Health insurance plans offered on the federal exchange (or any of the various state exchanges) are designed for individuals and families who are not offered employer-sponsored coverage. These plans are specific to the state in which they are offered. There are multiple insurance companies with various plans available in your area, designed to fit you or your family’s needs and budget.

Our agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. will help you:

• Explore the plans available in your area.
• Determine whether you qualify for a subsidy.
• Ensure that the providers you want are on the plan you choose.

We also offer:

• Free claims and appeals assistance
• Dental, Vision, and Hearing plans
• Assistance to individuals changing jobs and losing their workplace benefits
• Assistance to those aging into Medicare
• And much more

Finding the right health insurance plan can be a daunting task. Without the proper guidance, it can be frustrating and confusing. Don’t go about it alone! Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D Financial & Insurance Services are highly trained specialists in the health insurance industry. We will help you find the plan that best suits your needs. For professional help, at no cost to you, fill out the contact form or call our office at 801.209.9598 to speak with an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Financial & Insurance Services.

Health insurance is regulated by each individual state. Not all insurance companies offer their plans everywhere. Plan benefits will not usually cross state lines (unless specifically outlined in your policy documents). Insurance plans are state-specific. Agents of SH.I.E.L.D. Financial & Insurance Services are aligned with most major carriers in multiple markets. We are adding new markets as we grow.

Fill out the contact form or call our office at 801.209.9598 and speak with an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Financial & Insurance Services to find out which plans are available in your area.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA)

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) made several significant changes to the American healthcare system. These changes include:

• Expanded Health Insurance Coverage: The ACA was implemented to make health insurance coverage available to millions of Americans who could not otherwise afford or qualify for it. This was accomplished through the expansion of Medicaid and government-backed subsidies to lower the cost of health insurance plans.
• Health Insurance Market Reforms: The ACA made several changes to health insurance. Some of these changes included:
  • Guaranteed coverage for people with preexisting conditions
  • Elimination of coverage caps
  • Penalties for remaining uninsured (the penalty was effectively eliminated in 2017)
  • Companies with 50 or more full-time employees are required to offer health insurance or face penalties
  • Those whose employer-sponsored health insurance is deemed unaffordable may be eligible for a subsidized ACA plan.
  • Enabling children to remain on their parent’s insurance plan until they reach the age of 26

These changes have had both positive and negative impacts on the American healthcare system. While the ACA has helped to reduce the number of uninsured Americans, it has also led to increased healthcare costs for many individuals and businesses. Healthcare reform continues to be a hot topic among both the average American citizen and our elected representatives. Count on the agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Financial & Insurance Services to have the latest information on laws and regulations concerning healthcare. Fill out the contact form or call our office at 801.209.9598 and speak with an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Financial & Insurance Services for answers to your healthcare-related questions.

You can only purchase or change your ACA health insurance during annual election periods, which generally occur between November 1st and December 15th each year. However, there are exceptions to this rule. Certain life-changing events will trigger a 60-day special enrollment period for you to change your health insurance mid-year. These include:

• Change in marital status
• Birth, adoption, or gaining legal custody of a child
• Change in income (This may adjust the subsidy and modify elements of an existing It does not open a special enrollment period.)
• Loss of coverage through an employer or government program (such as Medicaid)
• Relocating to a new area where your existing coverage is no longer valid (i.e., to a new state)
• Loss of a dependent due to various circumstances
• Experience any other changes that may affect income and household size
• The month following an individual’s 26th birthday

If you have experienced one of these events, please fill out the contact form or call our office at 801.209.9598 and speak with an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Financial & Insurance Services. We’d be happy to help you enroll in a policy or help change your current coverage.

Dental Insurance
While some health insurance companies integrate dental care into their plans, most do not. Proper dental hygiene is essential to an individual’s general health. The agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Financial & Insurance Services offers a variety of regional and national dental insurance options with notable carriers. It is important to understand your dental plan, including the waiting periods, limitations, and exclusions.

Vision Insurance
Vision Insurance can help reduce your out-of-pocket costs for eye care. We offer a variety of plans through well-known carriers that can help pay for vision exams, corrective eyewear, and, in some cases, vision correction surgeries. Our clients often save money by purchasing plans that combine their dental and vision policies into one.

Hearing Care
Many people are surprised to learn that while their hearing screenings are covered under their health insurance plan, hearing aids are not. These appliances are often cost-prohibitive. Your agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Financial & Insurance Services can help with access to plans that pay additional benefits for screenings and hearing aids. These plans can stand alone, or they can be purchased combined with dental insurance to help reduce overall costs. Feel free to fill out the contact form or call our office at 801.209.9598 for more information.

Once your health insurance plan goes into effect, you must generally stay with that agent until the end of the year. Rules handed down by CMS (the federal agency tasked with insurance regulation) prevent transferring the servicing of an ACA policy to a new agent after the start date of that policy. A new agent can only assist with a new policy; however, if you have general questions about your plan, an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Financial & Insurance Services will do what they can to help you get the answers you seek. Please fill out the contact form or call our office at 801.209.9598 for assistance.