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Assumptions About Health Coverage That Lead to Unpleasant Surprises
Health Services · Featured

Assumptions About Health Coverage That Lead to Unpleasant Surprises

By Articles Haven Editorial Contributor · 6 min read
Health Services COBRA Coverage: How It Works and When It's Worth Considering

COBRA Coverage: How It Works and When It's Worth Considering

Losing employer coverage triggers COBRA eligibility. Understand the rules, costs, and time limits before deciding whethe…

Articles Haven Editorial Contributor · 8 min
Health Services Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP): Coverage Basics for Families

Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP): Coverage Basics for Families

CHIP provides low-cost coverage for children in families who earn too much for Medicaid. Here's how the program generall…

Articles Haven Editorial Contributor · 5 min
Health Services Choosing Between an HMO and a PPO When You Have Ongoing Care Needs

Choosing Between an HMO and a PPO When You Have Ongoing Care Needs

HMOs and PPOs serve different lifestyles. Understand the tradeoffs in network flexibility, referrals, and cost-sharing b…

Articles Haven Editorial Contributor · 5 min
Health Services Comparing Health Plan Options During a Life Event Outside Open Enrollment

Comparing Health Plan Options During a Life Event Outside Open Enrollment

Marriage, a new child, or job loss can trigger a Special Enrollment Period. Learn what qualifies and how to compare your…

Articles Haven Editorial Contributor · 7 min
Health Services Comparing Standalone Dental Plans: What the Tiers Really Mean

Comparing Standalone Dental Plans: What the Tiers Really Mean

Dental plan tiers differ by annual maximums, waiting periods, and covered procedures. Here's how to assess what a plan a…

Articles Haven Editorial Contributor · 6 min
Health Services Dental and Vision Coverage: Why Most Health Plans Leave These Out

Dental and Vision Coverage: Why Most Health Plans Leave These Out

Most major medical plans don't include dental or vision. Learn why these benefits are separate and what standalone optio…

Articles Haven Editorial Contributor · 8 min
Health Services Employer-Sponsored vs. Marketplace Health Insurance: Key Differences for Workers

Employer-Sponsored vs. Marketplace Health Insurance: Key Differences for Workers

Not sure whether to take your employer's plan or shop the ACA Marketplace? Here's what to weigh before deciding.…

Articles Haven Editorial Contributor · 6 min
Health Services Evaluating Telehealth Platforms: What to Look for Beyond Convenience

Evaluating Telehealth Platforms: What to Look for Beyond Convenience

Not all telehealth services offer the same care quality or coverage compatibility. Here's a framework for assessing what…

Articles Haven Editorial Contributor · 6 min
Health Services HMO, PPO, EPO, and HDHP: What Each Health Plan Type Actually Means

HMO, PPO, EPO, and HDHP: What Each Health Plan Type Actually Means

Confused by health plan acronyms? This plain-language breakdown explains what HMO, PPO, EPO, and HDHP plans are and how …

Articles Haven Editorial Contributor · 6 min
Health Services Health Insurance for Self-Employed Workers: An Overview of the Main Paths

Health Insurance for Self-Employed Workers: An Overview of the Main Paths

Freelancers and sole proprietors don't get employer coverage. This overview maps the main routes to individual health in…

Articles Haven Editorial Contributor · 8 min
Health Services Health Plan Myths That Cost People Money During Enrollment

Health Plan Myths That Cost People Money During Enrollment

Common misunderstandings about premiums, networks, and coverage can lead to poor plan choices. Here's what the evidence …

Articles Haven Editorial Contributor · 6 min
Health Services How ACA Subsidies Are Calculated — and What Changes Your Eligibility

How ACA Subsidies Are Calculated — and What Changes Your Eligibility

Premium tax credits on the ACA Marketplace are income-based, but several life changes can shift your subsidy amount mid-…

Articles Haven Editorial Contributor · 8 min
Health Services How Concierge Medicine and Direct Primary Care Differ From Traditional Practices

How Concierge Medicine and Direct Primary Care Differ From Traditional Practices

Membership-based primary care models promise more access and time with your doctor. Here's how they're structured and wh…

Articles Haven Editorial Contributor · 6 min
Health Services How Health Savings Accounts Work Alongside High-Deductible Plans

How Health Savings Accounts Work Alongside High-Deductible Plans

HSAs pair with HDHPs to help cover out-of-pocket costs with pre-tax dollars. Here's how the combination works in practic…

Articles Haven Editorial Contributor · 7 min
Health Services How Hospital Price Transparency Rules Are Changing What Patients Can See

How Hospital Price Transparency Rules Are Changing What Patients Can See

Hospitals are required to publish price data, but finding and interpreting it remains challenging. Here's what the rules…

Articles Haven Editorial Contributor · 7 min
Health Services How Integrated Care Models Coordinate Physical and Mental Health Services

How Integrated Care Models Coordinate Physical and Mental Health Services

Integrated care brings physical and behavioral health under one roof. Learn how these models are structured and what the…

Articles Haven Editorial Contributor · 8 min
Health Services How Medicaid Eligibility Works — and Why It Varies by State

How Medicaid Eligibility Works — and Why It Varies by State

Medicaid isn't one uniform program. Income limits, expansion status, and covered services differ meaningfully from state…

Articles Haven Editorial Contributor · 7 min
Health Services How Referral Requirements Work in Gated Health Plans

How Referral Requirements Work in Gated Health Plans

Some plans require a primary care referral before you can see a specialist. Here's how that process works and when it ca…

Articles Haven Editorial Contributor · 8 min
Health Services How to Find Out If a Specialist Is Covered Before Your Appointment

How to Find Out If a Specialist Is Covered Before Your Appointment

Surprise specialist bills are common. Here's a practical process for confirming network status, referral requirements, a…

Articles Haven Editorial Contributor · 7 min
Health Services Medicaid vs. Medicare: Who Each Program Serves and How They Work

Medicaid vs. Medicare: Who Each Program Serves and How They Work

Medicaid and Medicare are often confused but serve very different populations. This side-by-side breakdown clarifies eli…

Articles Haven Editorial Contributor · 6 min
Health Services Mental Health Coverage Under Health Insurance Plans: What's Actually Included

Mental Health Coverage Under Health Insurance Plans: What's Actually Included

Mental health parity laws require comparable coverage, but access varies. Understand what your plan is typically require…

Articles Haven Editorial Contributor · 8 min
Health Services Navigating Open Enrollment: A First-Timer's Roadmap

Navigating Open Enrollment: A First-Timer's Roadmap

Open enrollment only comes once a year. Here's how to evaluate your options, understand key dates, and avoid common cove…

Articles Haven Editorial Contributor · 8 min
Health Services Pre-Authorization in Health Insurance: What Requires It and Why It Gets Denied

Pre-Authorization in Health Insurance: What Requires It and Why It Gets Denied

Many procedures and medications require advance approval from your insurer. Understand how prior authorization works and…

Articles Haven Editorial Contributor · 8 min
Health Services Prescription Drug Tiers: Why the Same Medication Can Cost Very Different Amounts

Prescription Drug Tiers: Why the Same Medication Can Cost Very Different Amounts

Insurance formularies divide drugs into tiers that determine your cost. Learn how tiering works and what it means for yo…

Articles Haven Editorial Contributor · 9 min
Health Services Questions Worth Asking Before Joining a New Primary Care Practice

Questions Worth Asking Before Joining a New Primary Care Practice

Picking a primary care provider is a long-term decision. These questions help you evaluate fit, availability, and coordi…

Articles Haven Editorial Contributor · 5 min
Health Services Reading an Explanation of Benefits: What Each Section Actually Means

Reading an Explanation of Benefits: What Each Section Actually Means

An EOB isn't a bill, but it matters. Learn how to read each section so you can spot errors and understand what your insu…

Articles Haven Editorial Contributor · 6 min
Health Services Short-Term Health Insurance: What It Covers and Where It Falls Short

Short-Term Health Insurance: What It Covers and Where It Falls Short

Short-term plans can bridge a gap but carry significant limitations. Here's an honest look at what they include and excl…

Articles Haven Editorial Contributor · 6 min
Health Services Substance Use Disorder Treatment Coverage: What Parity Laws Require

Substance Use Disorder Treatment Coverage: What Parity Laws Require

Mental health parity laws extend to substance use treatment, but coverage varies. Learn what plans are generally require…

Articles Haven Editorial Contributor · 8 min
Health Services Supplemental Health Insurance: What It Adds and When It Makes Sense

Supplemental Health Insurance: What It Adds and When It Makes Sense

Supplemental plans cover costs your primary insurance may not. Learn what types exist and what gaps they're designed to …

Articles Haven Editorial Contributor · 8 min
Health Services Surprise Medical Billing: What Federal Protections Currently Exist

Surprise Medical Billing: What Federal Protections Currently Exist

Federal rules limit certain surprise bills from out-of-network providers. Here's what the No Surprises Act covers and wh…

Articles Haven Editorial Contributor · 7 min
Health Services Telehealth vs. In-Person Care: Matching the Visit Type to Your Situation

Telehealth vs. In-Person Care: Matching the Visit Type to Your Situation

Telehealth is convenient, but it isn't always the right fit. Explore how virtual and in-person visits differ across comm…

Articles Haven Editorial Contributor · 6 min
Health Services The Difference Between Copays, Coinsurance, and Out-of-Pocket Maximums

The Difference Between Copays, Coinsurance, and Out-of-Pocket Maximums

Three cost-sharing terms that appear on every health plan — and that most people mix up. Here's a clear breakdown of eac…

Articles Haven Editorial Contributor · 5 min
Health Services The Landscape of Wellness Programs Offered Through Employers

The Landscape of Wellness Programs Offered Through Employers

Employer wellness programs vary widely in structure and value. Here's what these programs typically include and how part…

Articles Haven Editorial Contributor · 6 min
Health Services Understanding Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D Without the Alphabet Soup

Understanding Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D Without the Alphabet Soup

Medicare's lettered parts cover different services and come with different costs. Here's what each part covers in plain …

Articles Haven Editorial Contributor · 5 min
Health Services Urgent Care, Emergency Room, or Primary Care: Choosing the Right Setting

Urgent Care, Emergency Room, or Primary Care: Choosing the Right Setting

Where you seek care affects both your health outcome and your bill. Learn which setting fits which type of medical situa…

Articles Haven Editorial Contributor · 6 min
Health Services What 'In-Network' and 'Out-of-Network' Mean for Your Medical Bills

What 'In-Network' and 'Out-of-Network' Mean for Your Medical Bills

Going out-of-network can cost significantly more. Understand how provider networks are structured and how to check cover…

Articles Haven Editorial Contributor · 7 min
Health Services What Community Health Centers Offer and Who Qualifies to Use Them

What Community Health Centers Offer and Who Qualifies to Use Them

Federally qualified health centers provide care on a sliding-fee scale. Learn what services they offer and how eligibili…

Articles Haven Editorial Contributor · 7 min
Health Services What Happens to Your Health Coverage When You Change Jobs

What Happens to Your Health Coverage When You Change Jobs

Job transitions create coverage gaps if you're not careful. Learn your options and timelines for maintaining continuous …

Articles Haven Editorial Contributor · 7 min
Health Services What a Flexible Spending Account Covers — and the Use-It-or-Lose-It Rule

What a Flexible Spending Account Covers — and the Use-It-or-Lose-It Rule

FSAs offer pre-tax savings for medical expenses, but unused funds typically don't carry over. Here's how to use one effe…

Articles Haven Editorial Contributor · 7 min
Health Services What a Health Insurance Deductible Actually Does to Your Costs

What a Health Insurance Deductible Actually Does to Your Costs

Deductibles can be confusing. Learn how they interact with premiums, copays, and out-of-pocket maximums in everyday heal…

Articles Haven Editorial Contributor · 7 min
Health Services What the ACA Marketplace Covers — and What It Doesn't

What the ACA Marketplace Covers — and What It Doesn't

The ACA Marketplace offers essential health benefits, but gaps exist. Learn what's typically included and where coverage…

Articles Haven Editorial Contributor · 8 min
Health Services Why Preventive Care Is Covered Differently Than Other Medical Visits

Why Preventive Care Is Covered Differently Than Other Medical Visits

Many preventive services are covered at no cost under ACA rules, but the details matter. Learn what qualifies and what d…

Articles Haven Editorial Contributor · 7 min

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