How to pick a health insurance plan
Catastrophic health plans
Catastrophic health insurance plans have low monthly premiums and very high deductibles. They may be an affordable way to protect yourself from worst-case scenarios, like getting seriously sick or injured. But you pay most routine medical expenses yourself.
Who can buy a Catastrophic plan
- People under 30
- People age 30 or older with a hardship exemption or affordability exemption (based on Marketplace or job-based insurance being unaffordable)
If you qualify to buy a Catastrophic plan, you’ll see them displayed when you compare plans in the Marketplace.
How much Catastrophic plans cost
- Monthly premiums are usually low, but you can’t use a to reduce your cost. If you qualify for a premium tax credit based on your income, a Bronze or Silver plan is likely to be a better value. Be sure to compare.
- Deductibles — the amount you have to pay yourself for most services before the plan starts to pay anything — are very high.
- After you spend the deductible amount, your insurance company pays for all covered services, with no or .
What Catastrophic plans cover
- Catastrophic plans cover the same as other Marketplace plans.
- Like other plans, Catastrophic plans cover certain preventive services at no cost.
- They also cover at least 3 primary care visits per year before you’ve met your deductible.