Chicagoland Health Insurance - NPN # 1879400

Why choose CB Health Insurance?

Because we are an independent agency offering real time health insurance quotes and online applications from multiple health insurance companies, we believe in total transparency.  By utilizing our FREE Links to shop, you will be able to estimate your tax credit, get pricing on and off the exchange, compare options, look up providers, and apply online from the convenience of your own laptop or tablet!

If you need more assistance, such as deciding between plans, looking up your Dr.s to see which networks they accept, or finding the best coverage for your situation, our office can help!  Please note:  CB Health Insurance does charge fees for our services, but we do offer several levels of "help" from FREE to, hourly consulting, to everything "Done for you"!  The experts at CB Health Insurance are here to assist you! (CLICK Get a Quote for fees and options for help.)

3 Types of ACA plans:

1) HMO plans: An HMO, Health Maintenance Organization, requires the individual to get all their care in the HMO network.  An individual needs to choose a PCP - Primary Care Physician, who will coordinate care, and refer you to specialists, if need be. If you go OUT of the network or do not get a referral to see specialist, the claim is not covered.  Typically the premiums for these plans are lower than other types of insurance types like a PPO plan, which give you greater access to a larger network of providers.

• NOTE: For many years these plans were not available on an individual basis in the state of IL, however since the 2014, you can now buy an individual HMO both on and off the marketplace.

2) PPO Plans:  A PPO, or Preferred Provider organization, provides benefits at any provider. However, by going to contracted PPO network providers, such as Dr.'s, hospitals, labs, and other facilities, you will receive the discounted PPO rate and will not be subject to "balance billing" by the in-network providers.   In addition, by going IN-network, you can take advantage of "First-dollar benefits", where the deductible is waived and all you pay is a copayment for the service.  An example would be a Dr. office copayment for an office visit or copayments for generic drugs.

• NOTE:  Many of the IL ACA PPO Plans have drastically reduced benefits for Out Of Network services.  Out of network deductibles can be three to four times as high as in network deductibles and often times out of pocket maximum liabilities are uncapped. Meaning, the patient or insured could be responsible for an unlimited amount of claims. So PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, be sure to CHECK The NETWORK before enrolling!  We have heard one two many times how people enrolled in the 'wrong plan' and can't see their Dr.

3) HDHP/HSA Plans - this stands for High Deductible Health Plan/ Health Savings Account.  These plans are high deductible health plans that are approved by the government AND meet the gov'ts guidelines for HDHPs.  (NOTE:  Just because a plan has a 'high deductible' does not mean it is a HDHP or HSA-qualified.) . If you are enrolled in an HSA type medical plan, you are allowed to set up an HSA bank account - Health Savings Account. You can make tax-deductible contributions to your HSA account, and the $ can be used TAX-FREE for any unreimbursed medical expenses; eligible expenses include deductibles, co-pays, and dental and vision expenses. 

• NOTE:  HDHP can be either HMO or PPO, but they are most commonly a PPO.

Other/Non ACA type Plans include: 

Short Term Medical - STM: Short term insurance is typically purchased for a designated length of time, generally 1- 6 months. At the end of that time frame the policy ends. It is designed for people with temporary needs - between jobs, recent college grads, people waiting to enroll in their Employer group plan. It is major medical insurance with annual limits and no coverage for pre-existing conditions, and is underwritten, which means the  insurance companies can ask you Medical Questions and they can decline you for coverage! For this reason, it is NOT ACA compliant and we don't recommend you have this for more than 6 months. 

• However, You CAN purchase a plan ANY TIME OF THE YEAR without having recently lost coverage elsewhere.  This coverage can be a low cost way to cover you "in case something happens" until you can enroll in an ACA plan during the Annual Open Enrollment 11/11 - 12/15.
• NOTE:  In the State of IL, the maximum Short Term Policy cannot exceed 180 days; at the end of that time frame, a new policy can be applied for WITH A DIFFERENT CARRIER, not the same carriers.  The Federal Law allows individuals outside of IL to buy a 365 day Short Term Policy.

Surgical policies: Most health insurance plans sold today are major medical plans but there are a few hospital and surgical health insurance plans on the market. Surgical health plans often aren't as comprehensive as major medical plans, but are typically less expensive.These too, are not ACA compliant. Best to use this to supplement coverage, not as your main insurance.

Dread Disease Policies: Often called “cancer policies,” dread disease policies cover one or more dread disease: cancer, heart disease, or other major malady. Again, these plans will supplement your primary major medical insurance and provide dollars to you (not the hospital or Dr.) should you have a claim. The money can be used to help pay your deductibles, cover expenses that are not covered by your medical policy ie. the hotel you stayed at while your spouse got treatment out of state or extra money to help pay your bills while your you are in the hospital and can't work.

Hospital indemnity: A hospital indemnity plan provides a daily benefit for each day you are hospitalized -- and this is paid without regard to the hospital expenses incurred. This daily amount is paid to you and the benefit is triggered simply by confinement as an inpatient. Honestly, you won't see these much any more. They are not ACA/Obamacare compliant and don't provide the benefits required under the law. However, cancer policies are a type of "indemnity plan", paying a specific dollar amount for a specific claim.

For Self-Employed Individuals or small Business, consider an Association Plan.  See more here: Association Plans