A Plan For Everyone
Qualified Health Plans
Farm Bureau offers a variety of insurance carriers, including Blue Cross® Blue Shield® of Michigan and Blue Care Network, Priority Health, and more, for individuals and families. Our Health Insurance Agents are certified to sell both on and off the Marketplace. If your Farm Bureau Agent doesn’t sell health insurance, we have a team of specialist who can help you. There’s no charge for our services and a Farm Bureau membership is not required.
Coverage Categories
The metal level category you choose determines how you and your plan will share in the cost of your care. No matter what category you choose, you will receive the same level of quality care and save money on your monthly premium based on your income. Our health-certified agents can help you determine if you qualify for these savings.
| Metal Level | Average of what the plan pays | Average of what you pay | Monthly premium costs for the plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | 60% | 40% | Lowest |
| Silver | 70% | 30% | Moderate |
| Gold | 80% | 20% | Highest |
What's Covered
Under the Affordable Care Act, every health plan sold on the Marketplace must be certified as a “qualifying health plan” and meet a set of minimum standards. Every qualified individual health plan must follow these standards:
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10 essential benefits outlined in the law, including: maternity care, prescription drugs, preventive care, outpatient care, hospitalization, lab services, emergency services and more.
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The insurance company can’t set a dollar limit on what they spend on essential health benefits for your care during the entire time you’re enrolled in that plan.
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Free preventive care.
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The insurance company cannot refuse to cover you or charge you more just because you have a “pre-existing condition.”
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Your health insurance coverage cannot be canceled just because you get sick.
Who's Eligible
To purchase individual health insurance on or off the Marketplace, you must meet these requirements:
- You must be a Michigan resident and live in the state for a minimum of six months each year.
- You must be under the age of 65.
- You must be a U.S. citizen or national (or be lawfully present).
- You can’t be incarcerated.
- You can’t have any other health care coverage.
- You must purchase a policy during the annual Open Enrollment Period, or during a qualifying Special Enrollment Period.
- You can’t have Medicare coverage.
- Children are eligible to remain on your policy until age 26.
A Farm Bureau membership is not required.
When You Can Enroll
The annual Open Enrollment Period (OEP) for coverage for the next plan year is November 1 through January 15*. Applications completed by December 15 will have a January 1 effective date. Applications completed December 16 – January 15 will have a February 1 effective date.
*OEP dates are subject to change by the Federal Government.
You may also be eligible to get health insurance at other times if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period:
- Due to a life event, like losing other coverage, getting married, moving, or having a baby.
- Are denied Medicaid or are no longer eligible for Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), you may also qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
- If your household income is below a certain amount.
In most situations, you only have 60 days from the life event to enroll in a plan.
Standalone Dental and Adult Vision
We have standalone dental insurance plans for all ages. There are multiple plans that cover 80% or 100% of preventative services like exams and cleanings when you see an in-network dentist.
Adult vision coverage is available on its own or combined with the dental coverage.
You can enroll in these plans anytime throughout the year and do not need a Special Enrollment Period.
Short-term Medical
If you just need a temporary health insurance plan while you’re between jobs or missed the Open Enrollment Period, ask your Health Insurance agent about a short-term medical policy.
These plans are limited to a maximum of 4 months out of any 365-day period. They do not cover pre-existing conditions, but do provide coverage for new injuries or illnesses while on the plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
When you apply for coverage on the Health Insurance Marketplace, you’ll find out if you qualify for a “premium tax credit” that lowers your premium (the amount you pay each month to your insurance plan). The amount of your premium tax credit depends on your estimated household income. You have the option to use as much or as little of the tax credit you are eligible for. Any unused eligible tax credit will be refunded when you file your federal income taxes for that plan year.
If your income changes, or if you add or lose members of your household, your premium tax credit will change too. It’s very important to report income and household changes to your Health Insurance Agent or the Marketplace as soon as possible.
If at the end of the year you made less money than reported, you may be eligible for an additional premium tax credit when you file your federal income tax return. However, if at the end of the year your income on your tax return is higher than the income on your Marketplace application you may owe back some of the premium tax credits that you’ve received throughout the year.
If you qualify for premium tax credits, your income may also qualify you for extra savings known as cost-sharing reductions. If it does, you can save money a second way: by paying less out of pocket each time you get medical services. You must be enrolled in the Silver plan category to qualify for extra savings on out-of-pocket costs, but you can use a premium tax credit on any metal category.
A Health Savings Account (HSA) is a type of savings account that lets you set aside money on a tax-exempt basis to pay for qualified medical expenses. By using untaxed dollars in an HSA to pay for deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, and some other expenses, you may be able to lower your overall health care costs.
While you can use the funds in an HSA at any time to pay for qualified medical expenses, you may contribute to an HSA only if you are enrolled in a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP). These medical plans only cover preventive services before you’ve met the deductible.
Ask your health-certified Farm Bureau Insurance agent to tell you which health plans qualify to work with an HSA, and how to set up your HSA account.
Make No Decision Alone
Our health-certified Farm Bureau Insurance Agents have been specially trained, licensed, and federally certified to help you understand the complexities of an individual health insurance plan. They can help you determine if you qualify for financial assistance and enroll in a health insurance plan. There is no charge for our services and no Farm Bureau membership is required, so take advantage of our expertise.
