With health insurance coverage, you can visit a doctor without worrying about paying full price for expensive medical bills. Individuals and families can find health insurance coverage through private insurance companies, an employer’s group plan, the Health Insurance Marketplace, Medicaid, or Children’s Health Insurance Plans (CHIP). Most plans offer free preventive care such as annual checkups with your doctor, age-based screenings, certain vaccines, mental health services, and more.
Sorting through these options can be overwhelming and confusing. Plans have different costs and cover different services. Programs such as North Dakota Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) have income limits, while Marketplace plans have eligibility rules. You may be questioning if a private plan is actually going to cover your healthcare needs.
ND Health Insurance Navigators can help answer these questions. Our team is trained to understand the details so that you don’t have to. We can explain confusing terms, such as coinsurance, and how they will affect your costs. A Navigator can sit down beside you and help compare plans so you can be confident in your selection. Our team can also assist remotely with all or part of your insurance application. North Dakotans should have access to affordable health care. ND Navigators are a local, unbiased service. We are here to help break down some of the enrollment barriers by making the process easier and giving you and your family better access to essential healthcare.
For more information about affordable healthcare plans or to request enrollment assistance, contact one of our ND Navigators at 1-800-233-1737 or 701-858-3580. You may also send an email to NDNavigators@MinotStateU.edu or complete our Contact Form to connect with a Navigator in your region.
What is the Health Insurance Marketplace?
The Health Insurance Marketplace, or just Marketplace, can be found at: healthcare.gov. The Marketplace lets you compare health insurance plan options from various companies and complete an application for healthcare coverage. Most people use the Marketplace when they don’t have coverage through a job or the plan their company offers is too expensive.
You may be able to apply if you are a/an:
Members of enrolled Native American tribes can get coverage and still maintain use of Indian Health Services (IHS). Some families may qualify for zero or low-cost-share plans as well as year-round enrollment options. Members living outside an IHS coverage area may consider a Marketplace plan to gain access to additional care closer to home.
What is the enrollment process?
When you apply for a plan on the Marketplace, you will need to enter your household income. If your income is low enough, you may qualify for Medicaid. If it’s higher, you will be shown available Marketplace plans. Your income data will determine how much you could get in Premium Tax Credits (PTCs). These tax credits make the monthly cost of a health insurance plan (your Premium) more affordable.
To see what you may qualify for, try our income calculator below.