Do not approach health insurance with fear. It is true the field is complex and your options are many, but the more you learn, the safer you will feel. Health insurance is similar to healthcare itself. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. By making smart choices when you select health insurance, you can avoid difficulties in the future.
Open enrollment is a time for you to assess your health care needs. Even though you may have had the same plan for a number of years, it may be too expensive or it might not cover your current needs. Remember to make any necessary adjustments to your vision and dental plans during open enrollment as well.
This is why understanding how insurance works is so important. Individual policies are usually more expensive than group policies. You might have to get a policy with a higher deductible, less coverage, or both. Every insurer will evaluate you differently, so it’s well worth your time to shop several insurers until you find the cheapest rates for the most coverage.
Vision Insurance
If your eyes already have issues, or vision problems exist in your home, then vision insurance proves a smart buy. Vision insurance covers a part of your eye exams and will also pay for at least part of your contact lense or eyeglass purchases. You do not have to have vision insurance, and some choose to save money by not buying this coverage.
To save on health insurance costs, choose catastrophic coverage instead of comprehensive. Comprehensive coverage will give you prescriptions and doctors visits, but catastrophic will cover more expensive medical bills from hospital stays or emergency room visits.
Make the decision on a health insurance plan that is best for you. There are PPO, POS and HMO plans to choose from. Check out the different options for each before you decide which one is best. An important consideration is whether or not you want to keep your current primary care physician, and if you do you should ask him which insurance company he is affiliated with.
When you are looking to change health insurance plans be sure to verify that your current doctors will be covered, unless you do not mind having to change doctors. You can usually find this information on the insurance company’s website.
If pregnancy is in your future, make sure your insurance plan covers all your expenses. You should be aware that not all health insurance plans will take care of all costs that are associated with having a baby.
HSAs (savings accounts designed specifically to cover your health needs) are a consideration when you only occasionally visit the doctor. All of the money that you save from paying premiums and deductibles, can be put into this account and used for any medical expenses that you incur.
Health Insurance
Do plenty of research before purchasing catastrophic health insurance. As health insurance for a healthy individual, it’s not worth it because you will end up paying all of your own expenses. Choosing a policy which also has a Health Spending Account will allow maximum flexibility in case anything happens you weren’t expecting.
If you’re gearing up to change insurance plans, start keeping track of any expenses that you’re paying for your medical coverage. You should know what your out-of-pocket expenses are for yourself and your dependents. That way you can determine what is within your budget.
Insurance Broker
If the technical aspects of health insurance are over your head, consider consulting an industry professional like an insurance broker. Like a travel agent, an insurance broker has access to information and deals that may not be available to the general public. They’ll also know the regulations that affect your state. Compare the prices of insurance brokers prior to choosing one.
Ask your doctor to double the prescription he writes for you. Since the higher dose is usually not double the price of the smaller dose, you save money. A pill splitter only costs a couple dollars, and you will recoup the cost quickly.
Don’t wait until you get sick to discover exactly what your health insurance policy does and doesn’t cover. You need to be prepared ahead of time for anything that comes up, so read your insurance policy and ensure you know what it means. Having less health insurance than you need can prove costly, but you can rectify the problem at any time.