Health insurance is a must-have in the event you have a serious medical emergency. You never know when disaster will strike in the form of illness, accident or injury. If you aren’t prepared with a good health insurance plan, you could stand to lose everything. If you have a good health plan in place, you can rest easy that your expenses will be taken care of. You have a couple of choices when it comes to purchasing health insurance. You can go with an individual plan, or if your employer offers group insurance, you can save money by choosing that plan.
If you have graduated from college and you are in need of health insurance, there are some options for you. You can use employee-based insurance if you’ve got a job. You can also be listed under your parents’ policy until you turn twenty-six, or look into personal plans.
Companies Offer
Many companies offer employee wellness programs that allow employers to save on health insurance. Some companies offer discounted gym memberships and reduced rates for preventative medical care. Then you might be eligible for a fitness program that will help your company save on its insurance, and in turn lower your premium.
Look at your prescription coverage every year. Every year, when you re-enroll in your insurance plan, your insurance company has the right to change the plan terms. Read all the paperwork when you re-enroll and ask your insurance agent to clarify anything you’re confused about. In particular, keep an eye on the prescription drugs covered by your plan and note changes that may occur from year to year. If you suddenly find that your health insurance plan is not covering your ongoing medications any longer, then start your search for a new plan.
Do not volunteer personal information to health companies who call to solicit services or ask for applications. Just give them answers to the specific questions they ask you. If you give them additional information they did not ask for, they will record it, and could find a way to raise your rates or possibly deny you for coverage.
Keep in mind that insurance is something that’s regulated state-by-state, so you cannot purchase insurance from another state because of interstate commerce laws. Depending on your plan, a trip to the ER in another state may not be covered. All insurance companies are different in that regard, so be sure to call and check ahead of time.
Remember that some employers will incur extra charges for sponsoring spouses that could get their own insurance. You might save money by having them get their own insurance, make sure you compare them.
Keep an eye on all of your bills. You may be surprised about how much you’re paying out-of-pocket despite having health insurance coverage. Prescriptions can be a big contributor to high out-of-pocket costs. Many doctors just write the prescription without even thinking of offering you the option of a generic medication. Don’t hesitate to compare prices as well. Generics are generally cheap, but different pharmacies have different prices.
Health Insurance
If you compare group insurance to individual insurance, you can plainly figure out that group insurance has lower monthly premiums; however, individual policies give you more choices. The most important point is that having some form of health insurance is vital. To be without health insurance today is to court disaster. You never know what could happen, and just one visit to the emergency room can cost thousands of dollars, not to mention the cost of a hospital stay for serious injuries or a lengthy illness. Be smart, and research the options for health insurance that protects you and still fits within your budget.
