How to Find Health Insurance Online
Insurance for the Self-Employed, the Downsized and Students
Feb 15, 2009
Anyone who has lost their job through a layoff, wants to start a new business or is in college may need a new insurance policy to remain covered by insurance.
Anyone who has lost a job can continue their health insurance coverage for 18 months through the COBRA program, but the monthly rates for COBRA are notoriously high. An alternative is to find health insurance online for a reasonable rate.
High-Deductible Insurance Policies
Many of the insurance policies found online are high-deductible policies that are sometimes known as "catastrophic care" insurance. The deductibles on these policies run higher than with most group insurance policies, but this insurance will cover a high percentage of the charges after the deductible is met. Some policies cover all health charges after the deductible.
The higher the deductible, the lower the monthly insurance payment. Deductibles are yearly, and they can be as low as $1,000 a year or as high as $10,000 or more.
The main benefit of a high-deductible insurance policy is that in the event of a major illness or injury the insurance will cover some or all of the costs, which may not have been possible without the insurance policy. Another benefit is that these policies usually come with lower rates on office visits, tests and prescription drugs that have been negotiated by the insurance company.
Individual Insurance Companies
Looking at several different insurance companies online allows insurance shoppers to compare several types of policies. Companies like Golden Rule have websites that describe their individual and family insurance policies. Blue Cross Blue Shield also offers individual and family plans that are available online. Plans from Aetna, State Farm, Assurant Health and Golden Rule are available in all 50 states.
Insurance Brokers
To get a broad look at the local insurance rates available, buyers can contact insurance brokers individually online, or buyers can have brokers contact them through a site that puts them in contact with several brokers. Sites like Go Health Insurance match people with as many as five insurance agents and allow buyers to compare different insurance policies from different companies online.
Insurance brokers who offer quotes online can save time for anyone in need of health insurance quickly. They can provide recommendations for specific health insurance plans and can answer questions about each plan. Sites like eHealthInsurance.com and HealthInsuranceRates.com allow insurance buyers to access many insurance companies from one central site.
The price for individual and family insurance policies generally increases each year. The rate of the increase often depends on the state in which the policy is written.
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