Health insurance is an expensive yet important part of the long list of concerns that face working families today. Making sure your family is covered with a quality health insurance plan will give you peace of mind. How do you find out what health insurance company is best for you? You should make sure to do your due diligence in deciding which health insurance company will work best with your budget and health needs.
Instructions
1. Research health insurance companies by reviewing their company websites. Aetna, United Health, Blue Cross and Humana One all have clear, understandable websites where you can find the information you need to make the right choice. Going directly to the source will help you get the straight scoop on the coverage provided. These websites are easy to navigate, and the information is clear and easy to read.
2. Figure out your family's costs, and whether or not you will be able to afford the premiums. You should make a list of monthly expenses so you understand how much you can afford to pay for health insurance. When you're on the health insurance company's website, you can fill out a form to receive a quote.
3. Find out what others are saying about the particular health insurance company you are reviewing. The company's reputation, and whether or not there have been numerous complaints will help you decide. A.M. Best and J.D. Power and Associates offer health-insurance ratings lists so you can see how different companies compare.
4. Call the company, and ask questions. You can get a lot of information from the company's website, but a good way to learn how the company handles its customers is to give them a call. You can judge their customer service by how long you have to wait on the line, what options are available while you're on hold and how friendly the customer service representative is. When the time comes that you have to use your insurance, you may not be in the best mood (illness, accident, etc.), so knowing that your insurance company cares will ease your mind.
5. Ascertain what the company's problem resolution process is. If you end up having to use the insurance someday and there is a problem with coverage, reimbursement or another issue, how will the company deal with that? It's important to know this up front so you're not surprised when the time comes. You can find this information when you're on the phone with the customer service representative, when you're on the company's website or through the consumer review companies mentioned previously.
6. Ensure the company is licensed and certified to operate in your state. Each state has established its own laws governing health insurance companies, and it's vital that you deal with a company that has been vetted by your state insurance regulatory body. You don't want to be sending out payments to a company that may not be legally obliged to pay. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners offers a list of state insurance commissioners so you can find who is responsible for regulation in your state.
