One option truck drivers have for health insurance is an individual or family plan. These are also known as Affordable Care Act (ACA) compliant plans. 

You can enroll in individual and family health insurance plans during the open enrollment period, which typically runs from November 1st through December 15th each year in most states for health insurance plans starting on January 1st of the following year. 

Some states have extended open enrollment. These states have extended their open enrollment period from November 1st through January 31st of the following year: 

• California 

• Washington D.C. 

It’s important to note that health insurance plans are typically available by the state and zip code in which you live. This is important to consider when dealing with health insurance for truck drivers because truckers tend to travel. Some truckers travel over state lines which means their health insurance may NOT cover them if they need healthcare while on the road. 

Due to our large network (nationwide PPO), we’re able to offer customized coverage anytime of year (no open enrollment period) and deliver health insurance plans that cross state lines so your health coverage goes where you do. Request a free quote to learn more and find out how much you could save.

You should also know that, depending on your income, you can get a subsidy to help afford your monthly health insurance premiums. You can learn more if you would qualify for ACA subsidies by contacting one of our Truckers Health Coverage agents.

Short term health insurance fills in gaps between coverages. They’re also great for people who are caught between jobs, rely on their employer for group health insurance, waiting for a coverage plan to begin, waiting to become eligible for Medicare, or if you’re someone without health insurance. 

This is not a long term solution and should only be relied on while you are between insurance coverages. 

The coverage of short term health insurance for truck drivers is limited. Short term plans provide drug discounts, but typically do not provide drug coverage. Complications of maternity are covered, but not standard childbirth services. 

Short-term health insurance plans are great for those who find ACA health insurance premiums unaffordable. This kind of insurance helps provide an affordable health insurance coverage safety net for those who can’t afford individual or family insurance. 

It’s important to keep in mind that short-term plans can deny you based on pre-existing conditions or can refuse to pay for care for medical conditions the policy holder had before the plan took effect. 

While these plans are cheap and can provide you with some health insurance coverage, they do not have nearly as comprehensive of coverage as ACA-compliant plans or private health insurance plans.

First of all, it's important to understand the differences between Medicaid and Medicare, as they're often confused. 

Both are government-funded programs related to health coverage. However, the main difference between the two is that Medicaid is meant for low-income and disabled people of all ages, whereas Medicare is generally limited to those age 65 and older. You can also qualify for Medicare under the age of 65 in some situations. 

Also, while Medicare is a federal program, Medicaid is both federal- and state-based. Individual states have some flexibility in implementing the program. The states determine which optional Medicaid benefits to cover (those not mandated by the federal government); the program even goes by different names in some states, such as MassHealth in Massachusetts, where it's combined with the CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program) program. 

In order to qualify for Medicaid and CHIP you must meet a certain maximum income requirement. If you make more than the maximum income you will not qualify.

Another option truck drivers have for health insurance is government compliant medsharing plans. These plans are similar to traditional health insurance except your premiums are put into an escrow account. Apart from the Member’s Shared Responsibility Amount, claims are paid through the escrow account. 

Preventative care, doctor’s visits, prescription discounts are all things you can expect to be included in a Medsharing plan.

Gap insurance is supplemental health plans that fill in the gaps of your main health plan. It acts like a cushion for truck drivers who have high-deductible health care plans. It’s almost like having an insurance plan for your insurance plan. The goal is to lower your overall out of pocket costs by providing funds to pay for a large deductible until your main insurance policy comes into effect. 

For example, you have a primary insurance plan that has a high deductible of $3,000. That means that for one year, the first $3,000 of your health care needs would have to come out of pocket. After you reached the $3,000 deductible, your primary insurance plan would cover the cost of your health care. 

In that example, gap insurance would help you by either paying all, or some, of the $3,000 deductible for your primary insurance. The role of gap insurance is so you don’t have to pay some or all of your annual deductible. 

However, these policies are not major medical insurance. They come with limited benefits. Typically that means that no matter the severity of your situation and why you are using the insurance, there is only a set amount of money that the gap insurance will pay you.

By now, you know that there are several forms of insurance and there is no "one size fits all!" Carrying a quality health insurance plan is crucial, but the most important aspect is carrying the appropriate type of plan to fit your budget and lifestyle as well as your family’s. 

At Truckers Health Coverage, we make sure to take into consideration that each person has different insurance needs tied to his/her unique situation, age, health, family structure, economic status, possessions, assets, and many other factors. By doing this, we are guaranteed to help you find something that works for you and your situation that's also affordable and flexible. 

What are you waiting for? Contact one of our licensed agents to start discussing your needs and finding the best insurance products!

Get started with a Free Quote and customize it from there to fit your needs and budget.