Private coverage · Licensed in 48 states

Private Health Insurance Plans

Coverage bought directly, outside the Marketplace

Private plans are bought straight from a carrier rather than through the Marketplace. That means no premium tax credit — but it also means carriers and networks the exchange may not list in your county. We will tell you plainly whether private is the right call, or whether a subsidized Marketplace plan would cost you less.

What to expect

Private health plans: what to expect

The application, the network and the claims process work much as they do on the exchange. What changes is where you buy, and what help is available.

Bought off the exchange

Sold directly by carriers and licensed agents rather than through the Marketplace. Some carriers reserve particular plans or networks for off-exchange sale only.

No subsidies apply

Premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions exist only on the Marketplace. If you qualify for help, a private plan will almost always cost you more. Checking that first is the most important step.

Not all private plans are equal

Some are fully ACA-compliant. Others are not, and can screen your health history, exclude pre-existing conditions or decline to renew you. Knowing which you are looking at matters far more than the premium.

Quotes across private and Marketplace plans

We quote both sides. If a subsidy would make a Marketplace plan cheaper for the same coverage, we will show you that comparison rather than steer you toward the private option.

A licensed agent can talk it through with no obligation.

Plan types

Types of private health coverage

Three products get called private health insurance. Only one of them is comprehensive coverage.

Off-exchange ACA plans

Fully ACA-compliant coverage sold directly by the carrier. Same essential health benefits, same protection for pre-existing conditions, same guaranteed issue during an enrollment period. You give up the subsidy; in return you sometimes get a network or carrier the exchange does not offer where you live.

Short-term medical

Temporary coverage for a defined gap. Premiums are low because the plan can review your health history, exclude pre-existing conditions and decline to renew. Sensible between jobs or while waiting for other coverage to begin — not a substitute for comprehensive cover.

Fixed indemnity and supplemental

Pays a set cash amount per event — a day in hospital, a specific procedure — rather than a share of the bill. Worth being clear: these are supplements, not health insurance. They belong alongside a real plan, never in place of one.

Side by side

Compare private health plan types

The deciding question is whether you need comprehensive protection or are bridging a short, known gap.

Feature	Off-exchange ACA	Short-term medical	Fixed indemnity
In short	Full coverage, bought direct	Temporary gap cover	Cash benefit, not coverage
What it covers	All ten essential health benefits, pre-existing conditions included, no annual or lifetime cap.	Varies widely. Commonly excludes pre-existing conditions, maternity and mental health.	A set amount per covered event, regardless of the actual bill.
Pros	Cannot be refused for health history Preventive care at no charge Access to some off-exchange networks	Low monthly premium Coverage can start almost immediately Buy any time of year	Pays cash directly to you Useful against deductibles Inexpensive as an add-on
Cons	No premium tax credit Usually costs more if you qualify for a subsidy	Not ACA coverage Health history can disqualify you May not renew	Not health insurance Pays a fixed sum, not the real cost No out-of-pocket maximum
Enrollment	Open Enrollment or a Special Enrollment Period	Year round	Year round
Best suited to	People above subsidy eligibility who want full coverage	A short, known gap for someone in good health	Topping up a plan you already hold

Scroll sideways to compare all three →

What to check before you buy

Six things worth confirming in writing on any private plan, whatever the salesperson tells you.

Pre-existing conditionsCovered, excluded, or subject to a look-back period

Provider networkWhether your doctors and hospital are in it

Prescription coverageFormulary tier for anything you take regularly

Annual maximumWhether the plan caps what it will pay

RenewabilityWhether the carrier can decline you next year

Out-of-pocket maximumYour true worst-case cost for the year

Common questions

Is a private plan better than a Marketplace plan?

Not inherently. If you qualify for a premium tax credit, the Marketplace is usually cheaper for equivalent coverage. Private plans make sense when you do not qualify for help, or when a carrier offers a network off-exchange that is not available on it.

Can I be turned down for a private plan?

On an off-exchange ACA-compliant plan, no — the same protections apply. On short-term medical, yes. Those plans can review your health history and decline you, which is a large part of why they cost less.

Can I buy private coverage at any time?

ACA-compliant plans, on or off exchange, still follow Open Enrollment and Special Enrollment Periods. Short-term and fixed indemnity products can generally be bought year round.

Does a private plan count as minimum essential coverage?

Off-exchange ACA-compliant plans do. Short-term and fixed indemnity products generally do not. If a program or employer requires proof of minimum essential coverage, confirm this before you enroll.

Do I pay more by using an agent?

No. Premiums are filed with the state and are the same whether you buy direct or through a licensed agent. Our help comparing plans and checking networks costs you nothing extra.

What happens if my health changes mid-year?

On an ACA-compliant plan, nothing — your rate and your coverage are unaffected. On a short-term plan, a new condition may be treated as pre-existing at renewal, and the carrier may decline to renew you at all.

Private plan quotes specialized for you

Tell us your ZIP code, who needs covering, any ongoing conditions and which doctors you want to keep. We will quote private and Marketplace side by side so the cheaper route is obvious.

All Solution Plus is a licensed insurance agency. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Plan availability, premiums, provider networks, benefits and enrollment rules vary by state, county and carrier. Short-term medical and fixed indemnity products are not comprehensive ACA coverage, may exclude pre-existing conditions, may not qualify as minimum essential coverage, and may not be renewable. Any information we provide is limited to the plans we offer. Coverage is governed solely by the terms of the policy issued.