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.
Health Insurance
There are many options for the college graduate when it comes to choosing health insurance coverage. You may be able to get health insurance from your employer, if you have one. You can also consider your parents’ insurance if you are below 26 years of age. If nothing else works, there are a ton of personal plans available through insurance companies, too.
Evaluate what your health insurance needs are so you’ll be ready when open enrollment time is near. 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. You should also take advantage of the open enrollment period to make adjustments to your dental and vision care policies if these benefits are offered by your employer.
Check your prescription each year. Prescription coverage is subject to change in most insurance policies. You should double-check all terms so you don’t get surprised after you’ve renewed your coverage. It may be time to seek out new insurance if you find that medicines you rely on regularly are suddenly not covered any longer by your plan.
Look to catastrophic coverage instead of comprehensive coverage if you are looking for cost savings on your insurance. Comprehensive health insurance covers everything, whereas catastrophic coverage only covers a visit to the emergency room or hospital care.
Extra Information
When your health insurer telephones you during the insurance application process, do not volunteer any extra information. Only give them the health information they specifically ask for. If you give any extra information, it will be recorded and can be used to raise the premium, or can even be cause for denial.
Read over your health insurance coverage to find out which prescriptions are covered by it. The list of covered prescriptions changes annually, so it is important to be certain that your medication is still covered.
Keep in mind that some insurance companies will add a surcharge if a spouse you include on your insurance plan has access to their own insurance through an employer. You may be able to save a little money if you each get health insurance through your own jobs, so be sure you figure out the cost for both scenarios.
Do not wait util you get injured or sick to find out exactly what your health insurance plan covers. It’s best to learn all you can about your insurance and the options you have before you need to use it. It is not wise to have inadequate health insurance, but you can rectify that situation whenever you are ready to do so.
