[H167]Health Insurance For Americans

If you are looking to reduce your health care costs without losing coverage, don't worry, it can be done. Some of the benefits offered by health insurance companies are overpriced for what you get, and other benefits offer a good value, based on certain neds. You will be required to do a little bit of legwork and research to determine what plans are the best for you because none of us have the same health care requirements. But the possibility of saving hundreds of dollars each year on premiums is a benefit that cannot be overlooked. Here are a few tips you may want consider:
Increasing your deductible is one thing that can help. The deductible is the amount of money you must put out each year before your insurance begins paying. Most Americans don't have many doctor visits each year, so increasing your deductible could save you hundreds of dollars per year. In some cases, it has been shown that by increasing your deductible by an additional $500, you could save the same amount in yearly insurance premiums.
Add a doctor visit copayment with limited visits. The copayment is a fixed amount that you pay each time you go to the doctor. It usually is $15-$40. If you don't have this benefit, you'll have to pay the entire amount each time until you have reached your plan's deductible. If you are planning to visit a physician a few times a year, this can save you money, though having this benefit usually adds to your monthly premium. Get around this by setting a limit of yearly visits that are covered by the plan. That way, the plan will only cover what you need, while lowering your premiums.
Choose a plan with a smaller network. Most plans today offer coverage with a specific network of doctors and hospitals. Chances are that you won't need to see every type of doctor that is included in larger network plans. Some plans, called PPO's allow you to choose physicians outside of your plan, including specialists, but with a strong incentive to stay within the plan. An HMO, however will require you choose a primary physician within the plan and won't cover specialists unless they are referred by your physician. Choosing an HMO with smaller network of doctors will reduce your coverage, but you will pay less in monthly premiums.
Getting re-underwritten is the best kept secret in lowering your insurance costs. Your insurance premiums are based on a process called underwriting, in which health insurance carriers consider such things as the status of your health and your age in order to estimate the level of risk you provide to them. Riskier people may cost the insurance companies more, so their premiums will be more. However, most carriers also base your premiums on the other policyholders they insure, by putting you into "pools". For example, one insurance company will include 5 different plans and 100 policyholders in one pool. If a certain number in the pool make claims, then the rates go up for everyone in the pool. Also, as pools age, they tend to get unhealthier as years go on, so rates for the pool can regularly go up. So by switching insurance plans or companies or both, you can effectively be re-underwritten. A good plan may be to start with another plan first, and if your current carrier can't match the rate of its competitor, then switch carriers also. Switching plans will usually put into a new pool, and newer pools typically have younger, healthier policyholders. It is important to remember not to do your search once in a lifetime, but on an annual basis. Insiders in the industry say you can almost always find a lower rate by moving to a different plan every year. Contact your local agent if you want extra help with all of this. Insurance does not have to be complicated, but it does take some thought and participation on our parts to make it effective and efficient for our personal needs.