Navigating the world of health insurance can be a confusing process, no matter what your goal is. You goal may be to replace an existing plan with one with lower premiums, or maybe you are purchasing your first insurance policy. Whichever case it is, it is normal to have questions. The following tips will make your decisions easier so that you will not end up throwing your money away.
Make sure you consider your overall health, as well as that of your family, as you make your policy selections. If you have no current medical issues and are in good physical shape, a cheaper premium and higher deductible may be the right choice for you. While this may be cheaper initially, this could cause risks if problems develop.
If you just graduated from college and are looking for health insurance, consider the following two options. If you are currently employed, you may be eligible for your employer’s insurance plans. If you are 26 or under in age, your parents can keep you on their policy, and you may also search for your own insurance as well.
To keep your medical coverage affordable, inquire as to whether or not your employer has a wellness program you can participate in. Some companies offer discounted gym memberships and reduced rates for preventative medical care. You might be able to take exercise classes that lower the employer’s insurance costs, and some of that savings is passed on to you.
Open Enrollment
When time for open enrollment occurs, you need to reevaluate your health insurance policy. 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. If your employer also offers vision and dental insurance, you should review that also during open enrollment.
If issues with your vision have arisen, or if there are hereditary factors that could cause problems in the future, consider an insurance policy that covers vision. This insurance covers some of your contacts, glasses and check-ups. Vision insurance is not mandatory, and some people spend less money not having this type of coverage.
Health insurance can help you pay less taxes. Lots of people don’t know that health insurance premiums are tax deductible. Money can also be deducted from prescriptions and visits that aren’t covered by the insurance and your deductible. Check to see what guidelines the federal and state governments have for tax breaks.
Check to see if your doctors accept the insurance that you’re thinking about purchasing. Finding a list of the doctors and hospitals that accept this insurance is as easy as checking the site of the insurance provider you are considering.
It’s important that you review your medical bills every time you receive one. Even with health insurance, you are likely to receive some startling bills. This is especially true if you use any prescription drugs. Some doctors will write out their prescriptions with the name brand only, never thinking of the generic. Make sure you explore your options. The price of generic medication may vary between different pharmacies.
Catastrophic health coverage is a good option for people who cannot afford a regular, comprehensive insurance policy, but want some kind of coverage in case of a sudden and unexpected accident, injury, or life-threatening illness. This kind of coverage is also good to add to an overall health care plan as extra coverage when there are extreme circumstances.
Coverage Option
Do your homework if you’re looking into getting catastrophic health insurance as your coverage option. Be sure that all kinds of events are covered by your catastrophic event insurance. You should also consider Health Savings Accounts as a good alternative coverage option for those events that insurance will not cover.
Read over your health care handbook and it will give you a lot of knowledge that will be helpful in the future. Your provider will send you a booklet covering all the details of your policy and reading it cover to cover is the only way to fully understand all of the benefits available to you. It can be tedious, but it will be worth it when you find things you didn’t know were covered.
Before agreeing to sign with any health insurance provider, establish their policy on any pre-existing conditions you may have. Often companies will disallow coverage or charge increased prices for coverage, when pre-existing conditions are present. You can get the best coverage at the lowest rate if you take the time to do some research.
With the information you have gleaned, you should now be able to make confident, sensible choices with regard to your insurance. 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.