In Colorado, group health insurance is designed to meet the health care needs of employees of large and small companies. In Colorado, a single person who owns a business could, in some circumstances, qualify for group health insurance benefits. If your employer offers group health plans paying only a portion of the premium, then you are responsible for the rest. This is true for individual and family coverage. Whether the employer pays all or a portion of the cost, Colorado insurance laws dictate that you cannot be refused, or asked to pay more because of your medical condition. Also, your group health insurance can never be cancelled, even if you get sick.
An important point to remember is if you leave your job, you cannot take your group plan with you. You can continue coverage by paying out of pocket for a plan called “state continuation coverage” or COBRA. This coverage usually lasts for three months. It also helps cover any waiting period you may have once you get a new job and new coverage. Keep in mind however; your new coverage may not include medication coverage for a pre-existing condition for up to one year.
Most group health plans in Colorado offer flexibility to companies in choosing plans. Companies usually offer employees several plans to choose from. A good plan will offer benefits like coverage for “out of the network” doctor visits by the members.
In cases where employees contribute to the plan, there are often times a savings plan benefit to employees. Check with your employer to see if one is offered and how it works.
By: Peter Emerson
Posts Tagged ‘Group Plan’
Colorado Group Health Insurance
April 9th, 2010Individual Health Insurance Or Group Health Insurance?
December 29th, 2009
Most people believe that individual health insurance and group health insurance are essentially the same thing and that the only difference is that one is sold to individuals and that the other is sold to employers and other group organizations (such as clubs) to cover employees or members of the organization. In fact it is not quite as simple as that and individual and group health plans differ in a number of significant ways.
One of the most significant differences is that a group plan normally has fewer limitations and does not usually require those covered under the plan to provide proof of insurability. In other words the mere fact that you are a member of the group to which the plan applies means that you are eligible for cover.
Another important difference is that the contract for a group plan is made between the insurance company and the employer, union, trust, club or other sponsor and is not made directly with you as would be the case with an individual plan. This means that you have no power to negotiate changes to the plan to suit your own specific needs and that, where changes are made between for example your employer and the insurer, you have no real power to intervene.
The great advantage for most people of seeking health cover through a group plan lies in the fact that it has fewer limitations and is generally cheaper than an individual plan. However, one significant disadvantage is that your membership of the plan is tied to your membership of the group and, in the case of employment, a change in your employment status will affect your cover. For example, if you retire, are laid off, quit, or simply suffer a reduction in your hours you could suddenly find that you and your family lose your health insurance.
Now there is of course some protection for individuals who lose their employment through no fault of their own and the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) will allow you to retain your group scheme cover for a while (typically 18 months) while you make alternative arrangements. The drawback of course is that you still have to pay for cover and this can be very expensive since you will have to pay not only the employee contribution which you were paying while in work, but also the employer’s contribution since you are no longer on the payroll. The benefits to which you are entitled under COBRA cover may also be reduced in many cases.
One other key difference between group and individual health insurance which is worthy of note here arises out of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. This essentially means that, where a group plan is in existence covering a group of twenty or more employees, the employer must make insurance available to all employees, including their spouses and dependents. Accordingly, there is no age limit imposed for cover and this can be particularly beneficial to older employees.
These are of course only some of the main difference between group and individual health insurance but nonetheless represent a good starting point in helping you to decide between the two. Which you choose must of course be a personal decision but one important thing to remember is that health insurance becomes increasing difficult to get and more expensive the older you get and, even if you do decide to ’shelter’ under an employer’s plan, the day will surely come when you will be on your own and forced to seek cover outside of your employer’s scheme.
Your employer’s scheme may be fine today but do not forget to view it not simply in terms of your present needs, but also in terms of your longer term needs.
By: Donald Saunders
Cheap Health Insurance in Jacksonville, Florida
December 20th, 2009
Basic health care is something virtually everyone needs at some point in their lives. Even people who are incredibly healthy take ill or are involved in an accident from time to time. For people living in Jacksonville, Florida there are a few options when it comes to finding affordable health insurance.
One of the basic rules that everyone seems to follow when they are looking for a health care insurance plan is to find the lowest price. Although saving money is a big concern for just about everyone, there is another consideration that needs to be addressed. Many companies spring up out of nowhere and offer unbelievable deals on health insurance. For anyone living in Jacksonville who is tempted by such a deal they need to contact the Office of Insurance Regulation in Florida to find out how long the company in question has been in existence and what their history, if any, is.
Beyond that it takes some patience and perseverance to find a good and affordable health care solution. The best place to start is by taking stock of your present financial and health situation. There are several health care plans for low-income individuals and their families in Jacksonville, Florida. Inquiring about the qualifications can really help someone who is finding it hard to afford the premiums that are typical with an individual health care plan.
If they don’t happen to fit into the income bracket for the government sponsored plan they may want to consider joining and employer’s group plan. Many employers do offer group health insurance to the people that work for them, but in almost every case there is a mandatory probationary period. If this is the case ensure that you join the day you do become eligible, because this is really one of the best solutions when it comes to finding cheap health insurance in Jacksonville, Florida.
By: Deborah Mills
