| When you receive your health insurance | | | | here's the best kept secret in purchasing |
| benefits through an employer, it will seem so | | | | private health insurance. When a plan |
| easy to qualify for coverage and to choose | | | | discusses the need for medical underwriting |
| the best policy for your situation. However, | | | | of the policy, they intend to screen your |
| once you leave the protected confines of an | | | | medical history (including covered family |
| employer plan (if you are laid off or become | | | | members) for any indications of problematic |
| self-employed), you may be shocked to learn | | | | health conditions. Now, please be aware, they |
| about the overwhelming restrictions now | | | | are not just screening for serious |
| facing you. Many people find it extremely | | | | conditions. Rather, they are attempting to |
| difficult to purchase reasonable healthcare | | | | screen out all policy holders who might ever |
| coverage on their own. If this is your task, | | | | require significant health care. For example, |
| here are some tips to help you navigate the | | | | if your weight is too high, you may be denied |
| complicated and worrisome world of private | | | | coverage! Obviously, if you or a family |
| health insurance. | | | | member has a serious issue such as heart |
| | | | disease, diabetes, asthma, a disability, |
| 1. Start early. When you know you'll be | | | | etc., then you can assume health insurance |
| needing new health coverage in the near | | | | will either be denied or that coverage will |
| future, begin your research at least 60 to 90 | | | | be offered for all health care except for the |
| days before the new coverage is to begin. As | | | | specific health issue (known as a waiver of |
| you start researching and applying for | | | | coverage for a specified condition). |
| potential plans, you may get the nasty | | | | |
| surprise of being turned down for coverage. | | | | 5. Research state sponsored plans. Because of |
| Unlike an employer-sponsored plan, in the | | | | the numerous restrictions experienced by |
| world of private health insurance, an | | | | consumers in pursuing individual healthcare |
| insurance company can simply refuse to cover | | | | coverage, many state governments have stepped |
| you for any number of health situations. You | | | | in to offer reasonable plans and health |
| don't want to learn about this just before | | | | coverage for their citizens. These plans may |
| your existing coverage is due to expire! | | | | cover children, low income families, the |
| | | | self-employed and small businesses, or the |
| 2. Cover children under other spouse's | | | | hard-to-insure (known as a risk pool). These |
| employee plan. Private insurance options are | | | | plans are not strictly limited to low-income |
| almost never as comprehensive or as | | | | families as you might assume, so take the |
| affordable as the health benefits provided | | | | time to see what your state government has in |
| under an employer-sponsored plan. If either | | | | place for people just like you. |
| you or your spouse has access to health | | | | |
| coverage through an employer, even when the | | | | 6. Read the fine print. When you zero in on a |
| parents are divorced, you should definitely | | | | health insurance plan you like, take the time |
| research the terms of this coverage. Don't be | | | | to read the fine print. All insurance |
| afraid to cover family members under | | | | policies have restrictions and exclusions, |
| different plans in order to find the best | | | | and they will hold you to every comma in the |
| health care coverage for each family member. | | | | policy. You'll want to understand what |
| | | | services are covered or excluded, if there |
| 3. Consider routine vs. emergency coverage. | | | | are waiting periods, and what doctors, |
| As you begin comparing plans available to | | | | specialists or labs you'll be authorized to |
| individuals and families, take a moment to | | | | visit under the plan. |
| consider your priorities for future | | | | |
| healthcare. For example, does it make sense | | | | 7. Never cancel prematurely. Health insurance |
| to have a $0 co-pay for office visits (saving | | | | coverage is closely regulated by Federal and |
| you perhaps $50 per year), but with | | | | state laws which have put various protections |
| restricted hospital coverage for dealing with | | | | in place for consumers. These protections are |
| car accidents or the onset of a serious | | | | often negated when you willingly cancel a |
| disease (possibly putting your life or | | | | policy in writing. For this reason, and due |
| savings at extreme risk)? It's not hard to | | | | to the various complications noted throughout |
| see which benefits the insurance companies | | | | this article, you should always have your new |
| will play up in their sales materials! | | | | confirmed coverage in place before canceling |
| | | | any existing policies. |
| 4. Understand medical underwriting. Ahhh, | | | | |