Three Ways to Reduce Your Individual Health Insurance Costs
Since your individual health insurance isn’t something you can skip anymore with the increase in health care costs, you need to find ways to maximize your coverage so you pay as little as possible. Though you might not be able to change your monthly payment, you can be a smart insurance shopper and get the most for what you do have in your budget for health care. Sure, you could always simply pay more for each visit for your individual health insurance plan, but there’s more you can do too. Here are three ways to reduce your health insurance costs.
Shop Around
First of all, buying individual health insurance is much like buying anything big and important – you need to take your time and research your options. While you might be satisfied with the price of one health insurance company, you should make sure that you consider at least three before making your final decision. Ask for quotes for the coverage that you want and then see if there are any ways you can reduce these monthly fees – such as when you already have a life insurance policy or other insurance policies through the company. Realize that there are different kinds of health insurance available, so while the bigger companies are going to be the most recognizable, don’t forget to look over smaller companies as well.
Stay Healthy
As you will see as you look at various individual health insurance plans, the price range is directly related to your current and past health. By not smoking, exercising and maintaining a healthy weight, you will be able to get the best rates possible. Of course, you can’t do much about any past illnesses or injuries, so doing everything else you can to maintain your current health is always going to help you save money on your health care. Even if you end up paying a lot for your health care premiums, keeping yourself healthy means you will stay out of the doctor’s office as much as possible. You are reducing your risk of long term illnesses as well as medication usage.
Get the Most You Can from Each Visit
Before you head into your doctor’s office, it’s a good idea to make a list of all of your concerns and questions that you might have. This way, you can talk about everything during one visit and then only pay for one visit. In addition, when you schedule tests related to one appointment, you will reduce the costs in many cases as they are related to an appointment and aren’t done as an individual visit – check with your individual health insurance policy to see what your coverage includes.
Call Hodges & Company today to help tailor a plan that meets your needs and objectives, 1.866.993.9710.
