Short-term health insurance may be just the thing if you are facing a transition period in your life. If you are unemployed, working a part-time or temporary job, going to school or about to graduate, or considering early retirement, a temporary health plan can provide important protection during times of change.

Who is eligible to purchase short-term health insurance?

If you are under the age of 65 and not covered by any other health insurance, you may be eligible for a short-term plan. However, if you have ever been denied health insurance, have “pre-existing conditions of any concern or fail to meet the weight and height standards, you will probably not be able to qualify for a temporary plan.

Why is short-term health insurance so cheap?

If you are eligible to buy short-term coverage, it is about the cheapest health insurance you will find (get free quotes for short term health insurance ). However, there are three very important reasons why it is so cheap.

First, it is offered to individuals and families who are healthy and do not need coverage for pre-existing conditions, usually defined as any conditions you had during the 3 year period before the start of coverage. Short-term plans are designed to provide protection for an injury or illness that may occur during the short coverage period.

It’s a good idea to be completely honest about your medical history when you answer each question on the application, otherwise you risk having claims for pre-existing conditions denied.
Secondly, short-term health insurance is temporary with many plans limiting coverage to 12 months with no guarantee for renewal.

Third, it has high deductibles, co-insurance and co-payments. It is not unusual to see deductibles of $2,500 and co-pays starting at $250 and up. Your out-of-pocket cost can mount up quickly.

There are now short-term plans which offer coverage for up to 36 months which may be renewable each year. But if you file any claims, the policy might not be renewed or the conditions for which you filed claims might be considered “pre-existing conditions” for a new policy.

Group health insurance is health insurance that offers coverage to all eligible people in a group regardless of their age or physical condition. Generally, one insurance policy is issued covering a group of people, usually comprised of employees. However, the group could also be comprised of people in unions, governments, clubs, church/religious organizations, trade associations, chambers of commerce, or special interest groups. In the U.S., group health insurance has generally been provided by employers, so it is thought of as being employer-based insurance.

Even if your company is small, you can still offer group health insurance. In most states, insurance companies who provide small group health insurance plans are required to accept any employer group of 2 to 50 employees, provided the employer agrees to offer enrollment to 100% of the eligible employees.

Self-employed health insurance is usually least expensive when established as a small group health plan. As few as two people – a husband and wife operating a full-time business, two or more owners of a partnership etc – can apply for a group health plan regardless their health status.

By reviewing the following information you will:

Know what is required to establish a small group health plan .
Understand the advantages of group health insurance
Realize the disadvantages of group health insurance.
Learn how to get online quotes for small group health insurance .
Know what information you’ll need when you are ready to apply.

What is required to establish a small group health plan ?

Each State has laws regulating requirements for small group health plans offered in that State. State regulators allow insurance companies some discretion in what they can require of employers to qualify for a small group health plan.

Some general guidelines are:

Usually, State insurance regulations define a small employer. In California, a small employer means a business with 2 to 50 full-time employees (30+ hours per week).
An employer is not required to offer a group health plan. Providing coverage is voluntary.
If an employer offers coverage, it must extend that offer to all full-time employees.
If an employer offers coverage to full-time employees, it may choose not to extend benefits to other family members.
Part-time employees (20-29 hours per week) may be offered coverage as long as all part-time employees are eligible to enroll.
Employers must pay some part of the premium, and insurance companies can impose minimum contribution requirements obligating the employer to pay, for example, at least 50% of the premium.
Insurance companies may also require that a minimum percentage of employees (such as 70%) enroll in the plan.

What are the advantages of group health insurance?

No Medical Requirements: By law, an insurance company must issue a small group health plan without regard to the health of the participants. This means that in cases where individual health insurance might be denied because of health problems (pre-existing conditions), that individual would be guaranteed coverage in a group health plan. There are no physical exams or extensive medical history questionnaires.

Lower Cost: The employer is offering a benefit and covers part of the employees’ health insurance cost. Because rates are based on a group of people, usually meaning less risk for the insurance company, coverage under a group plans is less expensive.

Reduces Payroll Taxes: The amount paid by employees for group health premiums is paid with pre-tax dollars, reducing their federal and social security taxable income by that amount. In addition, premiums paid by the employer are deductible, resulting in reduced total taxable payroll and payroll related taxes.

Additional Tax Reduction and Benefits: If the employer provides a small group health plan in the form of a Health Savings Account, additional tax and savings benefits may also be available. See our Health Savings Account information.

What are the disadvantages of group health insurance?

Coverage stops if you change or lose your job: One of the major problems with corporate downsizing and job outsourcing is the loss of group health insurance benefits. In addition, rising costs have force many small businesses to either not offer or discontinue group health plans. Those who are left without coverage and have pre-existing health conditions may have difficulty in buying individual coverage (know your COBRA and HIPAA rights).

According to a recent study, 50% of personal bankruptcies in the U.S. in 2001 were the result of uncovered medical bills. Many of those with health problems were not able to resume work at their previous jobs leaving them without health insurance and continuing medical expenses. Many were denied individual coverage because of pre-existing conditions (few know their HIPAA rights).

Lack of choices: A small group health plan usually offers only one option, generally a PPO (see our Types of Health Plans). If an employee has a favorite doctor who is not included in the health plan, they must either seek other care or pay higher rates for using a doctor outside the plan.

How do I get quotes for group health insurance?

A small employer can obtain online small group health insurance quotes based on all those in the company who could be covered by the plan. Because of strict state regulations regarding health insurance premiums, rates for a small group health plan online will be the same as those quoted from and agent or direct from an insurance company as long as the same information and start date are provided.

Small group health insurance quotes are available in one of three ways:

Instant Quote Online: You enter information about your employees, and then receive free health insurance quotes on several different plans and companies. Often you can apply for coverage online as these quote providers often operate an nation-wide insurance agency. Currently, one of the largest providers of online small group health quotes is eHealthInsurance .

A Quote through an Insurance Agent: This type of quote source matches your quote request with insurance providers in your area. When it finds a match, your information is immediately sent to them, they work up their best quotes and contact you with their rates, usually the same day. You are sent the list of insurance providers or who will be contacting you with their quotes.

This is a good way to get assistance with the process of choosing and implementing a health plan. A good insurance agent can help move the application process along more smoothly, and deal with the insurance company on your behalf completing all necessary paper work. A major site that provides quotes in this way is Insure Me . One of the best agencies for California small group health insurance quotes is Medicoverage.

Choose an Advertised Insurance Agent to Contact You: This type of site provides listings of insurance agents by state who specialize in the type of insurance coverage you are requesting. Most of these agents have web sites so you can review their information and select any from whom you want quotes. A top company offering this type of service is Insurance Finder , who also provides quotes from multiple agents as in the approach in #2.

It is suggested that you start with quotes from eHealthInsurance before contacting an agent. If you are seeking coverage for a small group (2 to 4 people) you may wish to apply online yourself.

With larger groups, it is a good idea to have an agent assist you. You can complete one form at Insure Me and receive competitive quotes from several agents in your area. Compare these quotes with those from Ehealthinsurance, and find out more about the agents offering you quotes at your state insurance department. The agent’s license number should be on their website or included with their quote.

You should have available the following information in order to get accurate quotes:

You will need to enter employee information on gender, home ZIP code, age, the number of family members enrolling, and in some cases on the spouse’s date of birth. This is what the premium costs are based on, so the more accurate the information you enter, the more accurate your quote will be.

You should enter ALL eligible employees, regardless of whether you think they will be applying for group health insurance. This is because some insurance companies take your total group size into account when determining if your company is eligible for certain plans. Not entering all employees may cause you to be considered ineligible for plans that you would be otherwise eligible for.

If you and your spouse are the only applicants, and you are both separately compensated, full-time owners, officers, partners, and/or employees of your company, and can verify this with officially filed state quarterly or annual federal tax documents, you may qualify to apply for group health insurance.

Any compensated owner, officer, partner, or permanent employee who works for the company at least 25 hours per week may be eligible to enroll. Employees who receive salary draws or a W-2 should be eligible. Lack of verifiable tax documentation may affect an enrollee’s eligibility, which in turn may affect the group’s eligibility.

What will I need to apply for a group health insurance plan?

Small businesses face an online-application process that requires the same amount of work as sitting down with an agent. If you choose to work with an agent in your area, getting an online quote will better prepare you and provide a basis of comparison.

Usually, you will be asked to provide documents such as State Quarter Wage Report, business license, or articles of incorporation to verify the legitimacy of your business

Give careful consideration to plan requirements: Do you want maternity coverage? Drug benefits? Dental insurance? What deductibles amounts? Add-ons increase the cost, so consider your budget.

Also know how much of the premium you will pay, and how much will be paid by your employees.

Buying affordable, low-cost health insurance requires knowledge of all possible cost-cutting strategies. Discover the best strategies to health plan affordability.

By reviewing the following information you will:

Know how to use deductible and maximum out-of-pocket choices to significantly reduce your health plan costs.
Evaluate your prescription drug choices to reduce costs.
Use multiple plans to your cost advantage.
Pay for your deductible with pre-tax income (it’s like and IRA for health insurance).
Get tips for completing your health insurance application that can reduce your costs.
Learn how personal health choices lead to low-cost health insurance.
Get low-cost health insurance quotes.

Managing your health insurance plan for low cost

1. Slash your health plan expenses by choosing a low-cost health insurance plan.

The type of health insurance plan you choose has the initial impact on cost. Generally, fee-for-service plans tend to be the most expensive because of the free choice of doctors. HMO plans are beginning to incorporate more elements which allow you to control costs. But PPO plans offer the most options for cost control. You will find the greatest number of low-cost health insurance plans in the PPO category.

Managing key parts of your health plan is the most direct way to low-cost health insurance. Unfortunately, the tradeoff is that you must bear more of the cost of your everyday medical care. Does this make sense financially?

If your budget requires that you keep your health plan costs low, the first concern is the big, unexpected medical problem that will wipe you out financially if you are not protected. Trade off the everyday expenses for protection against the big expense. That makes sense!

The parts of a health insurance plan where you can make choices that result in cost savings are:

The amount of the deductible per year.

The amount of the maximum out-of-pocket cost per year.

The percentage of co-insurance.

Whether there are co-pays for doctor office visits and other services such as x-rays or emergency room visits.

Whether there is a prescription drug benefit, and if so, whether it is for brand name, generic, or specific plan-accepted (formulary) drugs.

Whether there is coverage for maternity, dental or vision care.

2. Slash your health plan expenses by increasing your deductible and maximum out-of pocket amounts.

The two factors that have the greatest impact on your health plan costs are the amount of your deductible and the amount of your maximum out-of pocket costs per year. The simple formula for cutting costs is this: the higher your deductible and maximum out-of-pocket, the lower your costs. Deductibles can range from about $250 to $10,000 or more per member and maximum out-of-pocket costs from about $2,500 to $7,500 per member.

The least expensive PPO plans will generally have deductibles of $2,500 to $5,000 per member and maximum out-of-pocket costs ranging between $5,000 and $7,500 per member (often with a limit of two members) per year.

By choosing as high a deductible as you can reasonably afford, your plan costs will drop significantly. Of course, you will pay for all of your medical expenses, up to the amount of the deductible, before your plan kicks in. But if you don’t spend very much in medical costs during the year, it may make sense to consider a high deductible for your plan. If you total up your medical costs for the past year, the results will come in handy as we look at an example.

The following example is based on a 40 year old male non-smoker with quotes from one company to compare apples to apples:

Feature Plan A Plan B Plan C
Deductible $ 5,000 $2,500 $ 500
Maximum Out-of-Pocket $7,500 $ 7,500 $ 5,000
Monthly Cost $ 113.00 $ 162.00 $ 328.00
Note: These plans all have prescription drug and maternity benefits.

As you can see, Plan C would cost $2,580 more per year than Plan A with the higher deductible. The difference in deductibles in $4,500. That means in Plan C you are paying $2,580 more in premium to protect $4,500 in out-of-pocket expenses. You need quite a few everyday expenses for that to make sense. If you check your usage of medical services over the past two years, it will give you a good idea of whether it makes sense to increase your deductibles and maximum out-of-pocket limits.

Again, when comparing plans from different companies, be sure to check whether the deductible is included in your maximum out-of-pocket rather than added to it.

One additional thing to keep in mind is that when insurance companies raise rates as they most regularly do, plans with the lowest deductibles usually get a greater percentage rate increase.

3. Slash your health plan expenses – increase co-insurance and pay for doctor office visits.

There are other low-cost health insurance plans with further reductions when they don’t pay for doctor office visits until you meet your deductible. You can also find plans with higher co-insurance, say 60/40 instead of 80/20 or 70/30, at further reduced costs. Again this is a matter of shouldering more of your everyday medical expenses yourself until you reach the maximum-out-of-pocket limit. At that point your costs are 100% covered.

If you require frequent visits to your doctor or have a young family with planned additions, it may not make financial sense to use this method.

4. Slash your health plan expenses – remove coverage that you don’t need.

If you are healthy and taking no prescription drugs, you can further reduce your costs by selecting a plan without a prescription drug benefit. If you do take prescription drugs, to keep costs down consider a drug benefit that only uses generic rather than brand name drugs.

If you are not expecting to have additional children, eliminating a maternity benefit can significantly reduce your costs. If you are still able to bear children, be careful with this one! Surprises do happen!

5. Slash your health plan expenses – buy group health insurance.

In most cases, the cheapest way to buy health insurance is through a group plan. Many people get their health insurance through employer-sponsored group health plans. If you are self-employed with one person working for you (even if it’s a spouse) you can purchase a small group health plan and not be denied because of your health.

If you can’t get group health insurance through an employer, there are opportunities for group health through professional associations. For instance, if you are in the fields of engineering, computer science and information technology, physical sciences, biological and medical sciences, mathematics, technical communications, education, management, law and policy, you can join the IEEE, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and once a member for two years, be eligible to apply for their group health plan.

Many other opportunities for group health through associations are available, so research any special groups that you could be connected with to see what the possibilities are. One word of caution! Associations are easier prey for fly-by-night insurance companies. Be sure and check out the company behind any association plan, especially if there have been changes in providers. Really do your homework here.

6. Slash your health plan expenses through tax savings by using a Health Savings Account (HSA).

The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 added new IRS Code section 223, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), that permits eligible individuals (almost anyone) to establish HSAs after December 31, 2003. HSAs, used in combination with a high deductible health plan, receive tax-favored contributions from or for an eligible individual, that are distributed tax free when used to pay qualified medical expenses

An HSA has two components: a high-deductible “qualified” health insurance plan, and a “qualified” health savings account at a bank or other financial company. If you are considering a high deductible health insurance plan, it makes sense to use a plan designed to qualify for an HSA. You can then pay for medical expenses with funds that give you a tax deduction. With the appropriate HSA insurance plan, you can open an HSA savings account with a bank or credit union and make deposits on a tax deductible basis just like a regular IRA.

How much can you deposit in an HSA? Depending on the deductible amount you choose, in 2005 as much as $2,650 for a single and $5,250 for a couple. For those individuals 55 years old or older, the law allows an additional “catch up” deposit. Catch up deposits started at $500 in 2004 and go up by $100 each year, until the maximum catch up amount is reached, which is $1,000. If both the husband and wife are 55 or older, they could both use the catch up provision.

You can access this account by check or debit card to pay medical bills with tax-free money. And wait until you see what expenses your HSA can pay for. If you don’t use the funds, they remain in your account and continue to grow without taxation. You can save these funds for future medical bills or retirement income. When we look at quotes, you will see plans designated as HSA plans.

For more detailed information visit our Health Savings Accounts page.

How to save money when completing your health insurance application

When you prepare to fill out and health insurance application, the real work of cost-savings begins. There is nothing that affects your health insurance costs more than your health history. It is not unusual for a insurance company to want ten years of your health history. Be prepared! When you provide your health information, try and look at it from the standpoint of the insurance company. If you give them good and complete information, it reduces their uncertainty and will improve your chances of getting a good “rating” and thus a better price.

7. Slash your health plan costs by telling the complete truth.

Any medical treatment for which your costs have been covered by insurance or that are in your medical records is accessible to an insurance company when you submit an application. If you are thinking about leaving something out, don’t. More than likely, the information will be discovered and the worst will be assumed. Even if it slips by and you get treatment later for the same issue after a policy is issued, the company could discover that you have withheld material information and can cancel your policy within the first two years.

Take a more proactive approach by giving the full story. If you have high cholesterol, tell them about it, when it was diagnosed, and that it is being successfully controlled with medication. When you get to the checklist of “things you have been treated for”, with those items that you check “yes”, include information about the results of treatment and follow up. The more information that you can supply to reduce uncertainty, the better.

Other proactive tips for the application process:

Let your doctor know that you have applied. If the company is requesting medical records, follow up with your doctor’s staff to be sure the information goes out on a timely basis. If you have had a change in doctors, make sure all your records are sent.

If any kind of physical exam is required, try to schedule it early in the morning on an empty stomach for better vital sign and blood test readings.

Personal health choices that slash your costs

It should come as no surprise that you can save a great deal on your health insurance by doing things to improve your health! A no-brainer, huh? Forgive me for stating the obvious, but we will try to put it in dollar terms.

8. Slash your health insurance costs – quit smoking!

Smoking adds up to 30% more to the cost of your health insurance. In our example above for plan C, that’s an extra $1,200 a year. Add that to the cost of cigarettes, a pack-a-day habit runs about $200 a month…….. If you want low-cost health insurance, do everything possible to kick the smoking habit.

9. Slash your health plan costs – lose weight!

While there has been considerable progress in reducing smoking rates in the U.S., problems with excessive weight and obesity have increased dramatically. Recent studies indicate that 1 in 3 Americans is overweight and 1 in 5 are obese. Obesity can add significant cost to health insurance coverage or quite possibly result in denied coverage. Considering the increased risks for diabetes, heart problems, etc. it is important to deal with this problem. Please visit our healthy links page for ideas on weight loss and cholesterol control.

10. Slash your health plan costs – control use of alcohol!

Abuse of alcoholic drinks causes as much death and disability as tobacco and high blood pressure. Alcohol is linked to many medical problems, including oral, liver and breast cancers, heart disease, stroke and cirrhosis. In addition, it plays a significant role in many car accidents, drowning, falls, spousal and child abuse and homicides.

Although one might find companies willing to issue individual health insurance in a situation where alcoholism has been successfully treated, a high risk of relapse is assumed. This will probably result in an issued policy being “rated up” at considerably higher cost.

Conclusion

Affordable, low-cost health insurance is possible by employing these cost-cutting strategies. We can now move toward researching the specifics of the health plans which may be most suitable for you on our health quotes page.

Finding the right individual health insurance plan is a challenging task. The following information can help you move through the process much more easily, and you will be better prepared to pick an individual or family health insurance plan that best fits your needs.

By reviewing the following information you will:

Know which individual or family health plan benefits are most important for your specific needs.
Learn how to compare different health plans to get the most out of individual health insurance quotes.
Understand how to evaluate a plan and its doctors for the quality of care provided.
Discover strategies in using more than one plan to meet the needs of both you and your family.
Get good tips on choosing a doctor.

What individual health insurance benefits are most important to you?

A good place to start in selecting an individual health plan is to take a good look at your personal health situation. If you check your health records and make a list of the health services that you have used over the last two years, you can determine what benefits need to be provided in any plan you choose.
In addition, you may want to consider these questions:

Do you have any heath conditions which require frequent visits to the doctor?
Do you take prescription medications on a regular basis?
Are you seeing a specialist on a regular basis
Is preventative care, such as annual physicals, mammograms, PSA tests, and colonoscopies important to you?
Do you have a current doctor that you trust and want to stay with? What plans does he/she accept?
Do you have young children who need regular attention?
Is a pregnancy being planned?
What kind of health issues have your parents faced?

As you are reviewing your past medical records, it would be very beneficial to summarize what you have paid in medical expenses over the previous two year period, including what you have paid in health insurance premiums. You can use this information when we put together our cost-cutting strategies.

Comparing Individual Health Insurance Plan Benefits

In comparing health insurance plans, it is important to look at what each plan covers. For a printable comparison sheet click here.

Ask whether the following services are covered. What are the dollar or time limits of these covered services? For example, what are the policies regarding length of stay in the hospital when delivering a baby?

Medical Services Checklist: Plan A Plan B Plan C
Inpatient hospital services
Outpatient surgery
Physicians visits (in the hospital)
Office visits
Skilled nursing care
Medical tests and X-rays
Prescription drugs
Mental health care
Drug and alcohol abuse treatment
Home health care visits
Rehabilitation facility care
Physical therapy
Speech therapy
Hospice care
Maternity care
Ongoing care for chronic diseases
Chiropractic and alternative treatments
Preventative care and checkups
Well-baby care
Dental Care
Other covered services
Services specifically excluded

Additional questions:
Are there any medical service limits, exclusions, or pre-existing conditions that will affect you or your family?
What types of approval or pre-authorization are required?
What are the rules for ambulance and emergency room treatment?

Cost Comparison Checklist: Plan A Plan B Plan C
What is the monthly payment
How much is the co-payment for office visits
What is the deductible per person
What is the deductible per family
What is the co-insurance after I meet my deductible
What will I pay if I see a doctor outside the plan
What is the maximum to pay out-of-pocket each year
What is the maximum lifetime benefit

Evaluating Individual Health Insurance Plans for Quality of Care

There are some good online resources to help you investigate an individual or family health insurance plan. First, you can get a health plan report card. This will give you information on the ease of the plan’s access to care and customer service; how well the plan screens its doctors and how members rate them; how strong their services are in helping members stay healthy; how well they do at helping members get better during a health problem; how well they help members with chronic illnesses; and the plan’s accreditation rating.

You can also check your state insurance department to see if there have been serious complaints about the plan, and whether it is in compliance with all state rules.

Should you use more than one individual health insurance plan?

There are some circumstances where it makes sense to use more than one individual health insurance plan to provide the most cost-effective means to meet the family health insurance needs.

If there is a significant age difference between spouses and both need individual coverage, quotes for individual and family health insurance plans should be gathered. If there are children, add them to the younger spouse’s plan to compare prices.
If one spouse smokes or has some health issues, separate individual health insurance plans may be less expensive.
If there is are financial limitations, children can have separate policies.
If you have a college student getting close to graduation or leaving school, there are plans designed for them.

Tips on choosing a doctor

Once you have chosen an individual health insurance plan, the next step is selecting a doctor either as your primary care physician in the case of an HMO or POS plan, or as your regular doctor with a PPO or fee-for-service plan.

Review any background information your health plan may have on its doctors.
Check whether or not they are board certified in a certain field or specialty. This free search can tell you if your doctor is board certified in a specific specialty area.
Ask if the doctor you are considering is taking new patients from your individual health insurance plan. Often, highly regarded doctors are heavily scheduled and must limit the number of new patients they will see.
Ask how far ahead you must schedule an appointment.
Some states publish any disciplinary action or medical malpractice claims.

We now have solid information on the types of plans and a sound approach to selecting the right individual health insurance plan. Let’s get to the ideas for cost-cutting and then we will be well prepared to make sense out of health insurance quotes.

Instant, Free Quotes for Low-Cost Health Plans

Getting free individual health insurance quotes is quick and easy, but the challenging part is comparing various health plans to find the one is just right for you. As we saw in our section on cost-cutting your choice of deductible, maximum out-of-pocket, drug benefits and the use of a tax-advantaged health savings account, can make a big difference in your health insurance costs. Note: If you have a pop-up blocker, hold the CTRL key down when clicking on our links.

By reviewing the following information you will:

Understand the three basic ways online health insurance quotes are provided.
Get 6 key tips on comparing the costs and benefits of various health plans
Get instant free health insurance quotes . Or in California California health insurance quotes.

Three Ways Individual Health Insurance Quotes are Provided

Prices or premiums for health insurance are set by the individual companies and regulated by each state. Whether you get individual health insurance quotes for a particular health plan from an online source, an insurance agent or direct from the company, the premium will be the same. There are certainly different costs from company to company, but a Blue Cross Basic PPO 2500 plan will be priced the same from whatever source, as long at the same information is given and the start date is the same.

You will find health insurance quotes offered in one of three ways.

Instant Quote Online: The health insurance quote site will ask for very little information, such as zip code, birth date, gender, e-mail, and smoking status, and then give instant free health insurance quotes on several different plans and companies.

These quote providers often allow you to apply for coverage online through their insurance agency. This could be an agency with a national service, or one whose service is limited to one or a few states. Currently, one of the largest providers of instant health quotes is eHealthInsurance. One of the best sources of instant quotes for California health insurance is medicoverage.

A Quote through an Insurance Agent: This type of quote source matches your quote request with insurance providers in your area or discount program representatives. When it finds a match, your information is immediately sent to them, they work up their best quotes and contact you with their rates, usually the same day. You are sent the list of insurance providers or discount program representatives who will be contacting you with their quotes. This is a good way to get assistance with the process of choosing a plan if you want to work with an insurance agent. A major site that provides quotes in this way is Insure Me .

Choose an Advertised Insurance Agent to Contact You: This type of site provides listings of insurance agents by state who specialize in the type of insurance coverage you are requesting quotes for. Most of these agents have web sites so you can review their information and select any from whom you want quotes. A top company offering this type of service is Insurance Finder . They also provide quotes from multiple agents as in the approach in #2. Another company, HealthInsuranceFinders ,is a insurance hub for online health, dental, and travel insurance quotes.

It is suggested that you begin your search with instant quotes through eHealthInsurance as this will provide useful information if you decide to work with an insurance agent.

Tips on Comparing Plans

Step 1: In our section on Individual Heath Insurance, we provided a checklist to help you focus in on the benefits you need in your health plan. You can print the comparison sheet and use it to take notes on which plans have the needed benefits. You can also cut and paste the quotes you will get in a word processing document or a spreadsheet.

Step 2: Once you input your basic information at eHealthInsurance , you will get a complete list of all plans in your area. The first three or four plans listed are “sponsored plans” which pay for the page position. Then, plans are listed by price.

The tabs at the top of the page allow for more focused results in your search. The tab “Personalized Recommendations” is a tool which asks a few medical questions to eliminate companies which would likely deny your application based on your answers. The questions relate to being overweight, taking prescription medications, and if you ever had treatment for problems related to digestive system, female reproductive system, back/spine, high cholesterol, lipids, high blood pressure, psychological/psychiatric disorder, or asthma If you have had such problems, you may want to use this section.

The “HSA Eligible” tab can be used if you are interested in a tax-deductible Health Savings Account (HSA) . If your primary objective is low-cost health insurance, you can use the tab for “Lowest Price” plans.

Step 3: Now it is time to compare health plans! From the list of “All Plans” you will see information on the premium, deductibles, co-insurance, office visit co-pay, if the plan is an HSA, and in some plan descriptions whether there is a prescription drug benefit and what kind (i.e. generic). You can now check four health plans at a time to compare the cost and benefits side-by-side. It is suggested that you pick plans in a range of prices and from at least two companies to have good comparisons. Even if you want cheap health insurance, it is a good idea to pick at least one plan that has a little higher cost so you can see what the tradeoff is for the lower cost plan.

Step 4: With the plans in side-by-side comparison, you can now view the out-of-pocket limits and lifetime maximums as well as all of the plan’s primary benefits. Review all the benefits to see if the plans you are comparing meet your needs. If you want to add new plans to compare, just click the back button on your browser, uncheck the plans you did not want and check new plans.

Step 5: Once you have plans that you like, consider your personal health history. If you have health issues that may affect being accepted by a health plan, there is a “Get Online Recommendations” link under “Actions” in the side-by-side comparison. It runs through the same questions as “Personalized Recommendations” to eliminate companies that probably will not accept those with certain health conditions.

Step 6: After you have narrowed your search and found the health insurance quote that best meets your needs, you can either apply online or seek the help of a licensed insurance agent. If you would like the assistance of a licensed agent in your area, please visit our page on working with an agent. eHealthInsurance also has “Get Live Advice” under “Actions” in the side-by-side comparison. This will also give you assistance from a licensed agent.