Getting married brings several benefits, not the least of which is access to family health insurance plans. Depending on your circumstances, this option can result in significant discounts, with more choices than you might have had before tying the knot. However, the process can be confusing, so here are a few tips to ensure you get the coverage your new family needs at the best possible price.

How to Change Your Health Insurance When You’re Married

1. Explore Your Employers’ Plans

If you and your new spouse have health insurance benefits, one plan may provide better family options at lower prices than the other. However, there are a few factors to consider any time you’re switching to another insurer. Compare monthly premiums, deductibles, and copays, as well as the breadth of their network. If you already have a doctor you like, be sure that they accept your spouse’s health insurance plan before switching.

2. Weigh the Cost of Separate Policies

While most couples can save by switching to a family plan, it might be cheaper to maintain your separate policies in some cases. This is especially true if one spouse is relatively healthy but the other has chronic medical issues.

3. Compare Options on the Marketplace

Getting married is a qualifying life event that triggers a special enrollment period, during which you can buy health insurance on the state or federal marketplace. If your employers don’t offer health insurance, you may be eligible for subsidies that can help cover your health insurance costs. However, you have to sign up within 60 days, after which you’ll have to wait for the next open enrollment period.
 

Choosing the right health insurance for your family can be confusing and overwhelming, so let the agents at Mountcastle Insurance provide the guidance you need. As a local, independent agency, they’ve been serving North Carolina’s Triad area for over 128 years, building a longstanding reputation for helping their clients protect what matters most. Visit their website for more on their health insurance services, follow their Facebook for more tips and advice, or call (336) 777-8500 to request a quote today.