Do you feel like you are not getting the best health insurance possible or maybe just having a hard time even getting health insurance? Either way, the following article is going to provide you with important health insurance information that will hopefully help you make good decisions about your healthcare.
Because Obamacare hasn't officially become law yet due to it being tied up in the Supreme Courts here's a quick health insurance idea. Most employer supplemented policies cost around one hundred dollars a month. This equates to nearly $1200 a year. Are you going to spending that much on health care in one year out of pocket? Are you usually very healthy? If this is the case, it may be better to have no insurance and pay out of pocket the one or two expenses that actually come up and save several hundred dollars.
To make sure you have the best health insurance, don't let your policy lapse while you're looking for new coverage. If you lose your insurance for some reason, you may be eligible for COBRA. This is a government program designed to let you continue with your insurance until you can find a new policy.
Sign up for a flexible spending account. If you are paying for your own health insurance costs, consider the move to an HSA. An HSA is a Health Savings Account that you can contribute towards, tax free, and then withdraw the money, also tax free, for any medical costs you face.
Check into individual coverage, as you may get a better rate than with going with a group plan. The downside to group coverage is that everyone is accepted. This means that the premiums must be higher to help account for those who may become ill or need emergency care.
Obtaining catastrophic coverage instead of comprehensive coverage can often save you money on health insurance. Catastrophic coverage is for emergency uses, and comprehensive coverage is for prescriptions and visits to the doctor.
Pay less on your taxes with health insurance! The premiums that you pay for your health insurance are actually tax deductible! Health insurance premiums, prescription costs, deductibles and other expenses not covered by insurance may be deductible on your tax return. State taxes differ than federal, so you may want to check those guidelines.
Remember that health insurance representatives tend to record your conversations to use against you at a later time. Always be courteous and polite, but remind your self that they are not your friend or family member. Do not make chit-chat with them, or tell them anything about yourself that they have not asked.
Consider opening a savings account to use as an expense account that you can use to make payments on your co-pays and deductibles that apply to your health insurance. It can be used to pay for things that are not covered under many policies like prescriptions, eye glasses and contact lenses.
Life
If monthly costs for health insurance are a concern, look a higher deductible plan. This option allows for you to handle smaller out of pocket costs as needed and the need for a deductible is only necessary when a more catastrophic event occurs. The minor incidents are easier to budget and allow you to save monthly dollars for your day to day life.
Vision insurance is a wonderful investment for those who have a high need for eyewear. If you need glasses or contacts to see in daily life, you need to have this type of insurance to help cut down the cost for all your eye care needs. Glasses and contact can become expensive when paying in full every time you need them.
All insurance plans are going to differ slightly, so the most important thing you can do is ask questions. Health insurance is nothing to play around with. If you do not get everything you absolutely need, you may be left footing the bill when you fall ill. That's going to be expensive and possibly even life threatening.
Ask for a free trial. As with most things in life, your insurance plan may come with a free trial period. If this is offered, take advantage of it. Normally. this doesn't mean that you get a free month, rather that you pay for a month and if you aren't satisfied you can get a refund. Make sure you follow the guidelines though, such as needing to ask for the refund in writing.
Compare
Use the resources available to you. There are several websites online that allow you to privately input your family's information, and use it to compare health insurance policies and prices. This can be extremely beneficial to those who may not have the time to shop around for this information on their own.
When shopping around for a great healthcare policy, always make sure that you're comparing policies online. You can receive multiple quotes from multiple providers, so take your time and compare them all to see where you can save money without losing out on great coverage options. A few minutes to compare, can save you some big money.
Don't take the default health insurance plan your employer provides, instead look at all the options that are offered to you and choose the one which best fits your family's needs. Compare what you could get by signing up for private insurance with the offerings you're given at open enrollment time - it's possible you could find a better plan on your own!
If you have long-standing health issues, you are better off getting health insurance with low deductibles but higher premiums. Calculate how much you're currently spending on your medical costs and then compare it to what you'll pay for the insurance per year. Make sure to find out what items you'll pay for out of pocket, if any.
As was stated in the beginning of the article, it is important that you are educated about health insurance, whether you already have it or are looking to get it. By taking the advice given to you in this article, you are on the way to getting the best health insurance possible.
No comments