8 Tips for Picking the Best Individual Health Insurance Policy
Picking the best individual health insurance policy can sometimes be a challenge, especially when you’re not currently sick or being treated for a medical condition. With so many different plan coverages to choose from and with such great differences in deductibles, one really has to weigh their healthcare needs against their budget to help ensure they’re adequately protected without breaking the bank.
If you’re in need of an individual policy and you’re interested in finding the most effective, yet affordable health insurance in Wilmington NC, the following eight tips will help you find exactly what you’re looking for.
#1 – What are Your “Must-Haves?”
Certain healthcare policies are better than others when you have a particular coverage need. Therefore, before you set out looking for policies, it pays to know what you need most in your health insurance. For example, if your family has a history of heart problems, you might want a policy that covers the cost of routine cardiac tests. Or, if you’re planning on starting a family in the near future, buying a policy with maternity coverage will help ensure that your medical needs will be covered when it happens.
#2 – Network Considerations
Do you currently have a doctor or specialist you trust? If you want to keep on using them, then you will want to make sure they are included within your new insurance’s network of providers. If you pick an insurance policy and your current doctor is not in its network, then you will have to cover a portion of the cost if you want to continue using them.
#3 – Compare Deductible Vs Anticipated Use
It’s impossible to predict how much you’re going to need your health insurance, especially when you’re young and healthy. But, you can anticipate your dependence based on your lifestyle. For instance, if you’re young and healthy and you don’t engage in risky behavior, then odds are you won’t be using your insurance for any major health problems in the near future. Therefore, you may want to pick a policy with a higher deductible so you can keep your monthly premium costs as low as possible.
#4 – Pharmacy Coverage
Insurance policies can vary greatly when it comes to their pharmaceutical benefits. If you’re currently taking prescription medications on a regular basis, then check the plan’s formulary to help ensure that your medications are covered.
#5 – Out of Pocket Costs
Every health insurance plan will require you to pay something out of pocket. How much you pay depends on the policy’s co-pay structure and deductible. Buying an affordable health insurance plan won’t mean much if you’re being nickeled and dimed every time you visit the doctors.
#6 – Annual Coverage Limitations
Some policies have set annual coverage limitations on certain types of treatments. While these are usually deemed “non-essential” treatments, they may be important to you. So, always check the annual coverage limitations within the plan before selecting it to make sure you won’t be surprised later in the year.
#7 – Dependents
If you’re shopping for an individual health plan, but you have dependent children, they can be covered under your policy up until they reach 26 years of age.
#8 – Review Several Different Plans
Don’t limit your options; take the time to review multiple plans to help ensure you’re getting the coverage you need at a price you can afford. Picking a health insurance policy is a serious task and one that can have a tremendous impact on your financial health. Take the time and do your due diligence to make sure your policy fits your life as completely as possible.
Contact Schnitzer-Slate for Affordable Health Insurance in Wilmington NC
Schnitzer-Slate is one of the leading providers of Blue Cross Blue Shield North Carolina health insurance policies, and as such, we have a wide selection of individual health plans to choose from. Just call us at 910.338.0686 and one of our agents will help you choose the right policy for your needs and budget. Or, just visit our website at http://healthplannc.com/ to learn more about affordable health insurance in Wilmington NC.
If you’re in need of an individual policy and you’re interested in finding the most effective, yet affordable health insurance in Wilmington NC, the following eight tips will help you find exactly what you’re looking for.
#1 – What are Your “Must-Haves?”
Certain healthcare policies are better than others when you have a particular coverage need. Therefore, before you set out looking for policies, it pays to know what you need most in your health insurance. For example, if your family has a history of heart problems, you might want a policy that covers the cost of routine cardiac tests. Or, if you’re planning on starting a family in the near future, buying a policy with maternity coverage will help ensure that your medical needs will be covered when it happens.
#2 – Network Considerations
Do you currently have a doctor or specialist you trust? If you want to keep on using them, then you will want to make sure they are included within your new insurance’s network of providers. If you pick an insurance policy and your current doctor is not in its network, then you will have to cover a portion of the cost if you want to continue using them.
#3 – Compare Deductible Vs Anticipated Use
It’s impossible to predict how much you’re going to need your health insurance, especially when you’re young and healthy. But, you can anticipate your dependence based on your lifestyle. For instance, if you’re young and healthy and you don’t engage in risky behavior, then odds are you won’t be using your insurance for any major health problems in the near future. Therefore, you may want to pick a policy with a higher deductible so you can keep your monthly premium costs as low as possible.
#4 – Pharmacy Coverage
Insurance policies can vary greatly when it comes to their pharmaceutical benefits. If you’re currently taking prescription medications on a regular basis, then check the plan’s formulary to help ensure that your medications are covered.
#5 – Out of Pocket Costs
Every health insurance plan will require you to pay something out of pocket. How much you pay depends on the policy’s co-pay structure and deductible. Buying an affordable health insurance plan won’t mean much if you’re being nickeled and dimed every time you visit the doctors.
#6 – Annual Coverage Limitations
Some policies have set annual coverage limitations on certain types of treatments. While these are usually deemed “non-essential” treatments, they may be important to you. So, always check the annual coverage limitations within the plan before selecting it to make sure you won’t be surprised later in the year.
#7 – Dependents
If you’re shopping for an individual health plan, but you have dependent children, they can be covered under your policy up until they reach 26 years of age.
#8 – Review Several Different Plans
Don’t limit your options; take the time to review multiple plans to help ensure you’re getting the coverage you need at a price you can afford. Picking a health insurance policy is a serious task and one that can have a tremendous impact on your financial health. Take the time and do your due diligence to make sure your policy fits your life as completely as possible.
Contact Schnitzer-Slate for Affordable Health Insurance in Wilmington NC
Schnitzer-Slate is one of the leading providers of Blue Cross Blue Shield North Carolina health insurance policies, and as such, we have a wide selection of individual health plans to choose from. Just call us at 910.338.0686 and one of our agents will help you choose the right policy for your needs and budget. Or, just visit our website at http://healthplannc.com/ to learn more about affordable health insurance in Wilmington NC.