Roy Said:

First Health Insurance Company? Please read! 10 Points for best answer!!?

We Answered:

First Health is owned by Coventry, which is a very good company, and is a managed care organization. However, with group policies they can use one of several different insurance carriers so there is no way anyone here can tell whether the plan you'll have is good or not. They'll customize the insurance plan to suit the employer, adding or subtracting benefits to meet the employer's needs and budget. This can be good because they can keep the premium lower by removing rarely used benefits but it can be bad if the benefits they remove are benefits you want.

Salvador Said:

Do you have to move to another state first in order to get that state's health insurance?

We Answered:

You cannot buy a GA policy without a GA address. You probably need to talk to a local broker, in GA, to get good GA options.

Manuel Said:

looking for health insurance help, first time buyer!?

We Answered:

You need a trusted adviser to help you through the process of purchasing health insurance so that you understand what you are purchasing. Some may suggest going on line to get a quote but you probably already know that there is much more to health insurance than price. Some might even suggest a discount plan which is not insurance at all.

Ultimately, you are the one who determines the affordability of your health insurance plan by deciding how much you will participate in sharing the cost of your health care with your insurance company.

If you choose a plan that covers everything i.e. doctors office visits, prescription drugs, preventative health benefits, dental and vision coverage as well as low deductibles and low copays your monthly premiums will be significant.

On the other hand because you are young, presumably healthy and most likely use the health care system sparingly you could consider a plan that covers only the major health catastrophe which will result in a relatively low monthly premium. You then can use the monthly premium savings to pay for the occasional doctor visit and still come out ahead.

Check with the agent that writes your parents home or auto insurance he/she can provide you a health insurance proposal that takes into account your budget and health situation. They can answer questions as to what is and is not covered by the policy, explain deductibles and copays and show you the hospitals and doctors that participate in the network.

Use the Internet to educate yourself but use an agent to purchase the coverage.

Jessie Said:

Why not crack down on insurance companies first instead of this mandatory health insurance?

We Answered:

I agree with you But in this country money is number one and insurance companies have lots of it and want more they got a slap in the face that's about all. I want free health care I don't want to have to worry if I have enough money to take my kids to the doctor and pay my bills. I am happy that we have something that helps us it is a start

Courtney Said:

What is the one bill you get each month that you absolutely must pay first: your health insurance, mortgage...?

We Answered:

rent and electricity

Peggy Said:

If you needed to purchase a health insurance policy, where is the first place you would look?

We Answered:

The best way to start is by doing what you’re doing now – asking for personal recommendations. What kind of health insurance are you looking for? It might be a good idea to jot down a list of the different aspects of a health plan and then chart the differences between various plans you come across. Generally, the main features are deductible, premiums, copays, and the degree to which you need a referral to see a specialist or undergo specific tests and medical procedures.

I’d check out Consumer Reports (link below), US News & World Reports Best Health Plans, and whatever other informational resources you can find. I’d also talk with locally licensed health insurance agents. I’ve included a couple of articles about choosing a health plan that might be useful. They are government-authored, but they’re actually pretty good (all links below).

HMOs (health maintenance organizations) are popular right now, and they usually include mental health coverage in their plans. A typical example is that you would pay a monthly fee and then a copay when you visit your therapist (usually around $50 for a plan with low monthly payments). One potential problem, though, is access to physicians. An HMO might not have the kind of mental health specialist you’re looking for. Before you enroll in an HMO, I would strongly urge you to look at their mental health specialist roster. For more choices, you might opt for a PPO (preferred provider organization) or a traditional fee-for-service plan.

If you are self-employed and own a business, you might be able to take advantage of small business health plans or join a trade association. Also, some states consider some self-employed individuals who do not own a business as “groups of one.” These people are considered small businesses in terms of access to group health plans, which typically offer lower prices.

The quickest way to get a good overview of locally available health insurance options is by talking with more than one health insurance agent. After you’ve reviewed some information and know what kind of insurance you want (HMO, PPO, fee-for-service, et al), try visiting MostChoice.com. It’s a Web site that helps you shop for health insurance. They have free instant price quotes and policy information on health plans near you, but their specialty is getting you in touch with state-licensed agents. There’s no cost or obligation to buy insurance. You just fill out a short form and wait for the agents to contact you (within 48 hours). Have your questions ready and let them work until one of them delivers the plan that’s right for you. You might want to have a set amount you want to spend each month on insurance and tell the agents to work within those parameters.

You can find MostChoice here: http://www.mostchoice.com/health-insuran…

Hope this helps,
Barnes@MostChoice