Maine Health Insurance Coverage...
Free Rate Quotes and Information...
If you are searching for ways to lower your health insurance costs and you live in the State of Maine...We, here at HealthInsureCoverage.com, work hard to supply you with the information you need to make an informed decision regarding your health insurance needs and requirements.
- What are your protections when buying Individual Health Insurance Coverage in the State of Maine?
If you do not have access to employer-sponsored group insurance, you may want to buy an individual health plan from a private health insurance company. Maine has enacted extensive insurance reforms to guarantee residents access to this kind of insurance. There are some alternatives to individual health insurance – such as continuation and conversion coverage.
- In Maine, your ability to buy individual health coverage does not depend on your health
status.
•Companies that sell individual health insurance in Maine are not permitted to turn you down because of your health status and other factors.
- In Maine, insurers that sell individual health insurance must offer family coverage to persons who are interested in purchasing it.
Some HMOs may also offer husband-wife plans and parent-child(ren) plans.
- In Maine, newborns and newly adopted children are automatically covered under the
parents’ individual health plan for the first 30 days.
The insurer may require that the parent enroll the child within the 30 days in order to continue coverage beyond the 30 days.
- If you are federally eligible, you are guaranteed the same right to purchase
individual health insurance as other individuals.
However, private insurers cannot impose any pre-existing condition exclusion periods on the plan you purchase.
- To be federally eligible, you must meet certain criteria
If you are federally eligible you are guaranteed the right to buy an individual health plan and are exempted from pre-existing condition exclusion periods. In Maine, where state law is more protective, you do not need to meet all of the requirements of
federal eligibility to have this protection. However, if you move out of Maine, this
information may be important to you:
To be federally eligible, you must meet all of the following:
* You must have had 18 months of continuous creditable coverage, at least the last
day of which was under a group health plan.
* You also must have used up any COBRA or state continuation coverage for
which you were eligible.
* You must not be eligible for Medicare, Medicaid or a group health plan.
* You must not have health insurance. (Note, however, if you know your group
coverage is about to end, you can apply for coverage for which you will be
federally eligible.)
* You must apply for health insurance for which you are federally eligible within 63
days of losing your prior coverage.
Federal eligibility ends when you enroll in an individual plan, because the last day of your continuous health coverage must have been in a group plan. You can become
federally eligible again by maintaining continuous coverage and rejoining a group
health plan.
- What will your individual plan cover?
Maine requires that health insurers that choose to offer individual coverage, and all
HMOs, offer a standardized policy to all consumers. You may select either the basic
or standard policies. Non-standardized plans can be sold as well.
The Maine Bureau of Insurance issues a free buyer’s guide which lists plan options
and the companies selling them.
- What can you be charged in the State of Maine for you Health Care Insurance Coverage?
Premiums for individual health plans in Maine cannot vary due to your gender or
health status. This is called modified community rating. Premiums may vary by as
much as 20% above or below the community rate depending on your age,
occupation, and smoking status. Premiums also will vary based on family size,
where you live in the state, and the type of plan you select. The buyer’s guide lists the
community rate for each insurance company’s basic and standard plan. Check with
the company for the most current premium rates.
- Your coverage cannot be canceled because you get sick.
This is called guaranteed renewability. You have this protection provided that you pay the premiums.
HealthInsureCoverage.com offers our visitors information regarding their health insurance needs with state by state policy rates and info. We offer information from specific to general but you will ultimately need to consult with your health care provider or doctor for assistance.
If you are looking for some more information regarding policy rates and your rights under your state or federal health care laws, then you can continue your research by visiting the following convenient link.
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