’s private health insurance marketplace is known as Covered California. The Covered California website was established after the launch of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and provides a convenient place for Californians to look for ACA-compliant plans. When shopping for coverage, you’ll find three main categories of policies:
- Bronze: Bronze plans have low monthly premiums but may have higher out-of-pocket costs. These policies are ideal if you need a basic level of health insurance but don’t expect to have high medical expenses.
- Silver: Silver policies provide a middle ground for your premiums and out-of-pocket costs. You’ll pay a bit more on a monthly basis, but you’ll also get more coverage if you need care.
- Gold: With a Gold plan, you get access to the highest level of coverage available. You’ll likely have low out-of-pocket costs, and your co-pays for doctor visits will also be low. However, the monthly premium will be more expensive than other options.
Even if you aren’t eligible for state assistance through Medi-Cal, as somewhat of a Medi-Cal alternative insurance, you may still be able to get a discount on your Covered California plan. Under the ACA, certain lower-income individuals can qualify for a premium tax credit toward their insurance. The discount you can get is on a sliding scale, so the less you make, the more the government will discount your plan.
When you sign up, Covered California will estimate your credit based on your income, and you can choose to apply some or all of that amount toward your premium. For example, if you’re eligible for up to $200 per month in tax credits, and your premium is $250, you could pay as little as $50. Or, if you decide to pay your full premium, you could get the unused credit added to your tax return.
Keep in mind that if you make more than your expected income but use the full tax credit, you may have to pay back some of the credit during tax season.
Cheap Health Insurance in California: Tips and Tricks
To make sure you get the best deal available, it’s a good idea to work with a knowledgeable broker or insurance company that can walk you through the process and answer common questions about health insurance. They’ll see what types of programs you qualify for and help you find the right plan.
If you’re not sure whether you need a Bronze, Silver, or Gold plan, start by looking at your average healthcare costs in previous years. This can help you determine what deductibles, premiums, and out-of-pocket maximums make the most sense for both your budget and your healthcare needs.
Common Healthcare Mistakes and How To Avoid Them
Signing up for health insurance on your own can feel complicated, but here are some common missteps to look out for and ways you can keep healthcare costs low by overcoming them:
- Letting your coverage lapse: Make sure you know the deadlines for signing up for a policy. There will be an open enrollment period in California where anyone can sign up, and you’ll also have a grace period to register for a new plan after certain qualifying events, such as losing your previous coverage.
- Not checking network coverage: Check with each insurer to see if your providers are in-network. If you have a healthcare team you want to keep, it’s important to pick an insurance company that has them in-network to avoid surprise bills.
- Picking the wrong plan: Be realistic when choosing your coverage. Think about your overall health and your estimated use to find the right balance between monthly costs and out-of-pocket expenses.
The Future of Affordable Healthcare in California
Many lawmakers in California are constantly looking for new ways to ensure everyone has access to affordable treatment. For example, new laws may change annual price increase limits for healthcare providers and insurers to help keep prices as low as possible. Additionally, there is the potential for Medi-Cal to expand and offer coverage to more people. However, these changes can take a while to come into effect, so it’s important to find a plan that works for you now.
The Affordable Healthcare Solution for Californians
So, remember that even if you don’t qualify for Medi-Cal, there are ways you can secure affordable healthcare, including tax credits, employer-sponsored plans, and other options. At Freeway Insurance, you don’t have to be alone on your health insurance journey. You can get support from knowledgeable Freeway brokers every step of the way. They’ll determine if you’re eligible for Medicare, Medi-Cal, and other programs, then help you find options that work with your budget. You can talk to a Freeway agent in person at an office nearby, get an online quote, or call 800-777-5620 to start discussing your options.
