Ambetter offers affordable health insurance through the Marketplace in 26 states, offering plans that balance out-of-pocket costs with monthly premium payments while including telehealth services and prescription drug coverage. However, Ambetter has received many negative customer reviews and is embroiled in a class-action lawsuit.
Ambetter is a subsidiary of Centene Corporation, a healthcare enterprise. Their health insurance products are distributed through local partners and offer access to a range of healthcare services.
Affordable health insurance
Some health insurance providers claim they provide affordable health plans, comparing premium costs of short-term plans with those of Affordable Care Act plans. It’s important to keep in mind, though, that short-term health plans and ACA health plans do not cover similar policies.
ACA Marketplace health plans are divided into four “metal” categories based on your monthly premium and out-of-pocket costs such as deductibles. Health maintenance organization (HMO) or exclusive provider organization (EPO) plans typically feature lower premiums but may limit provider selection options, while preferred provider organization (PPO) plans feature higher premiums but greater choice in providers.
Your job-based plan will be considered affordable beginning in 2023 if its premiums for self-only coverage plus any cost sharing don’t exceed 9.12% of your household income.
Behavioral health
Behavioral health is a field of wellness that encompasses mental and substance abuse issues, life stressors and crises, their influence on medical illness and the influence that these have on healthy behaviors like diet, exercise and sleeping patterns.
People living with chronic health concerns frequently require assistance with their behavioral health to better manage their condition. Seven out of ten patients seeking care at any given doctor’s office were seeking services for behavioral issues, including depression, diabetes management or addiction management. Providers include psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, social workers counselors marriage and family therapists as well as marriage and family therapists specializing in behavioral medicine – making access easier while helping reduce stigma associated with seeking mental health treatment and behavioral health treatments.
Telehealth
Telehealth uses digital information and communication technologies to deliver healthcare services remotely, such as video visits with your doctor, remote patient monitoring and mobile health applications.
Virtual visits offer an easy solution for people unable to travel or with busy schedules who still require primary healthcare for various conditions.
Insurance policies vary, but telehealth is increasingly popular. Major insurers typically offer options such as live video visits with providers as well as store and forward monitoring or remote patient monitoring services. Many states have passed parity laws mandating reimbursement of telehealth services at equal rates as in-person services while Medicaid systems in many states also cover them.
