Switching to a contract role in WA. Is the health exchange the best place to buy insurance? Broker?
In a few weeks I'm switching to a contract role. The insurance plans they offer are pretty crappy and expensive. I see on the health Exchange pretty okay plans and prices, but I don't know if this is the best path. Is there some kind of health insurance brokers that are better? Is it better to buy directly with the provider? I'm looking to get a high level of coverage for my family.
If you ever worked at Microsoft as a full time employee you can join Microsoft alumni network and purchase health insurance through them. Check if there is Amazon alumni network with similar benefits.
Buying without employer group negotiated rates is always super pricey even with high deductible plans. Unfortunately brokers aren’t going to offer you much better. Also is this a family or single? As your out of pocket max will be really high with family plans My wife works at a benefits consulting firm and helps large companies benefits teams decide/negotiate with companies like Aetna on group rates as well building out their benefits programs. Direct is your best bet as you aren’t going to save anything/if at all going through a broker. Aetna is probably the best bet as well as they partner with cvs and provide cheaper generic scrips. Honestly health insurance is the biggest money making scam we have here in the states. When u see a doctor bill of like 50000 for a surgery and your omg thank god u have insurance. The fact is the insurance companies pay only a fraction technically. People uninsured are price gouged asf. It doesn’t cost the hospitals anywhere near those prices but they price gouge just like the pharma companies.
Looks like cobra is going to be about the same as marketplace for way better coverage. Attached rates and contact info to help folks in the future
Walk it backwards based on your health needs and level of risk you are willing to accept. If you're young and relatively healthy and have an emergency fund that can cover the deductible, go with a low premium high deductible option. As for insurance providers I'd go with Aetna if it's available. For me they seem to have the most user friendly online portal and referral system.
Thanks for the reply. I'm looking to find paths to purchase. Broker, exchange, provider direct?
Only way to do it is by old fashioned compare and contrast method. Call them and speak to a representative. A real human being. What they don't tell you is that you can negotiate the quote, not by much since it's competitive space. But you have to call and ask specific questions, especially if you have niche or special medical needs for yourself and family. Talking to an actual rep will also give your feel for their culture and customer service. For me Aetna is a bit pricier but I'm willing to pay a bit more ($200 to 300 extra per year) for better service.