Understanding how insurance works
Health insurance protects you against unexpected and potentially high costs of medical care.
With a health plan, your insurer, Dean Heath Plan, pays for certain covered services for you, with providers who are in-network. Health insurance is a contract between you and your health plan. Below you can learn more about the various parts of this contract, how to choose a plan and what happens once you enroll.
How do I get health insurance?
There are four main ways to get health coverage that depend on various aspects of your life, such as age and employment:
- Employer or group coverage: This is health insurance that is paid for by you and your employer. Eligibility may vary depending on your employer, with qualifiers such as how many hours you work each week. These plans generally include an employee’s spouse and dependents under age 26. View the employer coverage education page.
- Individual & family coverage: These health plans are available to anyone age 18 and older who does not receive coverage through their employer, but makes too much annually to be eligible for government assistance through Medicaid. View the Individual & Family coverage page.
- Medicare coverage: This is federal health coverage available to individuals age 65 and older, as well as some younger people who receive Social Security disability benefits. While this coverage helps with the cost of health care, it does not cover all medical expenses or the cost of long-term care. View the Medicare coverage page.
- Medicaid coverage: This is a federal and state-run health coverage available to people with limited income, who do not have coverage through their employer or qualify for Medicare coverage. Learn more information about Medicaid at medicaid.gov.
Understanding enrollment periods
Depending on the coverage you are eligible for, there are specific periods in which you can enroll:
- View our Medicare enrollment periods
- Find information about individual & family plan enrollment
- Employer coverage enrollment varies by employer. You typically have an initial enrollment period when you start a new job, and each year there is an open enrollment period where you can make changes to health coverage you currently have. Speak with your plan administrator to determine when that annual enrollment period occurs.
Additional resources
You’ve enrolled in our plan, so what’s next?
Learn more about setting up your member account, finding a provider and more. If you are a Medicare member, learn more about your new Medicare plan. Having health insurance through Dean Health Plan is more than just saving money on the cost of health care. We offer members additional benefits based on their plan, that help them take control of their health: