How to Purchase Health Insurance in Three Easy Steps
The first, and most important step, in purchasing health insurance is RESEARCH. With all the options you have out there, with all the different companies offering health insurance, you need to fully understand what you will be getting into once you commit to a certain plan or company. A few things to think about when you are shopping around:
Are you looking for coverage for just you or for your family or dependants as well?
Will you be covered for large costs, ie. Hospital stays, etc?
Is there a return period where, if you decide in the interim that you are not happy with it and find something better, you can cancel your policy without being penalized?
Does anyone you are looking to get covered (you, your family) have any conditions that could be considered pre-existing? Find out exactly what the plan covers and does not cover.
Price: premiums, co-pays, etc. Are you getting what you’re paying for?
Would a PPO, POS or HMO work best for your needs?
Make sure you take a look at more than just one or two companies when you’re shopping around.
Once you have decided on a company and plan that suits your needs the best, you will need to apply for it. Unfortunately, health insurance is not a guaranteed thing for anyone. The company will review your application, probably talk to you about your health history, then make a decision regarding your coverage. If you get denied by one company, don’t get discouraged. Some are more finicky than others, so keep trying.
The third step in finding health insurance generally happens once you’ve been accepted into a plan: finding a primary care doctor. Check with your insurance company to see if they have a list of doctors for you to choose from, or if you’re free to go to any doctor you like. Make sure you find a doctor you’re comfortable with because this will be the doctor you will most likely see for your routine check-ups.