10 Tips on Buying Health Insurance
Whether you are making a choice between the health insurance plans offered by your employer, or buying an individual policy for yourself, here are 10 tips to take into consideration.
1 Know thy needs
Before you gain down to comparing different plans, it is important to determine your insurance needs. You may not find a policy that will cover every contingency, but you should try to find a plan that at least covers the essentials, and meets your medical needs.
Does a family member have special needs? Do you understanding on having a baby in the next couple years? Does a dependant need prescription drugs? Do you travel abroad? Thinking this through will enable you to match your next policy with your current and future medical needs, and get the kind of coverage that is right for you.
2 Shop around
All health insurance policies are not created equal. You or your insurance agent should get quotes from different insurance companies for comparison. You will find that there are broad differences in the cost, benefits and exclusions offered by various policies. By shopping around, you may not only save money on your insurance premium, you may also find a policy with benefits that are better suited to your needs. While shopping, be obvious to do an apples-to-apples comparison of the standard benefits that each company has to offer.
One of the most convenient ways to get quotes from a number of health insurance companies, is at an insurance comparison website. You will fill out a single questionnaire and get several different quotes. Here are three comparison sites:
www.ehealthinsurance.com
www.netquote.com/
www.LowerRateQuotes.com/health-insurance.html
3 Review the Benefits
Before you commit to buying a policy, it is essential that you understand exactly what it will pay for and – just as important – what it will not pay for. Be sure to read the exclusions fragment of the policy very carefully, as many health benefits are strictly optional, and will vary from one plan to the next.
*Does the policy cover preventive care?
*Does it offer vision and dental care?
*Will the plan conceal pre-existing conditions?
*Is ambulance service included?
*Are prescription drugs covered?
It can be financially disastrous if you fall ill only to find out that your policy does not cover your particular condition and you are left on the hook for the bill.
4 Out of pocket expenses
Your monthly premium is not the only expense you will incur as far as your healthcare goes. Whichever insurance plan you go with, there will usually be some out-of-pocket expenses that you will have to pay. Before you buy your policy you should find out upfront what these expenses are going to be. What is the co-pay on the policy? If there is a deductible or co-insurance, what are the amounts? What is the maximum amount you will have to pay out of pocket?
5 Choice, Cost and Coverage
There are several types of health insurance plans out there: the HMO (Health Maintenance Organization), PPO (Preferred Provider Organization), POS (Point of Service), HSA (Health Savings Account) and traditional indemnity insurance plan.
The insurance plan you choose will determine:
*The flexibility you have in choosing your health care provider
*The cost in insurance premiums and out-of-pocket expenses
*The level of coverage offered and the benefits excluded
Make definite you compare and consider the pros and cons of each option when choosing your health insurance. If you are looking to save money, for example, an HMO has the lowest out-of-pocket expenses, but it has the most restrictions. Indemnity and PPO plans offer greater flexibility, but have higher out-of-pocket expenses such as a deductible.
6 The Price you pay
Price should not always be the determining factor in choosing a health insurance plan. Ensure that the opinion you choose offers all or most of the health benefits you may need, particularly coverage for major medical conditions. Having to pay for a notable medical service out of your own pocket may cost you far, far more than what you could possibly save in premiums. It may also be financially devastating.
In the long run, the plan with the lowest premium may not work out to be the cheapest plan. The least expensive plan is the one that offers the best price for the particular coverages that you need.
7 The “free look” Clause
Be determined your policy has a “free look” Clause. Most insurance providers allow you a 10-day period during which you can cancel your policy and have your premium refunded with no penalty. This allows you time to carefully review the policies documents, and make a final decision as to whether or not you like the terms and the coverage offered. Take advantage of this provision to read and really understand your policy and the policy terms, and even get a second view.
8 Guaranteed renewable coverage
Some health insurance companies will cancel your insurance policy or hike your rates if you plunge sick – distinguished like an auto insurer may cancel your coverage if you have one too many accidents. This is actually legal in distinct states.
Look for a policy that offers non-cancelable coverage, guaranteed to renew each year. If this is not available, a “conditionally renewable” policy is another option. Under this policy, the company will reserve the right to cancel all its policies that are similar to yours, but you cannot be singled out for cancellation.
9 Maximum Life Benefit
Another principal consideration is the maximum lifetime benefit. This is the total dollar amount your insurance plan will pay out as long as you own it. that your insurance company will pay over the lifetime of the policy. Ideally, this limit should be at least $1 million
10 Questions are the Answer
Choosing your health insurance plan is a crucial financial decision. Before you effect any money down, be sure that you understand your new insurance contract. Ask your insurance agent or company to fully explain anything on the policy that you do not understand. Ask questions and be sure that you understand the answers. If not, ask again.
