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Alternatives to Employer-Provided Health Insurance Policies in Wisconsin

What to do if your employer’s plan offers too little or is too costly.

Does your employer offer health insurance? Do the health insurance policies offered by your employer meet your needs? If the answer to either of these questions is “no,” you may want to get your own health insurance policy directly from an insurance company. In some cases, this insurance may even be subsidized.

When your job-based health insurance policy is inadequate or costs too much

If you don’t like the health insurance policies offered by your employer, you have three choices:

Find alternatives to employer-provided health insurance policies in Wisconsin.
  1. Elect not to be covered by your employer and purchase your own plan. If you do this, you must purchase the new plan during the Open Enrollment period (unless you have a qualifying event). Keep in mind that if you buy your own health insurance policy, your employer probably will not help pay for the coverage. It may be possible that your income is low enough to qualify for BadgerCare Plus, Wisconsin’s version of Medicaid – if so, you can apply any time.
  2. Keep your job-based coverage and supplement it with additional coverage. A range of supplemental insurance policies are available to choose from.
  3. Keep your job-based coverage even though it’s not what you want.

When your employer doesn’t offer health insurance policies

Perhaps you’re a part-time employee, or your employer just doesn’t offer health insurance as a benefit. You should still have health insurance in Wisconsin, so you will want to buy your own policy. It’s possible you can receive help paying your premiums – that’s easy to find out by using our browse plans tool.

If your income is low enough, you may qualify for BadgerCare Plus, or one of the other programs available that help make health insurance policies more affordable to Wisconsin residents.

Don’t know what’s the best approach for your unique situation? Start by having a look at our health insurance plans – or give us a call at 800.362.3310 and we’ll help you find a plan that works for you.