How to Buy Health Insurance From Blue Cross
Instructions
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Gather all current documentation and data on your general health. This includes prescription medications you currently take, conditions that your doctor is currently treating and your general health history for the last several years. Also have a copy of any current health coverage you may have. All this information will be needed for your application to Blue Cross and will have a direct impact on being accepted into one of their coverage programs.
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Determine the level of benefits you need. Make sure to consider the amount of hospitalization, major medical, general care and prescription coverage that you want. If dental and vision coverage are also desirable, include those options. Keep in mind that not every policy offered by Blue Cross will include these options, even with an added premium. By placing a request for information from the state level Blue Cross office or contacting a local Blue Cross agent, you can get specific information on all policy types that would be of interest to you.
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Calculate the amount of the monthly premium you can reasonably afford. Compare what you can pay to the premiums associated with the Blue Cross policy options you are reviewing. The goal is to obtain the best health coverage possible without creating undue stress on the monthly budget.
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Verify that your current physician is considered to be "in network." This means that your physician accepts Blue Cross insurance. While Blue Cross is accepted by just about all healthcare providers, there is a chance that your doctor is not among them. If this is the case, keep in mind that the just about all Blue Cross networks usually pay less of the outstanding balance due when physicians outside the network, and in some cases do not count the charges toward the deductible. To make sure how a particular state program works if your physician is not considered in network, talk with an agent or contact the state level organization.
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Identify the maximum amount of deductibles you are willing to carry on your policy. Most Blue Cross providers allow at least three different levels of deductibles on the main components of the coverage. However, this is not a uniform structure among all the state level providers. Make sure you are referring to information relevant to your state Blue Cross operation. Cross-referencing how much you can spend with the deductibles associated with each policy option will allow you to focus on policy options that are viable for you.
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Speak with a Blue Cross representative. Each of the state organizations maintains a network of authorized agents who can analyze your situation and make intelligent recommendations for available coverage options. If at all possible, schedule a face to face session with an agent. If there isn't a Blue Cross agent in your city or town, contact the state organization. They can put you in touch with an agent assigned to cover your geographical area.
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Submit your application. Include all data requested on the application forms. Omitting important data may lead to a delay in processing the application or possibly cause the application to be rejected. If you have any questions about a given question, consult your agent or call the state organization for clarification. Unlike some health insurance providers, all the state level Blue Cross organizations make it possible to submit an application online, and receive notification of acceptance or rejection by email.
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Review your policy coverage upon your acceptance into a Blue Cross insurance program. Make sure you understand how the prescription coverage works, as well as what level of deductibles apply to routine checkups, general physician services and prescriptions. Also double-check the major medical coverage and make sure it is what you requested. The goal is to make sure that the particular health insurance package you applied for is the one that you receive. Some Blue Cross state organizations will substitute another schedule of coverage if you did not meet the criteria for the one requested in your application, while others will require you to submit a new application.
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Establish your method of payment. Some Blue Cross organizations allow the premium to be paid semiannually. Others require a monthly payment. You can also make arrangements to mail in a check to cover the premium or set up an automatic withdrawal from your checking account. A few state organizations allow scheduled payments to be charged to a credit card. Consider each option, then select the one that works best for you.
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