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What are Captive Health Insurance Brokers?
Posted in Health Insurance , Health Insurance Quotes
September 28th, 2009
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If you are thinking about getting health insurance, you might also be thinking about trying to find the right health insurance policy with the help of a broker.
Health insurance brokers deal with health insurance and health insurance rate quotes all day long, and they know where to look for the right rates, and they’ll also be able to make some good suggestions for your needs based on the information that you give them. However, it’s important to bear in mind that there are many health insurance brokers out there who “neglect” to inform you that they actually seek to sell a specific brand of health insurance, and make you think it’s the best choice for you without explaining their relationship to the insurer they are promoting. These brokers are called captive brokers.
Captive brokers seek to sell people a specific brand of health insurance. So, let’s say you come across a captive broker in your search for health insurance. He or she will give you their professional advice on what you need and then suggest their specific brand of health insurance as the best choice for you. Along the way they will bad mouth other insurance companies and their policies, perhaps pointing out steep costs or poor customer service, or limited range of options. Once that’s done the captive broker will then promote the health insurance that he or she is actually affiliated with. In fact, a conversation framed along these lines could easily be taught to the captive broker as part of his training.
If you find a broker promoting one brand over all others, it’s important that you ask him or her if they’re affiliated in any way with that insurance company. In fact, it might be a good idea to ask that question as early as possible in the conversation.
To learn more about captive brokers, health insurance brokers, and any other aspect of health insurance, be sure to speak with an industry professional. You could also consult with consumer advocacy groups whose primary goal is objectivity.
Low Cost Health Insurance Quote Providers
Posted in Health Insurance , Health Insurance Quotes
September 24th, 2009
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Are you thinking about getting health insurance? If so, that could mean a few things. For starters, it means you’re not getting health insurance from your employer, or if you are, you don’t like the health insurance company they work with, and you’re willing to pay out-of-pocket to find a health insurance company you do like. It could also mean you’re self-employed, or even unemployed. No matter which scenario describes you, you’re going to want your health care to be affordable. As you search, you’re going to be thinking about low-cost health insurance quote providers. They’re going to be showing you what’s available in terms of low-cost health care. But where to start looking for these quotes? Read on for some tips on how to find them, and what to avoid as you begin your search for affordable health care.
Online Quotes
When you look for low-cost health insurance quote providers, you will probably start with the Internet. By typing in your desired search terms, you will come up with millions of results. It’s going to be hard to sort through them all, but it’s a place to start. Many of these sites will offer what may seem to be a low-cost health insurance plan, but if you notice that they’re pushing a specific health care provider, this may not be good for you because they are in partnership with them. Instead, you want to look for sites like Go Insurance Rates that provide quotes from multiple providers to ensure you’re getting an accurate comparison.
Using Brokers
You could also go through a health insurance broker to find your low-cost health insurance quotes. The same rules of objectivity apply with health insurance brokers as they do with online quote providers. If the health insurance broker seems to be pushing one plan over all others, he or she is probably a “captive broker,” meaning he or she only wants to sell that one kind of health insurance.
Low-cost health insurance quote providers are easy to find, you just need to approach them all with a healthy skepticism until you feel confident you’re getting the right deal for your needs.
Best Ways to Save on Health Insurance: Lead a Low-Risk Lifestyle
Posted in Compare Health Insurance , Health Insurance , Health Insurance Quotes , Save on Health Insurance
May 5th, 2009
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What is Considered a Low-Risk Lifestyle?
There are a number of examples of what is considered a low-risk lifestyle. The good news is that in the eyes of the insurance company, you are more easily insurable if you reduce or eliminate one or both of these behaviors:
- Smoking. Did you know that smoker pay rates that are often twice as much as non-smokers? This is because smoking is the leading cause of cancer and is also known to cause of emphysema. As a result, if you quit smoking, you have taken advantage of one of the ways to save on health insurance.
- BMI. Your Body Mass Index, or BMI, is viewed as another risk by insurance companies. If yours is too high for your height and sex, you will see a hike in your rate. The good news is that if you lose even five pounds, you will see a drop in your BMI. So if you lose enough to put you at a healthy weight, you will not only see a drop on the scale, but also in your coverage rate.
There are a number of other ways to save on health insurance, but this one way can help you improve your health and lower your coverage costs. So if you don’t already lead a low-risk lifestyle, now is the time to kick it into gear with a new way of living!
Not satisfied with the health insurance rate you’re paying? Fill out our short health insurance form and receive competing rates from the best insurance companies in just a few minutes. Best of all, it’s secure and free!
Best Ways to Save on Health Insurance: Preventative Care
Posted in Health Care , Health Insurance , Health Insurance Quotes , Save on Health Insurance
May 4th, 2009
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What is Preventative Care?
When you go to the doctor for checkups, tests, flu shots, or physicals, these are all forms of preventative care. Basically, these are checkups or treatments are administered to prevent you from needing extensive care later. Because you are coming in for help that can prevent you from more expensive treatment, it is believed to be able to help you save on health insurance coverage. You may be able to avoid major surgery costs, emergency room visits, and other medical expenses as a result.
Preventative Care Disputes
While most agree that preventative care can help save on health insurance coverage, some argue that it really doesn’t help with savings at all. The reason for this dispute is due to the fact that getting this type of prevention treatment costs money. The question posed is whether the cost for early-prevention treatment can actually offset the later costs associated with not seeking this type of care especially because some people may not have gotten sick whether they received the treatment or not. This concept remains up for debate, which leaves the ultimate decision up to you.
There are some definite benefits associated with early-prevention methods, even if they don’t necessary save on health insurance coverage all the time. So if staying in good health along with the possibility of saving money is good enough for you, then you may want to consider preventative care as a savings route to take.
Best Ways to Save on Health Insurance: Use COBRA and a Health Savings Account
Posted in Health Insurance , Health Insurance Quotes , Save on Health Insurance
May 1st, 2009
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What is COBRA?
COBRA is also known as the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985. It was created to allow you to continue group coverage even after your job ends for a period, usually up to 18 months. While you still have to pay your premium during this period, you get access to coverage that can keep you from having to find some other type of protection plan.
How Can COBRA Help You Save?
Taking advantage of COBRA can contribute to your goal of saving on health insurance costs if you’re between jobs by giving you access to group health coverage. Insurance coverage from an employer comes at a reduced price to you, which can help you save a ton per month. On the other hand, if you take that 18-month period to purchase your own coverage, you could end up spending hundreds more per month for significantly less protection.
What about My Health Savings Account?
If you were contributing to a health savings account when you departed from your job, COBRA also protects your HSA so that you don’t have to lose those funds. Additionally, if you receive unemployment benefits, you can still contribute to your HSA and use those funds as if you were employed. This benefit works out well because you will still benefit tax-wise at the end of the year from the pre-tax contributions you made while still employed.
There are a number of ways to go about saving on health insurance costs. But it’s good to know that taking advantage of COBRA and your health savings account can help you save even if you’ve lost your job.
Not satisfied with the health insurance rate you’re paying? Fill out our short health insurance form and receive competing rates from the best insurance companies in just a few minutes. Best of all, it’s secure and free!
Importance of Comparing Health Insurance
Posted in Compare Health Insurance , Health Insurance , Health Insurance Quotes , Save on Health Insurance
April 29th, 2009
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Are you wondering why it’s important to compare health insurance coverage when searching for a policy? The answer is simple. Without checking out your options, you will likely pick up the first plan you see and never know what better choices were available to you.
While this may work out for a small percentage of the population, you don’t want to take that chance that it won’t work for you. So to dissuade you from taking this route, let’s look more closely at why it’s important to compare coverage for health insurance.
You Don’t Want to Miss Out On the Best Rates
There are a ton of health insurance companies out there all vying for your attention. They hope that they can make you their next customer. As a result, they offer rates they think might lure you in. Why not take advantage of them? Of course, you don’t want to snatch the first low rate you see without comparing policy coverage and limitations. But after you do your comparison shopping, you can at least know that you’ve probably found the best monthly premium, co-pay, and deductible options to suit your needs.
Health Insurance Plan Choices Are Vast
There are numerous types of plans to consider that were created to suit various needs based on financial and service preferences. For example, you could choose an HMO plan that offers affordable rates (low co-pay, low monthly premium, no deductible); however, it doesn’t allow many options in physician selection, and limits services available. The PPO gives you many more options you pretty much have all of the freedom you want but you pay for it in price. POS is the happy medium between the two, giving you a little bit of freedom and reasonable prices. Without knowing these health insurance options are available to you, you might be stuck with a plan type you really don’t want.
Searching Online Makes it Easy
Still wondering why it’s important to compare coverage? Well, it’s too easy not to. The Internet makes finding health insurance a breeze with free online quotes and plenty of informative articles on ways to save. By taking advantage of so much free information, you can make sure to choose the perfect option for you and your family.
If you are not accustomed to comparing health insurance its not too late to get started. Once you’re done and have obtained your policy, you’ll then be able to inform the next person about why it’s important to compare coverage with confidence.
Choosing Between 2 Health Insurance Companies
Posted in Compare Health Insurance , Health Insurance , Health Insurance Quotes
April 24th, 2009
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Trying to find a health insurance company that will suit all of your needs, but unsure of how to choose between two that you really like? You’ve probably already looked at rates and coverage options, but are still scratching your head in wonder about which one to select. Don’t worry. There are some other ways to narrow the list down. Let’s look at what they are.
How Financially Stable is the Insurer?
Being in the midst of a recession, it becomes increasingly important to make sure that no more companies will shut down, taking your money with them. Luckily, there are ways to check the company’s financial rating so that you won’t lose your coverage when the company collapses. Many sites that offer side-by-side comparisons offer the rating right next to the company and policy choice. If you see an A or higher, you know the health insurance company at least for the moment is financially stable.
Have Any Complaints Been Filed Against the Insurer?
Another tip on choosing a health insurance company is seeing if any complaints have been filed. By checking with your state’s Department of Insurance website, you can find out this information in a few minutes.
Check Out Top Health Insurance Company Lists
This option can be considered a last resort if you’re still trying to decide between to comparable insurance companies. Once or more a year, various websites publish lists detailing the top companies of the year based on information from reputable sources such as the National Committee for Quality Assurance. On these lists, you can learn why they have been chosen as the top companies, as well as what types of plans they offer. If one of your companies is on the list, you’re in luck as you have been given more insight into how to choose a health insurance company without any bias injected into the equation.
It’s no secret that choosing a health insurance company can be difficult. But hopefully, these tips on how to choose will help make comparing health insurance companies easier.
Having trouble finding a reputable health insurance provider? Fill out our health insurance form and within a few minutes, you’ll receive online rate quotes from some of the best health insurance companies at no charge. You’ll then be able to pick the insurer that best suits your needs.
Finding Health Insurance Quotes Online
Posted in Compare Health Insurance , Health Insurance , Health Insurance Quotes , Online Health Insurance
April 23rd, 2009
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If you’re looking for your own health insurance then you’re probably a little overwhelmed. Like most people, you’ll start your search on the Internet, typing in keywords that seem like the smartest and most likeliest terms for finding health insurance quotes. And then the deluge: Your problem won’t be a lack of information and options, that’s for sure. Finding health insurance quotes online will make your head spin with all the different offers and quotes and intimidating fine print. There are some common-sense rules of thumb that you can employ, however, to make your search for online health insurance quotes a successful one.
Rules of Online Health Quotes
When you go looking for health insurance quotes online, the key is to be aware and alert. You’ll be asked to fill in some general information, and then you’ll get some very general, ballpark information that will require a very close look. This is where being aware and alert comes in. It means getting a health insurance quote, and asking yourself serious questions about it. “What’s in the fine print? WHERE is the fine print? Does this offer seem too good to be true? Who is offering me this quote? Is this a well-known health insurance provider?” Questions like these and others will help you properly evaluate the many online health insurance quotes your searching will lead you to.
Good Places to Find Health Insurance Quotes Online
One good place to start your search for health insurance quotes online is Go Insurance Rates. It caters to people who are looking for the best health insurance for their needs – without promoting any one, single health insurance provider over another. That’s important, because objectivity is important: Many online health insurance quote providers are linked to a specific health insurance company, and so your results will be skewed to their product. That’s where being alert and aware comes in handy again, because if someone is pushing a product on you and they don’t reveal their relationship to that product, then you’re getting biased information that could result in you getting health insurance that’s not right for you.Go Insurance Rates instead offers a variety of providers who are matched up to you based on your specific information; you’ll then receive a variety of quotes you can use to ultimately decide.
Finding health insurance quotes online is easy. Before you begin, make a list of questions to ask yourself as you evaluate your options. After all, health insurance boils down to your health and your money, two things you don’t want to mistreat.
Getting Different Quote Ranges for the Same Carrier?
Posted in Compare Health Insurance , Fee-For-Service Plans , HMO , Health Insurance , Health Insurance Quotes , PPO , Point of Service Plans , Save on Health Insurance
April 22nd, 2009
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Health insurance is one of those things that individuals cannot go without. Sure, health insurance may cost thousands of dollars a year when you are in perfect health, and that may seem like thousands of dollars wasted. However, injury or disease can occur at any time, and without health insurance your financial situation can deteriorate quickly due to the overwhelming costs associated with medical expenses.
Choosing Basic Types of Health Insurance
There are many things to consider when researching health insurance. First, you may want to choose from one of four basic policy types including:
- HMO-Health Maintenance Organizations
- PPO- Preferred Provider Organizations
- POS- Point of Service Plans
- Fee for Service or traditional health insurance
Once you focus in on which type of coverage you want, you must then investigate which carrier you want. While analyzing the carrier, you may notice that you are getting different quote ranges for the same carrier. That is not unusual as within each carrier there are different tiers of service that will generate different quote ranges within the same health insurance carrier.
Different Offerings Will Cause Different Quote Ranges
When you are getting different quote ranges for the same health insurance carrier you need to review various aspects within the policy as they may cause price fluctuations. Different quote ranges for the same health insurance carrier will be influenced by:
- The annual deductible amount you will be responsible for paying; typically the higher the deductible, the lower the premium
- The out of pocket maximum limits your insurance will have
- Copayment or coinsurance amounts for office visits
- Hospitalization
- Drug costs
- Lifetime medical insurance maximums
Prices may fluctuate from plan to plan, even within a specific carrier. The different price tiers will cause fluctuations and differences in the price quote ranges you will get from the same carrier.
Easy Ways to Lower Your Health Insurance Costs Immediately
Posted in Compare Health Insurance , Health Insurance , Health Insurance Quotes , Save on Health Insurance
April 10th, 2009
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There is a lot of debate going on around the subject of health insurance costs in America today, and for many families, covering the cost of health care is a major concern. How can you make sure your family’s needs are met without breaking the bank on health insurance coverage? Here are a few quick and easy ways to save on your health insurance.
How to Lower Your Health Insurance
First, your lifestyle and habits make a big difference when insurance companies start calculating your premiums. Smokers, for instance, carry twice the risk of heart attack, stroke, lung cancer, emphysema and other respiratory illnesses than non-smokers do. For this reason, insurance companies charge much higher premiums to smokers. However, if you can prove you have been smoke-free for over a year, that will lower your risk and your premiums considerably. Regular exercise and healthy eating habits also weigh heavily in your favor. Some companies have been known to deny coverage to applicants who are dangerously overweight, as well.
Secondly, high deductibles also mean lower monthly premiums for you. Obviously you don’t want to set the premium so high that you are putting your family’s well-being at risk, but if you are young, in good health, and don’t feel you are at risk for an extended hospital stay, a high deductible might make sense for you. Of course, if you or someone in your family has a medical condition which might necessitate care in the near future, you should take that into consideration when choosing your deductible as well.
Finally, many consumers don’t realize that you can shop around for the best deal on health insurance, the same way that you would for life insurance or car insurance. Health insurance brokers will compete for your business and may even be able to get you a better deal than you would get on your own. It never hurts to compare plans before you choose the best health insurance plan for your needs.
Quick List of Ways to Save on Health Insurance
- Adjust to a more healthy lifestyle
- Avoid high-risk activities such as smoking or drinking heavily
- Lower your health insurance deductible with a less comprehensive plan if you don’t need it
- Exercise regularly
- Be aware of how predisposition to certain genetic diseases can affect your health insurance rates
- Shop around for the best health insurance rates
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