Are you in need of a cheap health insurance policy for yourself or your family? If so, your best bet is to start your search by getting several free quotes and then comparing the costs and the coverage provided. Once you’ve gotten your free quotes you’ll want to contact a few of these companies directly for more information.
There’s something about the phrase “cheap health insurance” that bothers me a little bit. Rather than say “cheap”, I’d prefer to say, affordable, inexpensive, low cost or something along those lines. Somehow by saying that something is cheap it could very easily be perceived as low quality. Anyway, in the area of health insurance you won’t find many cheap policies anyway, though some will be more affordable than others.
Does your employer offer group coverage? If so, you would be much better off to buy coverage through there than you would be to get it in the private sector. There’s strength in numbers and buying group is much more affordable than buying single policies. Unfortunately, a lot of employers can’t afford to provide health insurance any longer.
You may have to reduce the coverage of a health insurance plan in order to get it within your budget. You might be able to do this by reducing the amount of care provided within a policy. Sometimes this is possible and sometimes it’s not. Another thing that you can do is to raise your deductible to the maximum amount possible. I realize that this seems to defeat the purpose of having health insurance, however, the idea here is to cover yourself against long term hospitalization and do your best to pay for your regular doctor visits yourself.
We’re between a rock and a hard place here in the USA right now as far as having cheap options. I recommend that you do what I suggested above and do your best to find an inexpensive plan that’s within your budget.
By: Joe Stewart
Posts Tagged ‘Cheap Health Insurance’
Where to Get Low Cost Health Insurance in Ohio
April 25th, 2010
Thanks to rising medical costs, health insurance rates are at an all-time high. But there are places where you can get cheap health insurance in Ohio.
The first thing you need to look at when considering health insurance in Ohio are the types of insurance that are available. There are four basic plans:
1. Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) – These plans set you up with a network of doctors and hospitals who provide your health care. You must choose a primary health care physician who oversees your care and refers you to specialists, and you are only allowed to see physicians within your network.
HMOs are the cheapest of all the health care plans. They have low co-payments, usually $5 to $10 per doctor visit, and involve the least amount of paperwork.
2. Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs) – Similar to HMOs, these plans set you up with a network of health care providers, but unlike HMOs you may see specialists within the network without getting permission from your primary care physician. If you see a non-network physician you may have to pay the bill yourself and submit it for reimbursement.
PPOs cost slightly more than HMOs, and co-payments average $5 to $10 per doctor visit.
3. Point of Service Plans (POSs) – These plans also set you up with a network of health care providers, but, for an additional fee, you may see a physician who is not part of the network.
POSs generally cost more than PPOs but are more flexible. Co-payments average $5 to $10 per visit.
4. Indemnity Plans – These plans let you choose your own doctor and hospital, and you can visit any specialist you choose. You pay a deductible, usually $500 to $1,000, before your insurance company will begin paying claims. After you pay your deductible, your company will pay most of your medical bill, usually 80%, and you pay the remaining 20%.
Indemnity Plans are the most expensive health care plans and involve the most amount of paperwork.
Low Cost Health Insurance in Ohio
In order to get the best rate on your health insurance policy you need to compare rates from different companies. The fastest way to do this is to visit an insurance comparison website where you’ll not only get multiple rate quotes, you’ll also be able to get advice from insurance experts who can help you find the best policy for your needs. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it’s free.
By: Brian Stevens