Sacramento Guide to Health Insurance in 2020

Sacramento health insurance

Health insurance covers the medical, surgical and other health-related expenses. Health insurance can pay directly to care provider or reimburse the costs incurred from injury or illness to the insured person. It is tricky to choose the health insurance plan due to deductible, copays and plan rules. Health insurance in Sacramento, California is available through employer group insurance or through a private insurance policy between the insurance company and the insured. Health insurance is also available for disabled persons and to senior citizens through medicare.

Private health insurance is available to the residents of Sacramento with various coverage levels. A plan with inexpensive premium costs cover only catastrophic events, and high-cost plan offers full health care coverage. It is essential to plan on health care needs before selecting an insurance plan. In this article, we will discuss the following topics that will help you to choose an insurance plan that best matches your needs.

  • Health insurance in California.
  • California health insurance plans.
  • Medical insurance rates in California.
  • Apply for Medical health insurance in Sacramento, CA.
  • Anthem blue cross health insurance plans in California.
  • Blue shield insurance California.
  • Health insurance companies in Sacramento, CA.
  • Short term health insurance, California. .
  • Cheap health insurance companies in California.
  • Best individual health insurance in California.
  • Best private health insurance California.
  • Health insurance broker in California.
  • Health insurance agents in Sacramento, CA.

California health insurance plans

The overall average increase for an individual health plan is less than 1 per cent. Depending on how many plans are offered in your area, you may find any of these or all plans at each metal level.

  • Bronze
  • Silver
  • Gold and
  • Platinum

Some type of health insurance plans you may find in the market place.

Exclusive provider organization (EPO): In this plan, services are covered only if you use the hospital, visit doctors and specialist in the plan network.

Health Maintenance Organization (HMO): A type of health insurance care plan that limits coverage to care only from doctors who work with or for the HMO. This plan may require you work or live in an area where it provides its services to be eligible.HMO focus on wellness and prevention.

Point of Service (POS): in this plan, you pay less if you use doctors and hospitals that belong to the plan’s network. To see a specialist, you require a referral from a primary care doctor.

Preferred provider organization (PPO): A type of plan in which you pay less if you use health care provider’s in the plan’s network. With an additional, you can use health care providers outside the network.

There are different types of health insurance plans offered by the best insurance companies in California. You can purchase individual/family insurance policy on your own. Group insurance policies can be purchased through an association or by your employer. All insurance policies have their own rules and regulations.

Before purchasing a health care insurance plan, you should consider your budget and health care needs. You can purchase health care insurance place through online on covered California or by visiting the office of the insurance company.

Medi-cal insurance in California

Medi-cal is a government-funded health coverage program that offered medical services or health coverage to low-income individuals at no or little cost. You will qualify for Medi-cal if:

  • You are 19-64 years old, and your family income is below 138% of the federal poverty level.
  • You are 18 years old or younger and have a family income below 266% of the federal poverty level.
  • You are pregnant, and your family income is below 213% of the federal poverty level.
  • You are a disabled person, even if you are blind.
  • Your age is more than 65 year.
  • You have a monthly income less than $1,271 for an individual.
  • Monthly income less than $1,720 for a couple.

Medi-cal provides health coverage benefits, including:

  • Hospitalization
  • Mental health
  • Emergency services
  • Prescription drugs
  • Rehabilitative services
  • Preventive care
  • Laboratory services
  • Chronic disease management
  • Paediatric care
  • Dental benefits
  • Vision benefits for those with full-scope coverage

Under the Medi-cal health program, some patients get full coverage, and some patients get partial coverage depending upon how you qualify. Health care plans have their hospitals, pharmacies, clinics, doctors and specialists. You have the option to choose a hospital or doctor for your health care needs. Medical plans offer routine tests and checkups for adults and children’s that can help you live a healthy life.

  • Anthem blue cross
  • Health Net
  • Blue Shield of California
  • Kaiser Permanente
  • A care health plan
  • Molina health care
  • Western health advantage
  • Chinese community health plan
  • Valley health care
  • Oscar health

Apply for Medi-cal in California

After determining your eligibility by your County social services office, you can apply online and by phone. You can also apply through your local county human services agency in person. Depending on your circumstances, you may qualify for the following specialized services.

Medical Access Program (MCAP): A low-cost health care plan for pregnant women based on income.

Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP): A health care plan for low-income children’s.

Anthem blue cross health insurance plans California

Anthem is the largest health insurance provider company in California. Anthem insurance plans in California come in the different price level. Anthem is offering the following health plans in California.

Access to preventive care

Anthem offered preventive care for as low as $0 with no deductible and copay to meet when received from in-network providers.

Minimum coverage plans

This plan helps people with specific qualifications to save money on health insurance. You may be eligible for this plan if you are under thirty. You are also eligible if you qualify for one of fourteen hardship exemptions.

Blue shield insurance California

Blue Shield offers you the type of health care coverage that best suits you and your loved ones. Blue Shield provides a range of PPO and HMO health care plans.

Blue Shield preferred provider organization (PPO) plans: Under this health care coverage plan members get full coverage by using hospitals and doctors with the PPO network. You have the option to go outside the preferred provider network by paying an additional cost. Blue Shield PPO plans vary according to the copays, benefits and deductibles.

HMO plans Blue shields HMO plans offer a cost-efficient and predictable way to manage your health care needs. This plan cover routine checkups, preventive and catastrophic care. You have the option to choose a physician from an extensive network. HMO plans also covers urgent care and emergency services for members when they are out of the HMO service area.

Health insurance companies in Sacramento, CA.

The insurance companies that offered best individual health plans in Sacramento, California, for 2019 will continue to offer plans in 2020.

  • Anthem blue cross of California.
  • Blue Shield of California.
  • Health Net.
  • Kaiser Permanente.
  • A-care health plan.
  • Oscar health plan of California.
  • Western health advantage.

These are the best insurance companies working in Sacramento, California that are offering different health care insurance plans. You can choose any company health care plan depending on your circumstances which best suit you.

Short term insurance California

Short term insurance is a plan that is designed to cover you for a period when you did not have health insurance. Short term health insurance are banned in California. It is only available through Health care sharing ministries (HCSM). These short term health plans have fewer regulations from the Government and operate in different ways. HCSM plans are exempted from the penalty and offer you coverage in an unexpected injury, accident or illness.

Aliera health care is an HCSM which offer lower rates and greater flexibility. Short term health care is useful in situations if:

  • You missed the open enrollment period.
  • You did not qualify for special enrollment.
  • You have applied for a health insurance plan and are waiting for it to start.
  • Your job requires you to get immediate health coverage.

Aliera interim care is a short term health insurance plan. It works as a short term health care coverage in California, where short term insurance is not an option. Like other insurance plans, short term health plans have their own pros and cons.

Short term health coverages are:

  • Affordable
  • Start immediately after applying
  • Flexible
  • Purchase at any time
  • Easy cancellation
  • Renewal options

It does not cover existing conditions, may not cover Rx and have limits on renewing. If you do not have health insurance coverage plan, than you can purchase short term health sharing plans from Aliera. These plans are flexible and affordable. Short term health sharing plans did not cover pre-existing conditions and did not meet government standards. So it is not advised to purchase a short term health insurance plan. You should apply for a health insurance plan that gives you more coverage.

Cheap health insurance California

If your income level is below 138%, you can purchase cheap health insurance in California through Medical or online. The average monthly cost of the insurance plan for a 40-year old person is $576 in California. In California, health insurance plans are offered through Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum metal tiers. Age of the insured is the key factor for the price of health insurance plan. It also depends on your financial and medical situation.

Gold and Platinum tiers have a small deductible and high monthly premium. These plans are best for those with high medical bills. Gold and Platinum are cost-effective because you reach to deductible quickly and then through your provider, you have access to coinsurance.

Silver plans are very popular among many people. It has a low monthly premium and mid-size deductible. This plan is best for healthy people who visit the doctor for X-ray or lab work.

Bronze plans are best for people with good health. Bronze plans have the lowest monthly premium and highest deductibles. In case of higher medical expenses, it also provides coinsurance coverage like other metal tiers once you have met the deductible. The table given below shows the cheapest health care policies for each metal tier showing each plan’s deductibles, out of pocket maximums and monthly premiums.

Metal tierCheapest planDeductibles Out of pocket maximums Monthly premiums
BronzeBronze 60 HMO$ 6,300$ 7,800$ 264.90
SilverSilver 70 HMO$ 4,000$ 7,800$ 327.14
Gold Gold 80 HMO$ 0$ 7,800$ 353.95
Platinum Platinum 90 HMO$ 0$ 4,500$ 405.5

Best Individual Health Insurance California

Usually, people under the age of 65 purchase individual health insurance for themselves. Most of the people who purchase personal health insurance in California are students, self-employed or retired servants who are under 65 years of age. This is the plan you buy yourself and can cover a family or just one person. Here are the health care plans with the least to the most expensive monthly premium.

Type of plan
(Metal tier)
Percent of cost that insurance company payPercent of cost you have to pay Individual coverage (Monthly premium) Family coverage
(Monthly premium)
Bronze60%40%$ 440$ 1,080
Silver 70%30%$ 481$ 1,179
Gold 80%20%$ 596$ 1,426
Platinum 90%10%$ 706$ 1,460

These are some best individual health care insurance plans offered by different insurance companies in California.

Bronze 60 Plans: Under this health care plan, you will receive coverage for preventive care and checkups by paying a small amount as a monthly premium. If you need to see a specialist, you have to pay a little more. This plan is perfect for individuals with no dependent, and they do not expect to see the doctor much.

Silver 70 plans: In this plan, you will get affordable health care coverage in California on average monthly payments. You have to pay more for a hospital visit or outpatient surgery. If you work hard to ensure your health care, then this plan is best for you.

Gold 80 plans: This is a comprehensive health care plan. You will pay the modest monthly payment and have very low out of pocket expenses if you want to visit a hospital or to see a specialist.

Platinum 90 plans: It is a great and comprehensive health care insurance plan for individuals and families who want to save on out of pocket cost. Under this health care plan, you will receive preventive care, emergency services and regular physician visits by making a higher monthly payment.

Best Private Health Insurance in California

Affordable care act (ACA)

requires that all Californians should enrol in health care insurance plans; otherwise, they may face a penalty. If you do not qualify for government subsidised plans, you can purchase private health insurance in California. You can buy a private health care plan from the health care company, through an insurance broker or online.

All major health care insurance companies are offering private health insurance in California. Price and health coverage plan can vary company by company and county. Private health insurance is required if you are:

  • An adult of 26 years or above
  • Unemployed
  • A part-time employee
  • Retired or
  • Self-employed

The insurance companies working in Sacramento, CA, are offering different private health insurance plans. You can choose a plan that meets your health care needs.

Before buying an insurance plan from an insurance agent, check the credibility of that insurance agent. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), it is necessary for the residents of California to purchase a health care plan, or they may face a penalty. Health care services are very much costly in California, so it’s better to purchase an insurance plan. You can choose the insurance company and the plans according to your financial and health care needs.

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn