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Thursday, December 27, 2012

How Can You Shop For Health Insurance

By Greg Johnson


Trying to buy an individual health insurance plan can be confusing and expensive. It can be difficult to really know how much you'll pay every month and what is really covered. Plus you still need to figure out what you'll pay for each doctor visit. One emergency procedure can run thousands of dollars if it isn't included in your policy. You could also quickly go bankrupt if an expensive medication isn't covered. You want to make certain to take your time to make the very best choice for your family. Making a choice for health insurance without doing your homework first can result in serious consequences for your pocket book and your health. This is exaclty why so many people just like you have turned to the internet to compare policies.

Comparing all the different policies out there can get really complicated really fast. One reason is that each state has different laws for what needs to be included in health plans. Don't make the mistake of assuming that every plan covers things pregnancy or eye care. Those with pre-existing conditions must read the fine print. For instance, if you have been diagnosed with heart disease you might have to pay more for your insurance or your policy might exclude anything connected with your diagnosis. On the other hand a lot of preventive measures, like well baby exams, may be completely free. These are some very good reasons why it is important to ask a lot of questions and actually read through the policy so you know the plan you choose is the best for your family.

You can't make good comparisons if you don't know what they are talking about. A "premium" is the money you pay each month to keep your coverage. The "deductible" is the amount of money you need to spend before your coverage kicks in. A high deductible plan might require you to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket each year. Doctors who have signed contracts to provide services for a lower price are considered "in-network". You can still see doctors outside the network but might end up paying for the entire price of the visit yourself. "Co-insurance" or a "co-pay" is a fee you pay to the doctor at the time of your visit. But this fee usually counts towards your deductible. With all these fees and restrictions it can be really hard to estimate how much you'll pay from your own wallet.

Going online is a great way to start making sense of all your options for health insurance policies. You can go slow and do it at times you can really focus. Get your ducks in a row before you start by thinking through all your family's health care needs. This way you can narrow your focus to the plans that meet those needs. Don't bother looking at plans in other states. Also, learn the difference between a traditional fee for service plan, a high deductible plan with a health savings account and an HMO. Look up any unfamiliar words. Take advantage of customer service representatives by calling to ask questions when you don't understand something.

Trying to find the best health insurance plan can easily give you a headache. But when you take some time to prepare yourself it will be much easier to know you are making a good decision. Start by assessing your health needs and make sure you look at plans that cover those needs. Understand the most commonly used terms and keep track of what out-of-pocket expenses you will be expected to pay. Searching for health insurance online is a great way to comparison shop. You can take your time and fully understand what each plan has to offer.




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