By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    headphones can create health problems
    The Harmful Health Effects of Using Headphones
    September 24, 2021
    Headache causes
    4 Causes Of Headache You Probably Didn’t Know About
    December 28, 2021
    follow these steps to recover from your injury
    What Steps Should You Take to Recover More Quickly from an Injury?
    April 12, 2022
    Latest News
    5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
    August 3, 2025
    Why Custom Telemedicine Apps Outperform Off‑the‑Shelf Solutions
    July 20, 2025
    How Probate Planning Shapes the Future of Your Estate and Family Care
    July 17, 2025
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Contraception for Techno-Doctors
    July 13, 2011
    ACP Ethics Manual on Social Media, Catastrophes, and More
    January 13, 2012
    Hippocratic Oath, Then and Now
    August 23, 2012
    Latest News
    How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
    July 17, 2025
    How Health Choices and Legal Actions Intersect After an Injury
    July 17, 2025
    How communities and healthcare providers can address slip and fall injuries with legal awareness
    July 17, 2025
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Shopping for Health Insurance
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Health Reform > Shopping for Health Insurance
Health ReformPolicy & Law

Shopping for Health Insurance

joan justice
joan justice
Share
8 Min Read
health insurance
SHARE

health insuranceI have health insurance.  The premium is pretty low but I have a high deductible.  I am not often sick and I am not on any medication.  I can’t remember when I saw a doctor last, perhaps last year for a skin check.  

health insuranceI have health insurance.  The premium is pretty low but I have a high deductible.  I am not often sick and I am not on any medication.  I can’t remember when I saw a doctor last, perhaps last year for a skin check.  

October 1st is the opening of the health insurance marketplace.  That means that we Americans can shop for health insurance on the open market.  We cannot be refused for pre-existing conditions.  And some of us may qualify for financial assistance.

And so, I decided to shop around and see if I could get better coverage for myself at a better price.

More Read

What is Information Therapy?
Unpublished Clinical Trial Data: Are Scientists Who Fail to Publish Findings Unethical?
Debating Healthcare
Vital Signs that You Need to Replace Your Eyewear Right Away
Why Is a Referenced Based Pricing Tool Necessary?

I went to healthcare.gov to get some basic information on the exchange situation.  Then I went to healthcare.com to find out what kind of plan was available to me.  The Marketplace isn’t really open until Oct 1st, so I couldn’t get all the information that I wanted quite yet.  But I decided to fill out an application anyway and see what I could find out.

I filled out my name, address, birth date, my height and weight and my smoking status (non-smoking).  Well, no sooner had I filled out my phone number, than …..brring!  I got about 5 calls in one minute from insurance companies, brokers, agents, whatever looking for business.  I admit that I hung up on a couple and didn’t answer some others.  I did talk to several though and actually made an appointment with one broker, just for the experience.

The broker, who wished to remain anonymous is from Insphere and he advertised that they are the largest independent insurance broker in the US and deals with many different insurance companies.  Therefore, he can research for a “custom-made” plan “specifically to suit my needs”.  Well, good sales pitch anyway.  And he also asked, “So if we found the right plan for you, would you be ready to switch?”  Good pre-close technique there.

He caught me a little off guard when he said that they wanted a personal appointment, face to face, at my home. Really?  Just for a consultation?  I didn’t really want to meet at my house, so I let him know that I lived pretty far out in the country (I do) and it might be better to meet in town.  “Is Monday or Tuesday next week better for you?”, he asked in typical salesman-speak.

Before meeting with the broker, I wanted to make a list of questions and ‘things to consider’ about purchasing my own health insurance:

  • Price of premium
  • Amount of deductible
  • Percentage of care covered
  • Hospitals and doctors in network
  • Gate-keeper (referral by PCP) required?

Full disclosure: my premium is currently $278 for an individual plan.  I have a $5K deductible and then they pay 100% of the costs if I stay in the network.  If I go out of network, they only pay 50% of the costs.

I arrived for the meeting with the broker, laptop in hand, but as soon as I mentioned that I was blogging about the experience, he balked.  He admitted that he felt “uncomfortable” with the situation and did not want to proceed without approval from his supervisor. We waited for about 15 minutes for the supervisor to call back, but I guess he was occupied because he never did call back.  

I then turned to some of the emails that had come my way as the result of my filling out the application online.  Anthem Blue Cross had some pretty good plans, and the premium was cheaper for a $5K deductible, but….they only paid 70% of costs after the deductible was satisfied (read the small print!).

I went to Aetna next and thought I would talk to a real live agent.  She was very pleasant and agreed to help, but did let me know that the plans for 2014 would not be out until next week and that it was better for me to wait until then.  

I called my own insurance (Coventry) and asked about next year’s plans.  They said they would not be out until Oct 1st and that I would receive a letter and information about them shortly.  They said that I could also go online Oct 1st and find out more then.

I find it pretty amazing that my own insurance company was not trying to keep me with them.  I pay premiums every month, but don’t file many claims at all.  I have never reached my deductible in any of the 8 years I have had the policy.  

October 1st!

Well, it’s October 1st and I went online to fill out an application.  Big surprise, the website is not working.  It tells me to fill out an application but my “security questions” were blank – no questions so of course I couldn’t contribute any answers.  I thought they might want me to supply the questions, but I was unable to type in questions either.  Oh well…..maybe it will get straightened out later.

Full disclosure: I DO believe in ObamaCare and think it’s great that the uninsured can now purchase health insurance online at fair prices and possibly qualify for subsidies.  

It’s too bad that the website didn’t seem to be working.  I knew there would be bumps in the road, but I couldn’t even fill out the application!

Oh well, I do have until Dec 1st (when my Coventry contract ends) to decide on a plan for 2014.  I’ll try again soon.

I would LOVE to have your thoughts or your experiences about the health exchanges and shopping for insurance, so please comment in the space below or send us your posts!

image: shopping health insurance/shutterstock

TAGGED:health insurance
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

technology in medical research
The Tools Helping Medical Researchers See the Full Picture
News Technology
August 3, 2025
5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
Health
July 31, 2025
holistic dental
Holistic Dentist Services Are Natural and Safe
Dental health Specialties
July 28, 2025
botox certification
Help Improve People’s Skin Health Via Botox Certification
Skin Specialties
July 22, 2025

You Might also Like

Health careWellness

How Acupuncture Helps Cure Infertility and Aid in Pregnancy

January 18, 2018

Post SCOTUS Arguments, Waiting Game Begins

March 29, 2012

Medicaid Should Not Impoverish Doctors and Hospitals

July 28, 2014

Prognostic Scoring Analysis System Can Tell How Long Cancer Patients Have to Live

August 27, 2011
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?