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Clear Up Your Confusion About Health Insurance
Health insurance. They aren't dirty words - at least they don't have to be. If you spend a little time learning how to get the best health insurance you can reap surprising benefits. Every buyer and every insurance company is different but here are a few general ideas that can apply to almost every health insurance situation:
When purchasing auto insurance you can keep costs down by naming your spouse if you have one as a driver on the policy. Many insurance companies will first offer a discount for a combined policy rather than holding two separate policies for the same household. Plus marriage is seen as a stabilizing effect that reduces your risk.
If you find that the health insurance your employer offers is too expensive or otherwise unacceptable one thing to check is the insurance from your spouses employer. You might find that coverage for two on one policy is more advantageous than each of you being covered separately. Policies vary widely so be sure to check coverage as well as the cost.
Consider high deductible health insurance policies. If you are young and healthy with no family history of serious health problems a high deductible health insurance policy could be suitable for you. These policies make health insurance coverage much more affordable but make should that you are aware of medical problems which aren't covered by the policy.
Regardless of how comprehensive your health insurance policy is making the decision to use generic drugs will always be more cost effective. Only in rare cases will you not be able to receive generics and multiple studies show that there is no difference in the drugs except for their brand name.
If you do not have perfect health make sure to shop around with different insurance companies. Agencies all have different standards that they use for their different risk levels. Some allow higher cholesterol rates or higher BMIs in their policies. If you fall on the borderline its worth your time to research who will give you the best deals at your current levels.
Shop around different providers if you do have health problems that could be considered a risk for them to insure. Insurance company requirements vary and if you take the time to shop around you may find that you are not high risk through one company but that you are through another.
When thinking about getting health insurance coverage not many people think of test driving their prospective plan. This is called a free trial basis - you get your money back if you aren't happy - as long as it is canceled within a set amount of time. Check to see if this is offered in your area!
When applying for health insurance have a talk with your doctor. Have him pull your medical records so you can be sure that there are no inaccuracies and that there is nothing that may be detrimental to your chances of getting insurance. Look back at least ten years as some health insurance companies do.
Honesty is the best policy. Once you have found a suitable health insurance plan take care when filling it out and be honest. If you make mistakes or are found to have filled anything dishonestly your coverage will probably be denied. The best thing to do is take things slowly and think about how you answer each question.
If a representative from an insurance company asks you a question you do not know the answer to you should refer them to your medical record. Do not guess an answer or provide an incomplete one. Chances are your approximate answer will not match what your record says and you will get in trouble when your insurance company notices it.
You need to protect yourself from health insurance policies that you don't need. One thing to begin with is the fine print. When discussing plans with a provider it can appear like they are so descriptive with explaining everything but there is fine print that needs to be read too. Try reading it while there talking. Challenge it to make sure it is like they say it is. Many want you to wait to read it up until you sign but it is usually too late.
If you have very good health and do not know of any medical issues that run in your family then it is relatively safe to choose a minimum health insurance coverage. The price is linked to coverage. So why pay for something you are not going to use?
Don't let your old insurance lapse before your new insurance kicks in! At worse you can sign up for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) to make sure that the insurance you had with your employer will continue to be available when your job ends and your laid off.
If an insurance rate is too good to be true look at customer reviews of the company to ensure your paying for good service. If insurance is cheap its likely to be because they have a low number of staff meaning claims could take forever to go through. You get what you pay for.
Do not try to hide your medical condition when you apply for health insurance. Although a pre-existing condition can prevent you from qualifying for a particular policy an insurance company can cancel your policy on the spot if it discovers your condition. It is best to be upfront and honest about your medical condition when you speak to an insurance agent. You might still be able to qualify for some level of coverage.
The health insurance market can be confusing but if you educate yourself about a few simple principles it can be much easier to navigate. Health insurance is too important to let yourself be intimidated by an insurance company. Just remember what you've learned from this article and you'll be able to find the coverage you need.
