5 Ways to Get Health Insurance
Finding the best health insurance plan for one’s personal needs can be daunting and extremely confusing. There is so much to consider, and most people aren’t sure how to start. The uncertainty because of the pandemic has left us all wondering what the future might look like when it comes to our health.
However, there are still methods to find affordable health insurance. Below are five avenues one can explore to find the best health insurance deal for themselves or their family.
Health Insurance Marketplace
The marketplace allows millions of Americans to compare and choose between qualified plans without anyone negotiating on their behalf. It is called the Health Insurance Marketplace because it connects consumers with health insurance plans that enable them to get the benefits they need while they live healthy lives. All insurance companies in this exchange have to sell coverage through it, whether or not they initially participate.
An Agent/Broker
The federal government’s Find Local Help tool works like a directory. It lists brokers in the area that have been certified by the National Association of Health Underwriters and are willing to explain health insurance plans. Compare health insurance plans offered by a broker or agent to find the best plan and schedule an appointment to ask questions.
Purchasing Directly
The Health Insurance Marketplace does not feature all of the health insurance plans that could be available to a consumer. In some cases, a person might find a plan from one insurance carrier that better meets his or her coverage needs or budget outside of the marketplace. When shopping for a plan on the website of a single insurance carrier, one will, of course, only see options available from this one insurer.
Online Health Insurance Brokerage
Many people don’t understand that private health insurance exchanges won’t show them every plan in the market. Instead, these private exchanges will show a selection of plans that earn their brokers a higher commission. These brokers may display the most attractive plans more prominently or provide additional information on them, while they will not do that for the other plans.
Membership Organization
When purchasing health insurance through an association or membership organization, buyers should verify that they are really purchasing insurance. Even if the association is a not-for-profit entity, it may be tied to or even established by a for-profit insurance agency through which the policies are sold.