Individual & Family Health Insurance in Northeast Ohio
Health insurance when you don't get coverage through an employer
Finding health insurance on your own can feel very different from choosing a plan offered by an employer.
There may be multiple ways to get coverage, different provider networks to consider, financial assistance you may qualify for, and significant differences in what plans actually cover.
Insurance Navigators helps individuals and families throughout Warren, Youngstown, Boardman, and Northeast Ohio understand their health insurance options and make informed coverage decisions.
We don't start by asking which plan you want. We start by learning what you need.
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When do people need individual health insurance?
There are many reasons you may find yourself shopping for coverage on your own.
We regularly work with people who are:
Self-employed or independent contractors
Retiring before becoming eligible for Medicare
Losing health insurance through an employer
Aging off a parent's health plan
Starting or leaving a job
Going through a divorce or other family change
Shopping during the annual Marketplace Open Enrollment Period
Experiencing a qualifying life event that allows them to enroll during the year
The circumstances matter because they can affect both which coverage is available and when you are allowed to enroll.
The lowest premium isn't always the lowest-cost plan
Monthly premium is important, but it is only one part of a health insurance decision.
Before choosing coverage, we help you look at questions such as:
Are your doctors and hospitals in the plan's network?
How are your prescriptions covered?
What are the deductible and out-of-pocket limits?
What will you pay when you actually use the plan?
Are you eligible for financial assistance through the Health Insurance Marketplace?
Are there other coverage options worth considering?
A plan that looks inexpensive on the first page can become considerably less attractive if it doesn't work well with the healthcare you actually use.
Understanding Marketplace coverage and financial assistance
The Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Marketplace is an important source of coverage for many individuals and families.
Depending on household income and other circumstances, financial assistance may be available to reduce the cost of coverage.
But eligibility, plan availability, premiums and provider networks can vary. Rather than trying to sort through everything yourself, we can help you understand the available options and how they compare.
And because Insurance Navigators is an independent agency, our conversation isn't limited to assuming that one particular type of coverage is right for everyone.
Retiring before 65?
This deserves special attention.
Leaving an employer health plan before becoming eligible for Medicare can create a coverage gap that may last months or even several years.
COBRA may be one option. Individual Marketplace coverage may be another. Your household income, family situation, healthcare needs and expected retirement timeline can all affect the decision.
We can help you understand the alternatives and plan the transition from employer coverage now and, when the time comes, into Medicare.
Local help doesn't end when you enroll
Health insurance questions don't conveniently occur only during Open Enrollment.
A prescription can change. A doctor can leave a network. Your income or family circumstances can change. You may receive a letter from the insurance company that doesn't make sense.
That's when having a local person to call matters.
Our goal isn't simply to help you enroll. It's to remain a resource when questions come up afterward.
Need health insurance for yourself or your family?
You don't have to know which plan you need before contacting us.
Tell us what's changing, what coverage you have now, and what's important to you. We'll help you understand the options from there.
Insurance Navigators serves individuals and families throughout the Youngstown-Warren area, Trumbull and Mahoning Counties, and surrounding Northeast Ohio communities, with appointments available in Warren and Boardman.
Call 330-394-7400 or schedule a time to talk with our local health insurance team.