Instead, he selected to proceed the coverage inside Cobra — Act on Consolidated Omnibus Budgeting. The law, which has been in place for many years, allows people to proceed their medical health insurance within the workplace for as much as 18 months after leaving work. But there is a catch: you will have to pay your employer’s share of the monthly contribution plus your individual. So it’s always expensive, says Gilbert within the video, admitting he was “a giant dummy” when it got here to using it.
Earlier this 12 months, when Gilbert’s Cobra policy was about to run out, he reluctantly ventured back into the insurance business, and after every week or so of reading the paperwork, he selected a healthcare organization. The HMO saves him about $200 a month — but offers less flexibility in selecting doctors than his previous plan, preferred provider organization, or PPO
He figured he then had “basic knowledge of medical health insurance,” so why not make a video to assist others? (In the video, after discussing PPO, HMO and HDHP – health plans with high deductibles – Mr. Gilbert smiles weakly. “Every word in that sentence,” he says, “was on fire when it got here out of my mouth.”)
He expected to spend a few month making a “quick eight-minute movie”. But because it was medical health insurance, he kept hearing about exceptions and caveats that required clarification, so the project dragged on for 4 months. He said that because he just isn’t an authority, he stuck to translating the terminology and sent the draft to backers, a few of whom have backgrounds in medical health insurance, for accuracy and feedback. (Mr. Gilbert said he makes money from payments from customers through the crowdfunding site Patreon and the ads shown along with his videos on YouTube. He said he wasn’t paid by health insurers.)
Mr Gilbert said he was glad people were watching the video but stressed he was not an insurance guru. However, based on his experience, he gave the next advice: “Focus on what’s most needed for you and make certain that the plan really handles it well.”
While the video is basically accurate in its descriptions, the section on the unexpected bills patients sometimes receive for emergency room visits needs an update (as Mr. Gilbert confirms in a YouTube comment). The No Surprises Act, which took effect in January, introduced recent rules to guard consumers from unexpected bills for out-of-network treatment in emergency rooms.
Here are some questions and answers about medical health insurance:
When does open enrollment for Marketplace plans end?
The HealthCare.gov coverage period, which begins January 1, ends December 15. (You can join until January 15, but coverage won’t start until February.) Seventeen states and the District of Columbia operate their very own exchanges and can have different dates. If you miss the deadline, you might qualify for a “special” enrollment period should you get married or lose your job. And some low-income people can join for marketplace plans at any time. Consumers can get help selecting a plan by clicking “find local helpon HealthCare.gov.
