Archive for July 18th, 2008

Stick to Basics - Relief for high California Health Insurance Premiums

Friday, July 18th, 2008

One of my friends was complaining about the increasing cost of health insurance policies in California and when I asked him how much it cost him he threw me a figure which shocked me. No wonder he was complaining about the cost and I was feeling little sad for him because I thought he had some other medical condition that made his health insurance so expensive. Unable to restrain myself I asked him about his premedical condition. He responded with a guffaw, “What medical condition? I don’t have any thing like that, what are you talking about?” I was totally confused now and I told him I wanted to see his policy document and when I saw his papers I understood why his health insurance was almost double the cost of my policy.

He had opted for plan with the best benefits possible probably thinking that it would save him a lot of money. He had opted for a health plan that covers physician visits at a $5 co-pay, a very low ($2) co-pay for prescriptions etc. I explained to him how we can safely cover these cost and reduce our health insurance premium. You should opt out of these “rich benefits” when you enjoy general good health that does not require visits to your physician on weekly or monthly basis.

The function of health insurance is to support people when they have to face a huge medical bill that has resulted out of some unforeseen circumstance or some major illness or hospitalization. It makes sure that we are not deprived of any medical attention that we require in these circumstances just because our resources were low during the time of emergency. It also helps us to keep our savings and other assets intact. We can keep our health insurance premiums low if we keep the policy to fulfill this basic function rather than opting for coverage that promises to take care of even the most basic things like doctor visits.

When I pointed this out to my friend he too readily agreed with me and regretted about not discussing this with me before signing up. I also asked him how many quotes he got before signing up. He was surprised with my question but he understood that he had lost few more dollars in that. I introduced him to Mattsinsurance4ca.com where we can get instant health insurance quotes and compare those quotes free of cost. I managed to cut down a considerable amount of the cost by comparing several plans from several health insurance companies’ side-by-side. He got the best value for his policy with additional riders at a discounted price.

To hook up to new customers, insurance companies are ready to quote several different health plan designs with varying premiums and benefits to add value to their customers. Discussing your needs with an independent health insurance agent will help you get a good deal from the insurance company. And using the services of broker does not cost you the consumer any more than if you went directly to the insurance company.

Don’t fall into the low co-pay trap. Talk to your agent about those low first dollar benefits. Don’t let your health insurance company fool you!

To learn more about California Health Insurance click here.