You probably have some trepidation about which choice to make, regardless of whether you are seeking a new health insurance policy, trying to combine policies, or seeking lower rates. Read on to find many tips and tricks to help you save money while getting the coverage you need.
When you think about registering for medical coverage through your employer, keep in mind your personal health status and that of your immediate family. If you have no current health issues, you may get a policy that has a cheaper premium. You could be in trouble, however, if you become seriously ill or suffer an injury.
See if there’s an employee-wellness program with your company that could possibly save you money on health insurance. More and more companies are starting to offer incentives to employees who agree to have a health and lifestyle assessment. Joining certain fitness programs may help your company pay less for its insurance coverage.
Open Enrollment
Open enrollment is a time for you to assess your health care needs. Your current coverage may no longer be adequate if your health conditions have changed or if you need coverage for a new family member. If your employer also offers vision and dental insurance, you should review that also during open enrollment.
Individual policies usually are much more expensive compared to the group coverage given by employers, so it is advised to plan accordingly. It is possible you might have to be satisfied with a higher deductible and/or less coverage. Compare the premiums, deductibles and coverages of multiple providers.
Health Insurance
Pay less on your taxes with health insurance! It’s common for people not to know that health insurance premiums are tax deductible. Any money you pay for your deductible, co-pay, or even prescriptions are claimable as well. State taxes are different than federal taxes though, so make sure to check the guidelines.
Most health insurance plans have loopholes, and yours is probably not an exception. Peruse every word of your policy, so that you won’t have any unpleasant surprises. Keep some money set aside in case you have to pay out-of-pocket for a medical procedure or prescription.
You can save money by choosing generic drugs, no matter what kind of insurance you have. In very rare circumstances a generic won’t be available to you. Generics have been proven to be as effective as any name brand.
Remember that insurance is regulated by the state, and so it cannot be carried over state lines. This could mean that you are not covered if you need to visit a hospital out of state. Make sure to check with your insurance provider about these gray areas.
Be sure to regularly check to see which prescriptions are covered by your health insurance policy. The prescriptions that are covered change on a yearly basis, so check the list every time you re-enroll to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
Health Insurance
Health insurance can be dramatically cheaper if you purchase it through a group plan. This is why employers can often offer their workers cheaper health insurance premiums. The best way to avoid high individual rates is to join a trade group which offers insurance to members.
If you are unable to afford the cost of comprehensive health insurance, you may want to consider catastrophic coverage. This will give you some protection in case unforeseen things happen, such as accidents or illnesses requiring hospitalization. This is also beneficial to be added to your regular healthcare management strategy to cover extreme situations.
Even if your pet lives entirely indoors, it is a very good idea to get pet health insurance. Just as people are susceptible to illness and accidental injury, so too are our pets. There is a lot that can happen unexpectedly. Though your pet may be indoors, it could still manage to chip a tooth or damage a part of its body, for which treatment will cost quite a bit of money.
The information you learned should give you the confidence to go out and make the right choices regarding your insurance needs. You’ll have confidence that your insurance will cover you in any situation as well as be secure in the knowledge that you’re spending as little as possible.