Common Complaints About Health Insurance

Finding health insurance can seem like a daunting task and at GoHealth, we try to make the process as simple as possible.

To help consumers through the process of finding coverage, GoHealth is addressing the most common complaints about searching for health insurance.

Health insurance is too complicated and overwhelming. There are many parts to health insurance – deductible, premium, copayment, coinsurance, network, benefits and the list continues. So when you’re reviewing health insurance quotes in the GoHealth Quote Engine, click on the various terms that confuse you to learn more. Also, an agent is no more than a call away or you can use our chat services to talk to an expert about your options.

Health insurance is too expensive. Unfortunately, the cost of individual health insurance is set by law and GoHealth cannot lower the price of health insurance for its consumers.

I have to pay one month of premiums up-front and am not sure when I’ll be approved for coverage. Once a consumer chooses a plan, they have to pay the first month’s premium right away, but it is refundable if they aren’t eligible for coverage or choose a different plan. The approval process depends on the health insurance company – it can take just days or an entire month.

I can’t find coverage. With changes in health care reform and existing laws, it can be hard for some individuals to find individual health insurance. This includes women who are pregnant, children who need individual policies, and individuals with pre-existing conditions.

The forms for applying for coverage are too long. No matter where you apply for health insurance, the application will be long. These are required for health insurers to determine the amount of risk a person may be to insure. If you know that you have a pre-existing condition and are likely to get turned down for health insurance, talk to an agent before applying. The agent may be able to help you find a carrier that won’t turn you down coverage based on that condition.

Health Insurance Mistakes & To Avoid them!!!

As fewer companies offer employer coverage and individuals shop for health insurance for the first time, some common mistakes are made that can result in additional costs. Before settling on a current or new plan, consider the following:

1. Picking the plan with the highest deductible, lowest monthly costs. Plans with a large deductible always seem like an attractive option due to the low monthly premiums. However, if someone cannot meet the deductible in case of an emergency or illness then they will be stuck with a large bill. When choosing a plan, ask yourself if you would be able to cover the deductible immediately in case of an emergency – if you can’t cover it then consider a lower deductible.

2. Not purchasing maternity coverage when pregnancy is a possibility. Maternity coverage isn’t covered in every health insurance plan. If couples are considering pregnancy in the near future or could possibly get pregnant, then maternity coverage is a must.

3. Choosing a plan with high copayments, co-insurance rates for health care services and prescriptions. Almost every health insurance plan requires a copayment at the time of a health care visit so find a plan with an affordable copayment. Copayments vary for physician visits, prescriptions and hospital services but there is always a set amount of payment that is required. Co-insurance rates get really expensive for surgeries and hospital visits since you are required to pay a percentage of the rendered services and the rate varies.

4. Sticking with COBRA coverage when individual health insurance is more affordable. Many people who are unemployed know that COBRA coverage is extremely expensive. Instead of keeping COBRA, consumers should compare individual and family plans to see if they can find something more affordable. Individuals can get more customized coverage which gets rid of any unnecessary benefits.

5. Picking a health insurance plan without ensuring your doctor is included in the network. Many individuals may not realize that their doctor is no-longer covered under a new plan before switching. But if you have a family doctor or a preference then either choose a plan that includes the doctor in the network or find a plan with flexible coverage.

Your Occupation

You can bet that insurance companies have found a statistical relationship between your auto insurance

risk and your occupation. According to Insurance.com's 2006 Occupation Report, scientists,

pilots/navigators and actors/performers/artists pay the lowest insurance rates of the occupations

reported with an average of $935.76 per year. Whereas, attorneys/lawyers/judges, executives and

business owners pay the highest insurance rates of the occupations reported with an average of

$1,383.63 per year.

Why the high discrepancy, you ask? Well it comes down to a few factors. The group of

attorneys/lawyers/judges, executives and business owners typically have more stressful jobs. They spend

more time on the road and more time on their cell phones, which comes at a higher risk for the insurer.

The group of scientists, pilots/navigators and actors/performers/artists are less risky to insure because

their driving habits are a result of skills necessitated by their occupations. A good example would be the

detail-oriented and meticulous nature inherit with scientists, resulting in safer driving and lower insurance

rates

Marital Status

Your marital status affects your car insurance rates. Yes it's true, if you are

single, divorced, or even widowed, it can add to your auto insurance premium.

It is not uncommon for many auto insurance companies to levy this marital

status penalty. In fact, it's perfectly legal in most states for insurers to practice

this type of discrimination. However, insurance companies will argue that the

actuarial tables back up their guidelines; much like younger drivers being

more likely to be involved in an accident, the same statistics show that

unmarried individuals are more accident prone than their counterparts.

If you're single, you may want to try a little experiment next time you get an online car insurance quote.

Get two quotes, keep all info identical except for the marital status, checking one as single and the other

as married. This may shed some light on which insurers still utilize these practices. Fortunately, the very

act of shopping around for the best car insurance company should eliminate these types of companies,

leaving you with a combination of the highest quality and most competitive auto insurer.

Will You Get Your Cars True Value?

If you get in an accident and "total" your car, it's your insurance company's

responsibility to provide you with an amount of money that would purchase an

equivalent car. This doesn't always happen, unfortunately. Most insurers don't

use the Kelley Blue Book or NADA standards to estimate values. They have

their own formulas and will often consider quotes from various dealers that

aren't always that attainable, and this isn't always a good indication of your

specific vehicle's true worth. Every car is different, with things like condition,

mileage, and repairs playing vital roles. If they choose to use one of these

methods, you may want to present them with some local quotes of your own.

It's recommended that you keep a documented vehicle history as well, so you

can present repair and maintenance receipts if there's a dispute. Make sure

the amount you and your insurer settle on includes sales tax for the purchase

of your replacement automobile. This is often left out by insurers, and

replacing your car should not come with additional tax costs. If you have a

classic car make sure you have classic car insurance that provides

replacement value coverage, otherwise you're putting your investment at

risk.

If you get in a wreck and your car is deemed repairable, make sure to ask for

diminished value compensation. Diminished value compensation pays you

for the loss of market value that your vehicle incurs due to the accident and

repairs. Once your car has been wrecked it is worth less, even if completely

repaired to like new condition. Most people don't want to risk purchasing a

car that's been in a major accident, and this substantially hurts your re-sale

value. It's always a good idea to check with the car insurance company to

see if they offer diminished value before purchasing their coverage.

Your Credit Score

Believe it or not, your credit score is reviewed by your auto insurance company. This can be done at time

of application or prior to renewals. The thinking is that if you're responsible with your credit, making

payments regularly and over time, you're less likely to make regular claims. Statistically speaking, you're

more likely to file claims based on a shaky credit history. And, thus, your credit score plays a major role

in determing auto insurance coverage. Unfortunately, the utilization of this credit score method may result

in higher premiums, even if you have a perfect driving record and no accidents.

Lend Your Car to A Friend

Lending your car to a friend could prove costly. If you lend your car to a friend and he or she has an accident, it's your responsibility. You'll have to file the claim with your insurance company, not your friend's. To make matters worse, you're also responsible for any deductible, and the accident could 

potentially leave a mark on your record, raising your rates, even if you weren't in the car. So, think twice before handing those keys out.