Individual health policies are for those who are responsible for their own health insurance expenses. My best recommendation is that you have a Health Insurance Broker licensed in your state assist you make the best decision. The coverage you should choose is determined by your particular needs and those of your family.
Examples of specific considerations:
-Maternity
If your family is young and growing, you will want to consider a policy that includes maternity care from the onset.
-Prescription Plans
Some plans have prescription plans that only cover generic drugs while most do cover preferred brands. It is just good to know what you are going to get.
-Doctor Networks
Check and see if your doctor is included. Typically PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) plans provide the most freedom of choice and greater flexibility as compare to HMO (Health Maintenance Organization)
-Preventative Care Packages
If you can opt for a plan that includes a preventative plan without having to first meet a deductible. Preventative Care usually includes Annual Physical, OB/GYN Exams, Mammograms, PSA screening and well child care.
-Dental and Vision are pretty important but do not allow these to disproportionately affect your Major Medical plan decision. If need be get them separately and focus on a health plan that is solid and that meets your needs.
VALUE NOT PRICE
Be diligent, compare plans and comb through the outlines of coverage. My little rule is that the better insurance companies have simple and easy to understand plans as opposed to those that present you volumes of literature and very little coverage.
REGIONS
DC- DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PLANS
Care First Blue Cross Blue Shield probably offers the most coverage for the best price in DC. The savings are pretty substantial.
NORTHERN VIRGINIA PLANS
Care First Blue Cross Blue Shield and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield both serve Northern Virginia but their territories do not overlap. They both offer very comprehensive and competitively priced plans. Most Plans include a nice preventative package - Contact your broker to determine which side of the fence you are on. (HMO & PPO) Blue Cross Blue Shield boasts the biggest PPO network in the DC metro area.
Kaiser Permanente (HMO) offer very inclusive and competitive plans in this area too. This company's plans almost always include maternity for no extra cost.
Golden Rule (United Healthcare) also offers Health Plans in some Northern VA zip codes. Great PPO and HSA plans offered.
MARYLAND PLANS
Care First Blue Cross Blue Shield offers very comprehensive and competitively priced plans. The majority of the Plans include the important preventative package. (HMO & PPO) Blue Cross Blue Shield boasts the biggest PPO network in the DC metro area. Do Consider the Blue Preferred Plan.
Kaiser Permanente (HMO) offer very inclusive and competitive plans in this area too. This company's plans almost always include maternity for no extra cost. This is indeed a popular company in this state. For Kaiser Quotes go to http://www.Cartvertising.net
Golden Rule (United Healthcare) also offers Health Plans in Maryland. These plans are very competitive and the Network is large. Great PPO and HSA plans offered.
Tips
-Blue Cross Blue Shield Families may realize substantial savings by submitting separate applications for each individual as opposed to a family application. The savings seem to be greatest for a two parent (adult)-one child family especially when there is a notable age difference between the parents (adult)
-Blue Cross will accept domestic partner family applications.
-For BlueCross and Kaiser Permanente Quotes go to http://www.RxMom.com
-For Golden Rule Quotes go to http://GoldenHealthInsurance.com
Tom Musembi - Licensed Broker in Virginia, DC, Maryland and Pennsylvania
tel 888-490-8782 email tom@rxmom.com
web site RxMom.com
Sunday, January 7, 2007
Solutions for Finding Cheap Health Insurance
While Cheap Health Insurance is quite the oxymoron, there are quite a number of options available to almost everyone and in various circumstances. Health insurance cost may be determined by a range of factors, namely: coverage selected, age, health condition, gender to some extent (some good companies charge males and females the same), and location of residence. Obviously not all of these factors are readily changeable and the other important consideration is that one cannot buy insurance based on price alone; we have to get the best coverage for our money.
Low income will put insurance out of the reach of many people, but thankfully every state has a Medicaid program. Medicaid is a state administered program and each state sets its own guidelines regarding eligibility and services. Certain requirements must be met. These may include your age, whether you are pregnant, disabled, blind, or aged; your income and whether you are a U.S. citizen or a lawfully admitted immigrant.
For those with children who are not covered by the parents insurance there is the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), which was created to address the growing problem of children without health insurance. SCHIP was designed as a Federal/State partnership, similar to Medicaid, with the goal of expanding health insurance to children whose families earn too much money to be eligible for Medicaid, but not enough money to purchase private insurance. For more Visit http://www.insurekidsnow.gov
When you pay for your own health insurance, you really want to spend your money wisely. Insurance companies are very competent they all seem to have similar plans that cost almost the same. Coverage is King, but do consider higher deductibles so as to lower your premiums especially if you and your family are pretty healthy and unlikely to be hospitalized. HSAs do offer additional premium lowering options.
Comparison Shopping on the internet is probably the most powerful tool we have on hand. You want to use the resources of a site that features multiple plans from reputable companies. As you comparison shop do make a keen effort to check out the details e.g. Is pregnancy covered? What is the Out of Pocket Maximum? Are Doctor Visits paid for before I meet the deductible? Does this plan include a prescription plan? ... These are the type of questions one should ask depending on their particular situation. Be diligent and invest your effort upfront by ensuring that you buy a solid plan then sit easy knowing that you are covered.
For Comparison Shopping You may visit =>http://GoldenHealthInsurance.com
Your local independent Health insurance broker is a valuable resource for affordable health insurance choices. Make sure you are dealing with someone who represents multiple companies and not a captive agent, just to make sure you are getting the best deal available; the most coverage for your dollar. Remember you are buying peace of mind.
Tom Musembi - Licensed Broker in Virginia, DC, Maryland and Pennsylvania
tel 888-490-8782
email tom@rxmom.com
web site RxMom.com
Low income will put insurance out of the reach of many people, but thankfully every state has a Medicaid program. Medicaid is a state administered program and each state sets its own guidelines regarding eligibility and services. Certain requirements must be met. These may include your age, whether you are pregnant, disabled, blind, or aged; your income and whether you are a U.S. citizen or a lawfully admitted immigrant.
For those with children who are not covered by the parents insurance there is the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), which was created to address the growing problem of children without health insurance. SCHIP was designed as a Federal/State partnership, similar to Medicaid, with the goal of expanding health insurance to children whose families earn too much money to be eligible for Medicaid, but not enough money to purchase private insurance. For more Visit http://www.insurekidsnow.gov
When you pay for your own health insurance, you really want to spend your money wisely. Insurance companies are very competent they all seem to have similar plans that cost almost the same. Coverage is King, but do consider higher deductibles so as to lower your premiums especially if you and your family are pretty healthy and unlikely to be hospitalized. HSAs do offer additional premium lowering options.
Comparison Shopping on the internet is probably the most powerful tool we have on hand. You want to use the resources of a site that features multiple plans from reputable companies. As you comparison shop do make a keen effort to check out the details e.g. Is pregnancy covered? What is the Out of Pocket Maximum? Are Doctor Visits paid for before I meet the deductible? Does this plan include a prescription plan? ... These are the type of questions one should ask depending on their particular situation. Be diligent and invest your effort upfront by ensuring that you buy a solid plan then sit easy knowing that you are covered.
For Comparison Shopping You may visit =>http://GoldenHealthInsurance.com
Your local independent Health insurance broker is a valuable resource for affordable health insurance choices. Make sure you are dealing with someone who represents multiple companies and not a captive agent, just to make sure you are getting the best deal available; the most coverage for your dollar. Remember you are buying peace of mind.
Tom Musembi - Licensed Broker in Virginia, DC, Maryland and Pennsylvania
tel 888-490-8782
email tom@rxmom.com
web site RxMom.com
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