Our FAQs are here to help you feel secure by answering your questions about getting the right plan for you and your family.
This depends on your situation. If you have a high-deductible health plan or have concerns about unexpected medical costs after an accident, then you may want to consider adding Accident Medical Expense insurance
You don’t need both Accidental Death and Dismemberment and Accident Medical Expense Insurance. AD&D insurance covers accidental death but not medical expenses and AME insurance covers medical expenses after an accident, but not death. If you need a death benefit, get AD&D insurance as a supplement to life insurance, but if you’re worried about medical costs, get AME insurance.
Accident Medical Expense insurance is not the same as health insurance. It focuses on providing benefits for covered accidents, while health insurance offers broader coverage for a variety of medical conditions and illnesses
Deaths caused by self-inflicted injuries, war, or high-risk activities without the appropriate safety measures are typically disqualified on these policies. Make sure to read the details of your policy carefully to understand what is covered and what is excluded.
The payout amount depends on the level of coverage selected and the severity of the injury as outlined in the details of the policy.
Life insurance is different because it pays the death benefit regardless of the cause of death. Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance pays a benefit only if the death is caused by an accident such as a car accident, fire, falls, drowning, as well as other specific accidental injuries.
AD&D insurance and life insurance share a few similarities such as providing financial security and a sense of ease knowing your loved ones will be protected in case you pass away.
If you are diagnosed with a covered critical illness that meets your policy’s criteria (the severity of the illness), you will receive a lump sum cash benefit from your insurance company. The insurance company will issue the predetermined payout amount outlined in your policy. The cash benefit isn’t tied to your medical bills.
No, Critical Illness insurance is not the same as traditional health insurance. It’s considered supplemental insurance that provides benefits for specific conditions in addition to your health insurance plan.
A traditional health insurance plan focuses on covering your medical bills, while critical illness insurance provides a lump sum cash benefit to assist with the financial burden that comes with a critical illness
Yes, critical illness insurance is more expensive for people who smoke. Smoking is considered a major risk factor for many critical illnesses covered by these plans including heart disease, stroke, and some cancers.
Those who vape or chew tobacco may be classified as smokers and face paying higher premiums.
Critical Illness Insurance plans can have waiting periods. That means you must wait a certain amount of time after enrolling in the plan before you can receive benefits for a critical illness, even if it’s not considered pre-existing by the plan’s definition. In addition, some insurance companies will not accept someone with a history of critical illness.
Be sure to ask about the specific waiting period for the critical illness plan you select, and if it applies to pre-existing conditions identified during the application process. Knowing this timeframe ensures you understand when you’ll be financially protected if diagnosed with a critical illness
In-network dentists have negotiated lower rates with our insurance carriers. Using an in-network dentist typically results in lower out-of-pocket costs for covered services.
Depending on your plan, you may need a referral from your primary dentist to see a specialist for certain procedures.
In some very specific cases, health insurance might offer limited coverage for dental work if it’s deemed medically necessary. For instance, a jaw fracture caused by an accident might be covered under health insurance. Otherwise, health insurance and dental insurance are separate from each other with dental insurance designed specifically to cover preventive and restorative dental procedures, such as cleanings, fillings, crowns, and root canals.
Good news! You can get dental insurance even if you don’t have health insurance. Health plans and dental plans are separate, so having one doesn’t require the other.
Yes! The great thing about dental insurance is that you can enroll anytime throughout the year, and our agents can walk you through the variety of available plans.
Most dental insurance plans cover cleanings, typically twice a year. This coincides with the recommended frequency for professional dental cleanings to maintain good oral health. However, the specific coverage for cleanings can vary depending on your plan design.
An elimination period is the length of time between an injury and the beginning of the benefit payments. This can also be referred to as a waiting period or qualifying period. Most insurance policies require you to be injured or disabled during this period of time. Most of the time, the shorter the elimination period, the higher the premiums will be.
Your benefit period is the time that you can receive benefits from your disability insurance plan. This will vary by the plan type – short-term or long-term and the coverage level you select.
Most disability insurance policies will not provide benefits for a pre-existing condition, only new injuries or illnesses that occur after the policy is in force.
Eligibility will vary depending on the policy and the state. If you are between the ages of 18 and 64, you may apply in any state where the plan is sold.
Fixed indemnity insurance companies can ask specific questions during enrollment that may cause an application to be denied, set plan limitations or charge higher-rates for pre-existing health conditions. Coverage is not guaranteed.
Unlike plans available on the Health Insurance Exchange, fixed indemnity plans are available for enrollment any time of the year. You can also cancel a fixed indemnity plan at any time if your circumstances change.
Maternity and newborn care coverage with fixed indemnity plans is generally not included or has limitations.
Fixed indemnity plans focus on paying a set amount for specific events, like hospital stays, regardless of the actual medical bills. Since pregnancy and childbirth can vary significantly in cost, these plans often exclude them entirely or might offer limited benefits like a fixed payout for a hospital stay after delivery, but wouldn’t cover other maternity or newborn care expenses.
You don’t have to buy health insurance through the Exchanges or Marketplace. Many people have access to coverage through their employer. Champion Benefit Advisors can help you look at all your options, including Marketplace health insurance plans and consult with you on the most affordable health solution for your needs.
All plans on the Exchanges have deductibles, which is the amount you pay for covered health care services before your insurance plan starts to pay. These plans will also have copayments, which is a fixed dollar amount you pay for a covered health care service after you’ve paid your deductible. And Marketplace plans will also have other out-of-pocket costs that may be needed if you use services not covered. Some preventive services are free and some plans will cover other services without any additional costs.
To qualify for a plan on the Marketplace, you need to:
Enrollment happens annually: Normally, you can shop for plans during Open Enrollment, from November 1st to January 15th. This is the main window to get coverage for the next year.
But there are exceptions! You might qualify for a Special Enrollment Period if you experience life changes like:
These events can open a special window to enroll in a plan outside of Open Enrollment.
Generally, no. Unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period due to a life event, you’ll have to wait until the next Open Enrollment to change plans.
The start date depends on when you enroll. Generally, coverage begins the following month if you enroll by the 15th of the prior month.
Eligibility will vary depending on the policy and the state. It is possible to be declined based on your medical history.
Short-Term Medical insurance plans are not required to adhere to the Affordable Care Act requirements, so check the carrier’s policy thoroughly for any exclusions, for example – maternity, mental health, substance abuse or prescription coverage.
If you want to extend your coverage for a STM plan, you will be required to re-apply at the end of your current term. Some insurers may allow you to apply for multiple consecutive terms with a single application. You won’t need to re-qualify for a new policy, but you may still be subject to pre-existing condition limitations and new deductibles.
Beginning September 1, 2024, these plans will be limited to no more than four months of coverage and another short-term plan would not be able to be purchased from the same insurer within 12 months of the initial policy effective date. This new rule will only apply to enrollments in a Short-Term policy as of that date, not currently active STM policies.
The federal law called the Affordable Care Act (ACA) – otherwise known as “Obamacare” – introduced new rules into the health insurance market, requiring all major medical plans to provide specific benefits and requiring most Americans to have coverage. These rules do not apply to Short-Term Medical plans.
A death benefit is a financial payout from your life insurance policy that is paid to your beneficiaries after you pass away. It helps provide financial support for your family during their time of loss. The amount of money received from the death benefit depends on a few factors such as the type of policy, coverage amount, and premiums paid.
Important elements for consideration are:
At the end of the term, coverage ends meaning you are no longer insured under the policy. This means if you pass away after your policy expiration date, the beneficiaries on your plan will not receive the death benefit. When your policy ends, depending on your current financial situation, you can:
Typically, there are no restrictions on how your beneficiaries can use the life insurance policy payout. However, there can be exceptions such as policy provisions, creditors, and taxes.
The type of vision plan you enroll in will determine the flexibility you have. Some plans offer benefits through a specific network, and you are required to utilize an in-network provider to receive benefits. Other plans are less restrictive and allow you to select any provider, but your out-of-pocket costs may be more. You need to decide what is most important to you when choosing a plan.
Vision insurance is an insurance policy that pays set benefit amounts for services and products. Depending on the type of exam and/or glasses and lenses needed, you could have no to very little costs out-of-pocket. Vision discount plans typically offer discounts on glasses and contacts and lens options, but usually don’t include exams or specialty items. A vision discount plan can save you money as opposed to no coverage, but the amount you will have to pay will be much higher.
Most vision plans include exclusions for certain options, such as: services or materials of a cosmetic nature, Corneal Refractive Therapy (CRT), medical or surgical treatment of the eyes, corrective vision treatment of an Experimental Nature and others. The exclusions would vary by insurance carrier, so it is important to review the exclusions carefully before enrolling
This depends on your age, overall health, and risk factors. However, most vision insurance plans offer coverage for an annual eye exam. It’s best to consult with your eye doctor to determine the appropriate frequency for your individual needs. Your vision insurance plan details will specify how often covered eye exams are allowed.
Generally, vision insurance covers corrective lenses for eyeglasses and contacts. While some plans might offer discounts on sunglasses, they typically wouldn’t be covered for the corrective lens portion. You can check with your specific plan details or provider to see if they offer any coverage for prescription sunglasses.
Vision insurance typically doesn’t cover the replacement of lost or damaged glasses or contacts. Some plans might offer benefits towards a replacement after a certain waiting period, but this is less common. It’s a good idea to check your plan details or contact your provider to understand their policy on replacements.