Short-term, limited-duration insurance saves patients 68% or $3,228 a year!
Manhattan, NY (February 21st, 2018): Average insurance premiums have more than doubled from 2013 to 2017 for health plans on the Federal Health Insurance Exchange and half of U.S. counties have only one insurance carrier to choose from.
To bring affordable health insurance to a wider audience, last year, President Trump issued an executive order instructing the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury to consider proposing regulations or revising guidance to promote healthcare choice and competition by expanding the availability of short-term, limited-duration insurance. As a direct result, the departments issued a proposed rule on Tuesday, February 20th, 2018, that would change the maximum duration of such coverage to less than 12 months, as opposed to the current maximum duration of fewer than three months.
This insurance fills temporary gaps in coverage when an individual is transitioning from one plan or coverage to another and subsequently is exempt from ACA provisions. In other words, patients are given more choice - similar to the insurance options they had before the ACA went into effect.
As insurance rates have skyrocketed, patients have searched for alternative ways to find doctors and procedures at prices they can afford. Direct-pay doctor sites provide these patients the ability to shop office visits and procedures by price, distance, ratings, and availability. Using these sites allows them to save money in the long run. Even insured patients save by paying cash; cash prices are often lower than the cost of a copay and the surprise bills that often follow when using insurance.
Direct-pay doctor sites coupled with catastrophic (high deductible) insurance provides the most cost-effective care possible for patients as they are empowered to shop and pay for exactly what they need, no more.
Dr. Pedram Hendizadeh is an expert who can comment on affordable healthcare. Feel free to reach out to speak with him or use the quote below.
“The extension of short-term, limited-duration insurance saves patients money and as a result, more patients will be able to afford insurance.” He continued, “The extension of this reasonably priced insurance from three to 12 months is a great step in the right direction. We’d like to see an eventual extension beyond one year.”
As founder of direct-pay doctor site UMA Health, Dr. Hendizadeh has spent years building a transparent medical marketplace for doctors and procedures, in order to reduce the cost of healthcare. As a practicing doctor, he has seen the horrors of dealing with insurance companies firsthand and knew he could build a better solution.
By using UMA Health, patients can save money and doctors can offer lower rates since they don't have the insurance upkeep, which can cost more than 61% of their overhead expenses.
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