Making The Switch: A Guide To Transferring Your Insurance To Caresource

CareSource offers free or low-cost health insurance for eligible low-income adults, families, children, pregnant women, elderly adults, and people with disabilities. If you are already enrolled in a health plan, you can only switch plans during open enrollment or under certain special circumstances. Open enrollment is a time period when you can sign up for a health plan, which can vary by state or region. To change your insurance to CareSource, you can use the Medicaid Consumer Hotline Portal, enrol by mail, or call and speak to a customer service representative. You can also create a My CareSource account to track your benefits and make some account changes.

Enrolling in a CareSource plan

If you are already enrolled in a health plan, you can only switch to a CareSource plan during open enrollment or under certain special circumstances. Open enrollment is a time period when you can sign up for a health plan, and it can vary by state or region.

To enroll in a CareSource plan, you can use the Medicaid Consumer Hotline Portal, which will walk you through the enrollment process step-by-step. You can also enroll by mail by downloading the appropriate enrollment form and mailing it to the provided address. Alternatively, you can call and speak to a customer service representative to enroll over the telephone.

When selecting a CareSource plan, be sure to choose a primary care physician for each person in your family, or the plan will choose one for you. You can use the CareSource website or mobile app to find a doctor or provider and review the benefits and services offered by each plan.

Once you have enrolled in a CareSource plan, be sure to create your personal My CareSource account to track your benefits and make any necessary account changes. You can also link accounts for other family members to easily manage them all in one place.

Switching from your current insurance plan

Step 1: Eligibility and Open Enrollment

Firstly, it is important to understand that switching insurance plans can typically only be done during open enrollment or under certain special circumstances. Open enrollment is a specific time period when individuals can sign up for a new health plan, and this timeframe can vary by state or region. Therefore, your first step is to check the open enrollment dates applicable to your location.

Step 2: Choosing a Plan

CareSource offers a range of plans to cater to different needs. They provide free or low-cost health insurance for eligible low-income adults, families, children, pregnant women, elderly adults, and people with disabilities. They also have plans for those who do not have employer insurance and do not qualify for programs like Medicare or Medicaid. Consider your personal circumstances and choose the CareSource plan that best suits your requirements.

Step 3: Enrollment Process

Once you have decided on a plan, you can proceed with the enrollment process. CareSource offers multiple ways to enroll:

• Online: The Medicaid Consumer Hotline Portal provides a step-by-step guide to enrolling in your chosen plan. This is a convenient option that allows you to manage the process independently.
• By Mail: You can download and fill out the relevant enrollment form from the materials page and mail it to the specified address.
• By Phone: You also have the option to call and speak to a customer service representative, who will guide you through the enrollment process over the telephone.

Step 4: Choosing a Primary Care Physician

When selecting a plan, remember to choose a primary care physician for each member of your family. If you do not make this choice, the plan will assign a physician for you.

Step 5: Managing Your Plan

After successfully enrolling in your chosen CareSource plan, you can manage your plan and benefits through the My CareSource online account and mobile app. This allows you to track your benefits, make account changes, and link accounts for other CareSource family members, providing a convenient way to manage everything in one place.

By following these steps, you can efficiently switch from your current insurance plan to CareSource, gaining access to their range of health care benefits and services.

Eligibility for free or low-cost CareSource insurance

CareSource offers free or low-cost health insurance for eligible low-income adults, families, children, pregnant women, elderly adults, and people with disabilities.

Medicaid

If you are eligible for Medicaid, you can choose CareSource as your managed care plan. Medicaid is a social welfare program that provides government-sponsored health insurance to low-income people. In most cases, Medicaid is free, though some states charge small premiums for people on the higher end of the Medicaid-eligible income scale. To be eligible, you must meet low-income guidelines, and depending on your eligibility category, you may also need to have low assets. These guidelines vary depending on several factors, including your age, whether you're pregnant, and whether you're disabled.

Affordable Care Act Subsidy

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) provides government subsidies to make health insurance affordable for people who buy their own insurance through the exchange/marketplace. This includes premium tax credits (premium subsidies) that offset some or all of the monthly premiums, and cost-sharing reductions (CSR) that reduce the out-of-pocket costs that some enrollees have to pay when they need medical care.

CareSource Plans

CareSource plans are simple and affordable, with coverage for pre-existing conditions and no annual or lifetime dollar limits for essential health benefits. All plans include pediatric dental and vision benefits or coverage, and you can choose to include optional adult dental, vision, and fitness benefits. Four out of five customers can get a Marketplace plan for under $10 a month with financial help, and over 70% of people who enroll in a CareSource Health Insurance Marketplace plan also qualify for a government-funded subsidy that lowers the overall cost of the plan.

Switching to CareSource

If you are already enrolled in a health plan, you can only switch plans during open enrollment or under certain special circumstances. Open enrollment is a time period when you can sign up for a health plan, and it can vary by state or region. If you are assigned to a health plan other than CareSource, you can switch within 90 days by calling the Ohio Medicaid Consumer Hotline.

Managing your CareSource account online

The CareSource mobile app is available for both iPhone and Android systems and can be downloaded for free through the Apple App Store or Google Play. The app allows you to access many of your account features on the go, including viewing your plan benefits and services and accessing your member ID card.

If you need personal assistance, CareSource offers a free service where they can read the information out loud for you in English or your primary language. They can also provide help if you are visually or hearing impaired.

Additionally, with CareSource MyCare Ohio, you can streamline your health care day-to-day planning. This plan combines Medicare and Medicaid, offering benefits such as no copays or premiums, transportation services, a large network of providers, and a team approach to managing your care.

Changing your doctor

If you are looking to change your doctor, you can do so by logging into your My CareSource account and selecting a new PCP from the list of doctors in the CareSource network. If you are unable to find a suitable doctor, you can call Member Services for assistance. It is recommended that you choose a PCP within 30 days of enrollment, otherwise, one will be assigned to you.

Once you have selected a new PCP, you will receive a new CareSource member ID card in the mail within 10 days. This card will have the details of your new doctor. You can also access a digital image of your new card via the CareSource mobile app, which is available for both iPhone and Android systems.

If you are already enrolled in a health plan, it is important to note that you can only switch plans during open enrollment or under certain special circumstances. For example, if you have been a member of your current plan for three months or less, or if you have tried to get help from your MCP but continue to face problems finding the care you need.

Frequently asked questions