Category: blog

Did you miss your chance to sign up for health insurance during open enrollment? Or did you experience a major life event recently, like a marriage, pregnancy, moving, or divorce? If so, you might qualify for health insurance through a Special Enrollment Period.

What Is Special Enrollment Period?

The Special Enrollment Period (SEP) allows you to enroll in a health insurance plan outside the traditional open enrollment window. To qualify, you must have experienced a qualifying life event or meet certain income requirements.

What Are the Qualifying Life Events for Special Enrollment?

Here are some life events that could make you eligible to sign up for health insurance during the Special Enrollment Period:

• Losing health coverage
• Moving to a new address
• Getting married
• Having a baby or adopting a child

If you qualify for SEP, you’ll typically have a 60-day window before and after the event to enroll in a health insurance plan.

Our experienced health insurance agents are here to help those in South Carolina navigate the Special Enrollment Period and find the right coverage for their needs.

As always, if you have any questions about health insurance or Medicare, we have agents at every corner in South Carolina that are prepared to help you.

You’re approaching your 65th birthday—so now what? It’s time to start thinking about Medicare. The first step is to mark your Initial Enrollment Period on your calendar. This is the timeframe during which you must enroll in Medicare, and it spans three months before your 65th birthday and three months after.

Before your Initial Enrollment Period begins, we recommend familiarizing yourself with the different parts of Medicare and finding an agent you trust to help you navigate all the plan options and the enrollment process.

Medicare consists of several parts: Part A and Part B are Original Medicare; Part C is Medicare Advantage; Part D provides Prescription Drug Coverage; and there are also Medicare Supplement plans. Original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not cover all medical costs. For example, if you need dental or vision coverage, you may want to consider additional coverage beyond Original Medicare.

Medicare can be overwhelming, which is why Alpine Agency has health insurance agents throughout South Carolina to help you find the right Medicare plan.

We make Medicare easy, and we’re here to help you prepare. Before you leave our website, don’t forget to download our Medicare Easy Guide to learn more about Medicare.

When it comes to providing health benefits for employees, employers and HR professionals have a wide range of options to consider. Group health insurance can be a complex decision, and our local agents recognize that one-size-fits-all solutions don’t work for everyone. In the following section, we’ll explore the different types of group coverage available for employers to choose from.

Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA): These are a trending group plan option that many employers are choosing. They are a great way to provide your employees with health insurance while managing what it costs you to provide it.

Small group fully insured ACA plans (2-50 employees): Employers can offer employees health coverage with no medical underwriting and no pre-existing conditions all while offering a nationwide network (in most cases). The employer must pay at least 50% of the employee’s monthly premium and meet participation requirements based on the carrier guidelines. 

Small group level funded (10-50 employees): Level funded plans are different from traditional insurance plans because they are not community rated and can potentially lower a group’s fixed costs if the group qualifies.

By offering group health insurance, not only are you attracting top talent to your business, but you’re also helping retain it!

At Alpine Agency, our agents across South Carolina are here to help small business owners navigate the complexities of group health insurance. Feel free to reach out if we can assist you in any way