Is Covered California a Better Deal than Employer-Provided Health Insurance?

If your employer offers health insurance, but you don’t like the cost or the coverage, you may wonder if you can get a plan through Covered California.

Proceed carefully before switching plans. Employers usually pay for a portion of health coverage. With Covered CA, there is no employer contribution.

The new health law offers subsidies to some people. If your employer offers health care, however, you may not be eligible for a subsidy.

Three factors affect your eligibility for a subsidy. First, your salary may be too high to qualify. The exact amount depends on how many dependents you have. The second factor is whether your employer health plan pays for 50 percent of the average member’s health costs…Finally, if employer plan costs less than 9.5 percent of your salary, you won’t qualify for a subsidy. The 9.5 percent refers to the amount for individual coverage. It does not matter if you pay more for a spouse or family members.

If you want to make a change, you can ask your employer if your coverage meets the minimum standards. Once you determine that, Sackett & Associates Insurance Services in Sonoma County can provide a certified agent to help you weigh your health insurance options. Learn more by contacting us.