Americans have several options for their health care insurance.

As we all know, there are employer-sponsored plans where you could pay a portion of your premium and the employer pays an agreed upon portion as a benefit. You can stay on your parent’s plans until age 26. You could have a student policy of your own through most colleges and universities. You can purchase individual coverage at any time.

If you are looking for a subsidy, the government plans may be a direction you should explore. Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Iowa has ACA (Affordable Care Act) plans available as well. These plans require no medical underwriting. This is a great option for persons to explore that have been rated up or denied coverage in the past.

For my existing clients, I have taken each and every file, compared what they have currently including their 2014 rate increases against rates available within their same plan, lowering benefits as well as run rates on the ACA plans. I have yet to find a lower premium on my existing Clients. Therefore, your independent agent can be a great service to you in shopping your options and giving you full disclosure so your decision making becomes relatively easy based on the facts and the premiums.

Please refer to this link from the National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU) explaining the sticker shock as reported by NBC, CBS, Fox News, USA Today, Washington Post, Bloomburg News, etc…