Buying Health Insurance

By Maryl Joop


Shopping for health insurance can be confusing and frustrating. There are a lot of people that struggle shopping for health insurance because they do not know what they should be looking for or what coverage they are going to need in the future.

The vote in the affirmative by the Supreme Court means that thousands of Americans across the nation will be buying personal health insurance before the deadline in 2014 to avoid paying the fine.

Purchasing health insurance, even for those who are somewhat familiar with healthcare procedures, can be an extremely difficult and stressful situation as buying the wrong coverage can be just as financially disabling as buying

excessive coverage that costs more in premiums than an individual can afford. This is because if a person buys an insurance plan with insufficient healthcare coverage it can lead to extensive out of pocket costs should a hospital visit or extended care treatment not be covered by the insurance policy.

HMO health care plans require that the subscriber use specific physicians and health care professionals that are within the plan's network. HMO costs are usually the cheapest plans, but will always come with the above restrictions in physicians.

Should you be looking for your primary health insurance coverage, do not be afraid to shop around. Many people feel that they have to stick with the insurance that is provided through their employer, but if you are not comfortable with that policy you can definitely shop around.

Often times people end up choosing to stay with the policy that their employer has provided, but when you have special needs the policy may not fit what you are looking for. Looking through the fine print of your policy may help you understand if it is what you want.

Remember that asking for clarification on word usage during the buying process is nothing to be ashamed of. Before talking with insurance brokers, consider your personal priorities in healthcare coverage.

Decide before hand what types of coverage you will need and what types of situations your health care plan will need to be prepared to cover. Balance these needs with your budget to decide what plans you can afford and what kinds of coverage you could do with out to save money.

New insurance buyers are not the only ones who should research and plan for additional healthcare coverage. For those who are on Medicare, supplemental insurance for Medicare should also be explored and considered as an option to cover all needed aspects of healthcare costs.

Medicare supplemental insurance is offered by private insurance companies but is designed to help a Medicare subscriber cover costs not included in Medicare coverage such as coinsurance and copay responsibilities. By being informed on what the main differences are between the general overlay of insurance plans, an individual who is deciding on a health insurance policy will be able to more effectively choose an option that is best suited for them.




About the Author: