Not having health insurance can seem like a great idea until you suffer a serious injury or come down with a chronic illness, especially if a serious health problem were to arise. Having a proper health insurance policy is key to keeping yourself healthy, and these tips can help you get the most coverage for your money.
If you’ve just graduated from college and are looking to purchase health insurance for the first time, keep the following in mind. If you are employed, you can get health insurance through your job. Until you reach 26, you are able to be listed on your parents’ insurance policy. You can also check our personal plans though too.
When considering a health care insurance plan from your employer, consider both your family’s health and your own. This may lead you to purchasing insurance that has a cheaper premium if you anticipate no health issues. While it is cheaper off the bat, it could prove risky if there are problems down the road.
When you are thinking about getting an individual health insurance policy, sit down and think about all the costs that are associated with it.
If you or your family has vision problems, you will want to consider coverage for this. This type of insurance will take care of a portion of your examination costs plus some of the costs of glasses or contact lenses when purchased. Vision insurance is not mandatory, and some people spend less money not having this type of coverage.
If you are employed, you are probably eligible for company provided coverage. If you are under the age of 26, you can remain covered under your parents’ insurance plan, or you can look up individual options too.
Open Enrollment
You can get catastrophic insurance instead of comprehensive to save cash. While comprehensive covers doctor visits and prescriptions, catastrophic coverage covers hospital visits and emergency care.
When open enrollment time comes, evaluate your needs when it comes to health insurance. Open enrollment can also be the best time to change vision and dental insurance if your employer provides these options.
Health insurance companies tend to change the medications they cover, so be sure not to enroll in a plan that won’t cover your prescriptions. If the pill you are taking on a daily basis is suddenly not covered, you may need to find a new insurance company — fast.
If you get a call from the health insurance company as part of your application process, don’t give out any extra information. Only answer direct questions. They may take any information you give and use it against you, leaving you with hefty premium increases or no coverage at all.
You can get catastrophic coverage option instead of comprehensive to save cash. While comprehensive covers doctor visits and prescriptions, catastrophic only covers emergency care and hospital care.
Expect health insurance policies to have hidden loopholes in it. Read the policy through and through, so you won’t be surprised when the company tells you that something isn’t covered.
Be sure to check with the hospitals and the doctors that you are comfortable with to make sure that they accept the health insurance that you are considering. The insurance company you are considering will usually post a list of providers in your area who are on their approved list, but it still wouldn’t hurt to call for a confirmation or update.
No matter what, if you choose generic drugs all the time you will save money on health insurance. There are only rare times you can’t get generic medicine, but using them is no different than using the brand name, as studies have shown.
Read over your health insurance policy thoroughly to discover which medications are eligible for coverage. This list will be different every year or so, to make sure that you are not going to be surprised when you go to refill your prescription.
If pregnancy is in your plans for the future, make sure your insurance policy will cover all of your pregnancy-related expenses. You need to know this as some insurance plans do not cover all aspects of the pregnancy and labor.
If you do not visit the doctor often, your best bet would probably be to start a Health Savings Account (HSA). The money saved can be set aside in premiums and insurance deductibles goes into this account to be used for a premium.
Even if you have an indoor pet, it is a very good idea to get pet health insurance. There are still hazards indoors, and if they get out, it can be a disaster. Even when inside your home, your pet could break a bone or a tooth and need expensive veterinary care.
Since it is cheaper for you in the long run if you are part of a group plan, that is why your rates seem lower when you work for an employer than when you get insurance on your own. If you are self-employed, you could look into joining a trade organization that has group rates for its members.
If you’re planning on switching your insurance policies around, be certain to understand everything about your present coverage. Be mindful of premiums, deductibles and what medical costs are covered after reaching the deductible. Keep this with a current copy of your paperwork handy so you can really choose the best policy for better comparison shopping.
Health Insurance
Doing your homework is key before buying a catastrophic health insurance policy. You need to make sure the insurance covers the catastrophic events that pertain to you. Once you have selected the policy, you will need a HSA or Health Savings Account where you can make deposits to pay for your deductible should the worst happen.
It is important to have health insurance because anything can happen. Anything could happen, such as having a car accident, or suddenly getting sick. These tips will help you get the most bang for your buck when you’re shopping for health insurance for you and your family.