Every day, healthcare costs go up and up. No matter what type of healthcare coverage you seek or what company you choose, it seems the cost of insurance coverage increases every day as well. Even if your employer is footing part of the bill, it seems as if your payroll deductions for health care will eat up your paycheck. Here are some ideas to help you reduce the cost of healthcare insurance.
If you are a person that is looking into personal health insurance, and you maybe go to the doctor once or twice a year, you should look into a Health Savings Account. It’s kind of like a insurance that has a low premium but a high deductible. The money that you didn’t spend on a premium would go into an account pre-tax to use when you have unexpected medical expenses.
When considering a health care insurance plan from your employer, be sure to take advantage of any plan that allows you to put aside certain amounts of pre-tax money from your paycheck. This is beneficial because you can save money by not paying taxes on income that is used for items that you will already be purchasing such as contacts or medical supplies.
If you have recently lost a job, signing up for COBRA insurance is the quickest fix to keeping you covered, however it is not the cheapest. COBRA allows you to keep the same insurance coverage that you had with your employer however you will be paying the full costs which can get quite expensive.
Most of us have had to deal with HMO’s which wield a lot influence. However good their plan may sound on paper, you may want to make a visit to their offices. Are you able to talk face-to- face with a human being, or are you doomed to speak anonymously with “John” or “Jane” in a call center? This can make a big difference if a problem arises.
When you have decided on purchasing personal health insurance, you should get a copy of exactly what the plan will look like before you make the final purchase. Make sure that you read all of the fine print, exceptions and clauses, so that you will know what exactly you’re getting and what coverage you may end up being denied.
Take out insurance to protect yourself against financial ruin. Health insurance should be one of the highest financial priorities on your list. Health problems are always a possibility, and if health concerns arise, the cost of hospital bills alone could easily bankrupt someone who does not have health insurance.
In conclusion, people who are generally healthy can get by with insurance that has a higher deductible, so keeping yourself and your family healthy will obviously save you money on health insurance. By choosing health insurance with a higher deductible and being certain you have money to pay that deductible, you can save quite a bit on healthcare insurance. A Health Savings Account can help you save the money you need to have on hand for insurance deductibles.