Hair Stylist Shares Her Mastering Health Insurance Story in Chicago, IL
A 25-year old hair stylist is covered by her mother’s Blue Cross Blue Shield plan. “Health insurance makes me nervous, and I’ll need to get my own coverage when I turn 26. I don’t make a lot of money, but I have to be insured.”
What is important to her? The stylist answered a few questions:
- Medical needs? Other than the annual gynecology exam, no.
- Physician relationship? No.
- Service issues? No.
How does she get started? It’s easy:
- Go to GetCovered.Illinois.gov and link to HealthCare.gov to window shop.
- Learn about tax credits. Let’s assume she makes $25,000 per year, which means yes.
- Filter options. If she’s happy with BCBS, it may be easier to stay with them; if not, consider other carriers.
How much will it cost*? For example, a silver plan might cost $142/month after $86 tax credit. The stylist will have a deductible, as well as an out-of-pocket limit of no more than $5,700 if she has a major health issue during the year. Other options—such as catastrophic coverage—exist.
What happens in an emergency? The use of in-network versus out-of-network providers will affect her out-of-pocket costs. She now knows to learn if her local hospital is part of her health plan’s network “just in case” of an emergency.
Finally, the stylist said her boyfriend paid a tax penalty for not being covered. “It hurt. He didn’t get the refund he expected.” He now has a full-time job that provides employer-sponsored coverage. She’s hoping to get the same for herself at a new salon. In other words, she’s Mastering Health Insurance.
Source: KFF Health Insurance Marketplace Calculator