Health Insurance Buyer's Guide
Step Four - Compare Your Options
Get Quotes
Now you're ready to review your personal health insurance quotes. If you want to save money and make the most of your health insurance dollars you'll need the broadest possible view of all your Individual and Family health insurance options. By working with a licensed agent like eHealthInsurance you can save time and get a selection of quotes from top insurance companies in your area.Get free, instant health insurance quotes from eHealthInsurance eHealthInsurance makes it easy to find the right health insurance plan for your needs and budget. Unlike many other online services, eHealthInsurance won't require you to provide any sensitive personal information before getting your quotes. Just go to eHealthInsurance.com, enter your ZIP code and your age, and get:
- Instant personalized quotes from a broad selection of top carriers
- Side by side comparisons of plan rates and benefits
- Special online tools that generate personal recommendations based on your needs or identify plans accepted by your favorite doctor
- Customer reviews and industry ratings to help guide your decision
- Personal unbiased help from licensed agents by phone, email, or online chat
Choose a Plan
Five Key Criteria to Help Guide Your Decision
You may need some help narrowing down your choices. Consider the following five criteria to help you focus on the plans that best match your needs:
1. Health benefits: Which plans provide the must-have benefits you've identified?
Buy only what is important to you to keep your costs low. Avoid
expensive benefits (like maternity or prescription drugs) if you don't need them.
2. Costs: Which plans fall within your budget when it comes to premium, deductible, copayments, and coinsurance?
Consider a high-deductible plan if your primary requirement is a low monthly premium.
3. Physician network: Do you have a doctor you want to keep?
Which plans does he or she accept? At eHealthInsurance.com, you can use our "Plans with your doctor" tool to find plans that are accepted by your doctor.
4. Brand: Are there brand-name carriers that you prefer?
Are there any you want to avoid?
5. Consumer and industry reviews: eHealthInsurance offers customer reviews for many of the plans we sell, and we present the AM Best ratings for carriers.
These ratings reflect AM
Best's analysis of a company's credit rating and ability to pay claims.
"Are there any particular pitfalls
to avoid?"
Yes.Be cautious if you have a pre-existing medical condition or were recently laid off - talk with an agent for personal advice. If you think you may need maternity coverage or prescription drug benefits, make sure you select a plan that provides it - not all Individual and Family plans do. And lastly, know what you are buying. So-called "limited benefit" plans don't provide substantial protection.
"Can I save money if I buy direct from the insurance company?"
No. Due to government
regulations, you will pay the same monthly premium for the same plan whether you
buy it from a licensed agent or direct from the insurer. So for no additional cost,
shopping through a site like eHealthInsurance.com can give you more objective, unbiased
help to find the right plan.
"Should I consider a Short-term plan?"
Possibly. Short-term health insurance provides
emergency protection for a limited period of time. If you are relatively healthy
and know you will have employer-sponsored coverage again within six months, a Short-term
plan may work for you. Just keep in mind that it won't cover existing medical conditions,
prescription drugs, or many office visits.
