When the leaves hit peak color, Mainers do what they love doing all year—they get outside and enjoy the outdoors—and they’re also keen to prepare for winter. This season also means it’s time to start preparing for health plan open enrollment, so you’ll be sure to have access to the health and wellness benefits you want for you and your family.
Here are the details:
Open enrollment for 2024 health plans began Wednesday. Nov. 1, and ends Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024. If you want health coverage in place by New Year’s Day, you’ll need to select a plan by Friday, Dec. 15. If you want to wait, your coverage will begin Thursday, Feb. 1.
It’s a good idea to start prepping now, so enrollment will be faster and easier. You can view 2024 plans, find some shopping tips here, along with links to resources to help you compare plans, and understand insurance lingo, types of plans and deductible costs.
As the only Maine-based nonprofit health insurer, Community Health Options has been making a difference in the lives of Maine people who need access to high-quality, cost-effective health insurance since 2014. We are proud to be a four-star health plan, and that our Members give us a five-star rating based on their overall enrollee experience.
As you consider your needs, you can consider new Community Health Options plans and benefits for 2024 that include:
We know costs can weigh heavily when selecting a plan, but it’s most important to choose coverage that fits your needs. Keep in mind that you might even find help paying for your insurance through potential tax credits. To find out if you’re eligible, visit CoverME.gov, Maine’s online Health Insurance Marketplace.
For quick tips on what to look for, how to find help with, or how to use a health plan, follow @communityhealthoptions on TikTok. And if you want help choosing a plan, you can also call our Maine-based Member Services team at (855) 624-6463 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Health insurance metals help people understand the amount of cost sharing that goes on between the plan holder and the insurance company in any given plan. (Need a refresher on how these costs work? Check out our health insurance lingo blog post here!)
Remember that the exact amount of cost sharing can vary from plan to plan. And at each metal level, you’ll pay a different percentage of total yearly costs of your care, while your insurance company will pay the rest. Total costs include premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket costs like copayments and coinsurance.
As a rule, the less the insurance company pays in cost sharing, the lower the cost of the plan. So, Bronze plans typically have the lowest monthly premium costs and highest costs when you need care. Monthly premium costs generally increase according to metal levels. Silver, Gold, and Platinum cost more each month in premium payments but will have lowers costs when you need care. While your monthly premium price is often the top consideration when purchasing health insurance, it’s important to consider the deductible and cost sharing as well, since these two factors can impact the total amount of out-of-pocket healthcare costs you might incur in a plan year. The total cost of care is what really matters.
When choosing a plan, you’ll want to think about how much you (and your dependents) are likely to use your insurance coverage. Consider things like how often you see a doctor, what medications you take, and whether you foresee scheduling any elective surgery during the year to come. If you think you’ll use your healthcare plan frequently or have prescription medications you take regularly, you might want to consider a higher metal level that offers lower deductibles and makes your costs easier to predict (like a Gold or Platinum plan). If you don’t expect needing many healthcare services, a lower-premium/higher cost share plan might be a better fit.
One thing that’s important to know is that ALL Community Health Options’ plans in ALL metal categories offer $0 cost share preventive care, including yearly wellness checks. Many plans also offer an array of low-to-no-cost benefits that help offset many healthcare expenses (like wellness visits, prescription benefits, and vaccines), even for people with chronic conditions. All non-HSA plans offer Amwell® urgent care telehealth visits with $0 cost sharing. So, whether you choose Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum, you can find a plan that meets your budget and your needs while giving you peace of mind and helping to keep you and your family healthy.
