Health insurance help now!

Today's online health insurance exchange marketplace allows you to choose health insurance from variety of plans from different insurance providers. Fast personal and professional help is now available for any exchange-supported health insurance.

At this time OnlineNavigator is a free service (temporarily) available only through e-mail. OnlineNavigator service is provided by joint project of Freedom Benefits and Tony Novak, CPA, an independent NAHU certified consumer directed health insurance adviser.

THIS IS A FREE INDEPENDENT ADVISORY SERVICE NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY GOVERNMENT BENEFIT PROGRAM, INSURANCE EXCHANGE OR COMMERCIAL INSURANCE COMPANY.

Request free OnlineNavigator service on our secure site

OnlineNavigator can help with a wide range of difficult health coverage issues:

• Compare rates and coverage for the insurance options listed on the federal or state insurance exchange
• Answer questions on the details of coverage, exclusions and limitations
• Consider non-insurance options, accountable care organizations (ACO) in your area and other options to commercial major medical insurance
• Find coverage for pre-existing medical conditions
• Find out whether you qualify for Medicaid or insurance subsidies (beginning in 2014)
• Consider special issues for child only and student coverage
• Compare individual and small business coverage options

OnlineNavigator service is provided by Freedom Benefits and Tony Novak, CPA, an independent NAHU certified consumer directed health insurance adviser.

Download an application for health insurance (draft version for 2014 in PDF format -DO NOT USE TO APPLY)

Limitations of OnlineNavigator service

Health insurance claims - OnlineNavigator does not provide help with medical claims but we are pleased to refer Insnet for this purpose.

"Talk to an agent" - OnlineNavigator does not provide help with telephone enrollment support for health insurance plans where commercial insurance agents are available but we are pleased to refer Bankrate Insurance for this purpose.

Other services - OnlineNavigator may require additional written authorizations to provide some services.

Health insurance exchange news  

Other news related to OnlineNavigator is posted here.

4/19/2013 OnlineNavigator formally endorses Members insurance exchange in a press release and issues advice to HIX navigators.

April 12, 2013 - A draft version of the paper version of an application for individual health insurance through a federally managed insurance exchange is available in PDF format for download. This is a draft version only and should not be used to make application for coverage. 

April 2, 2013 The federal Department of Health and Human Services released proposed rules for navigators on the 33 state health insurance exchanges that will be run by the federal government. The proposed rules are open for public comment until May 5. OnlineNavigator is not a candidate for any contract in a state insurance exchange but is considering involvement in training programs for the lead agencies that will hire and train navigators for the various state exchanges.

February 24, 2013 - Now that activity is heating up, a discussion group named "Health Insurance Navigators" is launched on LinkedIn. The group is open to everyone who has an interest in the topic.

December 15, 2012 - Two out of every three Americans who elect to use the new government health insurance exchanges in 2013-2014 will rely on technology and support developed by the federal government rather than their own state insurance departments. Consumer advocates view this as a positive development especially in consideration of the useful resources already available through HealthCare.gov that exceed most states' current capabilities.

October 24, 2012 - The Minnesota Health Insurance Exchange Navigator, Agent and Broker Work Group Advisory Task Force proposal is available in PDF format.

September 13, 2012 - OnlineNavigator basic service plan is changed to provide less service at a lower fee. Based on accumulated experience with this new business model, we believe this new pricing will provide better value to a larger number of users. The new pricing combines live personal or telephone adviser support with email follow-up into a flat rate.

September 11, 2012  - The House Energy and Commerce committee panel advanced HR 1206 that would modify the 2010 health care overhaul law to amend the law's provision on medical loss ratios in an effort to protect the earnings of insurance brokers and agents.

August 30, 2012 - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issues clarifying proposed regulations regarding eligibility for the Preexisting Condition Insurance Plan.

August 18, 2012 - Interested in becoming a health insurance navigator? A new discussion group called "Health Insurance Navigators" was launched at LinkedIn to discuss issues that relate to this exciting growth area.

August 14, 2012 - The Department of Health and Human Services released the final version of its Blueprint for Approval of Affordable State-based and State Partnership Insurance Exchanges governing implementation of the Affordable Care Act health insurance exchanges. There were few changes from the draft published previously that is available on this Web site.

August 13, 2012 - The National Association of Insurance Commissioners formed a new working group comprised of state insurance commissioners from states that have chosen a different route in dealing with PPACA including the state health care exchanges.

July 9, 2012 - A new software is available to help employers calculate the potential tax penalties under the Affordable Care Act and compare the various strategies available. Ask for rates.

July 1, 2012 - A new simplified rate schedule discounts the price of email-based service. A flat fee covers most help requests.

June 4, 2012 - Iowa passes insurance navigator licensing and regulation legislation. The law is effective July 2012 but procedures are not yet in place.

May 18, 2012 - A Draft Blueprint for Approval of Affordable State-based and State Partnership Insurance Exchanges has been provided by the US Department of Health and Human Services.

On March 12, 2012 the US Department of Health and Human Services issued interim final regulations on the establishment and operation of the state of federally operated health insurance exchanges. The revised rules further defined and strengthen the role of navigators in the exchange. This Web site provides an annotated draft of the regulations.

March 11, 2012 - The National Conference of State legislators issued an informative 6 page report on the status of health reform law

On July 11, 2011 the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued proposed rules for the establishment of health insurance exchanges and qualified health plans. We annotated a copy of the PDF version for our own business planning purposes here on this Web site.

Accountable Care Organizations

The Affordable Care Act of 2010 opens the door to an alternative to insurance plans through coverage under accountable care organizations (ACO). Although these services are not currently available, we hope to offer enrollment support to ACOs on a local basis as they become available.

Pre-existing condition insurance plans

OnlineNavigator provides enrollment support services for the government-sponsored pre-existing condition insurance plans (PCIP). These plans no longer pay agent commissions so we may be one of the only professionals still offering enrollment support for the PCIP plans. In February 2012, the federal government announced that it was suspending enrollment in the PCIP and stats are expected to follow with similar announcements with regard to their own PCIPs.