How To Get Cheap Health Insurance
Contrary to popular opinion, there are ways that you can save money on your health insurance coverage. There may never be plans that could be considered cheap, but if you know your needs, there is no problem getting low cost health insurance for yourself and your family, at least in comparison to other plans and, well, lacking health insurance altogether.
It is true that of the many Americans today that don’t have health insurance, many actually can’t afford any. However, there are also many of that number who don’t have health insurance because of misconceptions about insurance and the health care system. A lot of people don’t get health insurance because they think it costs too much, and, besides, they’re in perfect health. What they don’t realize is that some of the most expensive health care bills and some of the highest numbers in medical debt are billed to people who were otherwise in perfect health but were victims of bad luck or tragedy.
The first law of health insurance is that no matter what, it’s always more expensive to be uninsured. People who don’t have health insurance and then find themselves in something as simple as a small car accident can go through their savings, ruin their credit, and fall into huge debt. Even a minor ER visit can cost five hundred dollars.
If you can get insurance through your job, do it! It’s always cheaper, especially if you have previous medical problems that would make it hard for you to get medical insurance through anywhere else. Your employer foots part of the bill and you often get a choice of plans. And when you have a choice, compare, compare, compare. It’s frustrating and time consuming, but it’s the only way to save money and figure out what’s best for you.
Even when you find a plan that looks pretty cheap, cheap isn’t always best. The real deal breaker should be value. You don’t want simply the cheapest premium. You want the cheapest premium with the best coverage. This might be a little higher than that great quote you got, but it will save you more money down the line. Even if you do get a plan with great coverage though, remember that some expenses still fall through the gap. Things like mental health care and prescription drugs are the areas where even the best plans have little to no coverage.
As you were taught in history class, freedom ain’t free. The more flexibility that your health care plan gives you, the higher your premium will be. So it is up to you to decide what is more important to you: deciding who you go to for health care, or paying less on your premium. Less freedom of choice among health providers isn’t necessarily bad, so long as the physicians in the network are quality. And you can research a plan’s network before you sign up for it. Maybe not through the company itself, but there are a lot of sources online or off where you can find out about a certain plan’s track record.
One thing that might worry some people who are using employer based insurance is where they would be if they lost their job. Lucky for them, you don’t lose your health insurance when you lose your job. The government provides you with COBRA for a period of time after you lose your job. It can be more expensive, but it’s better than nothing and can ease a lot of minds.
Cheers,
Fashun Guadarrama.
Student health insurance is important
If you’re a student, student health insurance should be near the top of your list of priorities. You’re away from home and probably aren’t depending on the parents as much anymore, and without that place on your family’s health insurance policy, a student health insurance plan is the only way to insure that you are taken care of so that you don’t end up slouching under the weight of medical debt for the rest of your life. You want to get that good job and live good after college, not be worrying about the thousands and thousands of dollars in medical costs even after you pay off your student loans.
But the strange truth is that college students, even ones studying medicine, are opting out of student health insurance. The widely held belief seems to be that the university clinic is an okay way to take care of your medical needs. It isn’t. Student health clinics are sub standard and don’t see to your needs. If you want real coverage an protection, you need to get student health insurance.
Different insurance companies will give you different quotes on your student health insurance premium. Because of this, the most important step in taking out a student health insurance policy is to shop around. That means finding quotes from different companies and comparing. There are plenty of sites on the internet that provide you with free quotes, and it’s very easy to do the research.
Once you have these quotes, you’ll be able to narrow it down to a list and talk to your insurance companies personally. Here are a few questions that you should ask:
- What is the maximum that I am covered for?
- Do I have to get a referral if I want to see a specialist?
- Is the student health insurance policy for both undergaduates and graduate students?
- Do I get to choose my own doctor? From a list, or freely?
- What does it cost?
- How high is the deductible?
- Am I covered to go see a doctor when I am not sick or injured?
- Am I covered while traveling?
These are important questions to ask, but if you think of more, go ahead by all means. Anything that you can do to help you narrow it down.
The deductible is a really important aspect. If you get a higher one, you’ll get cheap health insurance rates. But if you do end up opting for a higher one, consider that it should be something you’ll be able to afford. If you’re a medical student, you could get some professional courtesy, which will make things cheaper but won’t apply to deductibles.
Cheers,
Fashun Guadarrama