Health insurance- whether provided by your employer or purchased by you-can be both expensive and complex. To better understand your options and control your health insurance costs, consider these tips and suggestions from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), a voluntary organization of state insurance regulatory officials:
Know Your Options
• Married couples in situations where both spouses are offered health insurance through their jobs should compare the coverage and costs (premiums, co-pays and deductibles) to determine which policy is best for the family.
• Always stay in-network when possible, making sure to get referrals and pre-certifications as required by your plan.
• Keep all receipts for medical services, whether in- or out-of-network. In the event you exceed your deductible, you may qualify to take a tax deduction for out-of-pocket medical bills.
• Consider opening a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), if your employer offers one, which allows you to set aside pretax dollars for out-of-pocket medical expenses.
• If you lose or change jobs, be aware of your rights to continue your group health coverage from your old employer for up to 18 months (though you have to pay the premiums), as provided under COBRA (the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act).
Health Insurance Tips for
Different Life Stages
The NAIC's consumer Web site, Insure U, (www.InsureUonline. org), explains the different types of health insurance and gives focused tips to consumers based on their likely needs in different life stages. For example:
• Young singles who may not yet have a full-time job that offers health benefits should be aware that in some states, single adult dependents may be able to continue to get health coverage for an extended period (ranging from up to 25 to 30 years old) under their parents' health insurance policies.
• Young couples expecting a child should make sure they register their newborn with their health insurance provider within the deadline required.
• Established families with children should consider Flexible Spending Accounts if available to help pay for common childhood medical problems such as allergy tests, braces and replacements for lost eyeglasses, retainers and the like, which are often not covered by basic health insurance.
• Empty nesters/seniors who are under 65 and no longer employed, but whose COBRA benefits have run out, should research high-deductible medical plans. At this life stage, consumers may want to evaluate whether long-term care insurance makes sense for them.
Tips To Help You Lower Health Insurance Costs
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3 comments:
Clearly, the more you want from your health insurance plan, the more it is likely to cost you. It is best therefore to compare different plans to ensure you get the best insurance benefits at the lowest possible rate.
I love your point, Chris! We need to understand that our insurance cost is defined by how many services are offered to us, and it takes just a bit of common sense to understand that the more benefits you have, the more expenses you will have to bear. That being said, always choose the insurance that is suitable for your needs and your budget.
Regards,
Fe
Aside from these tips that you've mentioned, I'll also suggest that you cut-out dangerous hobbies, like skydiving or bungee jumping. This may be an elementary advice, but most people loved these hobbies, to the point that it's hard to get rid of it. If ever you get injured while doing these hobbies, you might need to spend or exhaust the entire coverage of your health premiums just for the medication of your wounds or injuries instead of claiming returns from it in the years to come.
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