How To Get Low Cost Ohio Medical Insurance Coverage
by James Robinson
There are a number of different things that you can do to find low cost Ohio health insurance coverage, but it is important to first of all educate yourself on the importance of medical insurance and how it works. Medical insurance is a different from other types of insurance. It is different because there is not a question of if you will use it but when. So, when searching for cheap Ohio medical insurance plans you need to remember it is the costs will be different from those other insurance forms.
Recognizing the reality of the need for medical insurance is the first step you have to take when you begin searching for coverage. You have to understand that even it the costs seems higher, it is much better that the cost of being without medical insurance.
Your goal isn't necessarily to find the cheapest Ohio medical insurance policy out there. Instead, make it your goal to find an affordable policy which will allow you to meet your family's need for preventative and acute health care. With all that in mind, you can begin searching.
You want to decide the type of coverage you need first. You may have to choose between high deductibles or high premiums. You will also need to consider your co-pays. These are all costs associated with your policy. Here is an explanation about deductibles, premiums and co-pays:
- Deductible: This is the amount you pay out of pocket before your insurance will pay anything. It's usually set on an annual basis. For example, you may need to pay for the first $500 on an individual policy before the company starts to pay.
- Premium: The amount you pay to be covered by the provider. It is usually billed monthly, but can often be paid in different installments or all at once.
- Co-Pays: The amount you pay after reaching your deductible for each service covered by your insurance. Typically it's $10-$40 for a non-specialist appointment.
Let's say that you rarely visit the doctor and are carrying medical insurance just in case of an emergency. You would be better off with a high deductible which will lower your premiums. Since you are unlikely to ever reach your deductible, the co-pays can also be high. This should result in a very low premium charge. Just be sure that you can cover the costs in a worst case emergency scenario.
If, however, you know you will use your insurance often then you may do better with a lower deductible. You would also want lower co-pays. This will help keep the overall cost down.
You have to look at your own situation and choose an insurance policy based upon that. What may work for you may not work for someone else. Medical insurance is a very personal thing. Cheap shouldn't mean that it doesn't cover your needs.
The single most important thing that you can do to find affordable Ohio medical insurance is to shop around. Be sure that you compare quotes from at least 3 different insurance companies before you decide to purchase.