Questions to Ask When Shopping for Health Insurance

Purchasing health insurance can be a frustrating task, but its well worth the time to search until you find the right policy for you and your family. A solid understanding of the coverage and how it applies will make the shopping process easier and can save you a lot of money.

Understanding health coverage begins with asking some questions. You should begin by asking your agent questions about who is covered under the proposed policy.

Who is entitled to benefits under my insurance policy? Will my children be covered if they move out of the house? What if they graduate from college? What if they get a full-time job? My spouse has health insurance coverage through his/her job. Will the group policy cover all the medical needs of my family?

There also are important financial issues you must understand before selecting health insurance. Determining the best possible benefits you can afford is one of the more difficult aspects of insurance shopping. Relevant questions to ask include:

How can I lower the cost of my premium? Will my premium come down if I do not have claims? Can I increase or lower my deductible or copay? If someone in my family gets sick will my premium be affected?

There may be circumstances when health insurance coverage covers you at a limited capacity or not at all. Ideally, you should know what coverage is offered before choosing a policy. Ask these questions:

Does my policy include a network of physicians from whom I must (or should) seek treatment?

If I seek treatment from a physician who is out of my network, how does this affect me and my insurance?

About the Author

To read much more about health insurance topics, including health insurance for self employed people, visit MedReliance.com.