Health Insurance: Taking Control of Your Coverage

Written By: Alana Karran The current political minefield of health insurance makes it challenging to know what choices you have to protect yourself and your family’s healthcare coverage. It is possible to sidestep the uncertain landscape, by taking back control of your options. Employer-Based Insurance Programs Regardless of what happens with the Affordable Care Act, most mid to large size companies will continue to offer health insurance coverage to their employees. Traditionally, a company purchases a healthcare group plan and then offers coverage to employees as part of their employment package. The cost may be covered entirely by the employer or by employer-employee contributions. Currently, these plans are partly subsidized by the government through tax incentives. Research your policy options carefully, as your best opportunity to negotiate your plan and out-of-pocket cost is during your initial employment offer, when your