Health Insurance
Your Health Is One Of Your Most Valuable Assets
Your health is one of your most valuable assets. No amount of money can buy good health if chronic illness or injury strikes. While we try our best to live healthy lifestyles, accidents, and illnesses happen unexpectedly. This is where health insurance becomes vital - to protect you financially when life throws the inevitable curveballs. Health insurance is a safety net, helping pay for unexpected medical costs so you don't have to foot the entire bill yourself. As independent health insurance agents, we can guide you through the complex world of health insurance and help you find coverage that protects you.
What is an Independent Health Insurance Agent?
Carrington Financials doesn’t work for any one insurance company. We aren’t tied down to any particular carrier. Instead, we have the flexibility to explore options from a wide range of top insurance providers to find the best fit for you. With all our licenses in place, we are a legitimate financial service. And with books of business in Georgia, Texas, and Arizona, we can get you the best rates possible. Essentially, we shop the health insurance market so you don’t have to. We negotiate with carriers on your behalf to secure the optimal plan for your unique needs and budget.
What are the Advantages of Hiring an Independent Health Insurance Agent?
With countless health insurance ads flooding the media, you may wonder why you need independent health insurance agents like us. There are several key reasons:
Save Money Through More Options
Because we aren’t locked into specific carriers, we can offer you various plan options at different price points. By exploring the range of choices available, we can uncover savings you may miss if you only look at one company’s offerings. Over time, this can mean hundreds of dollars of savings compared to going direct through a single insurer.
More Personalized Service
Large health insurance carriers may treat you like just another number. As a local Akron agency, we pride ourselves on personalized services and compassionate care for our clients. We take the time to listen and understand your situation to guide you to coverage with the most impact.
Advocate for Your Best Interests
As independent agents, we work for you – not the insurance carriers. We commit to being your advocate, negotiating tenaciously on your behalf, and considering only your best interests when advising about health plans. You can trust us to fight for your needs first.
Get Additional Insurance with Ease
Many health insurance companies only offer health insurance. While health insurance is complex enough on its own, you likely need other insurance, too – auto, home, life, business, and more. Since we cover all these areas, consider us your one-stop shop to secure all the insurance you need.
What are the Different Types of Health Insurance?
There is more than one option when it comes to health insurance plans. On the federal Health Insurance Marketplace exchange, policies are divided into metal tiers based on the percentage of health costs they cover:
- Bronze plans have the lowest monthly premiums, but you pay more out-of-pocket when you need care. On average, the insurer pays 60% of costs, and you pay 40%.
- Silver plans offer a middle-ground option, with the insurer paying 70% on average and you paying 30% of your care costs.
- Gold plans have higher premiums but more coverage, with insurers paying 80% of costs and you paying 20%, on average.
- Platinum plans have the highest premiums and the most coverage, with insurers averaging 90% of health care costs and you being responsible for 10%.
If you are under 30 years old, you may also qualify for low-cost catastrophic plans that protect you from very high medical bills but come with high deductibles.
Beyond the metal tiers, there are several common health insurance plan types:
Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs)
With an HMO, you choose a primary care doctor from within the insurer’s network. That doctor coordinates all your care. Services are only covered if you get them from in-network providers. You may need referrals to see specialists.
Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs)
PPOs allow you to see out-of-network doctors, but you’ll pay less if you choose providers from the preferred network. You can see specialists without a referral.
Exclusive Provider Organizations (EPOs)
EPOs only cover in-network care except for emergencies. Like HMOs, you may need referrals for specialists. Out-of-network care isn’t covered.
Point-of-Service (POS) Plans
POS plans combine features of HMOs and PPOs. You may need to choose a primary care physician and get specialist referrals, but you also have some coverage for out-of-network providers.
High-Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs)
As the name suggests, these plans have higher deductibles you pay out-of-pocket before coverage kicks in. Many HDHPs can be paired with a tax-advantaged Health Savings Account (HSA).
Understanding Your Health Insurance Policy
Terms like premium, deductible, copay, and coinsurance – health insurance policies are filled with jargon that can be confusing. As your independent health insurance agent, we’re here to decode everything and explain exactly how your plan works. We want to empower you to use your coverage wisely. There are many more words to learn, but for now, here’s what the previous ones mean:
- Deductible: The amount you pay out of pocket before your insurance starts covering your medical expenses.
- Premium: The amount you pay each month for your health insurance coverage.
- Copay: A fixed amount you pay for a covered service, like a doctor’s visit or prescription drug.
- Coinsurance: The percentage of covered medical expenses you pay after you’ve met your deductible.
Contact us anytime you need help making sense of a claim or navigating your benefits.
How to Pick the Best Insurance Agent?
With something as vital as health coverage, you need an agent you can trust. You want someone with experience and expertise in the health insurance industry. It also helps if they are local.
For example, we know the healthcare providers in Akron, Ohio, and can help you find the best coverage for your needs in that area.Check their credentials and ask for references from past clients. Ask about their knowledge of different types of health insurance plans to ensure they can help you find the best fit for your needs. Finally, make sure they are licensed and have a good reputation within the industry.
Trust Carrington Financials for Health Insurance
As natives of Akron, we care deeply about this community. We believe part of our duty as independent health insurance agents is to advance health literacy and access to care. We want to see our neighbors protected.
We also understand choosing coverage can be confusing and stressful. We encourage you to think of us as guides through the complex world of health insurance. We simplify the process with compassion and patience, making sure you understand all your options.
Contact Carrington Financials today for your free consultation. We look