How to Find Health Insurance Options

Health insurance policies -- also called medical expense insurance -- help shield you from the high costs of healthcare. Whether you receive health insurance as a benefit through your employer, or you buy insurance individually, health insurance products help pay medical expenses for doctor visits, preventive medicine and emergency care. Rely on four kinds of resources to find health insurance options for sale in your community.

Instructions

• 1

  Talk to a broker or agent. Health insurance agents and brokers maintain a portfolio of health insurance products available in your area and can offer advice, information and tips on what options might work best for you and your family. Search professional directories from associations like the National Association of Health Underwriters and the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors to find local brokers. Call each broker to set up an appointment to talk about health insurance options.

• 2

  Contact health insurance companies directly. Health insurance companies that do business in your community offer toll-free customer service lines, web portals and retail offices to help you learn more about their products. Health insurance companies like Aetna, WellPoint, Humana or Kaiser Permanente provide tools, directories and office contact information to help you explore your health insurance options. You can view health insurance policy benefits, get a premium quote or download brochures on health insurance websites, and customer service staff can answer your questions or send you information by mail.

• 3

  Connect with state and federal government resources. All states regulate the sale of insurance products within their borders, usually through a department of insurance or the state's commerce department. State insurance departments publish consumer information about available health insurance options, as well as advice and tips on what to look for when buying health insurance. Ask for information about what health insurance options are available and be sure to ask for evaluative tools or comparison brochures. The federal government publishes a web portal (healthcare.gov) to help you find insurance options in your community.

• 4

  Talk to your employer's benefits manager. If you receive health insurance from your employer as part of your benefits package, ask your human resources manager or employee benefits manager about health insurance options. Larger employers may offer a variety of health insurance products for you to evaluate and choose based on your own individual needs. Ask your benefits manager about the different policies available, as well as their costs.