The promise of an all-in-one health plan is a huge draw for eHealth Medicare Advantage. Instead of juggling separate policies, you get everything bundled together—including extras like eHealth dental plans. Platforms like eHealth showcase hundreds of these options, making it seem easy to find a fit. But with so many choices, how do you know what you’re really getting? The key is to look past the marketing and focus on the details that matter to your health. We’ll help you evaluate the plans you find, from prescription coverage to provider networks, so you can make a well-informed decision.
Key Takeaways
- eHealth is a broker, not an insurer: Think of it as an online marketplace where you can compare plans from many different insurance companies, not a company that provides its own health plan.
- Evaluate the total cost, not just the premium: A $0 premium plan can still have high out-of-pocket costs, so be sure to check the deductible, copays, and annual maximum to find a plan that fits your budget.
- Verify your network and get expert advice: Before enrolling, confirm your doctors and hospitals are in the plan’s network. Working with a licensed agent ensures you find the right fit for your health needs and avoid costly surprises.
What Are eHealth Medicare Advantage Plans?
When you start looking into Medicare options, you’ll likely come across the name eHealth. It’s important to understand what they do and what they don’t do, so let’s clear up a common point of confusion. eHealth is not an insurance company, and it doesn’t offer its own Medicare Advantage plan. Instead, think of eHealth as an online insurance agency or broker. They provide a digital marketplace where you can shop for and compare Medicare Advantage plans from many different insurance carriers.
Their role is to act as a middleman, connecting you with plans that could fit your healthcare needs and budget. This gives you a single place to see a wide variety of options, which can be helpful when you’re trying to get a sense of what’s available in your area. Because they work with so many well-known insurance companies—like Aetna, Cigna, Humana, and UnitedHealthcare—you’ll likely recognize many of the names you see on their site. This model is designed to simplify the shopping experience by putting lots of information in one place. It allows you to do your own research at your own pace, which many people appreciate. However, it’s important to remember that this is just one of many ways to find a plan, and an online platform can’t replace the personalized advice of an agent who knows your specific situation.
What Does eHealth Do as a Broker?
So, how does it actually work? You start by visiting the eHealth website and typing in your ZIP code. From there, the site shows you the Medicare Advantage plans available where you live. You can use filters to narrow down the results by plan type, like an HMO or PPO, or look for plans with high star ratings or a $0 monthly premium. The platform allows you to compare different plans side-by-side, so you can easily check details like copays, prescription drug costs, and extra benefits for vision, dental, or fitness. Using eHealth is free for you; they are paid a commission by the insurance company when you enroll in a plan through their service. This setup gives you a broad selection to consider from major providers.
eHealth’s Background and History
To get a full picture of eHealth, it helps to understand where they came from and how they grew into the large company they are today. Their business structure and history of expansion have shaped the platform you see when you search for plans online. This background provides important context for their role as a major online broker in the insurance industry and clarifies how they operate on such a large scale.
A Publicly Traded Company
eHealth, Inc., which you might also see called eHealthInsurance, is more than just a website; it’s a large corporation. It’s a publicly traded company, which means its shares are bought and sold on the Nasdaq stock market under the ticker symbol EHTH. This is an important detail because it means eHealth has a responsibility not only to its customers but also to its shareholders. As a large, for-profit entity, its goals are centered on growth and profitability, which is a different model from an independent agency that focuses exclusively on a client’s individual needs. Understanding this structure helps you see why their platform is designed for a high volume of users.
Growth Through Acquisitions
eHealth didn’t become a household name overnight. A key part of its strategy has been to grow by purchasing other companies in the health insurance space. For example, they bought PlanPrescriber in 2010 to strengthen their Medicare plan comparison tools. A few years later, they acquired the valuable website name Medicare.com, and in 2018, they added GoMedigap, a platform focused on Medicare Supplement insurance. These acquisitions allowed eHealth to expand its services and capture a larger share of the online insurance market. By bringing these different platforms under one roof, they created a powerful online presence that reaches millions of people looking for health coverage.
eHealth by the Numbers: Ratings and Reach
Beyond its history, looking at eHealth’s current performance can give you a sense of its scale and how other customers have rated their experience. These numbers show just how many people use the platform and what they think of the service they receive. From customer satisfaction scores to enrollment figures, these metrics paint a clearer picture of eHealth’s position in the market.
Customer Reviews and BBB Rating
When you look at customer feedback, eHealth generally receives high marks on major review sites. On Trustpilot, for instance, the company holds a 4.6 out of 5-star rating based on feedback from over 15,000 customers. Additionally, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) gives eHealth an A+ rating, which reflects its responsiveness to customer complaints. These ratings suggest that many people have had a positive experience using the platform to find and enroll in a plan. However, with any service that handles such a high volume of customers, individual experiences can vary widely. These aggregate scores are a good starting point, but they don’t always tell the full story for every person’s unique situation.
Enrollment Statistics
The sheer number of people who use eHealth is impressive and speaks to its significant market presence. In 2023 alone, eHealth helped more than 622,000 individuals sign up for Medicare Advantage plans. This figure highlights their ability to process a massive number of enrollments and serve a broad audience across the country. This scale shows that their system is built for efficiency and volume. While that works well for many, it’s a different approach from the one-on-one guidance you’d receive from a dedicated agent. At The Big 65, for example, our focus is on building a personal relationship and providing tailored advice, which is a model better suited for those who want a more hands-on experience.
What You Get with an eHealth Medicare Plan
One of the main reasons people consider Medicare Advantage plans is that they bundle different types of coverage into a single, convenient package. Think of it as an alternative to juggling Original Medicare (Parts A and B) and a separate Part D prescription drug plan. When you use a platform like eHealth, you can compare plans from various private insurance companies, each offering a unique combination of features.
The goal is to find a plan that not only covers your hospital and medical needs but also fills in some of the gaps left by Original Medicare. Many people are surprised to learn that basic Medicare doesn’t cover things like routine dental check-ups or eyeglasses. This is where Medicare Advantage plans step in. They are required to provide at least the same level of coverage as Original Medicare, but most go further by including these additional perks. By exploring the features of different plans, you can find one that aligns with your specific health needs and lifestyle, potentially saving you from significant out-of-pocket costs down the road.
Finding Plans with Expanded Coverage
A major draw of Medicare Advantage plans is their all-in-one structure. Instead of managing multiple policies, you get a more streamlined experience. As Healthline notes, “Medicare Advantage plans cover the same services as Original Medicare but include certain other benefits, such as drug coverage and dental, vision, and hearing care.” This means your hospital stays (Part A), doctor visits (Part B), and prescription medications (Part D) are often handled under one plan with one monthly premium, which simplifies budgeting and paperwork. This consolidation is a key reason many people find these plans to be a practical choice for managing their health care.
Does Your Plan Cover Dental, Vision, and Hearing?
Many of us rely on routine care to stay healthy, but Original Medicare doesn’t typically cover dental, vision, or hearing services. This is a significant gap that can lead to high out-of-pocket costs. Medicare Advantage plans often include these essential services to provide more comprehensive care. According to eHealth, these extra benefits can include routine vision care, eyeglasses, contact lenses, hearing aids, and hearing exams. Having this coverage built into your plan can make a huge difference in your annual health expenses and ensure you get the preventive care you need without breaking the bank.
Using Telehealth and Digital Health Tools
In our increasingly connected world, the ability to access care from home is more important than ever. Many Medicare Advantage plans now include telehealth services, allowing you to consult with a doctor or specialist over the phone or through a video call. This can be incredibly convenient for routine check-ins, prescription refills, or when you’re feeling too unwell to travel. Beyond telehealth, plans available through eHealth may also offer other digital health tools designed to help you manage your health. These could include fitness program memberships, wellness apps, or online portals for tracking your medical information and claims.
Understanding the Costs of eHealth Medicare
When you start looking at plans on eHealth, you’ll see a lot of numbers. It’s easy to let your eyes fixate on the monthly premium, but that’s only one piece of the financial puzzle. To get a clear picture of what you’ll actually pay for your healthcare, you need to look at the entire cost structure of a plan. This includes not just what you pay each month, but also what you pay out-of-pocket before your insurance starts covering costs, and the absolute most you could be on the hook for in a single year. Understanding these three key figures—premium, deductible, and out-of-pocket maximum—is the first step to finding a plan that truly fits your budget.
Beyond your personal costs, it’s also helpful to know what’s happening in the wider Medicare Advantage market. The healthcare industry isn’t static; things can change from year to year, and being aware of current trends can help you make a smarter choice. For instance, provider networks can shift, which might affect your access to specific doctors or hospitals you rely on. Staying informed helps you anticipate potential changes and find a plan that remains a good fit for the long run, not just for today.
Breaking Down Premiums, Deductibles, and Copays
Medicare Advantage plans bundle your coverage, often including services that Original Medicare doesn’t, like prescription drugs, dental, and vision care. Because of this, it’s essential to understand the structure of premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket maximums when comparing your options.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
- Premium: This is the fixed amount you pay each month to keep your plan active.
- Deductible: This is the amount you must pay for covered health services before your insurance plan starts to pay.
- Out-of-Pocket Maximum: This is a cap on how much you’ll spend on covered services in a year. Once you hit this limit, your plan pays 100% of covered costs for the rest of the year.
Are There Zero-Premium Plans?
Yes, you will likely see many plans advertised with a $0 monthly premium. On platforms like eHealth, you can find a range of Medicare Advantage Plans that feature no monthly cost, which can be very appealing if you want to keep your fixed expenses low.
However, a $0 premium doesn’t mean the healthcare is free. These plans still have other costs, like deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance. Sometimes, a plan with a low monthly premium might have a higher deductible or a smaller provider network. It’s important to look at the total potential cost based on your health needs, not just the monthly bill. A slightly higher premium could mean much lower out-of-pocket costs if you need regular medical care.
What If My Costs or Doctor Network Changes?
The healthcare landscape is always changing, and it’s affecting Medicare Advantage plans. A growing number of health systems are stopping their contracts with Medicare Advantage plans. This means a hospital or doctor’s group that accepts your plan this year might not accept it next year. If your provider leaves your plan’s network, you could face much higher costs or be forced to find a new doctor.
Because of this, you can’t just “set it and forget it” with your plan. Every year during the Annual Enrollment Period, you should confirm that your preferred doctors, specialists, and hospitals are still in your plan’s network. This simple step can save you from unexpected bills and ensure you continue to have access to the care you trust.
How Do eHealth Plans Compare to Other Options?
When you’re looking at your Medicare choices, it’s helpful to see how different paths measure up. Using a platform like eHealth to find a Medicare Advantage plan is one popular route, but it’s quite different from sticking with Original Medicare or even buying a plan directly from an insurance carrier. Understanding these differences is the key to figuring out what works best for your health needs and your wallet. Let’s break down how the plans you’ll find on eHealth stack up against your other main options.
eHealth Medicare vs. Original Medicare: What’s the Difference?
One of the biggest draws of the Medicare Advantage plans offered on eHealth is that they provide more comprehensive coverage in a single package. These plans are required to cover all the same services as Original Medicare (Part A and Part B), but they often include extra benefits. This frequently includes prescription drug coverage and dental, vision, and hearing care, which aren’t covered by Original Medicare. This bundling can simplify your healthcare management by putting most of your benefits under one plan. You might find plans that help pay for routine vision exams, glasses, and even hearing aids, which can be a significant financial help.
How Does eHealth Compare to Other Advantage Plans?
This is where a common point of confusion comes up. It’s important to know that eHealth is not an insurance company and doesn’t have its own Medicare Advantage plan. Instead, eHealth is an insurance broker licensed to sell plans from many different private insurance companies. Think of it as a large online marketplace. This means when you use eHealth, you can compare a variety of plans from different carriers all in one place. This selection allows you to see how different plans handle costs, which doctors are in-network, and what extra perks they offer. The main difference is that you’re using a third-party platform to shop, rather than going directly to a specific insurance company’s website.
Understanding Plan Types: HMO vs. PPO
When you browse plans on eHealth, you’ll mostly see two types: HMOs and PPOs. An HMO, or Health Maintenance Organization, usually requires you to use doctors and hospitals within its network. You’ll also choose a primary care physician (PCP) who coordinates your care and gives you referrals to see specialists. In exchange for these rules, HMOs often have lower monthly premiums. A PPO, or Preferred Provider Organization, offers more freedom. You don’t need a PCP or referrals, and you can see providers both in and out of the network. You’ll pay less if you stay in-network, but you have the option to go elsewhere. Understanding this key difference between HMO and PPO plans helps you pick one that matches your lifestyle and how you prefer to get medical care.
A Look at Major Insurance Carriers
Because eHealth is a broker, the plans you see on its site come from a wide range of private insurance companies. You’ll likely recognize many of the names. As Medical News Today points out, eHealth partners with many well-known insurance companies like Aetna, Cigna, Humana, and UnitedHealthcare. This means you aren’t just looking at plans from one or two providers; you’re getting a broad view of the market. Seeing these established carriers can give you confidence that you’re comparing quality, reliable health plans. It allows you to focus on the specific benefits and costs of each option, knowing they come from trusted names in the industry.
What’s New in Medicare for 2025?
The world of Medicare is always evolving, and some important updates are on the horizon for 2025. These changes can directly affect your out-of-pocket costs and the plans available to you, so it’s a good idea to get familiar with them before the Annual Enrollment Period arrives. Understanding what’s new can help you avoid surprises and ensure your coverage continues to meet your needs. Staying informed about these shifts helps you make confident decisions about your health coverage for the year ahead. Here are two of the most significant changes you should know about.
New Cap on Prescription Drug Costs
One of the biggest pieces of news for 2025 is a major change to Medicare Part D. For the first time, there will be a cap on out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs. Starting in 2025, your annual spending on covered medications will be limited to $2,000. Once you reach that amount, you won’t have to pay anything more for your prescriptions for the rest of the year. This change, part of the Inflation Reduction Act, effectively gets rid of the dreaded “donut hole,” or coverage gap, which has long been a source of financial stress for many beneficiaries. This new cap provides a much-needed safety net for those who rely on expensive medications.
Changes in Medicare Advantage Plan Ratings
The Medicare Advantage market is also seeing some important shifts. Each year, insurance companies can decide to stop offering certain plans in specific regions. For example, some major carriers are withdrawing from certain markets, which means thousands of people will need to select new plans for 2025. Additionally, the government is cracking down on plans with consistently low quality ratings, removing them as an option for beneficiaries. This makes it more important than ever to check your plan’s star rating and network status every year. These changes highlight why you can’t just set and forget your coverage; a plan that worked well this year might not be the best fit—or even available—next year.
How to Choose the Right Plan for You
With so many options available through platforms like eHealth, how do you pinpoint the one that’s truly the best fit for you? It’s less about finding a single “best” plan and more about finding the right plan for your unique circumstances. This means taking a clear-eyed look at your health, your budget, and the doctors you want to see. It can feel like a huge task, but breaking it down into smaller steps makes it much more manageable. Think of it as a matching game. You have a list of your personal needs and priorities, and your goal is to find the plan whose features and benefits line up perfectly with that list. By using online tools, getting expert advice, and doing a little personal homework, you can move forward with real confidence, knowing you’ve made a well-informed choice for your health care.
How to Use eHealth’s Comparison Tools
eHealth’s website is a great place to start your research. Their online tools let you see many of the Medicare Advantage plans available in your area all in one place. You can filter your search results by the type of plan you prefer, like an HMO or PPO, or look specifically for plans with a $0 monthly premium. This makes it easy to compare different plans side-by-side. You can look at the fine print on things like copays for doctor visits, prescription drug costs, and whether the plan includes those valuable extra benefits like dental, vision, or fitness programs. It’s a powerful way to get a feel for what’s out there and begin narrowing down your options.
Why You Should Work with a Licensed Insurance Agent
While online tools are fantastic for initial research, they don’t replace the personalized guidance of an expert. This is where a licensed insurance agent comes in. Companies like eHealth and our team at The Big 65 are licensed to sell Medicare insurance plans, which means we follow all the rules set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The best part? Working with an agent costs you nothing. We receive compensation from the insurance companies when you enroll, so you get unbiased, expert advice for free. An agent can help you understand the nuances between plans that a website simply can’t explain, ensuring you don’t miss a critical detail.
Finding Unbiased Advice and All Your Options
An agent can be your greatest ally in making sense of your Medicare choices, but it’s also smart to know all the resources available to you. While online platforms and licensed agents provide valuable support, they are just two pieces of the puzzle. To feel truly confident in your decision, you need to understand the full landscape of your options, including where to find a complete list of every plan in your area and how to access free, impartial counseling. Having multiple, trustworthy sources of information allows you to cross-reference what you learn and verify that you are seeing the whole picture. This approach helps ensure you leave no stone unturned in your search for the right coverage.
The Limitations of Online Brokers
Online brokers like eHealth offer a convenient way to see many plans in one place. As Healthline points out, eHealth is a digital marketplace, not an insurer, connecting you with plans from various carriers. However, it’s important to remember that brokers, whether online or in-person, may not represent every single insurance company. They are compensated by the insurance carriers they partner with, which means their inventory, while large, might not be exhaustive. This isn’t a problem in itself—they provide a fantastic service for comparing many top plans—but it’s a fact to be aware of. The perfect plan for you might exist with a smaller, local carrier that doesn’t partner with that specific broker.
Where to Find a Complete List of Plans
To see every Medicare Advantage plan sold in your county, your best resource is the official U.S. government website for Medicare. The Medicare Plan Finder tool is the most comprehensive and unbiased source of information available. You can enter your ZIP code, just as you would on a broker site, and see a complete list of plans, including their costs, coverage details, and official star ratings. This allows you to verify the information you see on other platforms and discover plans that might not be offered through certain brokers. Using the official tool alongside the comparison features of a site like eHealth gives you the best of both worlds: convenience and completeness.
Getting Free, Impartial Guidance with SHIP
For free and truly unbiased advice, you can contact your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). SHIP is a national, government-funded program that provides free, confidential, and impartial counseling to people with Medicare. SHIP counselors are highly trained volunteers who can help you understand your rights, compare plans, and even help you solve problems with your current coverage. Because they are not affiliated with any insurance company and are not licensed to sell insurance, their guidance is completely objective. A SHIP counselor can be an excellent resource for answering tough questions and helping you understand your options without any pressure to enroll in a specific plan, making them a valuable part of your research team.
Matching a Plan to Your Health Needs and Budget
This is the most important step. Before you can find the right plan, you need a clear picture of what you need it to cover. Start by making a list of your doctors and specialists to ensure they are in a plan’s network. Do the same for any prescription drugs you take. Then, think about your budget and what you’re comfortable paying for monthly premiums, deductibles, and copays. Finally, consider the extra benefits. Many Medicare Advantage plans now offer coverage for routine vision and dental care, and even hearing aids. Having this personal checklist ready will make your conversation with an agent much more productive and help you find a plan that truly supports your health and lifestyle.
Ready to Enroll? Here’s What You Need to Know
Once you have a better idea of what you need from a plan, the next step is figuring out the “how” and “when” of enrollment. The process isn’t complicated once you break it down, but it does require paying attention to a few key details and dates. Let’s walk through what you need to know to get enrolled without any last-minute surprises.
Am I Eligible for an eHealth Medicare Plan?
First things first, let’s make sure you’re eligible. To enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, you must first be enrolled in Original Medicare (Parts A and B) and live in the plan’s service area. Medicare Advantage plans are required to cover everything that Original Medicare does, but they often include valuable additional benefits that can make a real difference in your day-to-day health. This can include coverage for prescription drugs, routine dental and vision check-ups, and even hearing aids. Taking a moment to think about which of these extras you’ll actually use can help you narrow down your options and find a plan that truly supports your lifestyle and healthcare needs.
When Can You Enroll? Key Dates to Remember
Timing is a big deal with Medicare. For most people, the key window to watch for is the Annual Enrollment Period, which runs from October 15 to December 7 each year. This is your chance to join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage plan. However, life happens, and Medicare has rules for that, too. If you experience a major life event—like moving to a new state, losing your current health coverage, or qualifying for Medicaid—you may be granted a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). An SEP gives you a limited window outside of the annual period to make changes. Knowing these dates helps you stay in control of your coverage and avoid missing your opportunity to enroll.
Qualifying for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP)
Life doesn’t always follow a neat calendar, and sometimes you need to make changes to your health plan outside of the usual enrollment times. This is where a Special Enrollment Period, or SEP, comes in. If you experience certain life events, Medicare gives you a special window to switch your Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. For example, moving to a new address where your current plan isn’t offered, losing health coverage from an employer, or becoming eligible for Medicaid are all common reasons you might qualify. These periods are designed to ensure you don’t have a gap in your health coverage just because something unexpected happened. You typically have a two-month window following the event to make a change, so it’s important to act quickly to find a new plan that works for you.
Clearing Up Common eHealth Medicare Myths
When you’re looking into your Medicare options, you’ll likely come across eHealth. It’s a popular platform, but with its popularity comes a few common misunderstandings. It’s completely normal to have questions about how it all works. Let’s clear up some of the confusion so you can feel more confident about the information you’re seeing. We’ll look at what eHealth actually is and what you can expect from the plans you find there.
What eHealth Really Does (and Doesn’t Do)
First, let’s clarify a big point: eHealth is not an insurance company. Think of it more like an online marketplace. It’s a licensed broker that sells plans from various insurance carriers, not a plan provider itself. This is an important distinction because it means you aren’t buying an “eHealth plan.” Instead, you’re using their website to shop for plans from well-known companies. In fact, eHealth works with many major insurance companies like Aetna, Cigna, Humana, and UnitedHealthcare. This gives you a wide selection of plans to compare in one place, which can make the initial search process a bit easier.
Will My Coverage Change Unexpectedly?
Another common question is about what these plans actually cover. Rest assured, any Medicare Advantage plan you find on eHealth must provide at least the same level of coverage as Original Medicare (Part A and Part B). Where they differ is in the extra benefits they often include. Many plans bundle prescription drug coverage (Part D) and offer routine dental, vision, and hearing care. This can mean help paying for things like eyeglasses, hearing aids, and dental exams. Just remember that plan details, like provider networks and costs, can change each year, so it’s always wise to review your plan annually.
How to Make a Confident Decision
Choosing a health plan can feel like a huge, irreversible decision, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. When you know what to look for and which questions to ask, you can move forward feeling sure about your choice. Taking the time to review the details now will give you peace of mind and help you get the most out of your coverage all year long.
Key Questions to Ask Before You Enroll
Before you commit to a plan, take a moment to play detective. Getting clear answers to a few key questions can save you from headaches and unexpected bills down the road. Start by asking: Are my prescription drugs on the plan’s formulary, and what will my copays be? What is the plan’s out-of-pocket maximum, and is that a number I’m comfortable with? Most importantly, does this plan cover the specific health services I know I’ll need? Thinking through these details will help you pick the best Medicare Advantage plan for your unique situation, not someone else’s.
How to Check if Your Doctor Is in the Network
With Medicare Advantage, your access to care is tied to the plan’s provider network. Before enrolling, you absolutely must confirm that your trusted doctors, specialists, and preferred hospitals are included. Don’t just assume they are. Visiting a provider who is out-of-network can lead to much higher costs or even denial of coverage for the service. Different Medicare Advantage plans have different rules; some are more restrictive, while others offer more flexibility. Verifying the network ensures you can continue seeing the healthcare professionals you rely on without any unwelcome financial surprises.
Related Articles
- Medicare Part C, Advantage Plans – Medicare Advantage Plans
- What are Medicare Advantage Plans? – The Big 65 – Medicare Insurance Services
- Guide to NJ Medicare Advantage Plans: Find the Best Coverage – The Big 65 – Medicare Insurance Services
- Virginia Medicare Advantage Plans: A Complete Guide – The Big 65 – Medicare Insurance Services
- Choosing Medicare Advantage Plans in Virginia – The Big 65 – Medicare Insurance Services
Frequently Asked Questions
Is eHealth an actual insurance company? No, and this is a really common point of confusion. eHealth is not an insurance company; it’s an online insurance broker. Think of them as a large digital marketplace where you can browse and compare Medicare Advantage plans from many different insurance carriers, like Humana or Aetna. You aren’t buying an “eHealth plan,” but rather using their platform to enroll in a plan from a company you recognize.
If a plan has a $0 monthly premium, does that mean my healthcare is free? A $0 premium is definitely appealing, but it doesn’t mean your healthcare is without cost. While you won’t have a monthly bill for the plan itself, you will still be responsible for other out-of-pocket expenses like deductibles, copayments for doctor visits, and coinsurance for services. It’s important to look at the plan’s total potential costs based on your health needs, not just the monthly premium.
Why should I bother checking my plan’s provider network every year? This is one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself from surprise medical bills. Insurance companies can and do change which doctors and hospitals are in their networks from one year to the next. If your trusted doctor or preferred hospital leaves your plan’s network, you could suddenly face much higher costs for their services. A quick check each fall during the Annual Enrollment Period ensures your providers are still covered for the year ahead.
Does it cost me anything to use a service like eHealth or work with an agent? No, you do not pay anything to use a broker’s services. Whether you use an online platform like eHealth or work with an independent agent like our team at The Big 65, the service is free for you. Agents and brokers are paid a commission by the insurance company after you enroll in a plan. This allows you to get expert, unbiased guidance without any added cost.
What’s the difference between using an online tool like eHealth and working directly with a licensed agent? Online tools are excellent for getting a broad overview of the plans available in your area and comparing basic features side-by-side. However, a licensed agent provides a layer of personalized service that a website can’t. An agent can talk through your specific health situation, prescription needs, and budget to help you understand the subtle but important differences between plans. They act as your personal advocate, ensuring you find a plan that truly fits your life.