Almost every day, I meet someone who needs affordable health insurance in South Carolina. Those who don’t qualify for Medicaid or Medicare often struggle to receive the medical care they need. Some people don’t believe they have any options, and others have searched for so long that they’ve just given up. Our goal at Palmetto Strong is to educate and assist as many people as possible. While our healthcare system is far from perfect, there are several different SC health insurance options. Here are a few examples for you to consider.
Employer-Sponsored Plans
The most common form of health insurance continues to be employer-sponsored coverage, or on-the-job health insurance. This is the easiest to acquire because it is offered directly to you by your employer and your payments are automatically deducted from your paycheck. While the deductibles are a bit high, most of these plans have decent benefits. In South Carolina, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, and Cigna are the most common insurance companies offered by employers.
Subsidized Plans
If your job doesn’t offer health insurance, or it’s just too expensive, you can apply for a subsidized plan. The cost of these plans is based on your household income. This means families with lower incomes have cheaper premiums, copays, and deductibles. While you can apply for coverage online at www.healthcare.gov, I strongly advise you to find an agent. A licensed and certified insurance agent can eliminate any confusion throughout the enrollment process.
ACA Alternatives
There are some people who prefer not to enroll in a subsidized plan. For these individuals, I would suggest an ACA alternative plan. There are several different types currently available in South Carolina. The most common plans operate by cost-sharing and price negotiations. Members pay their monthly premiums and deductible. These funds go into a pool and help cover medical costs. The company also negotiates with facilities and medical professionals to lower the out-of-pocket costs of their members.
Facility-Initiated Arrangements
If the previous plans are still too expensive, you can always cut out the middleman. Due to the high cost of health insurance these days, many facilities now offer their own payment arrangements for certain medical treatments. The patients’ costs are usually based on a “sliding scale.” This means that the cost of your treatments will vary, depending on your household income. Unfortunately, there are only a select few of these facilities available within the state. If there’s one in your area, however, this could be a great opportunity to save money and also receive the medical care that you need.
Accident Coverage
In the past, accident coverage was only necessary for those who worked in dangerous environments. This is no longer the case. The right accident coverage can be a great way for anyone to save money after a medical emergency. If you are injured or diagnosed with a serious condition, these plans will pay cash directly to you for bills and medical expenses. This coverage is NOT meant to replace health insurance. However, if you can’t afford traditional insurance or need a supplement, these plans can save you thousands in medical costs.
*Blue Cross Blue Shield is the only company offering subsidized plans for most of the state of South Carolina.
