| Find the Right Health Insurance Agent |
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| Written by Jeff Braid |
| Monday, 26 April 2010 17:48 |
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If you are looking to buy individual or family health insurance, it may be beneficial to rely on the support of a health insurance agent or broker. You may have had health insurance through your previous employer, in which you had only a few minor choices to make and the cost may have been significantly less. Now you found yourself going at it on your own and you may be doing your own research on the internet. This can be frustrating. You may want to get some help from a professional.
If you are looking to buy individual or family health insurance, it may be beneficial to rely on the support of a health insurance agent or broker. You may have had health insurance through your previous employer, in which you had only a few minor choices to make and the cost may have been significantly less. Now you found yourself going at it on your own and you may be doing your own research on the internet. This can be frustrating. You may want to get some help from a professional. Many people search for a health insurance policy on the internet. Sometimes, if you submit your information and request a quote, you may have several different agents contacting you. This may be somewhat annoying, but having several different contacts allows you to get different agents competing for your business. The health insurance agent will try to find you the policy that meets your needs at the best price. It is important for you to explain exactly what you are looking for in a health insurance plan. Let your agent educate you on health insurance, so that you understand exactly what it is that you are looking for. While "interviewing" health insurance agents, you will want to check with your State Department of Insurance to make sure the prospective agent is licensed to sell health insurance in your state. It is also important to find out if the agent is in good standing with your state's Insurance Department. Another good idea is to ask the agent for client testimonials or references. You should have a general understanding of health insurance terms. You can gain a further understanding of these terms when you begin working with your agent. You should have a basic understanding of health insurance terms or ask your health insurance agent to clarify specific terms that you may not understand. See the terms listed below. Deductible The amount a customer pays toward covered expenses before the plan pays benefits. Office Copay Office Copay is a benefit that allows you to pay only a flat dollar amount for eligible in-network physician office visit services. This option may not be available with all plan types. Coinsurance Percentage Coinsurance percentage refers to the amount of covered expenses you pay after the deductible. You usually share the cost of covered expenses with the insurer. Coinsurance Out of Pocket Coinsurance is the percentage of covered expenses the plan pays after the deductible. After the Out-of-Pocket maximum is met, the plan pays 100% of covered expenses. Lifetime Maximum The amount of the total lifetime benefit of the policy per person covered by the policy. Annual Maximum How much that is paid per person and covered on the policy during the calendar year after the insured has satisfied all out-of-pocket expenses. This option may not be available with all plan types. DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as information only and is not to be taken as financial advice. Want to find out more about selecting the right health insurance agent, then visit Jeff Braid's site on how to choose the best health insurance agent. |