Make sure you have the needed information ready before selecting a plan
ROME, Ga., Oct. 16, 2024 – By proactively informing yourself and evaluating your current and future needs, you can ease the stress that naturally can arise from choosing a health insurance plan on or off the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Health Insurance Marketplace.
The following will help you have a smoother sign-up experience:
Get informed and ask questions
Before you decide to renew your health insurance plan, think about your costs and your health care needs:a
- Preference. Which doctors do you want to see? What hospitals do you prefer? If you have a primary care provider or other specialists you trust, make sure they are “in-network" or “preferred" on the insurance plan you are considering. This will keep out-of-pocket costs to a minimum.
- Costs. What are your average health care costs? Get an idea of how much you usually spend each year. Make sure to factor in doctor visits and costs for prescription medications.
- Budgets. What is your budget this year? How much can you afford to pay each month for your premium? If you go with a lower premium, can you afford the added out-of-pocket costs, like deductibles, co-pays and co-insurance?
- Savings. Do you qualify for savings? Find out if you are eligible.
- Future plans. Are there specific health services you need? Are you planning to have a baby or schedule a surgery? Do you have a medical condition that requires frequent doctor visits and tests?
Gather information
Ahead of filling out the health insurance application, you should gather and have the following information ready:
- The name of your employer, if applicable
- Your household income
- Social Security numbers (SSN) and date of birth for everyone being insured
- Policy and identification numbers from your current health insurance plan, if applicable
- Other personal details, such as how you file taxes
- Apply and submit your application on healthcare.gov. If you currently have a health insurance plan, review your application to update your personal information, especially if your income has changed.
- Don't miss the December 15 sign-up deadline for coverage to begin on January 1, 2025.
About Atrium Health Floyd
The Atrium Health Floyd family of health care services is a leading medical provider and economic force in northwest Georgia and northeast Alabama. Atrium Health Floyd is part of Charlotte, North Carolina-based Advocate Health, the third-largest nonprofit health system in the United States, created from the combination of Atrium Health and Advocate Aurora Health. Atrium Health Floyd employs more than 3,500 teammates who provide care in over 40 medical specialties at three hospitals: Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center – a 304-bed full-service, acute care hospital and regional referral center in Rome, Georgia; Atrium Health Floyd Polk Medical Center in Cedartown, Georgia; and Atrium Health Floyd Cherokee Medical Center in Centre, Alabama; as well as Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center Behavioral Health – a freestanding 53-bed behavioral health facility in Rome – and also primary care and urgent care network locations throughout northwest Georgia and northeast Alabama. Atrium Health Floyd also operates a stand-alone emergency department in Chattooga County, the first such facility to be built from the ground-up in Georgia.
About Atrium Health
Atrium Health is a nationally recognized leader in shaping health outcomes through innovative research, education and compassionate patient care. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Atrium Health is part of Advocate Health, the third-largest nonprofit health system in the United States, which was created from the combination with Advocate Aurora Health. A recognized leader in experiential medical education and groundbreaking research, Wake Forest University School of Medicine is its academic core. Atrium Health is renowned for its top-ranked pediatric, cancer and heart care, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Atrium Health is also a leading-edge innovator in virtual care and mobile medicine, providing care close to home and in the home. Ranked nationally among U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospitals in eight pediatric specialties and for rehabilitation, Atrium Health has also received the American Hospital Association's Quest for Quality Prize and its 2021 Carolyn Boone Lewis Equity of Care Award, as well as the 2020 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Health Equity Award for its efforts to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in care. With a commitment to every community it serves, Atrium Health seeks to improve health, elevate hope and advance healing – for all, providing $2.8 billion last year in free and uncompensated care and other community benefits.
About Advocate Health
Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit integrated health system in the United States – created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois, Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama, and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation's largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides nearly $6 billion in annual community benefits.