Having health insurance protection is important for everyone. As an agent with BHI, I offer residents of Bakersfield, and the surrounding communities, a choice when it comes to their healthcare options.
Health Insurance in Bakersfield
Ever since the government passed the mandate of health insurance in 2014, Covered California has been on the forefront, providing effective and affordable health insurance for residents of Bakersfield.
Kern County, where Bakersfield resides, has over 64,000 uninsured residents. With a multitude of options, there are ways to help reduce this number. Finding a health insurance policy, which covers all your specific needs can be challenging, but it is not an impossible task. However, to find the right plan for you, you must first assess your needs.
You will want to pay close attention to the renewal documents as prices are subject to change and you may even have become eligible for other packages or qualify for subsidies to help alleviate the cost of insurance.
The renewal process for 2019 will begin October 15, 2018, and will last until January 15, 2019. Between these dates, you can enroll, make changes to your preferred plan, or elect to opt out of Covered California.
Covered California for Bakersfield, CA
Covered California is the state-governed health insurance marketplace. It offers varying forms of healthcare to its residents. There are options for every class; single, married, and families. Covered California has structured their pricing to help control the cost of health insurance.
Depending on the metal tier you are on; Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum, insurance plans can help you cover 60 – 90% of your medical expenses.
This year there is another increase in premiums. This goes hand in hand with the cost of health care as a whole. The rise in premium rates in the past has resulted in many shifting from costlier to more affordable insurance options and this year should be no exception; insurance can be affordable.
For those living in Bakersfield, the average income for households amounts to $59,233. At certain income levels; you can qualify for subsidies, financial assistance, and even extra discounts to decrease the burden of medical costs. For instance, if your income is below 400% FPL, which is approximately $47,000 for one person or $98,000 for a family of four, this could qualify you for premium assistance.
Health Insurance Alternatives
BuyHealthInsurance.com offers alternative health insurance plans to make it easier to find the right one for you. Another plan option that is growing in popularity is a Health Sharing Plan, such as Aliera. These plans allow participants to contribute to a fund that pools together premiums and then distributes to everyone in the plan as medical needs arise.