How to get insurance without being scammed?
October 5, 2010 3:33 PM Subscribe
How to get insurance without being scammed, in the US?
We decided we need to get health insurance.
We (husband and wife) have no pre-existing conditions, but we haven't been insured for a while. (Husband hasn't had health insurance for 5 years, wife has a sort of "emergencies only" insurance plan through Americorps VISTA)
Where should we look? What kind of money should we expect to pay per month?
We'd like something reliable, but not so expensive. We have an income of 50k between the two of us, it could improve in the coming months, but not significantly.
We would like to be able to get check-ups, and not be fearful of emergency needs.
Thank you!
We decided we need to get health insurance.
We (husband and wife) have no pre-existing conditions, but we haven't been insured for a while. (Husband hasn't had health insurance for 5 years, wife has a sort of "emergencies only" insurance plan through Americorps VISTA)
Where should we look? What kind of money should we expect to pay per month?
We'd like something reliable, but not so expensive. We have an income of 50k between the two of us, it could improve in the coming months, but not significantly.
We would like to be able to get check-ups, and not be fearful of emergency needs.
Thank you!
What do you mean by "scammed"?
Buying insurance on the individual market can be a nightmare, because there are an awful lot of options, and it can be hard to compare apples and oranges.
If you have a doctor you go to now, on a semi-regular basis, and you like him or her, then find out what insurance plans the practice accepts.
You can use a site like this to begin to suss out options. You'll need to figure out how high a deductible vs how much of a premium you're willing to live with; how much prescription coverage is important to you, etc.
Google your state (if you're in the US) + insurance commissioner, which should get you some good info.
If you're freelancers, your industry may have a trade group/guild that offers access to group insurance.
posted by rtha at 4:17 PM on October 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
Buying insurance on the individual market can be a nightmare, because there are an awful lot of options, and it can be hard to compare apples and oranges.
If you have a doctor you go to now, on a semi-regular basis, and you like him or her, then find out what insurance plans the practice accepts.
You can use a site like this to begin to suss out options. You'll need to figure out how high a deductible vs how much of a premium you're willing to live with; how much prescription coverage is important to you, etc.
Google your state (if you're in the US) + insurance commissioner, which should get you some good info.
If you're freelancers, your industry may have a trade group/guild that offers access to group insurance.
posted by rtha at 4:17 PM on October 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
https://www.ehealthinsurance.com
posted by yoyoceramic at 4:26 PM on October 5, 2010
posted by yoyoceramic at 4:26 PM on October 5, 2010
Have you looked at healthcare.gov? It has an option to help people find insurance. Basically, it will vary by state.
posted by questionsandanchors at 4:34 PM on October 5, 2010
posted by questionsandanchors at 4:34 PM on October 5, 2010
Go talk to an insurance broker. They'll be able to help you navigate the options available to you.
posted by COD at 4:55 PM on October 5, 2010
posted by COD at 4:55 PM on October 5, 2010
It might help if you explain why you think you might be scammed. What sort of scam? It's definitely true that the system is screwed up, and you may end up spending a lot of money for coverage that still costs you lots of money when you get sick. But that is the problem endemic to the entire industry, not necessarily a scam per se.
posted by BlahLaLa at 5:25 PM on October 5, 2010
posted by BlahLaLa at 5:25 PM on October 5, 2010
Mod note: From the OP:
We're 25 and 28, and by not being scammed I mean getting decent coverage without sacrificing half our income to it. It seems like a scam otherwise because we both come from countries with socialized health care systems. If you will, ignore the "not scammy" requirement, and help us get an idea of what a decent health insurance would feel like in the US, and recommend companies, if you wantposted by jessamyn (staff) at 9:51 AM on October 6, 2010
What might benefit you most is an appointment with a seller or broker of health insurance coverage who can ask you the questions that will enable you to make choices relative to your own particular circumstances.
You'll need to decide how much risk you want an insurer to handle, and what you're willing to pay for it. Obviously, the more risk (translation: cost) you are prepared to cover, the lower the cost of the insurance.
This is why you need the advice of an expert rather than responses on this board.
posted by John Borrowman at 11:47 AM on October 6, 2010
You'll need to decide how much risk you want an insurer to handle, and what you're willing to pay for it. Obviously, the more risk (translation: cost) you are prepared to cover, the lower the cost of the insurance.
This is why you need the advice of an expert rather than responses on this board.
posted by John Borrowman at 11:47 AM on October 6, 2010
Yeah, broker. Like I said above, it's a complicated and frustrating system to navigate, and someone who brokers for a variety of companies in your state will be the best person to help you break down options, estimate costs, and answer questions. Sorry our system is so frakked up.
posted by rtha at 11:55 AM on October 6, 2010
posted by rtha at 11:55 AM on October 6, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
Google for a local Blue Cross/Blue Shield agent.
posted by phearlez at 3:36 PM on October 5, 2010