Health insurance question?

[beebalmmama]

So I'm shopping for health insurance for the first time and don't quite know where to start. We've always had insurance through our employers, but dh's employer insurance premiums is getting out of control. So I'm trying to find insurance for myself and my boys.

I'm a bit overwhelmed with options and finding the best insurance for us. Will I be better off going through an insurance agent and what fees (if any) are associated with going that route. I've been looking online but I feel like I have so many questions that I'm worried about purchasing by going the online route.

I'm also applying for CHP for the boys. But I'm considering private insurance for myself and possibly having the boys on the private insurance if the CHP doesn't work out.

Any suggestions or help would be much appreciated from those of you who have private insurance.
Thanks

[cristina47454]

Stay away from MegaHealth. We made the mistake of using them based on name recognition and learned the hard way that they are HORRIBLE. We were paying almost $800/mo for basically NO coverage. It was a high deductible plan, to keep the premiums down, which I get - but then barely any of our out of pocket expenses ended up qualifying to go towards our deductible. SO frustrating. Google complaints against whichever company you decide to go with before finalizing...if I had done that one simple thing I could have saved myself $$$$$!

[sunnysandiegan]

I start with ehealthinsurance.com and compare policies. Grab your existing policy in order to be able to compare what you know to the "unknown". You can call the potential healthcare companies directly with questions.

If you have very little experience, an agent may be best for your first year of self-paid premiums. Ask a lot of questions and go into it with an attitude of learning so you can take it on next year when the new policies roll around.

[beebalmmama]

I got on ehealthinsurance.com and did exactly that and pulled out our current policy to compare the four or so policies they reccomended. But one of my concerns is ending up with a policy that ends up being horrible, too expensive, poor coverage. So I guess that is why I was wondering about going through an agent. Anyone have an idea how much more I'll end up paying with an insurance agent? Is it that much more expensive?

[mamaflutter]

In general the agent gets a commission on the premiums you pay to the company. Some agents apply there own application fee upon your downpayment in office. Most important just because you go to an agent and collect as much info you can dose not mean you have to buy the policy from them a quote is usually held in the system for 30days. Take your time do your resurch go to the agent ask away find out what company he is quoting with and call them direct. Mind you not all companies sell direct and need to be purch trough an agent. Also u may be suprised to find the rates may be lower trough an agent. I hope that helps
Candi

[Arduinna]

Honestly, I've yet to see individual health insurance be cheaper than a employers plan for the same coverage.

[zebra15]

Originally Posted by Arduinna

Honestly, I've yet to see individual health insurance be cheaper than a employers plan for the same coverage.

that

[bobandjess99]

Originally Posted by Arduinna

Honestly, I've yet to see individual health insurance be cheaper than a employers plan for the same coverage.

Possibly, maybe you don't want the "same" level of coverage.
We have no health problems and just want catastrphic major medical coverage, so we could get a high deductible plan that doesn't cover any of the routine stuff, which we don't use anyway, but would kick in and for example, allow us to keep our house, in the event something catastrophic happens. That major medical plan would cost us half what the insurance at dh's work costs.

[Chicky2]

Originally Posted by bobandjess99

Possibly, maybe you don't want the "same" level of coverage.
We have no health problems and just want catastrphic major medical coverage, so we could get a high deductible plan that doesn't cover any of the routine stuff, which we don't use anyway, but would kick in and for example, allow us to keep our house, in the event something catastrophic happens. That major medical plan would cost us half what the insurance at dh's work costs.

This is what we are looking at. Not to hijack, but does anyone have any good names to throw at me for this? We just simply don't need the other stuff (we don't do well checks, etc, and knock on wood, we are all healthy as can be). The insurance thru dh's work is RIDICULOUS. His boss has a brain tumor and it is a small company.

[beebalmmama]

Well we're paying more now than we did with dh's previous jobs and honestly the coverage seems worse now. Maybe the other plans just fit us better. They have their own insurance plan, but it seems cost wise it would be better if they went through a major insurance provider.
But the main reason I'm willing to get off of dh's insurance now is that ds #2 is here and we are not having more children. So without the maternity rider, I'm thinking our premiums could be cheaper with private insurance.

I'm thinking I'll go through an agent right now and at least get some quotes. Then at least I can compare with my current policy and have something better to go by.