Top Healthcare and Insurance Insights All in One Place
Signing up for health insurance used to be frustrating, complicated, and confusing. There are so many factors to consider when shopping for a health plan.
What health insurance carrier should I go with?
Is my current doctor covered under my new plan?
Which tier should I select?
How much is the monthly premium?
What about deductibles and copays?
That’s enough information to make anyone’s head spin! Luckily, the HealthBird app makes it so much easier. Just answer a few simple questions, and our AI will curate a collection of the most suitable plans for you. Let’s break it down.
First, answer a few questions about yourself.
Don’t worry, it’s not complicated. To start, just input your:
- Five-digit zip code
- Date of birth
- Gender assigned at birth
- Your spouse and/or dependents, if you have any. You can also specify whether or not they need coverage.
From there, input how many people live in your home and your annual household income to see how much you can save. Depending on your income, you may be eligible for a cost-sharing reduction to lower the cost of your monthly premium. Some applicants are even able to get their health insurance plan for as low as $0 a month– No joke! As long as they meet individual qualifications.
Then, estimate how much you expect to use your healthcare benefits. We only ask because plans with lower copays will help reduce the cost of frequent medical appointments. Your response won’t change the coverage you’re eligible for or raise the price. Next, add any healthcare providers you’d like to visit. We’ll curate a list of plans that your doctor of choice accepts. If you have any medications, add them during this step, and we’ll show you which plans cover them.
Next, review your health plan options
After all questions are complete, HealthBird will whip up a list of plans based on your answers. Each plan summary includes:
- The name of the carrier and plan
- Your monthly premium
- Your deductible and drug deductible
- Applicable copay, primary doctor visits, specialist visits, and generic drugs
- Your out-of-pocket max
Click on each plan to get more detailed coverage information. Maternity care, imaging, emergency care, you name it! You’ll also be able to review links to the provider’s website.
Like what you see? Hit enroll, and you’re almost finished
Congrats! It’s a match. Add your email address and agree to the terms and conditions. Make sure that all information within your application is honest and accurate. You will have to share your personal information, including your full name, Social Security Number, address, and provide proof of your identity using your driver’s license or passport, along with a few other details.
After you’ve input your information, you’ll get a summary of your plan benefits and costs. If everything looks good, submit your application, and you’re good to go! Benefits typically kick in on the first day of the month following plan selection, so if you sign up on January 15th, you can start using your benefits starting on February 1st. If you enroll on January 16th, then the plan will begin on March 1st.
Still have questions? Reach out to our Member Concierge at hello@healthbird.com or call (833) 384-2473.
During the health insurance enrollment process, one of the first questions to answer is “How many people are in your household?” When it comes to the Health Insurance Marketplace, however, this number may differ from the total number of people living in your home. So who’s included and who’s not?
Your household includes yourself, your spouse, and any tax dependents
Three easy rules exist to determine your health insurance household size.
- Include yourself if you’re the primary tax filer
- Include your spouse if you’re legally married
- Include any children you will claim as a tax dependent, including adopted and foster children
You should still include your spouse and tax dependents in your household size even if they don’t need insurance coverage. If you have shared custody of children, only include them during the years you will be claiming them as tax dependents.
You may also include:
- Children under the age of 21 who live with you
- Adult children under the age of 26 if you’d like to cover them under your health insurance plan
- Dependent parents, siblings, or other relatives who you’ll claim on your taxes
- Your unmarried domestic partner if you’ll claim them as a tax dependent and/or if you have a child together
Don’t include:
- Unborn children. You can add your baby to your insurance plan after they’re born. You’ll have up to 60 days to do so after their date of delivery.
- Non-dependent children or relatives who live with you
- A legally separated or divorced spouse
- Your spouse if you’re a victim of domestic violence or spousal abandonment
- Roommates
A few more tips for determining your household size
If you’re not claimed as a tax dependent by someone else and have no dependents, only count yourself. If you’re claimed as a dependent on someone else’s tax return, you can sign up for a health insurance plan yourself, but you’ll have to pay full price.
If you’re married, you must file a joint federal tax return to be eligible for a premium tax credit and other savings. You can still enroll in a health insurance plan together if you file separately, but you won’t be eligible for discounts. You may also need to complete individual applications for each of you.
If you have a spouse or dependents, you need to include their incomes within the household income section, even if they don’t need insurance. This is because Marketplace savings are calculated based on the income of all members of your household, not just those who need coverage.
That’s all there is to it!
Need more help? Just chat with a member of our concierge team for on-demand answers.
HealthBird Member Concierge
In a perfect world, every person in the United States would have affordable health insurance coverage. We’re not there yet, but we’re closer than you might think. In 2023, about twice as many lawfully present immigrant adults were uninsured in comparison to citizens. However, contrary to popular belief, you do not have to be a citizen to benefit from the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Many residents have health insurance options today that were unavailable in the past. Let’s break down how to access your best healthcare options regardless of your immigration status.
If you’re lawfully present in the US, you’re eligible for Obamacare
About one million people each year are granted lawful permanent residence in the US. If you’re one of them, you can apply for any available health insurance plans during open enrollment, just like citizens. This includes health employer-sponsored insurance plans and plans purchased through an insurance marketplace like HealthBird.
A lawfully present immigrant includes anyone who has:
- Qualified noncitizen status
- A valid nonimmigrant visa
- Legal status defined by certain laws like the Family Unity Program or LIFE Act
- Humanitarian status, like asylum applicants or those with Temporary Protected Status
As long as you meet one or more of these qualifications, currently live in the US, are not incarcerated, and are not covered by Medicare, you can sign up for insurance through any Health Insurance Marketplace during open enrollment.
The only exception to this rule are DACA recipients. Currently, even though they are considered lawfully present during their deferred action period, they aren’t eligible to enroll in health coverage. The Biden administration is working to change that, so it’s possible that DACA recipients may be eligible during future open enrollment periods.
Federally funded programs have a few more health coverage eligibility requirements
Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are options for any immigrants who have held “qualified” status for at least five years. Veterans, active duty military and their families, and refugees are still eligible without the five-year wait period.
New immigrants aren’t eligible for Medicare no matter their age. If an immigrant or their spouse has worked in a job that paid Medicare payroll taxes for a minimum of 10 years, they can apply for Medicare Part A as soon as they turn 65.
While you’re waiting for a green card, immigrants have a few options
If you’ve applied for a green card but you’re still waiting on it, you’re considered a visitor to the US. It can take an average of 7 to 33 months to obtain a green card in the US, but until you get that card, you won’t qualify for Obamacare.
You can, however, sign up for a visitor insurance plan. Visitor medical insurance plans offer temporary, short-term insurance plans for up to about a year, and many plans can be extended for a second year. It’s more expensive than Obamacare, but it’s a good insurance option for immigrants waiting for a green card.
If you’re an undocumented immigrant, know your healthcare options
Undocumented individuals are not considered lawful US residents, so they’re not eligible for federally funded programs like Affordable Care Act marketplaces and Medicare. Undocumented persons still have options, however. If you’re undocumented, you can still do the following:
Apply for health insurance on behalf of eligible dependents
If you aren’t a lawful resident but your children are, you can still enroll them in a health insurance plan during open enrollment even though you’re ineligible yourself.
Visit low-cost community health clinics
Check for a local health clinic in your area through a directory of national free clinics or a state-specific community clinic list. These are designed to treat everyone who needs care, including undocumented immigrants and individuals without health insurance.
Acquire emergency medical treatment
All hospitals and emergency centers are legally required to treat and stabilize any patience who need emergency medical care, even if they are unable to pay. This includes undocumented immigrants.
Sign up for unsubsidized private health insurance
Some health insurance companies may offer private health insurance coverage for undocumented immigrants depending on their country of origin
In 2022, California made a groundbreaking law regarding immigrant health insurance
California became the first US state to offer state-funded health insurance coverage to undocumented immigrants. The new eligibility rules kicked in as of January 2024, offering an expanded Medi-Cal program to almost all eligible state residents, undocumented immigrants included. Other Medi-Cal eligibility rules still apply, but if you live in California, you can contact our team to see if you qualify.