How to Get Health Insurance Fast
For many people, being laid off means more than simply losing a job, it also means losing your health insurance. Although you can keep the policy you had with your old employer through COBRA, the payments are expensive and you can only keep the policy for a limited amount of time. If you are not covered by health insurance now or you know you are about to lose coverage, you need to be able to get quick health insurance so you are not without coverage in case something happens.
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Things You'll Need
- Pen and paper
- Your medical records for the past 5 to 10 years (optional, but helpful)
- Medical records of anyone else who will be included on the policy
- Credit or debit card to pay for the policy
Instructions
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Finding Health Insurance Quotes
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To get quick health insurance, try getting quotes for health insurance policies online. Look for Web sites that allow you to compare quotes from different policies to make sure you are getting the best possible value.
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Compare quotes to see what different companies are offering. Although it's tempting to choose the company that offers the lowest monthly payment, don't choose your insurer based on price alone. Look at the deductible, the amount you have to pay out of pocket for health care in a given plan year. Is it affordable? If the plan has a high deductible, would you be eligible to have a tax-advantaged health savings account? Does the policy have coinsurance, a certain percentage of costs you have to pay even after the deductible? An affordable monthly payment is meaningless if you can't afford treatment when you are sick.
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Look at what the policy covers. If you are applying for individual health insurance, you may be surprised at what is excluded. For example, many individual health plans do not offer maternity care in their basic policies.
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Once you have found a policy you can afford and that offers enough coverage to meet your needs, you can apply online for coverage with that company. This is where your medical records come in handy, as most insurance companies demand an extensive health history from applicants who are applying on their own instead of through an employer.
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After you have applied for coverage, the company will usually follow up with you in person to confirm they have all your correct information. If you were not able to get a copy of your medical records from your previous carrier, expect to be asked about every time you visited a doctor or were prescribed drugs in the past 5 to 10 years.
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If the health insurance company decides you are eligible for a policy with them, you can then make a payment to get the coverage started. Using a credit card and paying online or over the phone allows you to get your policy started quickly--often only a week or so from the time you applied for coverage.
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Tips & Warnings
To get a copy of your medical records, you can request them from your doctor or from your current insurance company. You will need to fill out a medical release form, however. If you don't have a lot of money to spend, look for a policy that has a high deductible and will make you eligible for a health savings account. The premiums are lower and the money you put into your health savings account counts against your taxable income, so you will pay less in taxes.
If you have a preexisting condition, tell the truth. Lying on a health insurance application gives the insurance company the right to terminate the policy retroactively, leaving you stuck with the bill for care you thought was covered. Make sure to read your policy carefully and ask as many questions as necessary. It is extremely important that you understand your coverage before you start the policy.
