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.
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 be listed under your parents’ policy until you turn twenty-six, or look into personal plans.
Expect your health insurance policy to have loopholes in it. Read every page of the policy, so you won’t be surprised when the company tells you that something isn’t covered. Be prepared to spend out of your pocket for instances that are not covered, like certain procedures or medications.
Generic drugs will always save you money regardless of the type of health insurance coverage you have. Most drugs have generic counterparts which are much cheaper than the name brand. In addition, generic drugs are chemically the same as the name brand.
Look into different health plans, and decide on the one that best fits your needs. Each health insurance group has benefits and difficulties. Each of these options offers different features and benefits, so you must compare each plan before agreeing to pay for coverage. Make sure that you have the option to keep the doctor that you currently use.
Read your policy to ensure you know exactly which prescriptions are covered and which are not. The list changes yearly, so check when you re-enroll so that you won’t be surprised when filling a prescription.
Check with the doctors and hospitals that you use and make sure you will be able to keep going to them under the insurance policy you select. Typically insurance companies have a list of hospitals and doctors that they cover on their website. If they do not, you can request it from them.
If you are someone who don’t use the doctor often, you should look into a HSA or Health Savings Account. Take some of the funds that you would otherwise spend on an insurance premium and put it into your HSA. This way, you always have health care funds should you need them, but you aren’t locked into an insurance contract.
Health Insurance
If you purchase your health insurance with a group plan (through your work), you will notice that your rates will be lower than buying your own personal health insurance. The best way to circumvent this is to join an industry group which offers its members insurance at a discounted group rate.
For those who do not have the money for a regular and complete health insurance policy, but would like to be covered for unforeseen accidents, injuries or a serious illness, catastrophic health insurance is a good alternative. It’s a great addition to your portfolio too as extra coverage for extreme circumstances.
Health Insurance
Comparing private insurance premiums with group rates can be discouraging, but the benefits of individual insurance might be worth the cost. In either case, the important thing to keep in mind is that you should have at least some form of health insurance. To not have health insurance today really is a recipe for disaster. If you suddenly fall ill, the costs could devour your savings in no time. Take the smart route, and look into what health insurance options are available to you.