Health Benefits Enrollment & Change Form: Fill & Download for Free

Businessolver - http://www.Businessolver.com - online health benefits enrollment and HR outsourcing

Only speaking for the U.S.:For Medicare (age 65+) — eligibility and signup information is here.Medicaid and CHIP eligibility/enrollment information starts here.As an individual (or family), the Health Insurance Marketplace is the place to shop and compare rates — and then apply for subsidies and policies (during “open enrollment” which ends December 15, 2017 for 2018 health insurance coverage).As an employee of an employer who offers health benefits — check with Human Resources about their “Open Enrollment” period. That’s when policy options, updates (and new pricing) are offered to all eligible employees.Indian Health Services has their own eligibility requirements — and more information is here.If you served in the active military service and were separated under any condition other than dishonorable, you may qualify for VA health care benefits. Current and former members of the Reserves or National Guard who were called to active duty by a federal order and completed the full period for which they were called or ordered to active duty may be eligible for VA health benefits as well. [1]There are other group affiliations (including some that are religious) that offer health care insurance or health benefits, but the above list represents the bulk of eligibility and signup options.[1] Veterans Eligibility

This is (a rare) one where I agree with Erik Fair — Employer Sponsored Insurance is an accident and relic of history (World War II); the U.S. is the only country that uses this method for the largest single block of covered lives (~155M); and the tax exclusions that result from ESI, now add up to the country’s 2nd largest entitlement (behind Medicare).BUT … this only explains some of the economics behind the mess — and doesn’t fully answer the question.The fact is, some employers are lobbying directly for universal health coverage. Richard Master (CEO of MCS Industries) is a great example. He self-funded a short documentary which was released last year called Fix It — Healthcare At The Tipping Point:It’s a great lens into the growing narrative that employers shouldn’t be in the business of healthcare benefits (either design or delivery).For others, however, there is compelling evidence that the cost of health benefits can be manipulated for profit — and employees don’t have much leverage. It’s not a huge profit center, but for large employers who may be skimming a little — the dollars can be significant. There’s a natural administrative handling cost, of course, but that supports a fixed delta between what employers pay per enrolled employee — and what their employees pay. Since about 2011, that delta has grown and the trend suggests it will continue to. In effect, employers are making money off this growing expense (buying wholesale and selling retail).Footnote: America can easily afford any healthcare system we design — except one — the one we have. Our decades long battle with actuarial math has been epic, but it’s unwinnable, and as evidenced by this one chart — we’ve long since past the point of looking stupid fighting it.