Eight Ways to Make Holiday Health Insurance Shopping Easy

Tue Dec 25, 2007 6:42pm EST
 
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GoHealthinsurance.com Offers Tips for Consumers
CHICAGO--(Business Wire)--Holiday shoppers aren't just going to the mall this year. Millions
are also going online to look for health insurance. There are many
reasons why you may have "health insurance" on your holiday list this
year. Early retirement. Between jobs. Going out on your own.
Graduation from college.

   If you're one of the estimated 47 million Americans without a
health plan, GoHealthinsurance.com offers the following eight simple
tips to help you choose the right one...

   1. Start online to make your list

   Today's websites are designed to make the process easy and simple.

   For example, at GoHealthinsurance.com, you can answer a few easy
questions on a "Plan Finder" tool to narrow the range of plans to the
ones that will work for you. And, because most people appreciate
getting some expert advice to make the best decision, on
GoHealthinsurance.com you can click to be connected immediately to an
experienced insurance agent "live" while you are online, or to be
contacted later if that is more convenient.

   2. Don't wait, only so many more shopping days . . .

   The time to buy insurance is when you don't need it. Don't
procrastinate thinking that you can get by for another month or year.
Illness and accidents happen anytime, and with health insurance, once
you get sick you may have a difficult time finding insurance that will
cover your newly discovered illness. Besides that, people with quality
health care coverage just tend to take better care of themselves
instead of putting off important medical examinations.

   3. Believe in Santa, but not in the "Unaffordable Insurance" myth

   Yes, healthcare is expensive. But it's still possible to find
insurance that is affordable. Kids' policies can be as low as $60 per
month and include very important preventative care and physician visit
benefits. Families can find coverage for as low as $235 per month.
Even people with pre-existing conditions may have more options than
they realize. Here's where the expert advice of a knowledgeable
insurance agent can really help to find the right plan.

   4. Explore the Alternatives

   A wish for complete and comprehensive family coverage for everyone
may not be granted - either because of existing health issues or cost.
In those instances, consider your priorities. Children can have their
own comprehensive policies at a very reasonable cost. Parents can opt
for lower cost temporary insurance especially if they expect to
re-gain or obtain employer coverage in the near future.

   5. Think Ahead

   Thinking ahead can prevent surprises in the future when your
situation changes and you discover you hadn't included a specific
health event in your insurance coverage. For example, a woman may have
no plans to get pregnant and be tempted to leave out this coverage.
However, her circumstances may change in a few years - or suddenly -
making that policy inadequate to cover her health care needs.

   6. Learn the Lingo

   Even though online websites like GoHealthinsurance.com do present
insurance information in simple terms, it's a good idea to get a few
basic terms defined before you do your research.

   Premium - A recurring payment required to keep your health plan in
effect. It's usually due every month.

   Deductible - This is an amount you're responsible for paying
before your health plan picks up the rest of your medical expenses.

   Copayment - This is an amount you pay for a specific medical
service, whether your deductible has been met or not.

   Policy Limit - The total the insurance company will pay out in any
given year for your policy.

   Out of pocket - The total amount of cost sharing possible under
the policy.

   In addition, each policy is different; it's always a good idea to
work with a trusted advisor to explain the aspects of the policy
you're considering.

   7. Do the math

   Review your last year's use of health services and work with a
qualified advisor to help you find the right coverage that meets your
needs. Remember that many "high-deductible" health plans can have
valuable first dollar preventative care benefits and moderate co-pays
to access physician services.

   Many individuals just opt for low cost plans without understanding
that for just a little more per month, you can get plans that provide
you benefits you will actually use in 2008!

   8. Read the fine print

   No health plan covers everything. Before you enroll, take a
careful look at the plan's "Exclusions and Limitations" and consider
consulting with a trusted advisor to help you understand all the
details.

   Unlike the rest of your holiday shopping, finding a health plan
won't require a trip to the mall.

   About GoHealthinsurance.com

   GoHealthinsurance.com is the first website to make buying health
insurance simple. GoHealthinsurance.com is the only site that breaks
down insurance jargon into plain English, helps consumers select the
plans that best meet their health and budget needs, and links
consumers with local agents for their expert advice to determine which
plan is right for them. GoHealthinsurance.com is powered by Norvax,
Inc., the nation's number one online health insurance technology
company, issuing more than one million quotes per month from 72
carriers and more than 10,000 brokers. Norvax's proprietary technology
platform links brokers, carriers and consumers to create an individual
health insurance marketplace that works. Ranked as one of the top 10
fastest-growing software companies in the U.S. by Inc. Magazine,
Norvax is privately held and based in Chicago.

for Norvax, Inc.
Joy Scott, 818-610-0270
joy@scottpublicrelations.com
www.norvax.com

Copyright Business Wire 2007

 

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