Friday, January 11, 2008

Choosing a Health Insurance Quote: The Best Bang for your Buck

By Peter Lenkefi

Most people get a series of health insurance quotes when shopping around. Everyone requires health insurance of some sorts, whether you are single, married have kids or are a student – and quotes help narrow down your options. However, the process can be quite a tedious one! Not only will this decision affect your levels of medical care, it will also affect your pocketbook. This article will help you manage the choices available to you when shopping for a health insurance quote, so that your medical requirements and budget are both met satisfactorily.

Most of the health insurance quotes that you’ll receive will be grouped into one of three categories:

Health Insurance Quotes: Indemnity of Fee-For-Service Plans
The plans that our parents used to use were probably indemnity plans; these health insurance quotes allow you to visit any doctor of your choosing. Highly desirable by many people, these types of health insurance quote are in great demand, however, they are becoming harder and harder to come by, and seem to be creeping up in price. But many consumers are willing to pay this price, because of the convenience and flexibility these plans offer.

Health Insurance Quotes: Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs)
HMOs are becoming more and more common lately; most health insurance quotes are for this type of plan nowadays. HMOs are, essentially, a group of health service providers who bundle their services together in a fixed price option. If your doctor doesn’t refer you to certain care, then you won’t be eligible to receive payment for it under your health insurance quote. These types of plans are good for people who know they won’t need any specialized services, and if your budget is a factor, this is one of the lower, and more predictable options.

Health Insurance Quotes: Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs)
PPOs are a health insurance quote that combines aspects the two aforementioned plans. PPOs offer the same type of managed group services as HMOs, but also allow users to go outside of their network without a referral. It only makes sense, though, that using this option will cost you more out-of-pocket expenses, but it is covered partially. PPOs are a good middle ground health insurance quote option; you get the flexibility of using your group of health care providers or ones outside of the network, and the costs for this type of plan are in the middle range of the three (although costs can be a bit less predictable).

Health Insurance Quotes: Where to Go?
Many consumers get their health insurance quotes from their workplace, which may or may not be partially paid for through the company. If your company doesn’t offer this benefit, perhaps talk to professional organizations, unions, banks, club or other group that you belong to – they may have an option that is attractive to you. If you cannot find group coverage this way, you can always opt for individual coverage – but this is by far the most expensive health insurance quote option out there. Talking to an insurance agent who can assist you with the quote process is a good idea, if this is your only avenue.

Kansas Family Health Insurance Quote - 4 Things You Must Know

By Pam Jenkins

Before getting a Kansas family health insurance quote, there are 4 things you must know. It is very important to understand why you might be turned down, cancelled, not renewed, or find yourself unable to switch plans.

Private insurers, in Kansas, may turn down your application based on your current health. In some cases the insurance company may choose to place limitations on coverage for certain conditions for which you have been previously treated. Under this "prudent person rule", a pre-existing condition can be excluded for two years.

It is important to note that your health insurance coverage cannot be cancelled because you develop an illness. Policies such as guaranteed renewability are provided under federal and state laws. In some cases you may choose to be insured under a short term or temporary plan. Guaranteed renewability does not apply to this type of health insurance.

Before choosing a health insurance plan, carefully weigh your options. Deciding on HMO, PPO, fee-for-service, deductibles, and a myriad of other factors may seem overwhelming at first, but you must educate yourself. Understand the pros and cons of each benefit system before making your choice. In some cases you may have difficulty switching between plans. Carefully choose a plan that will work for you.

If you are seeking a Kansas family health insurance quote, there are three ways to obtain it. You may contact a private health insurance company, inquire about a state sponsored eligibility program based on income, or obtain information from the Kansas Health Insurance Association High Risk Pool.

Choosing health insurance is one of the most important decisions you can make to protect yourself and your family. Gather as much information as possible before making your decision. Pick a plan that is affordable, yet still meets your needs. Private insurers and the Kansas Health Insurance Association will help you understand your options and make appropriate choices. Get a Kansas family health insurance quote today and begin comparing prices and benefits.

For more information about health insurance and a free quote visit =>

http://www.ChoosingHealthInsurance.com

Health Insurance Quote - 10 Ways to Reduce Your Cost for Healthcare

By Didier Moujaes

After home and living expenses such as rent or a mortgage, for a good number of American families healthcare can be the next greatest expenditure, and for many a big part of that overall healthcare cost can be their health insurance premium. However, according to financial experts, when it comes to preparing your family’s budget, there are ways to reduce both your health insurance cost, and what you pay for healthcare in general. Whether you are shopping for the first time for health insurance, or are looking for a new plan to reduce your monthly payments, here are 10 suggestions that can lead to a lower health insurance quote, and more affordable healthcare:

1. Stop Smoking – Depending on where you live you can save over $200.00 a month on the costs of cigarettes alone. As far as a health insurance quotes goes, non-smokers always pay significantly less than smokers for any policy. According to a recent study, even though smokers generally have a shorter lifespan than non-smokers, they pay a third more in overall healthcare than non-smokers throughout their lifetime.

2. Reduce Weight – Again weight plays a significant factor when getting a health insurance quote, it’s a fact that if you are overweight you will pay more. Obesity is becoming one of the greatest drains on our healthcare system. According to a recent study by the Rand Corporation, being obese adds $395 each year to your average per-year health care costs, more than smoking (an addition of $230), aging 20 years ($225), and problem drinking ($150).

3. Get More Exercise – While it may be hard to put a quantitative amount on how much you can save on a health insurance quote by exercising and getting in shape - regular exercise will not only reduce weight (see above) but can also improve cardio-vascular health and reduce other risk factors that lead to higher costs for health insurance and medical care.

4. Select a Higher Deductible - A higher deductible and higher co-pay will surely result in a lower health insurance quote, and may qualify you for a Health Savings Account (HSA) which can help defray the costs of the higher deductible.

5. Read and be Sure you Understand your Health Plan – you would be surprised at how many consumers pay more for healthcare simply because the do not know the details of their own heath insurance plan.

6. “Cheaper” isn’t always more “Affordable” – When it comes to a health insurance quote you must pick a plan that is right for you and your lifestyle. Cheaper doesn’t always mean more affordable in the long run. If you go for a health insurance quote with a smaller monthly premium, but if you have health problems and must make many doctors visits the high deductible or higher co-pay may cost you more in the long run. Choose a plan that is right for you.

7. Consolidate Your Health Plans –if you and your spouse both have separate health plans you may save money by consolidating under a single plan.

8. Be Proactive – and you can save money. For example know before you need them what if any ambulance services in your area are covered by your insurance, and when and if your regular physician is available after hours.

9. Be willing to Negotiate with Your Doctor – most physicians will offer reduced or discounted rates to patients with no or limited insurance.

10. Reduce the costs of Prescription Drugs – if you have heath insurance with prescription drug coverage, take advantage of the “lower tier” by asking your doctor to prescribe generic drugs, even if you do not have prescription drug coverage look into the discount programs offered by many drug companies and retail pharmacies.

Didier Moujaes is a Certified Financial Planner and Chartered Financial Consultant marketing health insurance products along with his partner created insurancebudget.com an insurance marketing company which represents several top rated medical insurance carriers. Find an affordable health insurance quote.

Online Health Insurance Quote - Finding Low Cost Plans

By Jim Westin

Looking to find an affordable health insurance quote online? Right now, you can get up to 5 low cost health insurance quotes within minutes. Getting competitive quotes from National insurance companies is a snap with the use of the Internet.

Health Insurance Plans

Many types of individual and family health insurance plans are available to those searching online. You may be surprised by the variety and affordability of the health insurance plans offered on the Internet today. Many National insurance companies now offer instant online quotes for all types of health insurance.

You can get online quotes for managed health care plans such as HMOs, PPOs, and POSs. If you don't know much about these plans, there are usually articles and information you can read at most online insurance websites. Learning about the different insurance policies is a good way to get the most coverage at the least cost.

Most online health insurance plans will have an annual deductible to pay before the insurance company begins to pay. The amount of the deductible plays a large part in determining the cost of your monthly premium. Finding a plan with a higher deductible can mean a lower monthly premium for you.

Online Health Insurance Quotes

One of the best ways to find online health insurance quotes is to go to a free insurance quote website. There you can get competitive quotes from up to 5 health insurance providers so you can compare plans and prices. After you have your quotes, you can look more closely at the policies and decide which one is the best for you.

Just click on the following link to get online health insurance quotes and more health plan information. It's fast, it's free, and you're under no obligation. You can get up to 5 competitive quotes for health care insurance. They also offer free quotes and information for affordable dental insurance plans.

Immediate Health Insurance Quote - Affordable Plans Online

By Jim Westin

Immediate Health Insurance Quote - Affordable Plans Online

There are many different types of health insurance plans on the market today. These plans include Indemnity Health Insurance, HMO Health Maintenance Organization, PPO Preferred Provider Organization, POS Point of Service, and the new HSA Health Savings Account Plans.

Affordable Individual and Family Health Insurance Plans

When shopping for a health insurance plan that is best for you or your family, you should research your options and compare plans because plans vary from one company to another. Here are the three most affordable health plans on the market:

(HMO) This type of plan gives a comprehensive level of medical coverage with one of the lowest costs. All medical care given under an HMO plan must be from within the network of doctors and hospitals your insurance company provides. With this type of plan there is no claim form for a member to submit. All claims are handled for you.

(PPO) A PPO plan is similar to an HMO plan. There is a network of doctors and hospitals provided by the insurance company that you must visit when seeking care. The difference is, you can visit an out-of-network provider, but it will cost you an extra fee to do so. You may also have to file your own claim form when going out-of-network.

(HSA) This relatively new form of health insurance plan provides medical coverage at the lowest cost of all the plans. A High Deductible Health Insurance Plan is used in conjunction with a Health Savings Account to provide medical coverage. Deductible amounts for this type of plan start at $1000 to be HSA eligible.

Immediate Health Insurance Quotes

Now that almost all major insurance companies have made their medical plans available online, you can go shopping for health insurance any time, night or day, and find affordable individual and family health insurance that fits your needs and your budget.

Just click on the following link to get immediate health insurance quotes and more health plan information. It's fast, it's free, and you're under no obligation. You'll get 4 to 5 competitive quotes for affordable health insurance They also offer free quotes and information for individual and family dental plans

Low Cost Health Insurance Quote - Affordable Plans Online

By Jim Westin

The Internet abounds with websites where you can get free quotes for low cost individual and family health insurance. Typically, the lowest price health plan will be an HMO or an HSA. Here is a look at these two popular plans.

Affordable Individual and Family Health Insurance Plans

Individual and family health insurance plans from major insurance companies are readily available on the Internet. You can purchase one of these policies for yourself or your family if you are self-employed or your employer does not offer health insurance benefits.

(HMO) For many people, an HMO gives the most comprehensive coverage at the lowest cost. The reason an HMO costs less is because of the network of doctors and hospitals an HMO contracts with. Insurance companies negotiate for lower rates from doctors and hospitals to provide care for members of the plan. For this reason, HMOs tend to focus on preventive care to help keep it's members healthy.

(HSA) An HSA health plan is a high deductible insurance policy that works together with a Health Savings Account to provide medical coverage. Most major health insurance companies offer plans of this type at a surprisingly low monthly premium. A High Deductible Health Plan is basically the same as an HMO but has a higher deductible amount. Deductibles start at $1000 and can go as high as $10,000.

Low Cost Health Insurance Quotes

Now that almost all major insurance companies have made their medical plans available online, you can go shopping for health insurance any time, night or day, and find affordable individual and family health insurance that fits your needs and your budget.

Just click on the following link to get low cost health insurance quotes and more health plan information. It's fast, it's free, and you're under no obligation. You'll get 4 to 5 competitive quotes for affordable health insurance. They also offer free quotes and information for individual and family dental plans.

How to Request a Troy Health Insurance Quote

By Ashton Skylar

In the United States, a fairly large number of individuals have health insurance. Many of those individuals are supplied with health insurance that is provided by their employers. Unfortunately, not all employers are able to offer health insurance to their employees. If you are currently employed and health insurance is not available to you, you may want to consider obtaining it yourself.

When it comes to purchasing your own health insurance, there are many individuals who don’t even know why they should bother. Many assume they are safe to go without it because they have in the past. While you may not always need a trip to the doctor or dentist, you never know. That is why health insurance is so important, because your health is something that is unpredictable.

For many, the only problem with health insurance is the cost of it. There are many individuals who would like to purchase health insurance for themselves or their families, but not everyone is able to. Despite what you and many others believe, you may be able to find affordable health insurance. While affordable health insurance may be difficult to find, it is possible. In reality, all it takes is a little bit of time and research.

The first step in finding affordable health insurance it is familiarize yourself with a number of different health insurance companies. If you live in or around the Troy area, you will want to examine local health insurance companies or other companies that service the Troy area. This can easily be done by using your local phone book or the internet. Once you have found, at least, one health insurance company to examine, you will want to request a Troy health insurance quote.

When it comes to requesting a free Troy health insurance quote, you will likely see that you have a number of different options. These options may include mail in quote forms, online quote forms, or over-the-phone quote requests. The way in which you are required to request a Troy health insurance quote will all depend on the company that you are examining.

If you are not only looking to request a Troy health insurance quote, but you are also looking for other insurance information, you may want to consider speaking directly to a health insurance company representative. Whether you searched for a Troy health insurance company by using your local phone book or the internet, you should have been provided with a phone number. By calling this number you can not only request a health insurance quote, but you can also ask any other questions that you may have.

Online insurance quote requests are quickly becoming the most preferred way to request a Troy health insurance quote. This is because online request forms can be completed in a matter of minutes and they often do not require speaking to a company representative. The only downside to requesting a health insurance quote online is that you must have the internet. If you do not have access to the internet or if you don’t have time for a phone conversation, you should be able to request a mail in form.

Regardless of whether or not you intend to purchase health insurance, you are still advised to request a free quote. Most quote requests will only take a few minutes and they are free, so why not at least give it a try? In fact, you may be surprised with what you see.

Ashton Skylar is a writer for Free Insurance Quotes 4 You.com where you will discover great information on Troy Health Insurance Quote and other related information.