Support centre
How can we help?
Talk to someone in Montana, or find the answer yourself. Both are on this page.
Chat with us
Fastest during business hours. A real person, not a bot menu.
Call or email
Talk it through with someone who knows your membership, or send the detail and we will come back to you.
406-730-6688 info@coremedhealth.comA medical question
Your CoreMed provider is the fastest route. Same day or next day at most clinics.
Find your clinicThe questions we get most
Open one to read the answer. Everything else is searchable below.
What is included with my membership?
Twelve pages, one per area, covering primary care, imaging, labs, mental health, physical therapy, dental, surgery and more.
Does this replace insurance?
On its own, no. Primary handles everyday care. If you want protection against surgery or a hospital stay, add Catastrophic or choose Comprehensive.
What is an IUA?
The Initial Unshareable Amount is what you pay toward a single medical need before sharing begins. You choose the level when you join. Once you've paid it for one need, further eligible expenses for that same need remain eligible for sharing.
What about a condition I already have?
Conditions treated or medicated in the 24 months before you join phase in over your first years of membership under Zion's guidelines. Your CoreMed Primary care is not affected.
How do I find a clinic near me?
The find care pages list every provider by region, with hours and contact details.
How do prescriptions work?
The prescription page lists what is included and how pricing works on the rest.
When am I charged?
On the 1st of each month, for that month.
Needs confirming before go-live: Confirm the exact billing date and whether it is the 1st or the anniversary of joining.
How do I add my spouse or a child?
Send a membership change request from the support page and tell us who you are adding and their date of birth. The monthly amount changes from the following 1st of the month.
Still have a question?
Search every answer we have. 196 of them, about memberships, sharing, billing, what is included and finding care.
Memberships 27Back to top
Can I change my mind later?
Yes. Members move between memberships. Nothing here locks you in, and there is no annual contract.
Can I rejoin later?
Yes.
Needs confirming before go-live: Confirm whether rejoining restarts any Zion waiting periods. This matters and we should not guess.
Can I switch between Primary, Catastrophic and Comprehensive?
Yes. Send a membership change request. A move that increases what you have takes effect the following 1st of the month.
Needs confirming before go-live: Confirm whether moving DOWN a product has a different effective date or a waiting period.
Can my family join?
Yes. Pricing scales by household: spouse or partner and children.
Do I pay anything at the visit?
No. Unlimited visits are part of the membership.
Does it work outside Montana?
Eligible sharing applies anywhere in the U.S., with emergency sharing while travelling abroad. There are no network restrictions.
Does this replace insurance?
On its own, no. Primary handles everyday care. If you want protection against surgery or a hospital stay, add Catastrophic or choose Comprehensive.
How do I add my spouse or a child?
Send a membership change request from the support page and tell us who you are adding and their date of birth. The monthly amount changes from the following 1st of the month.
How do I book my first visit?
Contact your chosen clinic directly. You picked them during sign-up, and they have you on their list from your start date. You do not need to go through CoreMed to make an appointment.
How do I cancel?
Thirty days notice, in writing or by phone. You agreed to that on the sign-up form. Send a cancellation request from the support page.
How do I get the app?
The app page has the links for iPhone and Android, and you sign in with the same details as the member portal.
How fast can I see a doctor?
Same day or next day at most CoreMed clinics, and you can text or call your doctor directly rather than going through a front desk.
I am losing my current plan. What are my options?
There is a guide written for exactly that situation.
Is this a quote?
No. This asks which membership suits your situation. Once you know that, the quote tool gives you the monthly amount in about a minute.
Someone on my membership turned 26. What changes?
There is a guide for exactly this on the site, including what it means for their own membership.
What about a condition I already have?
Conditions treated or medicated in the 24 months before you join phase in over your first years of membership under Zion's guidelines. Your CoreMed Primary care is not affected.
What do I bring to the first appointment?
Your membership card, a photo ID, and a list of anything you take regularly. There is nothing to pay at the visit on Primary.
What do you do with my answers?
Nothing. The recommendation is worked out in your browser and nothing is submitted or stored.
What happens if I move?
Tell us your new address. If you move out of a region where we have a clinic, we will talk through the options before anything changes.
Needs confirming before go-live: Confirm what actually happens to a member who moves out of a served region.
What happens straight after I sign up?
You get a confirmation email the same day. Your membership card and portal login follow before your start date, and you can book with your clinic from your start date onward.
Needs confirming before go-live: Confirm the actual timing of card and login delivery with the portal team.
What happens to my care after I leave?
Your membership runs to the end of the notice period. After that you are a cash-pay patient, and the cash-pay pages show what things cost.
What if the answer surprises me?
Read the membership page it points you at, then message us. A five-minute conversation settles most of these.
What is an IUA?
The Initial Unshareable Amount is what you pay toward a single medical need before sharing begins. You choose the level when you join. Once you've paid it for one need, further eligible expenses for that same need remain eligible for sharing.
What's the difference from buying both separately?
There isn't one to manage. Comprehensive is Primary and Catastrophic in a single membership, billed once.
When does my membership start?
The 1st of the month after you enrol. You agree to that date on the sign-up form, and it is the date your monthly amount is first charged.
Who actually pays when I have a large medical need?
Zion HealthShare is a non-profit community where members contribute toward each other's eligible medical needs. You pay your IUA, the community shares the rest according to its published guidelines, and those guidelines are what determine eligibility.
Why do most people pick this one?
Because it is the only option that handles both a sore throat and a heart attack. One membership, one monthly amount, one number to call.
Billing and payment 6Back to top
Do I get a receipt?
Yes, by email on every charge. They are also listed in the member portal.
How do I change my card or bank account?
In the member portal, under payment methods. It takes effect on the next charge.
Needs confirming before go-live: Confirm the portal path once the payment work is live.
Is there a fee on top of my monthly amount?
Yes, a transaction fee: 1 percent on ACH and 3.5 percent on a card. It is disclosed on the sign-up form and shown before you agree to anything. Paying by ACH costs you less.
Is this HSA eligible?
There is a full guide on this, because the answer depends on which membership you have.
My payment failed. What now?
You get an email from us the same day with a link to update the payment method. Nothing about your membership changes while you sort it out.
Needs confirming before go-live: Confirm the grace period before a failed payment affects the membership.
When am I charged?
On the 1st of each month, for that month.
Needs confirming before go-live: Confirm the exact billing date and whether it is the 1st or the anniversary of joining.
Using CoreMed 5Back to top
Can I see a doctor when I am travelling?
Yes, and there is a page explaining how that works outside Montana.
How do I find a clinic near me?
The find care pages list every provider by region, with hours and contact details.
How do prescriptions work?
The prescription page lists what is included and how pricing works on the rest.
Something is wrong tonight. What do I do?
There is a guide that walks through the choices by how urgent it is, including when your own clinic can handle it and when to go straight to an emergency room.
What is included with my membership?
Twelve pages, one per area, covering primary care, imaging, labs, mental health, physical therapy, dental, surgery and more.
Sharing and Zion 29Back to top
Are allergy medications shared?
No. Allergy testing and medication are excluded, though an emergency room visit for a reaction may be considered. Everyday allergy medication goes through CoreMed Rx.
Can I change my IUA?
Once per membership year. Lowering it brings a 60-day waiting period, except for accidents.
Do I tell CoreMed or Zion?
Zion handles the sharing request. Tell us too if you want help, but the request itself goes to Zion through their member portal.
Does Primary include sharing?
No. Primary is CoreMed's own direct primary care and sits outside Zion entirely. Sharing applies to Catastrophic and Comprehensive.
Does the IUA reset every year?
No, and the difference is real. It applies per medical need rather than per calendar year, and once you have met it for a need you do not pay it again for that need until you have been symptom free for twelve months.
Does the maternity request include the baby?
No. Expenses the newborn incurs after delivery are a separate sharing request with its own IUA.
Does this affect seeing my CoreMed doctor?
No. Everyday care through your CoreMed clinic is unaffected by your medical history and starts immediately.
How far back does it look?
24 months before your membership start date.
How long do I have to add the baby?
30 days from birth. After that, anything present at birth is treated as a pre-membership medical condition for the child.
I cannot afford the IUA right now.
There is a guide on financial assistance, including what to ask the hospital for.
I got a bill I do not understand.
There are two guides for this: one on reading an itemised bill and one on surprise bills.
Is dental shared?
No, not by Zion. But annual cleanings are part of a CoreMed membership where we have a partner dentist, and other work is priced up front.
Is there a limit on how much can be shared?
There is no lifetime limit on the number of eligible expenses that may be shared. Specific limits apply to pre-membership medical conditions.
Should I give the hospital my membership card as insurance?
No. You are a self-pay patient. Say so, and ask for the self-pay price before treatment where there is time. There is a guide on getting a good faith estimate.
What about my blood pressure medication?
High blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes are excepted, as long as you have not been hospitalised for it in the previous twelve months and it is controlled by medication or diet.
What about my insulin?
Diabetic medication and supplies are not shared. They go through CoreMed Rx instead.
What do I do first?
Get the care you need. Then tell Zion. The sharing requests page covers when to submit and what to send.
What do I need to send?
The sharing request through Zion's Member Portal, plus original itemised bills and statements. Zion may ask for medical records, receipts or proof of payment as it goes.
What happens if a request is declined?
It may still be eligible through Zion's Additional Giving fund. Message us and we will help you submit it.
What if I have a terrible year?
A household pays at most three IUAs in a rolling twelve months. After that, eligible sharing requests over $500 are shared with no IUA.
What if something is not eligible?
Sharing requests that are not eligible may still be considered through Zion's Additional Giving fund.
What if the request is declined?
The what-is-not-shared page covers this. There is a route to have it looked at again.
Needs confirming before go-live: Confirm Zion's appeal process and write it out properly.
What is not shared?
There is a page listing this plainly, including dental, and what happens if a request is declined.
What is sharing, in one paragraph?
Members contribute each month into a community. When someone has a large, eligible medical need, the community shares that cost after the member pays their IUA. Zion HealthShare is an independent nonprofit that runs it. It is not insurance, and sharing is voluntary.
What is the maternity IUA?
$2,500 if your household IUA is $1,250 or $2,500, and $5,000 if your household IUA is $5,000.
When do I submit?
Before the date of service for anything planned. As soon as possible afterward for an emergency. Either way, no later than six months from the date of service.
When does maternity become eligible?
Conception must be after six months of continuous individual membership. Memberships enrolled through an employer are not subject to that waiting period.
Which one should I pick?
Most households take $2,500. Use the quote tool to see what each level does to your monthly amount, then decide which risk you would rather carry.
Who decides whether something is eligible?
A Determination Adjudicator at Zion HealthShare. Nobody else's answer is binding, including ours.
What's included 36Back to top
Are my annual labs included here?
Not on Catastrophic alone. Routine annual labs are part of Primary and Comprehensive.
Can I be treated outside Montana?
Yes. Eligible needs are shared anywhere in the United States. A major cancer centre in another state is not off the table.
Can I change clinics later?
Yes. Tell CoreMed and we move you. You are not locked to the practice you picked at sign-up.
Can I do it by video?
Yes. Most CoreMed counselors offer video sessions, and several work by telehealth only.
Can I get labs without seeing a doctor first?
Labs are ordered by your CoreMed doctor. That is what keeps the results attached to someone who knows your history.
Can I go out of state for treatment?
Yes. Eligible sharing applies anywhere in the United States, so a major cancer centre is not off the table.
More on this: Cancer, Cardiac and Serious Condition Sharing →
Can I see a therapist in a different region?
Yes. Any CoreMed network therapist will see you, and several are telehealth-capable for follow-ups.
Can I use any surgeon?
Yes. There are no network restrictions.
Do I need a referral?
No. Montana allows direct access to physical therapy, and CoreMed does not add an approval step on top.
Do I need approval before going to the ER?
No. Go to the nearest emergency room. Approval is not a step that exists here.
Do I pay for a draw?
No, not for included work. Specialty testing outside that is quoted before it is ordered.
Does CoreMed see my notes?
No. Clinical records stay with the counselor treating you.
Does it cost extra?
No. Sessions with a CoreMed network physical therapist are part of the membership.
Does it matter which ambulance service?
No. There are no network restrictions, which in an emergency is the only sensible answer.
Does my CoreMed doctor work outside Montana?
Your CoreMed clinic is in Montana, and telehealth reaches you wherever you are. In-person primary care means coming back to your clinic.
How does the IUA work for long treatment?
The Initial Unshareable Amount applies per need, not per visit. Once you have met it for that need, further eligible expenses for the same need remain eligible.
More on this: Cancer, Cardiac and Serious Condition Sharing →
How fast can I get an X-ray?
Usually within the week and often the same day, depending on your region.
How quickly can I be seen?
Same day or next day at most CoreMed clinics. Panels are deliberately small so appointments stay available.
Is air ambulance really included?
Medical transport tied to an eligible need is eligible for sharing. Given how far apart Montana hospitals are, this is not a hypothetical.
Is the X-ray included in my membership?
Yes. X-rays are included, and so is the radiologist read, so there is no separate professional fee afterward.
Is there a limit on sessions?
No session cap. How many you have is between you and your therapist.
Is there a session limit?
No cap. Frequency is set with your counselor.
Is there an in-network and out-of-network?
No. There is no network, so the distinction does not exist.
Is this dental insurance?
No. It is a membership arrangement with partner practices at agreed prices.
Should I call first for planned surgery?
Yes. Not for permission, but so we can confirm eligibility and get you a real number before you commit.
What about medication?
Prescribing is handled by your primary care doctor or a psychiatric provider. Prescriptions are part of the membership through CoreMed Rx.
What about my kids?
Children on your membership are treated the same as adults for included cleanings where a partner practice offers them.
What counts as tied to a need?
Diagnostic work ordered to investigate or manage an eligible medical need. Your care team and Zion confirm eligibility as part of submitting the need.
What do I pay?
Your Initial Unshareable Amount for that need. You choose the level when you join; a lower IUA means a higher monthly amount.
What if I am outside Montana?
Eligible sharing applies anywhere in the United States, with emergency sharing while travelling abroad.
What if I need a specialist?
Your doctor arranges the referral and stays in the loop. Specialist care sits outside the membership, and we will tell you what it costs before you go.
What if I was already being treated?
Conditions treated or medicated in the 24 months before you join phase in over your first years of membership. Your CoreMed primary care is not affected by that.
More on this: Cancer, Cardiac and Serious Condition Sharing →
What if my doctor orders something bigger than an X-ray?
That sits outside the membership. We will point you at a Montana facility and you can see the cash price before you agree to anything.
What if something happens while I am abroad?
Emergency needs abroad are eligible under Zion's guidelines. Routine care abroad is not.
What is in the annual panel?
Your doctor sets it based on your age, history and what they are watching. It is a clinical decision rather than a fixed list.
Which regions include cleanings?
The regions with a partner dentist. Check your region's page for who is listed there.
Finding care 35Back to top
Can I see a physical therapist or counselor in Billings without a referral?
Yes. 1 physical therapy provider and 4 mental health providers in Billings take CoreMed members directly. Call the one you want and say you are a CoreMed member.
Can I see a physical therapist or counselor in Bozeman without a referral?
Yes. 3 physical therapy providers and 5 mental health providers in Bozeman take CoreMed members directly. Call the one you want and say you are a CoreMed member.
Can I see a physical therapist or counselor in Eureka without a referral?
Yes. 2 physical therapy providers and 5 mental health providers in Eureka take CoreMed members directly. Call the one you want and say you are a CoreMed member.
Can I see a physical therapist or counselor in Flathead Valley without a referral?
Yes. 5 physical therapy providers and 5 mental health providers in Flathead Valley take CoreMed members directly. Call the one you want and say you are a CoreMed member.
Can I see a physical therapist or counselor in Helena without a referral?
Yes. 2 physical therapy providers and 5 mental health providers in Helena take CoreMed members directly. Call the one you want and say you are a CoreMed member.
Do I need insurance to use CoreMed in Billings?
It works on its own. Some members keep a separate plan alongside it and some do not. Either way the Billings providers listed on this page see you the same way.
Do I need insurance to use CoreMed in Bozeman?
It works on its own. Some members keep a separate plan alongside it and some do not. Either way the Bozeman providers listed on this page see you the same way.
Do I need insurance to use CoreMed in Eureka?
It works on its own. Some members keep a separate plan alongside it and some do not. Either way the Eureka providers listed on this page see you the same way.
Do I need insurance to use CoreMed in Flathead Valley?
It works on its own. Some members keep a separate plan alongside it and some do not. Either way the Flathead Valley providers listed on this page see you the same way.
Do I need insurance to use CoreMed in Helena?
It works on its own. Some members keep a separate plan alongside it and some do not. Either way the Helena providers listed on this page see you the same way.
How do prescriptions work in Billings?
Pharm406 fills prescriptions for members here, with free delivery anywhere in Montana. Many common medications are included at no extra cost.
How do prescriptions work in Bozeman?
Pharm406 fills prescriptions for members here, with free delivery anywhere in Montana. Many common medications are included at no extra cost.
How do prescriptions work in Eureka?
Eureka Drug, Pharm406 fill prescriptions for members here, with free delivery anywhere in Montana. Many common medications are included at no extra cost.
How do prescriptions work in Flathead Valley?
Pharm406 fills prescriptions for members here, with free delivery anywhere in Montana. Many common medications are included at no extra cost.
How do prescriptions work in Helena?
Pharm406 fills prescriptions for members here, with free delivery anywhere in Montana. Many common medications are included at no extra cost.
How much does a CoreMed membership cost in Billings?
There is no single Billings price. What you pay depends on the membership you pick, how many people are on it and the ages involved. The quote tool asks a handful of questions and gives you the monthly amount in about a minute, with nothing owed to see it.
How much does a CoreMed membership cost in Bozeman?
There is no single Bozeman price. What you pay depends on the membership you pick, how many people are on it and the ages involved. The quote tool asks a handful of questions and gives you the monthly amount in about a minute, with nothing owed to see it.
How much does a CoreMed membership cost in Eureka?
There is no single Eureka price. What you pay depends on the membership you pick, how many people are on it and the ages involved. The quote tool asks a handful of questions and gives you the monthly amount in about a minute, with nothing owed to see it.
How much does a CoreMed membership cost in Flathead Valley?
There is no single Flathead Valley price. What you pay depends on the membership you pick, how many people are on it and the ages involved. The quote tool asks a handful of questions and gives you the monthly amount in about a minute, with nothing owed to see it.
How much does a CoreMed membership cost in Helena?
There is no single Helena price. What you pay depends on the membership you pick, how many people are on it and the ages involved. The quote tool asks a handful of questions and gives you the monthly amount in about a minute, with nothing owed to see it.
Where do I get imaging done in Billings?
Big Sky Imaging at 1575 Shiloh Rd Ste 7, Office #4, Billings 59106 handles imaging for Billings members. Pricing is quoted up front before anything is scheduled.
Where do I get imaging done in Bozeman?
Big Sky Imaging at 115 E Gallatin Ave A 102, Manhattan 59741 handles imaging for Bozeman members. Pricing is quoted up front before anything is scheduled.
Where do I get imaging done in Eureka?
Big Sky Imaging at 390 Purdy Dr, Eureka 59917 handles imaging for Eureka members. Pricing is quoted up front before anything is scheduled.
Where do I get imaging done in Flathead Valley?
Big Sky Imaging at 2425 US Hwy 2 E, Kalispell 59901 handles imaging for Flathead Valley members. Pricing is quoted up front before anything is scheduled.
Where do I get imaging done in Helena?
Big Sky Imaging at 2735 Colonial Dr Ste B, Helena 59601 handles imaging for Helena members. Pricing is quoted up front before anything is scheduled.
Which clinics in Billings take a CoreMed membership?
2 clinics in Billings: Flex Family Health, PearlMed DPC. You name your clinic during sign-up, and there is nothing to pay at the front desk for included services.
Which clinics in Bozeman take a CoreMed membership?
3 clinics in Bozeman: Headwaters DPC, Bozeman Primary Care, Three Rivers Medical Clinic. You name your clinic during sign-up, and there is nothing to pay at the front desk for included services.
Which clinics in Eureka take a CoreMed membership?
One clinic in Eureka: Eureka Family Health & Wellness. You name your clinic during sign-up, and there is nothing to pay at the front desk for included services.
Which clinics in Flathead Valley take a CoreMed membership?
3 clinics in Flathead Valley: Big Mountain Family Medicine, Apex Direct Care, Thrive Family Medicine. You name your clinic during sign-up, and there is nothing to pay at the front desk for included services.
Which clinics in Helena take a CoreMed membership?
One clinic in Helena: Helena DPC. You name your clinic during sign-up, and there is nothing to pay at the front desk for included services.
Which towns does CoreMed serve in Billings?
Billings, Laurel, Lockwood, Shepherd, Huntley, Worden, Park City. Providers in the Billings directory are spread across those communities, and 6 of them publish hours you can check on their listing page.
Which towns does CoreMed serve in Bozeman?
Bozeman, Belgrade, Four Corners, Livingston, Manhattan, Three Forks, Gallatin Gateway. Providers in the Bozeman directory are spread across those communities, and 10 of them publish hours you can check on their listing page.
Which towns does CoreMed serve in Eureka?
Eureka, Rexford, Trego, Fortine. Providers in the Eureka directory are spread across those communities, and 4 of them publish hours you can check on their listing page.
Which towns does CoreMed serve in Flathead Valley?
Kalispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls, Evergreen, Bigfork, Lakeside, Polson. Providers in the Flathead Valley directory are spread across those communities, and 8 of them publish hours you can check on their listing page.
Which towns does CoreMed serve in Helena?
Helena, Montana City, Clancy, Jefferson City, Townsend, Boulder. Providers in the Helena directory are spread across those communities, and 5 of them publish hours you can check on their listing page.
Prices and cash pay 4Back to top
Can I ask for a better price?
Yes. Say you are self-pay before you are treated, ask for the self-pay rate in writing, and ask for a Good Faith Estimate. If the bill has already arrived, check whether you qualify for the hospital's financial assistance program before paying anything.
How current are these?
Extracted from the hospitals' published files in August 2026. Hospitals update on their own schedules, so follow the source link for the current file.
What is a self-pay price?
The discounted rate a hospital publishes for people paying directly rather than through a plan. Hospitals are required to publish one if they have one. Several Montana hospitals publish a self-pay price identical to their list price, which is worth knowing before you agree to it.
Why is the list price so much higher than what insurers pay?
The list price, or chargemaster rate, is close to a fiction. Almost nobody pays it. It exists as a starting point for negotiation, which is why the negotiated column is usually a fraction of it. The problem is that an uninsured person is often quoted the list price.
Guides 29Back to top
Can I be asked to give up these protections?
For some non-emergency situations, yes, in writing and in advance. You are allowed to say no.
More on this: Surprise Medical Bills: What You Cannot Be Charged →
Can I elect COBRA later if something happens?
Election is generally retroactive to when you lost the plan, and you usually have 60 days to decide. Confirm the dates with your administrator rather than relying on this.
More on this: Lost Your Health Insurance in Montana? What to Do Now →
Can I reimburse employees for a health share membership tax free?
Generally not through a QSEHRA, because those arrangements require care meeting the federal minimum standard and a sharing membership does not meet it. Get the specific arrangement checked by a benefits adviser or CPA.
Do I come off on my birthday?
It depends on the plan. Many run to the end of your birthday month, others to the end of the plan year. Ask for the date in writing rather than assuming.
More on this: Turning 26 in Montana: What to Do About Health Care →
Do I have to offer health benefits?
Not under federal law if you have fewer than 50 full-time equivalent employees. Full-time equivalent is a calculation that aggregates part-time hours, so work it out rather than counting heads.
Do I need a professional?
Usually not for a single bill. For a long hospital stay with thousands of lines, a medical billing advocate can be worth it.
Does a CoreMed membership count as insurance?
No. It is a membership, and the sharing side is a non-profit community rather than an insurer. That distinction matters for some tax and employer situations, so read the detail before you assume it substitutes.
More on this: Turning 26 in Montana: What to Do About Health Care →
Does asking hurt my credit or my care?
No. Applying is not a credit event, and a hospital cannot use it as a reason to treat you differently. Emergency care cannot be withheld while you sort out payment.
Does this cover the ambulance?
Ground ambulance is largely not covered by these protections, which is a real gap in a rural state. Air ambulance is treated differently from ground.
More on this: Surprise Medical Bills: What You Cannot Be Charged →
How far ahead do I have to schedule?
The requirement applies to care scheduled at least three business days in advance. You can request an estimate for anything, but that is the threshold at which they must provide one.
More on this: Good Faith Estimate: Your Right to a Price Up Front →
How long do I have to choose?
Losing a plan opens a special enrolment period, normally 60 days. Medicaid is different. You can apply at any time of year.
More on this: Turning 26 in Montana: What to Do About Health Care →
How long do I have?
Normally 60 days from losing the plan for a marketplace special enrolment period. Medicaid has no window and can be applied for any time.
More on this: Lost Your Health Insurance in Montana? What to Do Now →
I am healthy. Can I skip it?
You can. There is no federal penalty any more. The risk is that one accident produces a bill you cannot pay, which is the scenario worth thinking about rather than the flu.
More on this: Turning 26 in Montana: What to Do About Health Care →
I am uninsured. Does this help me?
Not the balance billing provisions, which apply to plan cost sharing. Your protections are the Good Faith Estimate and the $400 dispute process.
More on this: Surprise Medical Bills: What You Cannot Be Charged →
I have a CoreMed membership. Where do I go?
Call your CoreMed clinic first for anything that is not an emergency, including evenings. That is what the membership is for. Emergencies go to the nearest ER.
More on this: Where to Go for Care in Montana When You Are Paying Cash →
I quit rather than being laid off. Does that count?
Losing employer-based care generally opens a special enrolment period regardless of who ended the job. Confirm when you apply.
More on this: Lost Your Health Insurance in Montana? What to Do Now →
Is COBRA worth it?
Sometimes, if you are mid-treatment or have already met a deductible. You pay the full cost including the employer's old share, so it is usually the most expensive option on the table.
More on this: Lost Your Health Insurance in Montana? What to Do Now →
Is CoreMed the answer for my business?
Sometimes, and sometimes not. We are option five of the six above. If a broker, an ICHRA or a group plan fits your situation better, we will say so. That is what the conversation on the business page is for.
Is an estimate binding?
It is not a fixed quote, but it is the benchmark the dispute process measures against, which gives it real weight.
More on this: Good Faith Estimate: Your Right to a Price Up Front →
Is it worth doing for a small bill?
Errors are proportionally just as common on small bills. Whether it is worth your afternoon is your call.
Is urgent care always cheaper?
Usually for the same complaint, but ask what a self-pay visit costs before you go, and whether imaging is on site. A referral onward to an ER means paying twice.
More on this: Where to Go for Care in Montana When You Are Paying Cash →
My bill is already in collections. Is it too late?
Often not. The application period has to run at least 240 days from your first post-discharge bill, and hospitals routinely pull accounts back from collections when an application is approved. Ask.
Should I pay while I am disputing it?
Ask for the account to be held during a review or a financial assistance application, and get that confirmation in writing.
What does self-pay actually mean?
That you are paying directly rather than through a plan. Saying so up front is what unlocks the self-pay rate, which is often a fraction of the billed amount.
More on this: Where to Go for Care in Montana When You Are Paying Cash →
What if I went to the nearest ER and it was out of network?
Emergency care is protected regardless of network, including post-stabilisation care. Your cost sharing is capped at the in-network amount.
More on this: Surprise Medical Bills: What You Cannot Be Charged →
What if the bill is higher than the estimate?
If it is $400 or more above, you can use the patient-provider dispute resolution process. Below that, it is worth calling and asking for the difference to be explained.
More on this: Good Faith Estimate: Your Right to a Price Up Front →
What if the hospital is for-profit?
The 501(r) requirement applies to non-profit hospitals. For-profit facilities are not bound by it, though many still run discount programmes. Ask what they have.
What is the cheapest way to offer health benefits to a small team?
It depends on your census and what your people use. For very small teams a QSEHRA or a membership model is usually cheaper than a group plan. For a healthy team of 10 or more, a level-funded plan can come in under a fully insured quote. Price at least three different models against the same monthly figure before deciding.
What is the difference between QSEHRA and ICHRA?
QSEHRA is limited to employers with fewer than 50 full-time equivalent employees and has annual caps, $6,450 self-only and $13,100 family for 2026. ICHRA is open to any size employer and has no federal cap.
Employers and clinics 20Back to top
Can we combine it with CoreMed Primary?
That is usually the point. The plan carries the large and rare things, direct primary care carries the everyday visits, and employees stop deciding whether they can afford to see a doctor.
More on this: Employee Health Plans for Montana Businesses 50+ →
Do we have to switch everything at once?
No. Some employers run CoreMed alongside what they already have, or start with one location or one group and expand.
Do you quote a price on the first call?
Not usually. A number without knowing your headcount, regions and household mix is a guess, and a guess you can't budget against is worse than no number.
How do employees enrol?
You give us the list, we invite them, and each person enrols individually.
Needs confirming before go-live: Confirm against Sunil's employee sign-up build before publishing.
How does billing work?
One monthly invoice to the business, one line in payroll. Add and remove people as the team changes.
How does it get paid for?
One monthly invoice to the business and one line in payroll. You choose how much of it the business carries.
How does it work for a team?
The business pages cover small business and enterprise separately, with 17 answers between them.
How does this sit alongside what we already offer?
A CoreMed membership is its own thing and works on its own. Plenty of employers run it beside an existing plan and plenty run it on its own. Your broker or counsel is the right person to sign off on the specifics for your business, and we are happy to be in that conversation.
How small is too small?
Two employees is enough to have the conversation. Below that you are probably better served by an individual membership, and we will tell you so.
Is this a taxable benefit?
The Montana employers guide covers the tax questions.
Is this insurance?
The health plan we refer you to is, yes. It is ACA-compliant coverage that meets minimum essential coverage and minimum value. That is a different thing from a CoreMed membership, which is not insurance, and we keep the two clearly separated.
More on this: Employee Health Plans for Montana Businesses 50+ →
We already have a broker. Does that matter?
No. We work alongside brokers regularly and are happy to have yours in the room. Nothing here requires you to end that relationship.
More on this: Employee Health Plans for Montana Businesses 50+ →
What do you need from us to start?
A census, your current arrangement, and whatever cost data you can share. The more complete it is, the more useful the quote.
More on this: Employee Health Plans for Montana Businesses 50+ →
What exactly are we buying?
A healthcare membership for your team: unlimited everyday care with a local Montana doctor at a fixed monthly amount per person. How it sits alongside anything else you offer is a conversation for your broker or counsel, and we're happy to be in it.
What happens on the first call?
We ask about your team, what you offer today, and what it costs. No presentation. By the end of it we usually both know whether this is worth continuing.
What if CoreMed isn't right for us?
We tell you, and refer you to someone who is. That happens regularly and it is not a failure. An employer who gets sent to the right place tends to send other people our way.
What if CoreMed isn't the right fit?
Then we say so, and point you at whoever is. We would rather be useful once than sell you something that doesn't work.
What if we have employees outside Montana?
Say so early. Our direct primary care network is Montana-based, and out-of-state employees change the answer. Sometimes it still works, sometimes it does not.
More on this: Employee Health Plans for Montana Businesses 50+ →
Who actually provides the plan?
A benefits partner we refer to. CoreMed does not underwrite, administer or bind coverage. We introduce you, we help you think it through, and they quote it. Mandy will tell you exactly who you would be working with on the first call.
More on this: Employee Health Plans for Montana Businesses 50+ →
Why did CoreMed not offer this before?
Because we did not have an honest answer for a company of fifty or more. A membership by itself does not satisfy what a larger employer has to do, and we were not going to pretend otherwise. This partnership is what changed that.
More on this: Employee Health Plans for Montana Businesses 50+ →
About CoreMed 5Back to top
Can I keep my own doctor?
If your doctor is in the CoreMed network, yes. If not, you pick from the local clinics in your region. Every one of them is listed on this site with an address and a phone number before you sign up for anything.
Is there a contract?
No annual commitment. You can cancel any time.
What does it cost?
There is no single price, because it depends on your region, who is joining and the Initial Unshareable Amount you pick. The calculator gives you your household's actual monthly contribution in about a minute, and we don't ask for your phone number to show it to you.
What if I have a condition already?
Conditions treated in the 24 months before you join phase in over time under Zion's sharing guidelines. Your everyday care through CoreMed Primary is not affected. That starts the day you join.
Where does CoreMed work?
Five Montana regions today: Flathead Valley, Eureka, Billings, Bozeman and Helena, with Missoula opening next. Catastrophic sharing is eligible anywhere in the U.S.
Ask us anything
If the answer is not above, send the question and a person will answer it. No ticket number, no queue position.
Request received.
Support will be in touch, usually within one business day. For anything urgent, message us and we will pick it up faster.
What would be sent to GoHighLevel
Change your membership
Switch memberships, add a family member, or update your household. Changes need to reach us by the 25th to take effect on the 1st.
Request sent.
Changes received by the 25th take effect on the 1st. Someone will confirm by email.
What would be sent to GoHighLevel
Cancelling
There is no annual commitment. Cancelling needs 30 days' notice. Call 406-730-6688 or email info@coremedhealth.com and someone will walk through it with you.