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The Montana Legislature created the Montana Comprehensive Health Association (MCHA) in 1985 to establish a program that provides access to health insurance to Montana residents who are otherwise considered uninsurable due to medical conditions. These Montanans are not part of the traditional health insurance market because of preexisting health conditions or significant exclusions of coverage. In general, these people have been rejected for health insurance coverage or offered a policy with a rider on their primary health condition.
In 1997 the Montana Legislature created a second Montana Health Association plan for eligible individuals who have had prior health insurance coverage that meet the federal rules of eligibility as described in the eligibility section. This site contains information about benefits, exclusions, premium rates, eligibility, and application procedures for the MCHA program.
We can help you with information about program changes, publications, and upcoming events that affect the Montana Comprehensive Health Association.
If you have lost your job due to foreign trade and are an eligible federal Trade Adjustment Act (TAA) qualifed individual, you may qualify for coverage under the Portability Plan. The federal Trade Adjustment Act of 2002 provided a 65% tax credit for qualified persons to use to purchase health insurance. The MCHA is one of the qualified plans that TAA qualified persons can purchase with the tax credit. Please see the section about the Portability Plan for additional information.
Health Insurance FAQ: What is a normal deductible amount?
When shopping for health insurance one of the most important features is the Calendar Year Deductible or CYD. Deductibles can come into play in two different ways, either immediately on a straight deductible style plan or only when there is a major occurrence on a comprehensive style health insurance plan.
A straight deductible style plan will provide the policyholder with special pricing, or pre-negotiated rates, but the out-of-pocket expenses kick in immediately as there are no copays. On a comprehensive style plan, the policyholder will have copays for the “little things” like doctor visits and prescription drugs and the deductible will come into play for the more major things such as surgeries and hospitalizations.
The style of health insurance plan you choose may help in deciding what deductible amount to choose. For example, on a straight deductible style health insurance plan, a lower deductible may be favored as the insurance company does not start paying until that deductible is satisfied. Or, on the flip side, a higher deductible may be the way to go for someone who rarely gets sick and is really only carrying health insurance to protect them financially.
Choosing a deductible on a comprehensive style plan may go both ways as well. It may not be the smartest decision for an extremely healthy person to choose a low deductible on a comprehensive style plan. In fact, a low deductible on a comprehensive plan may not be wise for someone not so healthy as even once the deductible is met in a calendar year, the policyholder will still be subject to copays.
More and more families are choosing a deductible amount between $2500 and $5000, rarely ever going lower. Individuals are also choosing deductibles in those ranges, some are even choosing deductibles higher than $5000.
Call an independant health insurance agent:
Morgan Moran - Mountain Insurance Montana Health Insurance (800) 554-9142
Blue Cross of Montana - Blue Cross Montana 49 N Main St # D, Butte - (406) 723-5401
The Montana Legislature created the Montana Comprehensive Health Association (MCHA) in 1985 to establish a program that provides access to health insurance to Montana residents who are otherwise considered uninsurable due to medical conditions. These Montanans are not part of the traditional health insurance market because of preexisting health conditions or significant exclusions of coverage. In general, these people have been rejected for health insurance coverage or offered a policy with a rider on their primary health condition.
In 1997 the Montana Legislature created a second Montana Health Association plan for eligible individuals who have had prior health insurance coverage that meet the federal rules of eligibility as described in the eligibility section. This site contains information about benefits, exclusions, premium rates, eligibility, and application procedures for the MCHA program.
We can help you with information about program changes, publications, and upcoming events that affect the Montana Comprehensive Health Association.
If you have lost your job due to foreign trade and are an eligible federal Trade Adjustment Act (TAA) qualifed individual, you may qualify for coverage under the Portability Plan. The federal Trade Adjustment Act of 2002 provided a 65% tax credit for qualified persons to use to purchase health insurance. The MCHA is one of the qualified plans that TAA qualified persons can purchase with the tax credit. Please see the section about the Portability Plan for additional information.
Health Insurance FAQ: What is a normal deductible amount?
When shopping for health insurance one of the most important features is the Calendar Year Deductible or CYD. Deductibles can come into play in two different ways, either immediately on a straight deductible style plan or only when there is a major occurrence on a comprehensive style health insurance plan.
A straight deductible style plan will provide the policyholder with special pricing, or pre-negotiated rates, but the out-of-pocket expenses kick in immediately as there are no copays. On a comprehensive style plan, the policyholder will have copays for the “little things” like doctor visits and prescription drugs and the deductible will come into play for the more major things such as surgeries and hospitalizations.
The style of health insurance plan you choose may help in deciding what deductible amount to choose. For example, on a straight deductible style health insurance plan, a lower deductible may be favored as the insurance company does not start paying until that deductible is satisfied. Or, on the flip side, a higher deductible may be the way to go for someone who rarely gets sick and is really only carrying health insurance to protect them financially.
Choosing a deductible on a comprehensive style plan may go both ways as well. It may not be the smartest decision for an extremely healthy person to choose a low deductible on a comprehensive style plan. In fact, a low deductible on a comprehensive plan may not be wise for someone not so healthy as even once the deductible is met in a calendar year, the policyholder will still be subject to copays.
More and more families are choosing a deductible amount between $2500 and $5000, rarely ever going lower. Individuals are also choosing deductibles in those ranges, some are even choosing deductibles higher than $5000.
Call an independant health insurance agent:
Morgan Moran - Mountain Insurance Montana Health Insurance (800) 554-9142
Blue Cross of Montana - Blue Cross Montana 49 N Main St # D, Butte - (406) 723-5401
