Health Insurance
Outside of Open Enrollment certain life events may qualify you for a Special Enrollment Period due to a Qualifying Life Event:
- Getting married or divorced.
- Having a baby or adopting a child.
- Experiencing the death of the insurer in the family.
- Losing health insurance coverage due to job loss.
- Losing eligibility for Medicare, Medicaid, or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
- Turning 26 and losing coverage from a parent’s health insurance plan.
- Moving to a different ZIP code or county or moving to the U.S. from a foreign country or U.S. territory.
After you experience a Qualifying Life Event (QLE) you usually have 60 days to enroll in a new plan.
Not everyone will qualify for a Special Enrollment, tax credits or subsidies, but you can check eligibility online or get free agent assistance depending on your state.
Maryland, Pennsylvania & Virginia residents scroll for links to your state marketplace below.
Quote & Enroll Online
Get instant quotes 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on our most popular ACA Marketplace health plans.
Licensed to assist individuals & families, self-employed, independent contractors or small business owners looking for affordable health insurance in the following states:
FL, GA, MD, MI, MS, NC, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA
Ted McNeil
Owner, Broker
Schedule A Call
HealthBenefits, LLC
BenZen Insurance
NPN #16365557
Maryland, Pennsylvania & Virginia residents visit your state marketplace below to check eligibility or contact us for assistance.
Questions? Schedule a free consultation Monday-Friday, 9am-6pm EST
Shop & Compare ACA Marketplace Health Plans
There are several ways to shop for marketplace health insurance. You can visit Healthcare.gov, an online broker or directly with an insurance carrier.
Whatever you choose, marketplace plans and prices are regulated in each state so your options and costs will be the same.
If you’re a resident of Maryland, Pennsylvania or Virginia keep scrolling for links to your state and how to find assistance.
Maryland Health Connection
Maryland Health Connection Certified Health Insurance Broker licensed to assist with Maryland ACA health plans:
Aetna, CareFirst, Kaiser Permamente, UnitedHealthcare
Pennie
Pennie Certified Health Insurance Broker licensed to assist with Pennsylvania ACA health plans:
Ambetter, Capital Blue Cross, Cigna, Highmark, Independence Blue Cross, Jefferson Health Plans, Oscar
Pennsylvania Health Insurance Marketplace >>
Virginia’s Insurance Marketplace
Virginia Certified Health Insurance Broker licensed to assist with Virginia ACA health plans:
Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, Innovation Health, Kaiser Permamente, Oscar, Sentara & UnitedHealthCare
Virginia’s Insurance Marketplace >>
How to Choose Health Insurance
The words “cheap” and “health” don’t go well together. Health insurance isn’t perfect, but there are ways to navigate the system, lower your costs, and get the best plan that fits your needs.
All Marketplace plans have 10 essential health benefits, but you should also look for additional perks, telehealth, financial strength, and reputation.
Compare deductibles, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket maximums.
If you have a $5,000 deductible and a Bronze plan with 60/40 coinsurance are you financially prepared for an emergency?
Do you have money saved for a rainy day? Should you purchase supplemental health insurance?
Agents and brokers can assist with these questions and more absolutely free!
Best Health Insurance 2024
Many factors go into choosing the leading health insurance company. According to the American Medical Association, these are the top health insurance companies based on nationwide market share:
1. UnitedHealthcare
2. Humana
3. Aetna (CVS)
4. Kaiser Permamente
5. Anthem (Elevance)
And top ACA marketplace insurance companies based on market share:
1. Ambetter (Centene)
2. Blue Cross Blue Shield Florida
3. Kaiser Permamente
4. Oscar Health
5. Anthem
Financial strength and ratings are important when choosing the best health insurance company. A strong financial rating indicates good management and the ability to pay claims:
From A. M. Best:
1. Cigna
2. UnitedHealthcare
3. Aetna
4. Anthem
5. Humana
And while the sentiment of healthcare has its ups & downs, this survey from J.D. Power ranks the best health insurance companies by customer satisfaction regionally in MD, PA, VA
1. Kaiser Permamente
2. UnitedHealthcare
3. Geisinger Health
4. Aetna
5. Highmark
The ACA Metal Levels
Bronze – Lower monthly premium than silver or gold, but you pay more out of pocket when you use medical care. Typically has the highest deductibles.
Silver – Moderate monthly premium. Compared to bronze, you usually pay less out of pocket when you use medical care. (to qualify for additional cost savings choose a Silver plan)
Gold – Moderate to high monthly premium. Compared to bronze and silver, the plans pay more of your medical costs and you pay less out of pocket when you use medical care. Lower deductibles.
Platinum – Highest monthly premium among the tiers. Offers the most comprehensive coverage with the lowest out-of-pocket costs when you use medical care. This level typically has the lowest deductibles, making it the most expensive but providing the highest level of coverage.
ACA Health Plans are designed for individuals & families, self-employed professionals, and independent workers to get affordable healthcare with tax savings and discounts.