How to Choose Personal Health Insurance

Personal health insurance protects you from financial problems when you become sick. Health insurance will help to pay medical bills and negotiate lower costs for services provided by doctors and hospitals. It is important to choose a policy that has adequate coverage for your needs and that you can afford each month. There are many possible personal health options to choose from. To find the best policy you should consider all options available to you.

Instructions

• 1

  Look at your medical bills for the last year to see how often you went to the doctor, and use that to estimate how much you will visit the doctor this year. Take into account any pregnancies or other planned procedures that may raise your medical expense for the year.

• 2

  Contact your human resources department to find out if you have any health insurance options you have through work. Although the initial costs may seem prohibitive if you have preexisting conditions (a history of medical problems or permanent illnesses) these options may be the most affordable. Additionally, your employer may help cover a portion of the premium costs.

• 3

  Look in the phone book for a local health insurance agent to find other options available in your area. Ask the insurance agent to find a variety of health insurance plans for you to choose from. You can also look online to get quotes for individual policies. Healthcare.gov is a government website that will break down the health insurance policies and help you compare your options.

• 4

  Compare the premium and coverage amounts of these policies to the options you have through your employer. Look for your maximum out-of-pocket cost and your deductible before coverage begins. If you visit the doctor often, you may also want to check to see the amount of copayments, if any. The best option is the one with the lowest premium and out-of-pocket costs with a high annual maximum coverage amount.

• 5

  Check with your doctor and the insurance company to see if your current doctor and local hospital is covered by the insurance policy. If it is not you must decide whether or not you want to switch doctors or if you want to choose a different insurance option.

• 6

  Apply for the policy with the best options for your needs. The application will ask for your birth date and Social Security Number and will require a basic medical history, similar to what your doctor has you fill out the first time you visit. Make sure you have good coverage if you have previous health conditions.