When it comes to supporting your loved ones, family health insurance is something you’ve probably given a lot of thought to. The burden of protecting your family’s health and protecting your finances from unexpected medical bills can be lightened by having a family health insurance policy.
Whether it’s just you and your partner, or you need health insurance for a family of dependents, ehealth has the tools and variety of options you need to find a family health insurance plan. our brokers are licensed in every state to help you find the right coverage for your needs and budget, all at no additional cost. You can sign up for one of our plans over the phone, on our website, or through our live chat, making it easy and convenient to get the best plan for your family. Contact us for more information today.
Although health insurance for families will have different price points based on factors such as plan type, level of coverage, number of dependents, and where you live, you can use the average cost of family plans as a guideline useful.
How much does family health insurance cost?
As with almost all types of health coverage, there are several different costs associated with family plans, including:
- Premiums: Premiums are monthly payments you make to stay enrolled in your family health insurance plan. The average premium for major family health insurance medical plans was $1,152 per month in 2020.
- deductibles: A deductible is the amount of money you must pay out of pocket for health care before your insurance kicks in. For example, if your family health insurance plan has a $10,000 deductible, you need to pay all of your medical bills until you have spent $10,000; your insurance will cover much of the remaining care you receive that year. On average, health insurance plans for families had deductibles of $8,439 in 2020. Average deductibles also increased, though not as fast as premiums.
- Various Costs: There are other costs associated with health insurance plans, such as copays, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket maximums. You’ll want to assess your family’s health care needs to determine how these costs will affect you. if you anticipate that you’ll need a lot of care, then you can opt for a plan with a higher premium, but lower costs elsewhere, like your coinsurance, copay, and deductible.
- ACA Subsidies: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, popularly known as obamacare, provides tax credits to individuals and families who have trouble purchasing health insurance for themselves. Generally speaking, the lower your income and the more family members you have, the higher the subsidy you will qualify for. these benefits go immediately toward the cost of purchasing health insurance plans for families.
- Chip Plans: The Children’s Health Insurance Program, or Chip, is a joint federal-state effort to provide free or low-cost insurance to families with children. The specific requirements for this program vary from state to state, but in general, your family will qualify if you make too much money to qualify for Medicaid but your income is below 200% of the poverty line.
- Other Options: Many states have specific programs designed to help cover the cost of health insurance for large families. Between these state programs and the federal programs listed above, you should qualify for at least some assistance if you have health insurance for a family of four and earn less than $98,400 a year.
While these are average costs, specific prices will vary depending on the plan you choose, the amount of coverage you receive, and the number of people in your family that need to be insured.
choosing health insurance for large families
Choosing health insurance for large families can be more complex and costly. the specific price you pay depends largely on how many people are in your family and what their specific health needs are. Generally, if everyone in your family is in good health, your premiums and deductibles will be lower. this makes it wise to invest in a family health insurance plan that covers preventive care, as it will help keep you healthy and lower prices in the long run.
If you’re considering health insurance for large families, you’ll likely pay more in total, but less per person. You’ll also likely pay less if you get your family health insurance plan from your employer, since employer-sponsored health insurance often covers more people and faces less risk per person.
What options do I have to reduce the cost of health insurance plans for families?
There are various government incentives and other programs that provide or help pay for health insurance plans for families who have trouble paying for them. these include:
alternative health insurance plans for families
If a traditional primary medical family health insurance plan isn’t what you’re looking for, there are some affordable alternatives that might work better for your family.
An alternative to traditional health insurance plans for families is short-term health insurance. short-term plans generally don’t have the same level of coverage as major medical plans, and insurance companies may deny short-term coverage based on pre-existing conditions. Although you won’t get the same benefits with short-term coverage, you’ll likely pay much less for your premium, so if affordability is an issue, short-term health insurance might be an option for you. keep in mind that not all states offer short-term plan options.
where to start
If you’re looking for health insurance for your family, ehealth offers you access to a wide selection of plans. We know that finding the right plan at an affordable price can be tricky, especially if you have a family of four or more. To help you weigh all your options, we offer 24/7 support and licensed brokers in every state to help you find the best plan for your family. To learn more about how to select and pay for quality family health insurance, start comparing health insurance plans in your state today.
