Insurance is a gamble. Without insurance, you risk being a victim of the very thing that insurance was supposed to have covered. With insurance, you pay a premium without knowing if you’ll ever have to file a claim under that insurance policy. Health insurance is worth the latter gamble. You can’t ever be sure about your future health. Every person, at some point in their lives, will have to see the doctor or go to the hospital.
Once you’re smart enough to elect health insurance, you must then navigate the almost limitless choices when it comes to medical coverage. In the end, your medical insurance coverage is only as good as the company behind it. What are some things to look for when choosing a health insurance company?
First, before actually choosing a health insurance company, you have to be prepared to tell the full, honest, unadulterated truth in the application process. If you fail to fully disclose factual information about your health and medical history, your medical insurance coverage can be voided. You’ll find that by disclosing your full medical history, you can more easily compare health insurance companies. You will see which health insurance companies are more amenable to your medical history than others, making it easier to make a decision. PolicyPedia helps you choose, making insurance decisions easy.
Second, consult with an independent insurance agent. Some agents represent many health insurance companies and can tell you which are more suited to your needs.
Third, find a health insurance company that is financially stable. Medical coverage is no good to you if the health insurance company is unwilling or unable to pay your claims, leaving you with thousands of dollars in medical bills. Insurance company ratings can be easily gotten online. Due diligence can save you thousands of dollars in the future. Further, a financially stable health insurance company can offer you more flexibility in your coverage as your needs grow. For example, you might only need individual coverage today, but once you have children, you’ll want a policy flexible enough to be able to add them to your coverage without any hassle.
Fourth, find a health insurance company that already works with your favorite doctor. If you have a preferred physician that you visit, you’ll want to make sure that the health insurance company’s policy allows you to choose that physician. If you’re looking to go with an HMO plan, make sure that your doctor is part of their network. If not, you might wish to opt for a PPO plan. If the selection of a doctor isn’t as important to you, however, you can save some money by going with an HMO and choosing a doctor within the HMO network.
Fifth, you should consider a health insurance company that offers bundled coverage, such as dental, vision, disability, and prescription drug coverage. These can add up very quickly, and you can save a lot of money by opting for coverage that includes these options.
