As they say, “knowledge is power”. The information below will help you become a savvy health insurance shopper and find the best policy or policies for you and your family:

Explore your options with an agent who represents several health insurance companies and can help you make comparisons. There is no charge for this service and it can save you a lot of time and aggravation. Once you have educated your agent on your budget, expectations, doctors and preferred hospitals, he/she can advise you on the policies and insurance companies that would best fit your needs.  For quotes from several top insurance companies or additional information, Click Here.

Don’t wait until the last minute to apply for insurance. This is probably the best way to make sure you get the best possible deal. With the passage of the Affordable Care Act you may quality for government help paying for your health insurance policy.  Unless you have a qualifying life event (i.e. losing your health insurance due a job loss, moving to a new area, divorce or birth of a child) that gives you a 60 day period to purchase health insurance, you can only enroll in ACA compliant health insurance  during Open Enrollment (from November 1st until December 15th). If you apply during Open Enrollment your policy is effective January 1st.

Understand the following 4 insurance terms and use them to evaluate your choices:
Deductible – Dollar amount of medical expenses you pay before your insurance covers you.

Coinsurance – After the deductible this is the percentage the insurance company must pay.  For example, if your plan is an 80/20 this means the insurance company must pay 80% and you must pay 20%.  It is important to purchase a plan that has a limit on the dollar amount you are required to pay.

Co-payments – Fixed dollar amount you pay for a doctor visit, emergency room visit or a prescription drug.

Maximum out of pocket – This includes every dollar you pay for prescription drug, co-pays and deductibles using your insurance card. Once you reach your maximum your insurance company must cover all your medical expenses the rest of the year. The maximum out of pocket resets itself every January 1st.

Make sure you understand how your policy covers prescription drugs.  This means you must understand the deductibles, co-pays and yearly maximums.

If you have children who are 18 or younger and your income for the past year is low, your children may qualify for reduced or free government sponsored health insurance. For additional information contact the NC Division of Medical Assistance at 800-367-2229 or www.nchealthystart.org.

North Carolina State law requires university students to have health insurance. If your children are college students contact their Student Health Services and request information on their student health insurance plans.  Compare the cost of their university plans to your cost of adding them to your policy.

Consider purchasing an IRS-Qualified High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP).

Purchasing one of these policies can reduce your monthly premium by 50% or more.  This is a perfect solution for healthy people who rarely go to the doctor.  These HDHP’s can be paired with a Health Savings Account (HSA) that offers additional savings by reducing your taxable income. Unlike the traditional health insurance plans, the policy holder pays for all medical expenses until he reaches his deductible. Like traditional plans, HDHP’s have a wide range of deductibles, coinsurance options and benefits.  .

 

 Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *