You’ve just filled out an online form to request a free health insurance quote, and moments later you’re being inundated with calls from insurance agents hoping to get your business. Try not to get overwhelmed or annoyed by these “pesky salespeople” because they really aren’t telemarketers. Most of them are well-trained, state-licensed professionals who can really help you make a good decision about which health insurance plan is best and most affordable for your individual or group coverage needs.
You may have the misconception that buying your health plan directly from the insurance company and cutting out the “middle person” will save you money. This is absolutely not the case. In fact, insurance companies rely on agents for most of their business, and that’s why they pay them commissions for attracting clients. It doesn’t cost a consumer a penny more to use a licensed California health insurance agent to obtain their coverage.
There are many differences between California health insurance and other states, including how to apply for it.
For example, while Blue Cross and Blue Shield are one corporation in other states, here in California each is separate and individually referred to as Anthem Blue Cross of California and Blue Shield of California.
California Health Insurance Act AB 1672 is an improvement over the state HIPAA statute, which covers all states, by providing the following in relation to California group insurance:
1. Persons with pre-existing conditions can switch to a new group health plan without a deadline.
2. It allows access to private krankenversicherung kosten plans for small businesses and professional organizations provided they have between 2 and 50 full-time employees.
3. It prevents insurance rates from increasing after a claim is made.
4. Employees with medical conditions can change jobs or health plans without being upgraded for pre-existing conditions.
Best health insurance
However, the very best health insurance agent for your individual and business needs is an “independent agent”. Why? Because they represent multiple insurance carriers, not just one. An independent representative can help you select the most appropriate, cost-effective plan that offers the most bang for your buck as is available from the major airlines, rather than just providing you with a company’s health plans that may not be yours meet special needs. Many people are overly complacent and settle for what their current insurance company is offering. You could use a good independent agent to sort through the many plans available from multiple insurance carriers to find and offer the best range of options.
Another misconception you may have is that insurance agents set the premium rates for the health insurance plans they sell. If you shop around you might get a better price for the same plan. Premium rates are based on your age, zip code or the county you live in and are fully controlled by insurance companies. Each agent uses the exact same rate policies set by the insurance companies. Your medical condition may affect your premium, which may be upgraded after your medical record has been reviewed by the insurance company’s underwriting department. Again, the insurance company, not the agent, determines this outcome.
Now let’s talk about the benefits of having a good insurance agent to represent you. Most consumers do not know or understand the benefits of a health plan being offered and require an agent’s expertise to fully explain the benefits to them. For example, do you know what the difference is between a “deductible” and an “annual deductible”?
A deductible maximum is the maximum amount that you must pay for deductibles and co-insurance for covered benefits in a given year before your insurance covers 100% of most costs by the end of the year.
An annual deductible is typically the amount you pay each year before your health insurance plan begins paying anything for covered services. In general, the higher the deductible, the lower the premium. Certain services, such as prescription drugs, have separate deductibles. Plans can vary and sometimes benefits kick in before you have to meet the deductible.
Your guide through
A knowledgeable health insurance agent can be your guide through the maze, helping you choose the right plan that fits your needs and budget while getting the most bang for your bucks spent. A representative will also make it clear how the benefits for a generic prescription may differ from the benefits for a branded prescription in a specific plan.
After you get a health insurance plan, a good, caring employee will remind you to pay your premium on time lest the insurance company cancel you. Your agent can also be a tremendous resource for support if you encounter a health insurance claim issue. Instead of waiting thirty to forty-five minutes on hold at the insurance company’s 800 number, call your agent and explain your problem. Once you’ve picked the right agent, you’ll get help and potentially save yourself a lot of time and frustration, even some money, by having an expert in your corner where your best interests come first.
So the next time you or someone you know is filling out one of those online health insurance quote forms and you receive multiple calls from health insurance agents wanting your business, be thankful that a professional wants to help you choose the one for free right plan and you have an important friend for life.
My name is Diane Le Montre , license number 0D18343, your California health insurance specialist with over 25 years of experience. I am an authorized independent representative for the major California health insurance companies including Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California, Health Net, Cigna, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare and Kaiser.
Let me guide you through the maze of purchasing the right health insurance coverage for you, your family or your business, with an individual or group plan based on your specific needs. I will find the best coverage for your insurance budget by analyzing the different plans from the major insurance companies I represent.
My experience working for insurance companies as a health claims examiner and as an independent health insurance agent gives me the advantage of knowing both sides of the health insurance business, from coverage to claims.
