Hello, my name is Jared Balis and I'm a licensed insurance agent living in Utah. I'd like to help you find the health insurance plan that's right for you, your family, or your Utah business!

Individuals and Families

5 Steps to Get Covered

If you don't have access to health insurance through an employer, a private plan is often the best way to get coverage. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to get covered:

1. Request instant online quotes - You'll get pricing and benefit information for Altius Health Plans, Assurant Health, Humana, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah, and SelectHealth.

2. Sort through your plan options - Use the sorting tools on the left side of the screen when looking at your quotes. If you'd like my assistance in deciding on a plan, I'd be happy to help you. If you have questions about the plans you are seeing, or don't understand the benefit details, email me or call me at 801-679-0405.

3. Check your doctors - The doctors, urgent care centers, hospitals, and other medical facilities you use may only be accepted by certain insurance companies. Check to find out if your medical providers are "in-network" for the plan(s) you are interested in.

4. Apply - Once you've decided on a specific plan, complete that company's application. You can apply by downloading, printing, and completing an application, or many companies allow you to apply immediately online.

5. Allow the insurance company time to review your application - The application review process normally takes between two days and three weeks. How long it takes depends on how detailed you were when completing your application, whether the insurance company requests medical records, and how long it takes them to receive information they request from you or your doctor. In Utah, your application can have multiple outcomes. Here are the three most common;
   

• Your application is approved at the price you were quoted.
• Your application is approved with a modified price, and/or benefits. In this case, the insurance company will make you a formal counter-offer. You'll have the opportunity to accept the coverage as offered, or decline.
• Your application is denied. If you've been denied health insurance, please call me. I'll help you determine whether or not another insurance company will consider your application. If not, I'll give you information for coverage options through the state of Utah.

Utah Businesses

I am an authorized agent for Avenue H (formerly the Utah Health Exchange). If you'd like to explore defined contribution options for your business and its employees, please call me at 801-679-0405.

5 Steps to Setting Up a Group Health Plan

1. Determine your business' eligibility - Determining eligibility for a group health plan is relatively easy. The majority of your employees must reside in the state of Utah, your business must pay two full-time permanent employees on a W-2, and you must provide a copy of your business' last quarterly wage list (as filed with the Utah Department of Workforce Services). Contractors who are paid on 10-99's typically don't qualify for coverage on group health plans in our state. In addition, businesses may be requested to provide their last month's payroll records. As long as your business meets these few requirements, you'll likely be eligible for a group plan.


2. Explore insurance company and benefit options - It's helpful to get an idea of your options before you get to far along into the process. Exploring company and plan options before you apply accomplishes a few things.
   
   1. It gives you a range of what final pricing will be.
   2. It allows you to get a feel for the types of coverage options your business will have..
   3. It allows you to estimate how many employees may or may not be insterested based on the initial price range.


3. Apply for accurate pricing - Once you've determined that you want to move forward with setting up an employee benefits package, it's time to apply. Completing and submitting applications will allow the insurance companies to assess the risk in your group and issue accurate prices for each of their plan offerings.


4. Review final options - Once the insurance company or companies approve your group's applications and issues accruate pricing, it's easy to compare your plan options, their pricing, and gather participation information from your business' employees.


5. Accept an offer - Once you decide on a plan and pricing structure for you business, accepting is as simple as signing a few pieces of paper and paying your first month's premium.

If you'd like to get starting in your search for an group health plan, complete this short quote request form, or call me at 801-679-0405.

Types of Health Insurance Plans in Utah

There are many quality health insurance options for individuals, families, and businesses in Utah. Although there are slight variations of each plan, there are four main types of plans offered in the Utah market. They are:

• Copay plans that cover office visits and prescriptions with up-front copays and have low medical deductibles.
• Copay plans that have limited up-front office visit and prescription coverage with higher medical deductibles.
• Deductible-first plans with low and high deductibles, which coverage office visits and prescriptions, but only after the medical deductible has been met for the year..
• Qualified high deductible health plans (QHDHP's) that keep your monthly premium low and allow you to use a health savings account (HSA) to realize tax savings for medical expenses..

Insurance Companies in Utah

There are six main health insurers that offer health plans in Utah. They are;

• Altius Health Plans
• Assurant Health
• Humana
• Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah
• SelectHealth
• United Healthcare

All of these companies, except for United Healthcare, offer private plans to Utah's individuals and families. All of them, except for Assurant Health, offer group plans to Utah's businesses.

If you're interested in starting a health insurance plan, request a quote, or call me at 801-679-0405. Thank you for using Utah Insurance Advisors!

Author: Jared Balis, license #192152

Jared Balis, owner of Utah Insurance Advisors, is an authorized agent for Avenue H (formerly the Utah Health Exchange). If you'd like to explore defined contribution options for your business and its employees, please call me at 801-679-0405.