Nifty Pointers in Getting a Low Cost Medical Insurance Plan
Low cost medical insurance seems like it’s practically a myth in this day and age. Believe it or not, there are actually quite a few ways to obtain good, quality health insurance at a reasonable price. The tips listed below should help you get a great price on any health insurance plan:
1. Stop Smoking
Non-smokers generally pay lower rates than smokers for obvious reasons. In fact, buying low cost health insurance is a pretty good excuse to quit any of your bad habits. If you use drugs, drink or if you have been meaning to lose a little weight, now’s the time. It will not only save your health and well-being, it will save you some money, too.
2. Partner Up
If you can find someone to buy health insurance with you, you may see a much lower rate by getting on a single policy. This could be a spouse or partner, a family member or your fellow employees at work. Group health insurance tends to be far more affordable per person than individual health care policies. By pooling your resources, you may be surprised at just how much you can save.
3. Long Term vs. Short Term Savings
On many plans, you can actually save more money in the long run by paying slightly higher premiums up front. It depends on whether you’re looking to buy cheap health insuranceor spend less on the care itself when the time comes.
4. Quote Shopping
The only way to really save money is with some smart quote shopping and comparison. Check out CaliforniaHealthPlans.com where you can find all of the information and quotes you’ll need in order to get a great health insurance plan. If you’re worried that it sounds a bit tiring and tedious to sift through hundreds of quotes, don’t worry. California Health Plans only connects you with the best of the best so that you can choose from a much narrower pool of options.
5. HMO vs. PPO
It may not be immediately apparent whether to choose an HMO or PPO plan. On an HMO plan, you have managed health care. In this arrangement, in the event of illness or injury, your HMO will try to get you the most affordable care. In short, if you want to save money in the long run, this isn’t a bad way to do it. On a PPO, you tend to get better care, but you have less freedom. For example, you have to choose a “preferred provider.” Hence the name, PPO, or “Preferred Provider Organization.”
6. Choosing the Best Provider
Between top providers like Aetna, Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Health Net and Kaiser Permanente, the truth is that none of them are truly “the best” for everybody. It comes down to “the best” for your particular needs. The provider that offers the best price and the best services for dental coverage won’t be the same as the best provider of family plans. The provider of the best family plan won’t necessarily provide the best possible small business plan. This is why quote comparison shopping is such an important part of the process. If you’re not comparing prices, then you can’t be certain that you’re getting the best coverage at the best price. Even if you get a great recommendation from a friend, your needs and their needs are very different, and you’re going to have your own idea of what makes for a great health insurance provider.
These aren’t the only things that you can do to find a low cost health insurance, they’re not the only considerations, but they are important and helpful. So many of us simply go without health insurance these days due in part to the confusion surrounding the industry and the general negativity and controversy regarding health care in the United States. Even bearing all of this in mind, there are still ways to obtain affordable health care if you only take the time and effort to look.
It may seem difficult and even hopeless, but if you bear these tips in mind and use a trusted source like CaliforniaHealthPlans.com to find some great quotes, you should have little trouble attaining quality, low cost health insurance for yourself or for your family.