Sherice
Jacob Contributor, Benzinga November 27, 2019
Finding reliable health insurance in Big Sky Country doesn’t
mean you have to pay big prices. Benzinga has made your search for quality
health insurance even easier with our comprehensive review. Our list of best
companies in Montana offers a wide variety of coverage types.
The Best Health Insurance in Montana:
·
Best Overall in Montana: UnitedHealthcare
·
Most Affordable in Montana: Cigna
·
Best Customer Service: PacificSource
·
Best for Claims: BCBS of Montana
·
Best for Cash Benefits: Assurant Health
Contents
What is Health Insurance?
Have you just settled down in the Treasure State and want to
know how to get
health insurance? We’ll tackle several different ways to get
insurance coverage. Health insurance covers treatment for injuries and illnesses
and can also help you manage chronic conditions. You can get health insurance
through your employer, through a state exchange or through an individual
insurance plan, such as the ones profiled here.
Because of the high cost of hospital and medical bills, a
serious injury or illness can devastate your savings. That’s a risk you can
avoid when you get the right kind of health insurance. It’s important to
familiarize yourself with the different terms used in your chosen health
insurance policy so that you can understand how much you’re paying and how much
you’ll be responsible for when you visit doctors and hospitals.
·
Premium: You pay this fee to the insurance company every month to
keep your policy in force and active.
·
Deductible: Your deductible is what you pay before your insurance kicks
in. Some health insurance plans have no deductible at all, but you’ll pay
higher premiums or you may have higher coinsurance.
·
Copay: This is a small amount of money paid to your doctor or for
your prescriptions. It is usually around $30–$45 for a doctor or specialist
visit and doesn’t count toward your deductible.
·
Coinsurance:
This is a percentage that’s shared
between you and the insurance company. Common coinsurance amounts are 80/20 and
70/30, where the insurance company pays 80% or 70% and you pay 20% or 30%,
respectively.
Average Cost of Health Insurance in Montana
The average Montanan pays around $8,220 per year for
insurance. Depending on your current health situation, you may pay more or less
for health insurance based on the following factors:
·
Body mass
index (BMI): A high BMI can be a precursor to
other diseases, including chronic health conditions like heart disease, high
blood pressure and diabetes.
·
Tobacco use:
Smokers pay more for health
insurance than their non-smoking counterparts. A little over 17% of people in
Montana smoke.
·
Age: Older people tend to have more health conditions, so if
you’re 50 or older, you’ll likely pay more for your health insurance compared
to someone who is younger than 50.
You can’t change your age but you can exercise and eat
plenty of veggies. You can also stop smoking to avoid long-term conditions that
could jeopardize your health.
Types of Health Coverage
There are several different types of health insurance
coverage. The most common coverages include:
·
Health
maintenance organizations (HMOs): HMOs
offer some of the best cost savings and require you to complete very little
paperwork. In order to keep these costs low, you are part of a predetermined
network of providers. You have a primary care physician who is responsible for
the majority of your care. If you need to see a specialist, your physician must
refer you. The specialist must also be part of the HMO network for the HMO to
cover the cost.
·
Preferred
provider organizations (PPOs): PPOs
are also made up of predefined networks — but these networks typically tend to
be larger and have more participating providers. This means you have more
freedom and flexibility to choose your own doctors and hospitals and you don’t
need a referral to see a specialist. You’ll pay more if you see a doctor
outside of the network, and if you choose to do so, you’ll need to file a claim
with the PPO to be reimbursed for some of the cost.
·
Point of
service (POS) plan: A POS plan gives you the greatest
amount of freedom to choose the doctor and hospital you want. You pay the bill
at the time of service and then file a claim with the provider to be reimbursed
according to the details of your coverage.
What Does Health Insurance Cover?
Every insurance plan is different and offers different
amounts of coverage accordingly. But generally speaking, your insurance should
cover some or all of the following:
·
Ambulance services
·
Laboratory services
·
Mental health care
·
Wellness checks
·
Pediatric care
·
Emergency services
·
Hospitalization
·
Newborn and maternity care
·
Prescription drugs
·
Rehabilitative services
What Does Health Insurance not Cover?
Health insurance covers many procedures and treatments but
there are always some exceptions to what’s covered. The following are generally
not covered by health insurance companies:
·
Elective or cosmetic procedures
·
LASIK
·
Alternative therapies
·
Dental, vision and hearing
·
Long-term nursing home care
·
Infertility treatments
Best Health Insurance Providers in Montana
Choosing the best health
insurance company in Montana means having a clear idea of what you
need coverage for and approximately how much you can afford to pay each month
for premiums as well as what you feel is a reasonable deductible.
1. UnitedHealthcare
It’s hard to beat United Healthcare for its large network of
participating providers as well as its ease of use — it’s one of the biggest
health insurance companies in the nation. United Healthcare offers several
different types of affordable plans so it’s a solid choice for comprehensive
coverage as well as prescription drugs, dental coverage and vision coverage.
Dental, vision and prescription drug coverage can be added
to your plan, which makes it reliable for individuals as well as for families
who look for affordable health insurance.
2. Cigna
Cigna made our list not just for its large network and
comprehensive coverage, but also for its added benefits. Plans are available
that cost you nothing for preventive care, such as vaccines and immunizations
for children.
You’ll also get $0 telehealth consultations if you need to
see a doctor if your doctor’s office is closed or you’re too sick to leave your
home. Be sure to check out Cigna’s extensive healthy rewards program which
helps you maintain healthy habits like eating right and exercising
regularly.
3. PacificSource
PacificSource is a PPO health insurance company that has
received good ratings from the National Commission of Quality Assurance (NCQA).
The NCQA independently reviews health insurance plans in Montana to evaluate
the quality of care that patients receive.
PacificSource was rated well for the quality of care and
ease of use getting treatment and care. In addition, the company also offers a
wide range of customizable plans and a large network. PacificSource also offers
dental health insurance plans. It’s particularly notable for its preventive
care services and its after-care services for newborns and mothers all the way
up to seniors.
You can be assured that PacificSource can give you the care
you need and deserve.
4. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana
The oldest, independent and locally-owned health insurance
company in Montana, Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) of Montana offers a
variety of individual and family plans to fit your needs.
You’ll find dozens of options to choose from and you can
customize your coverage by selecting the right deductible and premium rates,
view coinsurance and copay details and more. You can do all of this from its
innovative, easy-to-use website.
Both PPO and POS plans are available with varying degrees of
payments available, depending on your needs and budget.
5. Assurant Health
Assurant Health provides health access plans and pays cash
benefits when you receive medical treatment. Supplemental insurance is also
available to help provide coverage in case of unexpected illness or injury.
Assurant Health’s network is not as expansive as
UnitedHealth or Blue Cross Blue Shield, but it does include a variety of
doctors, hospitals and specialists throughout Montana.
Assurant Health is also rated highly for its financial
stability and its ability to pay and process claims quickly and efficiently — a
definite bonus when you need care in a timely manner.
Get Affordable Health Insurance in Big Sky Country
It can be easy to feel overwhelmed by the various health
insurance options to choose from. Fortunately, getting a no-obligation online
quote for free from these top health insurance providers in Montana is easy and
hassle-free. A few clicks can get you a customized rate and details about a
plan that’s a perfect fit for your needs and your family’s needs.
We recommend getting quotes from each of the companies
profiled here to give you the widest range of health care options to choose
from so that you can make a confident decision.
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