Articles Search Engine

Applying for your health insurance coverage on-line has gotten easier and faster. Nowadays, as everything is becoming paperless, some health insurance carriers may require on-line application. In a way, it is good for you since you don’t have to wait for an agent to come in to your home or work place and take-up anywhere from up to two hours of your valuable time. Most health insurance companies, and the agents that represent them, may have their own websites where you can directly apply on-line.

Still, I Recommend Going Through an Independent Agent

Here’s why:

• If you have a question, you can just pick up the phone and call your agent or send an email to get an immediate response.
• Most Independent Agents are available after hours to help their clients with insurance needs.
• An Independent Agent represents more than one insurance company and will find you the best combination of price, coverage and service.
• An Independent Agent’s website allows you to compare multiple premiums and plans from different companies, whereas the health carrier’s web site does not. This way you can pick and choose the health insurance plan you want for you and your family.

Know Your Needs Before You Apply – An Independent Agent Can Help

Before picking a plan, make sure you know this:

• That the insurance premium fits your budget.
• The cost of the monthly premium, deductible, co-insurance and the co-payment is going to be. First of all, you have to make sure the insurance premium fits your budget.
• The deductible requirement applies each year of the health insurance policy and it should be met prior to coverage begins. Higher deductible plans usually have lower monthly premiums.
• Co-insurance is usually a percentage (i.e. 80/20, 70/30 or 50/50) of the cost that shows how much the insurance carrier will pay for your medical bill. Co-payment is a specified dollar amount a patient is required to contribute toward the cost of covered medical services.
• Both co-insurance and co-payments generally are applied after the patient has met any applicable plan deductible.
• Based on your health situation you must consider what type of doctor’s office visit and prescription drug coverage you may need. Health plans are usually cheaper without that coverage.

Once the right plan is chosen, you need to gather all of your personal and medical information; i.e. primary care physician’s name, address, phone number, your last visit, reason for last visit, any medication prescribed, name of the prescription, etc. If you cannot recall the dates, my advice is to contact your doctor’s office to obtain that information (the same should apply in case you have been hospitalized). This will expedite your application process tremendously since it usually takes two weeks to hear back from the insurance carrier once you have submitted you application. If you already have an existing policy through a different carrier, I’d advise you not to cancel it until your new policy has been approved.