by Drew Samson
Why is it that most of us don't think twice when we're spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars on luxuries and "toys." But, when the issue of "insurance" and protecting our families and ourselves comes up - we back off?
Every day in the U.S. many families are caught off-guard with an unexpected medical emergency that they cannot afford to fix. If you have no medical insurance, it could cost you a fortune, not to mention the bad care you'll get.
Don't think you can't get an affordable health care insurance program - follow the following 6 steps to help you save up to 30%:
Look In Your Local Area
Start your research by looking at your state's website under the insurance department. Make sure to look at your state specifically because prices/plans and laws are different by state. The site should list the many companies, what types of policies, rough prices and even have information on affordable health care insurance programs.
Write out your priorities
All plans are different and you need to know what your priorities are. Do you have a specific doctor you like seeing? You better make sure that doctor is covered by your insurance.
Use an insurance broker
It can make life much easier on you to bring on a broker to help. This is mainly because they have relationships with multiple companies - they can help you find the best fit for you. Brokers will do all your leg work and also advise you on how to get your prices down.
Ask for a "free look"
Just like you test-drive a car, you can take an insurance program for a test drive many times. Anywhere from 1-6 weeks, this is a money back period if you don't like the plan.
Get a Health Savings Account
If you are seeing the doctor just twice a year then HSA is a great option. It goes hand-in-hand with an insurance policy that has a high deductible but low premiums. The money you save on premiums each month can be deposited into the HSA pre-tax, where it grows tax-deferred. You then use it to pay for any unexpected medical expenses. Once you turn 65, you can withdraw any money you didn't use and spend it on anything you want, including funding your retirement.
Negotiate
We will end up paying more from services that aren't covered to doctor and hospital co-pays to costs for prescriptions. Keep your costs low by shopping around and asking for generics whenever available. Don't be afraid to negotiate with your doctor if you're paying out of pocket. You might get a discount.
Unlike what many think, it is still very possible to get low cost health insurance in the United States. Especially now with the internet, you can get multiple quotes from many companies right away - this helps you negotiate and get lower prices.
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