You can’t control when you get sick or injured. But you do have options when it comes to what you pay for your health insurance premium. That’s the monthly payment you make to your health insurance company to maintain your health care coverage.
If you search for health insurance quotes online, you will receive a range of prices from different insurance companies for very similar policies. Different insurance companies assign differing values to components in your risk profile. The information in your insurance application, and your medical history, comprise your risk profile.
If an insurance company reviews your risk profile and determines that they want to provide you with health insurance, they calculate the insurance premiums based on the information in your individual application and provide you with a quote for the policy. Each company uses a different set of standards and assumptions to calculate that premium. Many different risk factors affect premium prices for most plans.
In this blog series we will tell you some tips and tricks of how to lower down your health insurance premium this much that it will not ask for your arm and leg:
1. Pay only for whats needed, and review your policy regularly
It makes no sense to pay for obstetrics and IVF if you are in the mature stage of your life. The same applies to a young person paying for treatment more common for older people. Look closely at policies to find one that best suits your needs at your stage in life.
You should periodically reassess your insurance needs. Things you should think about include:
- Do you have children that go to the doctor often?
- Do you take a lot of prescription drugs?
- Are tax breaks important to you?
- Are you willing to assume the cost of routine health in exchange for much lower premiums?”
The following considerations will help you to save money on your insurance premium evidently.
2. Trade up group health insurance plans
It also helps to lower down you insurance premium If both you and your spouse have group health insurance plans available through work, calculate which one will cover both your needs at the lowest cost. For some people, group rates might not offer the best value — an individual family plan might offer a cheaper option.
3. Get Separate Coverage For the Family
You may notice a few changes in your health care coverage (if it’s by your employer) as it pertains to the rest of your family. One trend that is expected is to see a decrease in the subsidy that is allowed to pay for the family’s coverage in employer health plans. With the sudden spike in cost, it could make sense to keep only yourself on your policy and your employer and put your spouse and kids on their own policy.
4. Shop around!
When you’re looking for a doctor for yourself or your family, you don’t pick the first one you see – so don’t pick the first health insurance policy you hear about.
You will be surprised what you find when you compare policies. You may get the same cover for less or more cover for the price you are currently paying. As with anything financial, it pays to keep tabs on what’s happening in the market, as nothing stays the same.
Keep in mind that saving money on insurance is not all there is to it. The cheapest health insurance policy is highly unlikely to be the best – that’s why here at Smartchoice, we compare health insurance based on price and features.
5. Change your co-insurance ratio
Your co-insurance ratio is how much you will pay after you have met your deductible.
A common ratio is 80/20. This means that after you pay your deductible toward health care expenses, your insurer pays 80 percent of the bill and you pay 20 percent. Changing this ratio so you pay more will mean a lower health insurance premium. Just as with raising your deductible, you have to weigh the costs versus risks.
6. Payment at right time
Most people wait to pay until after a medical procedure like surgery or hospitalization. But you could be missing out on potential savings, If you already have coverage and you have a procedure that is coming up, ask about pre-paying or paying in-full to receive a discount,”
This may differ from policy to policy.
7. Choose the right places to get care
Running to the emergency room every time you need after-hours care might be draining your wallet. The ER should be your last resort—consider more affordable options like urgent care clinics . You may want to research a bit beforehand—prices can vary between similar facilities. By opting for a stand-alone radiology and surgery center, you’re looking at big savings. Your physician may also work at multiple hospitals or surgery centers, so ask for assistance to shop around for the best price.”
8. Enroll in a wellness incentive
Some companies will offer a lower premium to employees who participate in wellness challenges or check off certain tasks for preventative health, or might get free coverage just by getting in a certain number of steps, for example. If you join one of these incentive programs.This may help you to save money on your insurance premiums.
9. Don’t beg, NEGOTIATE!
Did you know that almost eight out of 10 medical bills have some type of error? That’s all the proof you need to go through each bill with a fine-toothed comb. “It pays to ask for the full bill and check it for inaccuracies, Do the same with the explanation of benefits from your health insurance agency. If you notice something doesn’t look right, call your insurance provider and ask questions.
CONCLUSION
While many of these factors are beyond your control, you have the ability to lose weight, quit smoking, and move. Taking good care of your health and controlling the risk factors mentioned here reduces health insurance premiums now and in the future.
In addition, you can save money on your health insurance premiums by choosing higher deductibles. Review insurance quotes carefully; if you have to pay more out-of-pocket expenses for the benefits you use the most, even the cheapest plan might end up costing you more in the end. You can always in touch with our representative and compare the best prices. HAPPY SAVING 🙂
